Parents’ Involvement in Education

The Experience of an African Immigrant Community in Chicago

The Igbo community in Chicago is a newer immigrant community, compared to the German, Polish, Italian, or Irish communities. Just as for these older immigrant communities, education is essential for Igbo immigrants who have come to start a new life in the United States. Adapting well and thriving in the new environment requires immigrants to tread the path of education. The number of Igbo children and other such immigrants is increasing. The way they are educated is importantnot only to the individual child, but also to society. Igbo children are enrolled in both public and private schools in the Chicago metropolitan area. Ka umu anyi wee karia anyi (So that our children will be more successful than us) is one of the many reasons Igbo families in Chicago are involved in the education of their children. Education of children occurs in the home, the school, and the community. This study seeks to understand the nature of parental engagement of Igbo families in Chicago in the education of their children. Not all immigrants are the same. Knowing about Igbo experiences will enable scholars and educators to recognize both similarities with and differences from other immigrant communities. It is immaterial whether their kind of involvement fits the prescribed or standardized form of parental involvement in the literature or in practice elsewhere. The crucial question is, given their circumstances, are Igbo parents perceptions and practices of parental involvement promoting the education of their children in Chicago?