Increased parental involvement in the school system will come with increased scrutiny of the educational process ? and teachers, administrators and the Ministry should be prepared for a level of criticism and discussion that is not presently taking place, warned the Coalition for the Protection of Children yesterday.

The Coalition also echoed concerns voiced by the Black Alliance that new amendments to the Education Act forcing parents to take part in their children?s school activities is targeting single, working mothers who do not have the luxury of time.

The legislation will affect public school parents, requiring them to take greater part in their children?s school life ? or pay the price in Bermuda?s court system.

While the Coalition agreed wholeheartedly that increased involvement on the part of parents in their children?s education is a good thing, Coalition director Sheelagh Cooper said: ?The threat of prosecution is probably the least effective way to reach this population. The danger is that it runs the risk of further alienating an already disconnected and marginalised group.

?The problem that we need to address is the very disturbing fact that most of the parents who are being targeted with this legislation are single mothers in low-income hourly paid jobs that often are required to work more than one job to make ends meet.

?My experience with these women is that involvement in their children?s school lives is a luxury that some of them simply cannot afford. An effective parent involvement policy needs to take this into account, even if it means requiring employers to provide (the equivalent of) one day per school year off, with pay, for parents to attend to their responsibilities in this area.?

Organisations like the Bermuda Employers Council and the Chamber of Commerce have been informed of the legislation, the Ministry has said.

?The Ministry of Education considers it unreasonable to suggest that single parents will have difficulty with the time commitments required... We would expect parents and their employers to continue to reach workable arrangements. Scores of parents already do this, which proves it can be done without undue problems.?

A review of initiatives in Canada, the UK and the US aimed at increasing parental involvement in the schools shows that ?the most effective ways to engage parents are positive, community-driven reward-based approaches that take into account parental needs, children?s needs and educator?s needs,? said Ms Cooper.

?A review of the experience in other jurisdictions would have yielded much more creative, more positive and ultimately more effective ways to improve parental involvement in children?s educational experience,? Ms Cooper continued. ?If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.?

Educators must also be prepared for the increased scrutiny of their work which will come along with the legislation, she said.

?This will require a level of openness to criticism and discussion between parents and educators that is presently not taking place.

?Parents will expect to contribute more meaningfully in decisions that affect what and how their children learn.

?Which is, of course, a good thing... But it will be a new thing.?