The role of the parents in modern education: Educational policy and interaction with the family environment

The significance of parents in the education of their children is surely not a new pedagogical concept. On the contrary, since prehistoric times, parents have been their children’s first educators. From a historical perspective, a child’s education has always been seen by parents (and perhaps by society as a whole) as the purview of the child’s parents. Parental education included, and nowadays includes as well, activities related to discipline, work skills, basic skills, ethics, and value inculcation. Parents play a key role not only in the personal lives of their children but also in their school lives. The present article examines the role of parents in modern education and how the family interacts with the educational environment. It explains the importance of education in modern society and its influence, and describes the important role of parents as partners and educators. The article also examines the historical context of the parental role in education and systematizes traditional definitions within it. Educational policies are analyzed integrating parents into the school environment, and the rights and obligations of parents are not omitted. Social and legal rights are separated, schematically presented, and described in detail. The author hopes that the article will be useful for parents, students, and teachers who wish to improve the educational environment, and hopes that it will inspire many people, scientists and institutions to take a step in this direction around the world.