Table Of ContentDOCUMENT RESUME
ED 440 766 PS 028 513
AUTHOR Musser, Patricia Maureen
Partnerships at the Middle Level: Perceptions of Family
TITLE
Members, Community Members, and Teachers.
PUB DATE
1998-00-00
NOTE
395p.; Ph.D. Dissertation, Portland State University.
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PUB TYPE
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*Community Attitudes; Community Responsibility; Community
DESCRIPTORS
Role; Focus Groups; Middle School Teachers; Middle Schools;
*Parent Attitudes; Parent Responsibility; Parent Role;
*Parent School Relationship; Parent Teacher Cooperation;
Parents; *Partnerships in Education; *School Community
Relationship; *Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Responsibility;
Teacher Role
Ecological Perspective; *Parent Community Relationship
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
Recognizing the need for family, school, and community
members to participate in partnerships to support middle level children, this
study investigated the perceptions of family members, community members, and
middle school teachers regarding their relationships with each other from a
perspective that views all three groups as integral parts of a complex
ecological system with equal standing. Six focus group interviews were
conducted with groups of 3 to 8 persons, with group interviews conducted
separately for parents of middle school students, middle school teachers, and
community mem7-r1 who
irevolved with middle school students. A total of
15 family members, 12 teachers, and 6 community members participated in the
study. The findings provided insights as to how participants' views of their
roles and responsibility with children influenced how they see their role in
working with other adults. Three areas were identified that influence the
participants' perceptions of their roles in working together:
(1) development
(2) lack of communication; and (3) value
of the relationship itself;
conflicts. Findings support recommendations for civic leaders, community
members working directly with middle school children, educational leaders,
family members, teacher educators, and educational administration educators.
(Eight appendices include data collection instruments, a matrix of findings,
and suggestions for starting a family involvement program. Contains
approximately 115 references.)
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PARTNERSHIPS AT THE MIDDLE LEVEL: PERCEPTIONS
OF FAMILY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
AND TEACHERS
by
PATRICIA MAUREEN MUSSER
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED BY
in
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP:
ADMINISTRATION
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
1
Portland State University
(01998
2
BLE
BEST COPY AVM
DISSERTATION APPROVAL
The abstract and dissertation of Patricia Maureen Musser
for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership:
Administration were presented April 29, 1998, and accepted
by the dissertation committee and the doctoral program.
COMMITTEE APPROVALS:
di.664Aw7
de la Cruzo
Emily
Sapu 1 D. Henry
A'
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Eli abeth D. Steinberg'r
e
Robert C. C. Liebman
Representative of the Office of
Graduate Studies
DOCTORAL PROGRAM APPROVAL:
Robert B. Everhart, Dean
School of Education
3
An abstract of the dissertation of Patricia Maureen Musser
for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership:
Administration presented April 29, 1998.
Partnerships at the Middle Level: Perceptions of
Title:
Family Members, Community Members, and Teachers
The purpose of this study was to investigate the
perceptions of family members, community members, and
middle level teachers regarding their relationships with
each other from a perspective that views all three groups
as integral parts of a complex ecological system with
The purpose for developing relationships
equal standing.
is to support children's academic achievement and healthy
development, not just in school, but also in life.
Both
the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development (1989)
report and the National Middle School Association (1995)
recognize the need for family, school, and community
members to participate in partnerships to support middle
level children.
The research questions that guided the study are:
(a) What are the perceptions of family members, community
members, and teachers regarding their current roles in
working with each other to benefit middle level students?
2
and (b) What are the perceptions of family members,
community members, and teachers regarding what their roles
should be in working with each other to benefit middle
level students?
The ecological model of human development formulated
by Bronfenbrenner (1979), provided the overarching
The symbolic
theoretical framework for the study.
interactionist orientation guided the study design.
Separate focus groups with family members, community
members who work with middle level children, and middle
level teachers were used to generate data to answer the
research questions.
