The Parent Club provides a forum for all parents to discuss issues, exchange and share information and concerns. Parents support one another through pooling of knowledge. A Parent Club plays a constructive role within the school community by sharing ideas that can be brainstormed and refined. The club can suggest solutions to learning and wellbeing challenges that students may be facing, and discussing ways families and schools can contribute and work together in response.
Here are a few pointers to make sure your Parent Club is an effective forum for parents:
- Try to keep conversations forward-looking and focused on solutions, rather than going over old grievances. For example, rather than “we dislike what they did” it could be framed “here’s what we could all do to make things better”.
- Discussions need to be respectful to all concerned. That means not only those present at the meeting, but others who are mentioned in the discussion. Sometimes, concerns may centre around the actions of other parents, community members or school staff. Everyone deserves respect. The meeting Chair and committee members should set a good example and insist on a respectful discussion.
- In the world of social media, conversations may happen in online chat pages or comments sections. The same rules apply here, and the stakes are higher – an online comment stays there for all to see, and can be easily shared with the world.
- Always try to get a range of views and don’t let a few ‘loud voices’ dominate. If you believe all views are not being represented at meetings, consider using a survey to get a broader picture of parent views.
- Always respect people’s privacy. Make clear that any request for confidentiality should be respected by all. If representing parent views to school leadership, keep all comments succinct and anonymous.
- Ideally the meeting Chair should remain neutral, not enter into any debates and facilitate a constructive discussion. Be fair to all views even if you disagree with them, and don’t abuse the Chair position to dominate or steer the debate.
- Beware of issues of a very personal or embarrassing nature, particularly if raised without the permission of the person concerned.
- Beware of issues relating to individual grievances about teachers or other staff members. These should be raised first with the person concerned then with the Principal if needed.
- If there is an issue of collective concern to parents, the PC can facilitate this with the school leadership or school council. If parents have an individual matter concerning their child, they should raise this separately from the Parent Club.
If an individual parent concern cannot be resolved with the school, the Department of Education has a complaint process.
If a parent club is seeking guidance and advice beyond the school, contact Parents Victoria. Please contact our office for assistance. (All such discussions will be confidential.)
