parents and principals as partners in creating a culture of learning

CHAYfER4
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AN ACCOUNTABLE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND
PRINCIPAlS IN CREATING A CULTURE OF LEARNING
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The school according to Kruger (1996:26) is set apart from other societal
institutions by its task, namely educative teaching. For education to be effective,
it must also contribute to the child's education. The school and the principal are
however merely the secondary educators of the child while the parent is considered
to be the primary educator (Bondesio, 1989: 105). Because the education task is
indivisible the principals and parents are therefore jointly responsible for assuring
that education is effective by creating a culture of learning (Van Schalkwyk,
1988:164; Postma, 1990:19; Kruger, 1996:26). According to Oberholzer et al.,
(1990:149) it is essential to achieve maximum and optimal cooperation.
coordination and continuity in the common task of educating the child. This can
be achieved only if parents and principals become partners in creating a culture of
learning.
Research in recent years has revealed two important facts (Van Schalkwyk.
1990:27; Hess (ed.), 1992:131; Kruger, 1996:30):
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Parent involvement has a significant effect on the quality of the teaching
and learning experiences in the school and on the pupils' results.
Without cooperation between the parents and principals the child cannot be
adequately educated. The parent and the principal each has a special role
to play in the education of the child. They can play this role of educating
the child by becoming partners in creating in culture of learning.