The Importance of Parent Advisory Committees

I’m a huge believer in representative and consensus based decision-making. I believe that if people with varying perspectives aren’t included in decision-making processes that the decisions made will not be reflective of the outcomes needed by our diverse population. I also believe that a simple majority votes system is incapable of effectively serving the best interests of our society. I believe that this is true whether considered in an international, national or local context, and I especially believe it’s true of our schools.

When my daughter started attending school 6 years ago, I knew some moms that already had their kids in school that were very active in Parent Advisory Committees. I generally found these women intimidating “Super Mom” types. Typically they came from mid to high level income homes, were white, were stay at home mothers with breadwinning husbands, were well-educated and very active in the community, and tended to have their children participating in lots of activities. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those qualities, but it was a noticeable demographic that I just didn’t fit into.

At my daughters school I could recognize the movers and the shakers. The ones who knew what was going on in the schools and whether or not they were happy about it. They were the Big Picture Parents. I was more a surviving day-to-day parent; working multiple jobs that barely covered the bills and praying to God that my kid didn’t get sent home *again* because of behavioural issues.

The PAC moms were more likely to be the ones complaining about their kids getting bullied, while it was very frequently my kid who bullied. They organized fundraisers and supervised recesses, while I always felt like I couldn’t contribute. I very often felt out-of-place, awkward and as though I didn’t belong… and it would always surprise me when the other moms would talk to me, but they did talk to me.

Some of those moms would even ask me what I thought about the stuff that was happening in the school. They’d ask my opinion, and even if their opinion was different they often treated my perspective as valid. As I grew, and my kids grew and my son entered school I developed mom-confidence and realized that even though I didn’t necessarily bring the same perspective as the moms that I had found so intimidating, that my kids were also a part of the school that my perspective was indeed valid, and that to develop programs and a school culture that valued all of its members that it was important for me to share my perspective.

A mom invited me to participate in the PAC at Mildred Hall, I was surprised but she was so welcoming that I wanted to go. I had found that in the past my communication with the school tended to be when there was a problem. Frequently the interactions were negative and I was happy for the chance to develop a positive relationship. I went to my first meeting and found it to be such an amazing experience that it heavily influenced my decision to run for the School Board. Through my participation in the School Board and on the Advisory Committees I have been able to bring up experiences for consideration that help our schools and our district to be more accommodating to students in general.

Each parent with their own experiences, perspectives and world views has the power and ability to help us make sure that our schools are welcoming and accommodating to our student population.

Each school has a Parent Advisory Committee, phone your principal to find out when the next meeting is!

Parents of Aboriginal students can help us help them succeed through their participation in the Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee, they meet monthly phone the YK1 district office to find out when!

Parents with children in French Programming can help by joining Canadian Parents for French.

I’m hoping that by the end of this year we will also be able to establish an advisory committee for parents of students with special needs.

If perspectives aren’t at decision-making tables, the decision makers can’t possibly hope to know how to serve their needs!

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