“Poor parents have no interest in school”: FALSE

Source : Livre “En finir avec les idées fausses sur les pauvres et la pauvreté”, ATD Quart Monde, 2020

In our society, many preconceived ideas about parents in precarious situations continue to circulate. One of the most persistent is the claim that these parents lose interest in their children’s education. But this is far from the truth. ATD Fourth World’s book “En finir avec les idées fausses sur les pauvres et la pauvreté” (Ending Misconceptions about the Poor and Poverty), published in 2020, deconstructs this preconceived idea, pointing out that, like all parents, those in precarious situations place high hopes in school.

The reality of parents in precarious situations

Poor parents are often wrongly perceived as being less committed to their children’s education. In reality, they have high aspirations for their children’s educational success. The main barrier between these families and school is a cultural divide. This gap creates a mutual fear: families in precarious situations are afraid of not living up to school expectations, while teachers may be prejudiced about these families’ lack of commitment.

According to data revealed in the book, 80% of mothers without diplomas feel overwhelmed when it comes to helping their children with their studies at college. This figure contrasts sharply with the 26% of mothers with higher education qualifications who feel the same difficulty. This feeling of helplessness is not a sign of disinterest, but rather an indicator of the difficulty these parents have in bridging the educational and cultural gap between their personal experience and the school system.

Difficulties faced by low-income parents

Low-income parents face additional obstacles that complicate their participation in school activities and parent meetings.

These obstacles include :

• Shifting schedules
• Transportation problems
• Child care

These logistical constraints, combined with the cultural divide, make communication and collaboration between parents in precarious situations and teachers particularly complex. Yet it is essential to recognize that these parents do not lack the will or desire to see their children succeed. They simply need more support and understanding to overcome these obstacles.

Towards greater understanding and support for parents in precarious situations

It’s crucial to deconstruct misconceptions about poor parents and education. Parents in precarious situations do not lose interest in school; on the contrary, they have high hopes for their children’s future. Society and the education system must work together to reduce the cultural gap and provide the necessary support to these families, so that they can fully engage in their children’s educational journey.

To find out more, see our Instagram post on the topic by clicking here.

Sources :

“En finir avec les idées fausses sur les pauvres et la pauvreté”, ATD Quart Monde, publié en 2020.

Gouyon, “L’aide aux devoirs apportée par les parents”, Insee Première, num. 996, 2004.

U.S. Department of Education, “Parent and Family Involvement in Education : 2002-03”, 2005.

Photo credit : August de Richelieu, Pexels.