Abstract

The number of parents participating in high schools every year is declining and the rankings of public schools are constantly being scrutinized in the media. Few sociological studies have been done on how all of this challenges parent perceptions of their child's education. Using nine in-depth, personal interviews with parents of high school children to gain personal stories and experiences of their time spent in a public education system, this study explores the perceptions of parents on their child's education, understanding the role of race and socioeconomic status with those perceptions. Theories that apply the role of socioeconomic status to a child's success will be used in the analysis of the interviews conducted. The findings of this study suggest that we can ignore the idea of socioeconomic classes and race when discussing parent perceptions but rather look at their level of involvement and the needs of their child.

Advisor

Fitz Gibbon, Heather

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Educational Sociology | Family, Life Course, and Society

Keywords

perceptions, parents, high school, children, socioeconomic classes, race

Publication Date

2013

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2013 Roxie Deer