Home-School Collaboration in the View of Fourth Grade Pupils, Parents, Teachers, and Principals in the Finnish Education System
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Although Finland currently holds the top ratings in international comparisons ranking education and children’s health, there is evidence that the health of Finnish adolescents is being threatened by increasing obesity, serious risk behavior, and other health problems. In addition, subjective well-being at school is regarded as low by students. Besides the harm to individuals’ health, these issues are influencing students’ ability to learn and concentrate at school. Collaboration between home and school can be an effective tool for prevent ing these problems, given the knowledge that elementary school-age children’s health learning is highly influenced by these two environments. While multi ple international studies demonstrate the importance of effective home–school connections, the position of parents has only recently gained growing attention in the Finnish education system. This study examined home–school collab oration from the perspectives of children (aged 10–11 years), their parents, class teachers, and principals through questionnaires and interviews in four comprehensive schools (Grades 1–9). The results showed that the basic struc tures necessary to enable the children’s academic success were established, but the potential to support their healthy growth and development collaboratively were only partly developed. The intent of the school personnel was to promote the children’s learning and healthy development, but mutual collaboration between home and school was not goal-orientated, and therefore not fully nor systematically implemented in schools.
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2096015340