School-based parents' groups - a politics of voice and representation

Bibliographic Data

ID11488697
AuthorsC Vincent (0000-0003-1284-1950, corresponding author), Jane Martins (0000-0002-8886-9952), Jane Martin (0000-0002-9132-0928)
Year2000
Volume15
Issue5
Pages459-480
Publication date2000-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Education Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0268-0939 • E-ISSN: 1464-5106
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/026809300750001649
OpenAlexW2153439790
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited18

In this paper we consider two discussion-based parents' forums at two secondary schools. We ask whether such forums can be considered as part of the small, local associative mechanisms which theorists claim have the potential to encourage a more vibrant and interactive public conversation concerning state provided welfare services. We conclude that they cannot - at least in any simple way. However, a study of the forums does raise several interesting issues to do with parents' relationships with schools, the differential resources that particular class fractions bring to bear in developing their relations with teachers, and the responses of the schools to parental voices. Access to higher education and good jobs emerges as the most important element in securing children's futures (and thus of ‘putting the family first’). Yet all the respondents see this as involving their children gaining advantages over others. What is missing from these accounts is an attempt to describe what might be done about any injustice that is recognised, or how the life-chances of the others' might be better protected. Equality of opportunity and equality of citizenship do not emerge as public issues in these versions of access to higher education and good jobs. Instead we have accounts of how to do the best for one's children in a situation of scarcity of both these resources, (Jordan et al. 1994:197) I think it goes right back to the family and they [the parent body] put the children first, right the way through life they put the children first, and they recognise that to get a good job in the end they've got to have qualifications and they want a good school (headteacher, Carson School). © 2000 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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