Minority parents often do not participate in school activities. Comer (1986) emphasizes that this lack of involvement should not be interpreted as disinterest in their children's education. Rather, these parents don't participate because they don't feel comfortable in schools. Comer's work with schools in New Haven, Connecticut, shows that parents' prior experiences with schools, their lack of knowledge about school policies and procedures, their feelings of intimidation toward educators, and their perception of not being welcome contribute to noninvolvement in their children's schools.
