Men Make A Difference Day
A Public School District in the State of Maryland in its ongoing effort to encourage parental engagement marked October 13, 2008 as “Men Make A Difference Day (MMDD).” On October 13, 2008, this Maryland state school district invited all fathers, male guardians and significant male role models to visit their child’s classroom for as little as 30 minutes to view the daily routines, interactive instructional strategies, and the excitement of the teaching and learning process. By participating as an observer, participants gained a better understanding of the curriculum, assessment process and how you can support your child’s academic outcomes at home.
The Results
The public school’s first Men Make A Difference Day confirmed what research has stated and that is, if men have the time or school systems reach out to fathers and male role models, they will respond by becoming involved in the academic lives of their children. On October 13, 2008, a total of 10,025 men visited schools, met with teachers, administrators and staff as part of the system wide effort to enhance male engagement. This is a remarkable turnout given the fact that over 85% of marketing and outreach to families regarding Men Make A Difference Day was done via school to home forms of communication. For example, the vast majority of the participating schools report they primarily relied on placing fliers in backpacks and distributing fliers to parents during other events and activities. Thus confirming that clear school to home communication is an effective method to increase engagement of parents.
The success of Men Make A Difference Day also provided an opportunity to explore a gap in the level of male parental engagement and perhaps more specifically overall parental engagement. What the data from MMDD revealed is consistent with previous research. The highest level of engagement occurs at the elementary level and in the case of this Maryland County Public School District we are primarily discussing the K-6 grade levels and not middle schools. On MMDD, 7,466 fathers and other significant male role models visited elementary schools. This represented 84% of all the male parents who participated in MMDD by visiting an elementary school. Additionally, the data confirmed what many experts have stated with regards to parental engagement that engagement is at its strongest in the primary grades and declines as children matriculate into higher grades. This fact appears to be evident in the data captured in this public school’s MMDD.
Middle schools in this Maryland County Public School District had a total of 930 participants. That means that only 10% of the participants visited a middle school. However, unlike the K-6 schools, in which there are over 130 there are less than 35 middle schools. If one examines the turnout based on the number of schools what one sees is that an average of 29 fathers and significant male role models visited one of the 32 middle schools. To have 29 parents visit a school on a single day for more than hour is exactly the form of engagement schools in this Maryland County Public School District are striving to achieve day in and day out.
High schools are known for limited parental engagement and data from MMDD again substantiates previous research findings that indicate parents are less involved in the academic lives of high school students when compared to elementary and middle school years. However, many experts would suggest that this is the time when parental engagement should be at its highest, because this is one of the most crucial stages of development for children as most are considering the next steps in their lives, beyond high school. Data for male participation on MMDD at the high school level consisted of 450 fathers and significant male role models. As with middle schools there are far fewer high schools in this Maryland County Public School District than middle schools and elementary schools. There are slightly more than 25 high schools. When one examines the data you find that an average of 17 fathers and significant male role models visited their children schools. This is a represents a national description of the level of participation of high school parents and while it is discouraging it also provides an opportunity to better examine how and why the level of participation dwindles at the most crucial time and how can strategies and methods can be developed to increase and improve the level of participation.
The success of the MMDD does go beyond the numbers; however, there are a few additional set of numbers one may find just as important:
· Elementary schools averaged 56 male participants on MMDD
· Middle schools averaged 29 male participants on MMDD
· High schools averaged 17 male participants on MMDD
· Overall schools averaged 49 male participants on MMDD system wide
· 184 of 205 schools participated
· 163 of the 184 schools MMDD event was coordinated by a Parent Liaison
· 100% of men surveyed indicated they enjoyed MMDD
· 60% of the men surveyed ranked MMDD a 4 based On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest
· 73% of the men surveyed stated “YES” their experiences during Men Make A Difference Day inspired them to become more involved in the academic lives of your children?
· 80% of the men surveyed stated they had an opportunity to observe their child’s classroom during MMDD
The Results
The public school’s first Men Make A Difference Day confirmed what research has stated and that is, if men have the time or school systems reach out to fathers and male role models, they will respond by becoming involved in the academic lives of their children. On October 13, 2008, a total of 10,025 men visited schools, met with teachers, administrators and staff as part of the system wide effort to enhance male engagement. This is a remarkable turnout given the fact that over 85% of marketing and outreach to families regarding Men Make A Difference Day was done via school to home forms of communication. For example, the vast majority of the participating schools report they primarily relied on placing fliers in backpacks and distributing fliers to parents during other events and activities. Thus confirming that clear school to home communication is an effective method to increase engagement of parents.
The success of Men Make A Difference Day also provided an opportunity to explore a gap in the level of male parental engagement and perhaps more specifically overall parental engagement. What the data from MMDD revealed is consistent with previous research. The highest level of engagement occurs at the elementary level and in the case of this Maryland County Public School District we are primarily discussing the K-6 grade levels and not middle schools. On MMDD, 7,466 fathers and other significant male role models visited elementary schools. This represented 84% of all the male parents who participated in MMDD by visiting an elementary school. Additionally, the data confirmed what many experts have stated with regards to parental engagement that engagement is at its strongest in the primary grades and declines as children matriculate into higher grades. This fact appears to be evident in the data captured in this public school’s MMDD.
Middle schools in this Maryland County Public School District had a total of 930 participants. That means that only 10% of the participants visited a middle school. However, unlike the K-6 schools, in which there are over 130 there are less than 35 middle schools. If one examines the turnout based on the number of schools what one sees is that an average of 29 fathers and significant male role models visited one of the 32 middle schools. To have 29 parents visit a school on a single day for more than hour is exactly the form of engagement schools in this Maryland County Public School District are striving to achieve day in and day out.
High schools are known for limited parental engagement and data from MMDD again substantiates previous research findings that indicate parents are less involved in the academic lives of high school students when compared to elementary and middle school years. However, many experts would suggest that this is the time when parental engagement should be at its highest, because this is one of the most crucial stages of development for children as most are considering the next steps in their lives, beyond high school. Data for male participation on MMDD at the high school level consisted of 450 fathers and significant male role models. As with middle schools there are far fewer high schools in this Maryland County Public School District than middle schools and elementary schools. There are slightly more than 25 high schools. When one examines the data you find that an average of 17 fathers and significant male role models visited their children schools. This is a represents a national description of the level of participation of high school parents and while it is discouraging it also provides an opportunity to better examine how and why the level of participation dwindles at the most crucial time and how can strategies and methods can be developed to increase and improve the level of participation.
The success of the MMDD does go beyond the numbers; however, there are a few additional set of numbers one may find just as important:
· Elementary schools averaged 56 male participants on MMDD
· Middle schools averaged 29 male participants on MMDD
· High schools averaged 17 male participants on MMDD
· Overall schools averaged 49 male participants on MMDD system wide
· 184 of 205 schools participated
· 163 of the 184 schools MMDD event was coordinated by a Parent Liaison
· 100% of men surveyed indicated they enjoyed MMDD
· 60% of the men surveyed ranked MMDD a 4 based On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest
· 73% of the men surveyed stated “YES” their experiences during Men Make A Difference Day inspired them to become more involved in the academic lives of your children?
· 80% of the men surveyed stated they had an opportunity to observe their child’s classroom during MMDD