THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY

Contributed by Blesilda Tamoro, Teacher III, Sta. Rosa Elementary School, Pilar

How is the school related to the community? The school is an institution established by society for the basic enculturation of the young. The community is a group of people who live in the same area. There are different ways of looking at the relationship between the two. The following are the different points of view:

1. The school in the community. This makes the school a part of the community and must therefore be of service to it.
2. The community and its effects on the school. This is the opposite of the first and pre supposes that the community should help the school. In the past, the municipality supported the elementary schools and was responsible for teacher’s salaries and other expenses. But the municipal board had a say in the running of the school. Since politicians control the school board, the effect of the community on the school may be gleaned from the answers to some questions.
3. The community as resource for the school.

The school may function independently, but use the resources of the community on three levels:

1. Observation level in which the school just studies the kind of resources available in the community.
2. Participation level in which the school makes use of the resources of the community for work education projects.
3. Community improvement wherein the school works on community problems and contributes to the solution of problems.

Good public relations form the basis of the kind of relationship between the school and the community. This may be achieved through (1) clear objectives of the school, stated clearly and stressing that school and community are working toward the same goals; (2) good performance in relation to objectives; and (3) publicity of the good job being done. This I is the best relationship between school and community.

If the school and the community can work together, there will be no disparity in the graduates turned out by the school and the needs of the community. Then there will be less unemployment. The school and the community should work together so that the kind of graduates turned out will be leaders in the academe, but also in the community.

The school should also find out the manpower needs of the community and give the training needed. And the community should make its resources available to the school and the school premises should be made available to the community.

References:

Brossard, James H.D. The Sociology of Child Development. New York: Harper. 1954

Cook, Lloyd Allen and Cook, Elaine Forsyth. A Sociological Approach to Education, 3^rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc. 1960. Chapter 8

Stanley, William O., Smith B. Othanel, Benne, Kenneth D. and Anderson, Archibald W., Social Foundations of Education. New York: The Dryden Press, Inc. 1956, Section B.