The Lived Experience of the Parents of High School Dropouts PDF
Preview The Lived Experience of the Parents of High School Dropouts
University of Arkansas, Fayeteville THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction By Christine Ann Silano Southern Oregon University Bachelor of Science in English, 1995 Southern Oregon University Master of Science in Education, 2000 December, 2012 University of Arkansas ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences and perceptions of parents whose children did not receive a high school diploma. This subpopulation has been rarely studied. The central question is, “What are the perceptions and experiences of the parents of public high school dropouts as they pertain to schools, their children, and themselves?” This phenomenological study examined the lived experience of the parents of high school dropouts. Five women and one man participated in the study by sitting for interviews. The collected interview data was transcribed and analyzed using accepted qualitative methodology including open and axial coding as well as textural-structural description. The results of the study revealed six emergent themes: Bright Child, Involved Parent(s), Medical Issues, Unfair School, Troubled Home, and, Behavior Issues. Two of the themes corroborated previous research: Troubled Home, and, Behavior Issues. However, other themes ran contrary to existing perceptions and highlighted gaps in available research. Bright Child challenged the perception and some research suggesting that school achievement is a strong indicator of at-risk status. Involved Parent(s) contradicts notions that the parents of at-risk students are uninvolved or uncaring. Unfair School is somewhat supported in the literature, but not enough research has been done to validate the implication that at-risk students and their parents are treated less favorably than their peers. Medical Issues reveals another gap in dropout research. Though this issue is widely addressed in special education research as it relates to disabilities, the relationship between health and achievement is largely unexplored in dropout literature. This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council Dissertation Co-Directors: __________________________________________ Dr. Janet Penner-Williams __________________________________________ Dr. Christian Z. Goering Dissertation Committee: __________________________________________ Dr. Christopher J. Lucas __________________________________________ Dr. Tom E. C. Smith ©2012 by Christine A. Silano All Rights Reserved DISSERTATION DUPLICATION RELEASE I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this dissertation when needed for research and/or scholarship Agreed ___________________________________________ Christine A. Silano Refused ___________________________________________ Christine A. Silano ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am honored to acknowledge my committee for their valuable contributions and support: Dr. Janet Penner-Williams, Dr. Christian Goering, Dr. Christopher Lucas, and Dr. Thomas Smith. Your kindness, encouragement, and dedication helped to create a journey that was the “just right” balance of discovery, challenge, and accomplishment that I hoped it would be. I extend warm thanks to my participants. Your stories touched my heart. It is my hope that they will touch the hearts of others and make a difference for families like ours. I also am privileged to acknowledge special friends and family members who have continually cheered me on toward achieving this dream: my mother Susan, my father Eugene, Sue, Marie, Al, Janice, Michele, Peter, Jayne, Laura, Rosie, Michelle, Janine, Debbie, Pattie, Cal, James, JJ, Robbie, Martha, Byron, Christine, Sheryl, Pete, Patti, Rick, and many other wonderful colleagues, friends, and extended family. I especially want to thank my husband, Matthew, for being my closest companion and loudest cheerleader. Thank-you, my friend, for the hundreds of loads of dishes you washed, for your prayers when the road was rough, for your unfailing faith in me, and for never complaining about the expense of this wild hair. I pray that all the goodness and patience you have extended to me these last four years returns to you an hundredfold. And finally I thank my beloved children: Sophie, Benjamin, Dante, and Carmine. You have put up with a mom who was in front of her laptop way too often, who baked way too few cookies and relied on the microwave way too often. I hope that you will be inspired to follow your dreams wherever they may lead. And when you do, I hope to be behind you, cheering you on, helping with dishes, and catching up on some baking. You are the joy of my life. DEDICATION I dedicate this project to my mother, Susan, who is the best teacher I know.
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