Parent Education in the 1970s

Abstract

Sponsored by federal agencies such as Office of Child Development and Office of Education, encouraged by formal parent-focused organizations such as PTA and informal self-help groups, bolstered by findings of psychological researchers studying child development and early childhood education, promoted by book publishers eager to make sales, and supported by conviction of Commissioner of Education that parent is the key to more effective education (Bell 1976), thousands of courses, seminars, workshops, books, pamphlets, shows, and home visits aimed at teaching parents how to raise their children reached millions of American parents in 1970s. Among recent trends in education, this focus on parent stands out. Parent is not a new idea: 50