Following a recent press conference to address the failing state of middle schools, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. offered a blunt assessment of how school administrations relate to families: “Parents are treated as a nuisance in the education system,” Carrion said.

Conversations with several local parents suggest varying degrees of agreement with Carrion’s assessment. 

George Rivera, who sends three sons to  P.S. 73— located on Anderson Avenue between 164th and 165th— described ongoing frustration communicating with school administrators.  According to Mr. Rivera, even though his oldest son, Matthew, tested at a third grade level at the age of 5, he was put into a special education class in Kindergarten because of an apparent orthopedic problem. “There are no provisions in any Bronx schools for kids like Matt” says Mr. Rivera, who sued the NYC Board of Education in 2004 on behalf of his son. Matthew’s Individualized Education Plan specified that he was to receive occupational therapy from the school on a regular basis.

This prompted the lawsuit by Mr. Rivera, which he won, only to be rewarded with options he said were unattainable. Matthew was granted admission to four specialized schools: two in Long Island, one in Staten Island, and one in Manhattan. The problem, however, was that roundtrip transportation was not provided, and the commute was not something that the family could accommodate on it’s own. So Matthew and his two brothers continue on at P.S 73, and Mr. Rivera continues to advocate on their behalf.

Iveete Paulus has two school-aged children. Her son, Franklin, is a 12-year-old 6th grader attending Bronx Writing Academy on E. 167th Street and Morris Avenue. Her daughter, Ashley, 5, attends Kindergarten at P.S. 126 on W. 166th Street.  Paulus agreed with Carrion that the school system often left parents out, but also suggested parents did not always live up to their responsibility. “A lot of parents think that education belongs to the school system,” Paulus said. “ I disagree with that. I think it’s fifty-fifty.”
Paulus said she believes that there should be more resources for children who are not performing up to standard. She also said   there are not enough supports in place for parents who do not speak English.

However, she was adamant in stating,  “There are lots of things that we [parents] can do that we don’t do to help our children. We cannot expect a miracle from the school system if we are not participating.” 

To Mr. Rivera, the issue of how parents can increase their participation in the school system is quite simple. “Even if you don’t have a direct interest, do something,” Rivera advised. “Take a flyer. It can make a difference.”
The flyers that he is referring to are those of the Community Collaborative to Improve Bronx Schools (CCB), of which Mr. Rivera is an active member. This parent-led collaborative is comprised of six Bronx-based community organizations that fight for educational equity. In addition, each elementary school in Highbridge has a Parents Association.
 
Ms. Paulus, for her part, is not overly impressed with the Parents Association,  describing it as  “more like a social gathering” than anything else.

Aida Davis, the parent of a former Highbridge student, suggested both parents and administrators were responsible for increasing parent involvement in schools. “Before, we used to have a lot of parents coming to the school,” Davis said. “ Now we don’t.”
Davis added she would urge parents to attend their scheduled parent-teacher meetings, and to insist that the schools communicate effectively with them. She also suggests that local schools do a better job of letting people know about various functions, and soliciting volunteers (both English and Spanish speaking) to communicate with parents. “It’s not enough to just send a note home with the child.” she said.

In the end, local parents interviewed by the Highbridge Horizon expressed some agreement with Carrion’s assessment of how the school system treats parents, but also placed some responsibility on the shoulders of parents themselves. And while frustrated at times with   school administrations, they remain convinced that their efforts and involvement will pay dividends in their children’s education. 

“The more you have in your brain, the more you have to give to others,” said Mr. Rivera, explaining why he took such an active role in his son’s schooling. “That’s the value of education.”