Examining parents 'collective will' in relation to accountability for a high school in Tennessee

Eleven parents of a high school in Tennessee agreed to evaluate their local high school program using the newly developed "ParentTeacher Association High School Evaluation Scale (PHSES) under the conditions that their names and identity not be released. The study shows that their opinions of the accountability of local high school is somewhat the same as other parents of other high schools, and that schools are not up to what might considered to be average for an ideal high school in relation to the present state of the art in learning.

The present study sought to have the PTA in a local high school in Tennessee do an accountability study of the local high school program and where competent educators would be employed for the study. Eleven interested parents agreed to do the study independent of professional educators, under the conditions that their identity would not be released. The present findings depicted in Figure 1 below are the results of that agreement.

Findings

The findings suggest that parents of the local high school in Tennessee perceive their high school functioning much like parents of other high schools. The higher ratings were in learning effectiveness and

person-center aspects.

Discussion

First, and foremost, it is surprising that parents in a democracy do not feel free to evaluate their high school where their sons and daughters are being educated. In that same high school, maybe a day or two earlier, a stranger makes a half-hour presentation and parents are asked to evaluate the presentation. It should be noted that not a single one of the five major ratings attained an average of 15 as would be expected for an ideal high school.

References

Cassel, R.N. (2000).Parent-Teacher Association High School Evaluation Scale (PHSES), Chula Vista, California: Project Innovation.

DR. DONALD F. DEMOULIN Education University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennesse 38238

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