preview

Robinson And Harris

Decent Essays

This book helps to explain whether or not parents are the solution to educational inequality. With some policy makers believing parental involvement is the cure, this book chooses to challenge and argue otherwise. The authors attempt to engage the readers from the beginning, by quoting an epigraph of Barrack Obama which pleasantly sets the scene as he states “responsibility of our children’s education must begin at home”. (p.1)
One of the main strengths Robinson & Harris (2014) point out throughout the book is the fact that they highlight gaps in available literature for example the authors argue that it is unclear within literatures which aspects of parental involvement actually improves achievement. Furthermore a good distinction between …show more content…

The authors have used an incredible amount of data and have displayed these all very clearly. However, a limitation to their work is that they have not explained their data enough, and sometimes have left the reader wondering if the findings of the negative outcomes really identify the effects of parental involvement? Nevertheless Robinson & Harris conclude by stating that parental involvement is beneficial if there is correct ‘stage setting’. Parents should create an environment around their children that influences them to achieving academic success. The Authors found “children’s parents who did not necessarily, physically help them at school or at home, rather had high expectations of their children’s which lead to children having no choice but to try and do well” (p.208). Even though Robinson and Harris argue that an increase in parental involvement will not improve educational inequalities, they have highlighted that parents having high expectation for their children which can lead to children doing well this is something which the reader can take with them as it gives a solution that does not require much involvement at all but still affect a child’s ability to academically

Get Access