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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Engaging Parents In School… - The Best Posts & Articles For Learning About Newark’s $100 Million From Facebook

Engaging Parents In School… - The Best Posts & Articles For Learning About Newark’s $100 Million From Facebook:

The Best Posts & Articles For Learning About Newark’s $100 Million From Facebook

Last year, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg announced a $100 million contribution to Newark schools, and made a public commitment to parent and community engagement. I’ve written a lot since that time about how that second part hasn’t worked out real well.

It’s great that they recognized the importance of speaking to parents. However but just sending out canvassers who have no relationship with the people they’re visiting and knocking on doors without making an appointment is the worst form of what is often called “slash and burn” community organizing. It can provide the illusion of two-way “conversation” but, in fact, just be a form of one-way “communication.” It can allow those who are organizing it to say they are just doing what the people want done, without really involving anyone other than the parents