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parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

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clear that a <strong>partners</strong>hip also means jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g forces, whilst reta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuality. A successful <strong>partners</strong>hip depends, among other th<strong>in</strong>gs, on<br />

<strong>parents</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong> trust<strong>in</strong>g one another, underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> respect<strong>in</strong>g<br />

one another's needs <strong>and</strong> <strong>as</strong>pirations when <strong>in</strong>formation concern<strong>in</strong>g<br />

educational matters is exchanged (cf.4.3.4 (3».<br />

2.15 A large number <strong>of</strong><strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong> (82%) <strong>in</strong>dicated that they feel that the <strong>parents</strong><br />

consider the <strong>in</strong>formation they share with them to be to the ultimate benefit<br />

<strong>of</strong> the child. Discussions between the pr<strong>in</strong>cipal <strong>and</strong> the <strong>parents</strong> should be<br />

honest, frank <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>id (Swap, 1993: 1). As <strong>partners</strong> they should not<br />

hesitate to supply <strong>in</strong>formation regard<strong>in</strong>g the child to each other, however<br />

the <strong>in</strong>formation should be treated <strong>as</strong> confidential (cf. 4.3.6).<br />

2.16 60% <strong>of</strong> the respondents encouraged <strong>parents</strong> to visit the school regularly to<br />

exchange <strong>in</strong>formation about their children. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Dekker &<br />

Lemmer (1993: 159) <strong>as</strong> parental visits to school are made, knowledge <strong>of</strong>the<br />

child is <strong>in</strong>cre<strong>as</strong>ed. With this knowledge, <strong>parents</strong> are better able to <strong>as</strong>sist<br />

the school <strong>in</strong> help<strong>in</strong>g the child to the fullest. Without this knowledge,<br />

<strong>parents</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>pr<strong>in</strong>cipals</strong> may be at cross-purposes or may each deal with the<br />

child <strong>in</strong> ignorance <strong>of</strong> the other sett<strong>in</strong>g (cf. 4.3.4).

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