Parental involvement in schools is important. Today’s teachers are faced with a multitude of differences in the classroom with students and with parents. Facing both Millennials and Gen Xers as their students’ parents is no easy task.
Millennial parents are ages 18 – 34. They grew up with more encouragement than the Gen X parents. Millennials feel comfortable voicing their opinions. They grew up in the age of technology and had the ability to stay in touch with their parents when out of sight. This generation is responsible for the participation trophies that are given out for sports. They are the helicopter parents. Growing up they were sheltered by society. With their parents having access to birth control, they were generally wanted and nurtured as children. Life was good. Some called them the Peter Pan Generation because they wanted to delay adulthood.
Generation X, on the other hand were ‘latchkey’ kids and had freedom growing up. Gen X parents are ages 35 – 50. They tend to be more independent and love working alone. Xers were not given to be helicopter parents. They are results oriented and don’t give praise easily. They provide the pro and con of any idea.
As parents, Gen Xers arrange developmentally appropriate play dates and request schools have alternative achievement systems. Programs are scrutinized so they are challenging for their students. Xers advocate for their kids and demand to be involved in decision-making. They even expect to be involved in the interviewing process of potential teachers.
Millennial parents aren’t happy with the track schools are following when it concerns technology and their children. A study conducted by the Center for the Digital Future show the Millennial Generation reported less confidence in technology teaching in their schools than any other age group. Some state their teachers are ‘adequately preparing children to use new technologies’.
Millennial moms are willing to be stay-at-home parents, unlike Generation X who enjoys working. Millennials feel that each family can decide what is best for them and there is no one right way to parent.
Educationally, Gen Xers are pragmatic. Millennials need structure of accountability. Educators today need to recognize the diversity not only of their students but of today’s parents. With differences of opinions and differences in raising children, schools must promote mutual respect across the generations. Each generation brings something new and significant to teaching and learning. Regardless of generation differences, parent involvement adds to the culture of the school and to the growth of new learning experiences.
