Dialogical interaction between family and school: The content aspect

Abstract

Introduction. The development of modern education is connected with the convergence of social institutions of family and school, involvement of parents in the educational process, and realization of the role and importance of education by parents. The harmonisation of family and school relations is possible if the development of educational relations is based on the principle of dialogue aimed at bringing together the interests of the subjects of education, elaboration of a unified educational strategy and identification of the common values and goals of education. In this regard, it is necessary to discuss a number of issues and problems that require promotion of dialogue between teachers and parents.Aim. The aim of this research is to determine the content of dialogical interaction between teachers and parents in the modern socio-cultural environment of the educational process and the directions of updating the psychological and pedagogical knowledge of parents.Methodology and research methods. To determine the content of the interaction between teachers and parents, the authors used theoretical provisions of philosophical anthropology about the essence of dialogue: the intention of dialogue, the «encounter» views in the process of dialogue and the openness of dialogue. An existential approach was applied to determine the value-semantic foundations of the co-existence of family and school.Results. This study has revealed educational needs of parents that consist in the promotion of dialogue with teachers on the problems of education and upbringing, relations between students in class and between students and teachers. It has also identified the problems of creation of conditions that improve moral and psychological well-being of a child at school, as well as the issues of a child’s development and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Parents view interaction with teachers as coordination of pedagogical attitudes, values and goals of education. The survey reveals the priorities of parents connected with the necessity of perception and comprehension of values and meanings of their own upbringing methods, and the need for enrichment of their psychological and pedagogical background with axiological and practice-focused components.Scientific novelty. The interaction of family and school is analysed in the context of dialogue between parents and teachers, who are subjects of educational relations. The educational choice of parents is connected with the assessment of the meaning of their own upbringing methods via the dialogue with teachers. The authors found that dialogue is a way of subjects’ interaction, which is characterized by mutuality due to their co-existence, incompleteness and openness and preservation of the dialogical nature in the process of interaction. Dialogical interaction between teachers and parents contributes to the development of the common existential educational values – love, freedom and responsibility, and collegiality.Practical significance. The results of the present study can be used by teachers to build a dialogical interaction between family and school. The content of the interaction between the family and the school will allow teachers to plan the topics of consultations, parent conferences, meetings and other forms of interaction.