The findings provide insights as to how family
members, community members, and teachers view their roles
In particular, how the
in working with each other.
participants view their roles and responsibilities with
children shape how they see their roles in working with
other adults.
Three areas were identified that influence the
participants' perceptions of their roles in working
The degree of the development of the
together:
relationship itself and two problematic areas which need
to be negotiated to improve the relationship--lack of
Recommendations which
communication and value conflicts.
flow from the findings are addressed to civic leaders,
3
community members who
work directly with middle
level
children, educational
leaders (including principals
and
district leaders),
family members, teacher
educators, and
educational administration
educators.
Areas are suggested
for additional
research.
6
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ii
LIST OF TABLES
xiii
LIST OF FIGURES
xv
CHAPTER
BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.
I
1
Introduction
1
Purpose and Problem Statement
3
Need for the Study
6
Definition of Terms
6
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
II
13
Introduction
13
Theoretical Models of Family,
School, and Community
Relationships
16
The Protective Model
The School-to-Home Transmission
Model
The Curriculum Enrichment Model
The Partnership Model
The Overlapping Spheres of
Influence Model
Summary
Typologies of Family, School, and
Community Involvement
22
Epstein's Typology of Family,
School, and Community
Involvement
Swap's Typology of Family,
School, and Community
Involvement
The Relationship of Family, School,
and Community Involvement on
Student's Healthy Development
and Academic Achievement- -
Application of an Ecological
Framework
31
Relationship of the Home
Environment to Student's
Healthy Development
and Achievement
Family Involvement at School
Role of Community Involvement
to Student's Healthy
Development and Achievement
Summary
Factors that Shape the Formation of
Partnerships at the Middle Level:
Obstacles and Opportunities
48
Middle School: Obstacles and
Opportunities
Family Perceptions: Obstacles
and Opportunities
Teacher Perspectives: Obstacles
and Opportunities
Community Perceptions: Obstacles
and Opportunities
Effective Middle Level Schools
65
. . . .
The Middle School Philosophy
Effective Middle Level Schools
Synthesis of the Literature Review .
72
The Research Question
75
The Research Questions
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
III
77
Introduction
77
vi
Symbolic Interactionism
77
Researcher as an Instrument
Study Design
81
Methodological Choice of Focus
Groups
Pilot and Review of Instruments
Focus Group Procedures
Number of Focus Groups
Participant Verification
Ethical Considerations
Site, Participant Selection,
and Participant Background
93
Considerations Leading to
the Selection of River
Middle School as the
Site of the Study
Overview of Participant
Selection and Recruitment
Procedures
Family Member Recruitment and
Background Information
Teacher Recruitment and
Background Information
Community Member Recruitment
and Background Information
Data Analysis
122
Sources of Data
Focus Group Data Analysis
The Study's Limitations
125
IV
FINDINGS OF FAMILY MEMBERS' PERCEPTIONS
OF WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
TEACHERS TO BENEFIT MIDDLE LEVEL
CHILDREN
129
Introduction
129
Family Members' Perceptions of
Relationships with Community
Members and Teachers
131
History of Interactions
vii
Family Members' Relationships
with Community Members
Family Members' Relationships
with Teachers
Family Members' Perceptions Regarding
Responsibilities in Relationships
Between Family Members/Community
Members and Family Members/Teachers. 140
Family Members' Views of Their
Responsibilities in
Relationships with Community
Members
Family Members' Views of
Community Members'
Responsibilities in the
Relationships
Family Members' Views of Their
Responsibilities in
Relationships with Teachers
Family Members' Views of
Teachers' Responsibilities in
Relationships
Summary
Family Members' Perceptions of
Obstacles to the Development of
Partnerships
149
Family Members' Views of
Obstacles Presented by
Society and Social Problems
Within the Community
Family Members' Views of
Obstacles to the Development
of Partnerships with Local
Community Members
Family Members' Views of
Obstacles to the Development
of Partnerships with Teachers
Summary
Family Members' Perceptions Regarding
what Would Facilitate Partnership
Relations Among the Participant
Groups
158
Chapter Summary
159
