The education of the child is a mandate for the parents and the church. Therefore, as an educator “coming alongside the home,” the Christian school faculty has a responsibility to communicate with and include the parent(s) in the education of the student(s). I have been an administrator in four Christian schools over the last twenty some years and have worked with three distinct enrollment policies – “Closed”, “like faith”, and “open” enrollment. Each has distinct challenges but all face this same issue regarding maintaining an effective relationship with the home. When it comes to academics, discipline, athletics, or other extra-curricular activities – parents defend and even fight for their child. The educator’s responsibility is to keep the parents informed and involved in solutions. While at times the parents do not see the way the school sees, however, they still need to work with the school and even agree to disagree. Parents do not set, dictate, or even change school policy; instead, they typically sign a statement of cooperation with the school yearly. My office is always open for parents to discuss, argue or even vent at times, but at the end of the day, the school / church has the sole rights regarding policy. As the last resort, we have even suggested that the parent withdraw the student. But on a teacher level communication is about information and helping the particular child. If a parent is truly upset with a teacher, then the administration should be included in a parent conference. We should look forward to opportunities to minister to families of saved or unsaved people. We should have a systematic approach to visiting the homes of students, particularly where there may be an evangelistic opportunity in the home. We have made it standard policy to have an opening school revival as well as focused gospel preaching chapels consistently; resulting in an average of over 100 students saved each year. This makes a difference in the students and likewise the parents. Separation of believers is a whole other issue in open enrollment schools specifically.

But sometimes it is difficult to deal with parents without looking like a jerk in administration. But teachers should be supported in public and “directed” in private to help them in communicating with parents or handling difficult situations in the classroom.