Learning together proves a hit for families

Natasha Bell has noticed a big improvement in Keanu's progress and attitude. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Two of Auckland's poorest schools have enrolled a surprisingly effective new kind of volunteer: mums and dads. Decile 1 primary schools Rowandale in Manurewa and Bairds Mainfreight School in Otara have enrolled about a dozen parents each, teaching them for half a day in their own class and then putting them into their children's classes for 15 minutes a day.

For families like sole parent Natasha Bell, 31, and her son Keanu, 11, the experience is transforming both parent and child.

"He was having difficulty with his work, but by the end of the first term he was doing really well," Ms Bell says.

"There was a big improvement in his attitude, even in the family at home - the way I treated him and spoke to him and the way he spoke to me. Now I can see things from his point of view.

"It's within myself too - just about being stronger and giving time to the family, just a whole lifestyle change.

"When I started this I was really shy. But we all had to get up and explain ourselves to several different visitors, and that built up my self-esteem."

The City of Manukau Education Trust, which launched the programme three years ago, believes it has been so successful that it "should become the dominant family learning model for early childhood centres, schools and those who work in communities where strengthened educational outcomes are required".

But it needs $1.3 million to extend it to 100 families next year. Its problem is that schools and preschools are not funded to teach adults, and adult education providers are not funded to teach children.

"We need to rethink some of that policy to make sure we can deliver things for the community," says the trust's chief executive, Bernadine Vester. She says both children and many parents need more effective learning. In a survey published in 2000, 39 per cent of Pakeha, 64 per cent of Maori and 73 per cent of Pacific Island adults could not understand and use written material in English at a level required for "everyday life and work in a complex, advanced society".

A 2003 report by Canterbury University educationist John Church found that children with behavioural problems could not be turned around by schools alone. Teachers and families had to work together.

At Rowandale School, Keanu Bell's teacher, Norm Macdonald, says the boy "really likes the one-on-one interaction" when his mum spends those 15 minutes a day with him.

"She keeps him on task really well. That's when he gets his most focused work done," Mr Macdonald says.

As well as joining Keanu in class for a few minutes each day, his mother is now studying with other parents towards an early childhood education certificate from Auckland University of Technology. AUT tutor Sharon Alderson teaches the parents about child development, parenting and practical skills such as healthy eating and making flax kete (bags).

Ms Bell says she has learned, for example, to encourage Keanu to read anything he wants to read - even a magazine. "Before, I would push him to read a certain book. This is a whole different way.

"He has some reading and spelling homework every day. Before, I would never help him. Now I follow up with everything.

"Before ... normally I wouldn't listen to him. But through learning what the outcome is if you stop and listen to him, these things are different. It would have been good if I had done this course before."


Learning curve

* Libraries and community groups are running workshops and events for Adult Learners' Week, which starts tomorrow.