parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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According to Van Wyk (1996a:23-25) parents who are given a say in
deciding upon the schools' management and governance policy will
understand the aims, nature and functioning of the school. They will be
less likely to criticise the teachers and the principal and are more likely to
contribute positively to their children's education because they will assume
ownership of the decisions taken (cf.2.17).
2.19 Only 39% of the respondents agreed that decisions taken on matters
regarding school policies are arrived at by consensus between themselves
and the principal. A partnership involves a two-way process of joint
activities in which parents and principals come together on the basis of
equality right from the start. In can take various forms and may involve
setting goals, finding solutions and implementing and evaluating them
(Lemmer & Squelch, 1993:96). Therefore, a partnership requires parents
and principals working together as a team which implies according to Hall
(1986:5):
* cooperation, not confrontation;
* integration, not isolation; and
* continuity, not competition.