Consultation and the Parent-Educator Partnership: A Perspective

The importance of consulting with parents and teachers is discussed in this article. It is contended that educational and psychological consultants must go beyond adopting a systems approach to applying principles of general systems theory by understanding and enhancing the reciprocal influences of home and school. Three literature areas that support this contention are reviewed: (a) parent involvement in education, (b) prevention efforts, and (c) systems/ecological theory. Six critical practice issues are outlined for consulting when the home-school interface is a focal concern.