WEEK POINTS OUT ROLE PARENTS PLAY IN SCHOOLS

Parental influence is the earliest and most enduring authority most children experience, and it doesn't subside when young people are given over to the care of school systems. Parental involvement is critical to the education of young students; if mother and father are dedicated to this task, their children will pick up on its importance. It is fitting that during National Parents and Teachers Association Week, which ends Saturday, we reinforce the significance of a healthy and helping relationship between students, their parents and their educators.

Too often, parents do not take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their children's scholarship. Fortunately, for school systems, students and American society, the PTA functions as a catalyst and a vehicle for getting parents involved. Founded in 1897, the National PTA is the nation's oldest and largest child advocacy association, with 6.8 million members.

PTA units, locally and nationally, are using this special week to emphasize the role parents can play in helping children succeed in school. The participation need not be elaborate or take up several hours a day. It can be as simple as reading to a child, providing a quiet and comfortable place for home study, monitoring and encouraging the child's educational progress and providing proper nourishment.

The participation doesn't have to stop there. Parents can also develop a working relationship with the child's teacher and help work out specific learning problems that arise. The parent can stay in touch with the school district, lending a voice to discussions on curriculum and educational policies. For their part, school administrators and teachers should be receptive parental participation. Make the door swing both ways.

Above all, parents should be good role models for students. The theme of PTA Week is "Parents Who Care Have Children Who Care." That is the positive side of a truism; the negative side is that parents who are indifferent about education are probably teaching their children to feel the same way. Parents have a big role to play in education and we hope this week points out the importance of that role.