Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

Quote by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

“Dissonance between family and school, therefore, is not only inevitable in a changing society; it also helps to make children moremalleable and responsive to a changing world. By the same token, one could say that absolute homogeneity between family and school would reflect a static, authoritarian society and discourage creative, adaptive development in children.”

Quote by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

Work

Worlds apart: relationships between families and schools

The book delves into the multifaceted relationships that exist between families and schools, examining how these connections impact the educational experience of students. It investigates the challenges and opportunities that arise from these relationships, offering insights into effective communication and collaboration strategies. more

Author

Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot is an esteemed American educationalist and sociologist. Born in 1944, she is known for her profound insights into educational and social issues. Her research focuses on educational inequality, adolescent development, and educational policy. more

You May Also Like

“Mothers seem to be in subtle competition with teachers. There is always an underlying fear that teachers will do a better job thanthey have done with their child.... But mostly mothers feel that their areas of competence are very much similar to those of the teacher. In fact they feel they know their child better than anyone else and that the teacher doesn't possess any special field of authority or expertise.”

“For those parents from lower-class and minority communities[who] have had minimal experience in negotiating dominant, external institutions or have had negative and hostile contact with social service agencies, their initial approaches to the school are often overwhelming and difficult. Not only does the school feel like an alien environment with incomprehensible norms and structures, but the families often do not feel entitled to make demands or force disagreements.”

“The ambiguous, gray areas of authority and responsibility between parents and teachers exacerbate the distrust between them. The distrust is further complicated by the fact that it is rarely articulated, but usually remains smoldering and silent.”

“Whether outside work is done by choice or not, whether women seek their identity through work, whether women are searching for pleasure or survival through work, the integration of motherhood and the world of work is a source of ambivalence, struggle, and conflict for the great majority of women.”