Parental Voice and Involvement in Cultural Context: Understanding Rationales, Values, and Motivational Constructs in a Dual Immersion Setting

Abstract

In an attempt to operationalize an equitable educational program, a dual immersion program was established. After 2 years of field observations, a series of focus group interviews was conducted to examine the perceptions and viewpoints of parents whose children had participated in the program for 2 years. These interviews offered parents an opportunity to transcend the traditional role of “parents as observers” and gave voice to hitherto untapped viewpoints and perspectives on culture and values. The resulting information formed the basis of a deep understanding of parental rationales, values, and motivational constructs framed in a dual-immersion bilingual context.