Korean parents want to be actively involved in their children’s education. That’s why many Korean parents are being voted onto PTA and PA boards in New York City public schools so that they can help create the quality of education they want their children to have.
This coming fall, public schools throughout the entire city will be busy electing new members of the PTA and PA, and the list of Koreans elected to positions on these boards is impressive. Jhs 189 D.C Beard Junior High School in Flushing has already selected a Korean parent, Mr. Kwang-hae Chong, as its co-chairmen for 2007-2008 year. Chong had previously served the school in the slightly different position of co-vice-chairman during the 2006-2007 school year.
P.S. 150, an elementary school in Long Island City, Queens, elected Mrs. In-joo Lee, a Korean mother, as vice chairman, and Mrs. Yong-ok Choi as director for the school-wide parents association for the 2007-2008 school year. Korean parents have been active in the school for some time, and the election of these two Korean mothers demonstrates that people are taking notice – and responding positively – to this fact.
Similarly, a Korean parent has become the vice chairman of the PTA in P.S. 94, an elementary school in the Bronx. Three Korean parents are going to serve as PTA board members at the prestigious Bronx Science High School starting this fall. In addition, Ms. Sang-hee Kim, who has held the position of chairwoman in P.S. 203 elementary school, was reappointed to the same position for the next school year. Also Ms. Hyang-ran Cho, has previously served on the Korean Education Committee and was PA chairperson in 2006- 2007 at Junior High School 67. She will continue to hold her position in the school in the coming school year.
One observer noted that the Korean parents being voted onto the PTA or PA boards are not only those who have been in the United States for a long time. In fact, many of the newly elected individuals have only been here for a short time, but have shown great interest and participated eagerly in the PTA or PA activities. These new immigrants frequently find that there are few venues for their participation in U.S. society. Now though, it seems that they have found the school system – and that the school system has found them. Everyone is happy as the number of Korean parents elected to PTA and PA positions increases.
This trend reflects a number of things – some obvious and some not. For one, it is a response to the increasing number of Korean students enrolled in New York City’s public school system. It further reflects an understanding on the part of the school system that schools have an important obligation in the education of these Korean students, who typically perform very well. This trend also highlights an issue of social responsibility – namely that, even if the parents are new to America and do not have fluent English skills, there is a place for their participation in their children’s education. Not only are parents invited to participate in PTA and PA activities, but, as the recent elections show, they are being actively encouraged to do so.
For example, Mr. Sang-min Song, who immigrated to the United States a year ago, gladly accepted his nomination as chairman of the PTA at Junior High School 189 in Flushing last year.
A number of years ago, New York City enacted a new policy for electing members of local school boards, mandating that members should better reflect the ethnic make-up of the PTA and PA boards. That means that if the number of Korean PTA or PA members in a school increases, then this increase should result in the election of more Koreans to the local school boards. In this way, the participation of Korean parents in their children’s education can take place at the level of local school boards.
