Parent Meetings- A effective tool

In the rational development of mentally challenged children there are many factors which play important role. One of these important factors is positive contribution of parents. Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha accords utmost importance to parents and their contribution in the development of mentally challenged. We have conducting parent meetings of our students regularly and consistently. Ensuring a good attendance for the parent meeting is tough task. Simply sending a notice for the parent meeting does not ensure fairly good number of parents attending the meeting.I have been observing, that single notice of meeting does not serve the purpose. I many times fail to understand the parent psychology. On 27th of March 2010 we held a parent meeting. This was the last meeting of the current academic session. The first circular was sent about 12 days in advance. The reminder was sent about 4-5 days before the scheduled date. And then our social worker telephoned most of the parents reminding about the meeting. This whole procedure resulted in 72 parents attending the meeting which included both mother and father also. Not only the record number attended but most of them came in time, that is more important. Anticipating a good gathering we had booked a community hall for the meeting and it was perfectly justified.
Meeting went smooth as per the agenda. In the beginning Mr. Badkas went through the routine instructions like, schedule of distribution of progress reports, vacation schedule, readmission, discipline to be followed by parents in respect of cleanliness, dress code , time punctuality, eating habits of children etc. In the second part secretary, Navin Deshpande talked about new agarbatti rehab unit and parents contribution in making the unit successful. He also elaborated the importance of sibling or close relatives of our mentally challenged students taking up career in the field related to this problem of disability. He stressed that if these people go for the faculties like clinical psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy etc. it will not only help their immediate sibling but his first hand realization will be of immense help to other parents approaching for professional advice in respect of their mentally challenged ward. Secretary further congratulated parents for maintaining fairly good discipline through the current academic session.
Chairman, Dr.RM Uttarwar appealed to all parents to take initiative in taking over the rehab units so that we can clear the waiting list which has already crossed the 50 number mark.
In the open session, one of the parents suggested that we should have a mini snack provision for our children before they board the bus at 4.30 pm. Because it is quite late that by the time children reach home they are quite hungry. Parents volunteered to contribute the expense incurred for this purpose.This proposal was accepted by the management.
Principal of SSS thanked the gathering for their co operation and the meeting was called of at 4.30 pm.
By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS
web site: http://www.sandnya.org/ email: navindesh@gmail.com