School encourages parents to join kids in the classroom

Robin Clark remembers staring at a row of babies in the nursery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Her eldest son, less than a day old, was tucked among them. On that first day of their lives, Clark thought, her son and the other babies born in that hospital had the same chances for an education and success.

But a gap emerged as those children left the hospital with their parents — a divide created by income, education and other factors. It would only widen as the kids got older.

As Clark watched the babies in that nursery, she wanted more for them.

"That sight never left my mind," she said.

Twenty-five years later, Clark, a math teacher at Manual High School, is launching a program that she hopes will boost outcomes for students and their families.

The premise is simple: Clark allows her students' parents — those without a high school diploma — to join their children in the classroom and learn the math required for them to pass the high school equivalency exam.

Clark said the program is a win-win. She gets free, extra adult supervision in the classroom, and the parents receive an education that will help them obtain a high school equivalency diploma.

Clark is seeking the public's help with donations to pay for bus passes and baby-sitting services for parents so they can participate in the program. Clark teaches the same class multiple times a day, so the parents who do shift work can attend around their schedules.

Manual High School Principal Hanno Becker said he couldn't find anything like Clark's program being offered elsewhere. He agreed to let Clark pilot it in her classroom. He said school officials will evaluate the program later to determine whether there is enough interest and whether it should be expanded beyond math class.

"We know how crucial it is when parents are able to be supportive of their students' education," Becker said. "I think this is one great tool in order for us as a school to try to reach that goal of enabling parents to get involved in their students' education."

Indianapolis resident Carol Smiley joined Clark's math class the day after her 16-year-old daughter, Briana, told her about the program. Smiley, 32, dropped out of high school in 10th grade after she became pregnant with Briana.

Smiley said she didn't see the value in education back then. She sees it now.

"I just wanted more out of life than working warehouse jobs," said Smiley, who works at Guitar Center. "I want to go back to school and do more."

She plans to get her high school equivalency diploma and pursue a career. She isn't sure what kind of job it will be, but she said she knows it will be "something I can retire from."

Smiley currently is Clark's only adult student.

Clark launched the program late in the school year. She said she intends to recruit more parents into the program for the next school year.

She recently asked her students how many of their parents had graduated from high school. Only two of the 21 students said their parents had done so.

Clark said some students might be embarrassed or upset that their parents are in the classroom, but that will fade with time.

"If a child sees that their parent values education, they, too, will value education," she said.

Call Star reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.

How to help

Donate money to cover bus passes and baby-sitting services so parents can participate in the program.

Checks should be made out to Emmerich Manual High School and mailed to the school: Emmerich Manual High School, 2405 South Madison, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Please write "Diplomax2" on the memo line.