parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

CHAYfER3
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PARENTS AND PRINCIPALS AS EDUCATORS
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Parents should have no uncertainties as to their educational responsibility as
parents. According to Dekker and Lemmer (1993: 161) parents, as the child's
primary educators, are responsible for adequate education at home which serves
as a basis for school education. Parents should be fully aware ofthe role, purpose
and task, as well as the possibilities and limitations of their activities as regards
the education of their children. The purpose of the child's education is not only
adequate support and guidance towards adulthood, but also optimal realisation of
the child's unique potential (Landman, Bodenstein, Van der Merwe, Smith &
Windell, 1992:22).
The school complements, extends and formalises the life-world of the child's
home, hence of education in the family situation. A school is a secondary human
design which came about because parents no longer felt fully competent to
accomplish their educational tasks (Munnik & Swanepoel, 1990:76-77). The
principal is responsible for a variety of tasks related to the effective functioning
of the school. The prime task and responsibility of the principal remains the
management of all aspects of the school as a complex organisation in such a way
that it can contribute to the actualization of effective teaching and learning by
creating a culture of learning (Kruger, 1996:10).
3.2 ROLE OF PARENTS AS PRIMARY EDUCATORS
The child's welfare (physical, emotional, intellectual, volitional and spiritual) must
be high priorities in his parents' lives. Parents must be fully aware that their child