Many are biased to support someone's preconception.

Others are just an intrusion into your psyche by a company determined to sell you even more products you neither need nor want.

Another form of junk mail.

But occasionally I do fill one out. Because it's immediately obvious why doing so is in my best interest.

So it is with a survey that soon may be coming to a mailbox near you.

No, it's not the census form. It's an effort to deliver the best possible education to your child and the students in our schools.

There are many things that affect the quality of a child's education.

Everything from the pedagogical quality of the curriculum to the physical quality of the ceilings.

But the research tells us that there's one thing more important than any other. It's encompassed in the two little words: "parental involvement." Virtually anything a parent can do to communicate to a young student that mom and dad think education is important shows up in that child's academic performance.

• It may be the child's association of reading with having been cuddled and read to as a toddler. Some researchers say there's even a benefit from reading to a child before it is born.

• It may be a meaningful discussion about what's going on in school, and supporting the curriculum with a family trip to the library, museum, state park, the backyard garden, encyclopedia or Internet.

• Children notice if their parents attend teacher conferences, PTO and other school events, or volunteer in school.

The pressures on today's parents take them away from children.

Both parents may have jobs -- maybe more than one each.

Some are single parents.

Adult supervision falls to the television set. Education to the teacher.

But modern pressures can't alter ancient realities. Children learn because parents are involved in their learning and personally model behavior that honors education.

No teacher, regardless of how well-educated, skilled and devoted, can do it alone.

Ever wonder why some cultures, and countries, seem to produce students who excel academically? It's not that those students are genetically superior.

Their little secret is a cultural tradition of parental involvement.

The Iowa City School Board and administration want to deliver the best possible education to our students. That's why we take the broadest possible look at the whole child in the local environment. That includes a wide range of programs in and out of the schools.

But central is parental involvement.

So why a survey?

It's always tempting to rely on intuition and simply announce a program. As the line goes, "My mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts."

With leadership from board members Don Jackson and Lauren Reece, this board thought it would try a different approach: first get the facts and then design the program. Interesting concept, wouldn't you say?

What is our district's parent-teacher partnership now? How well do teachers and parents think it's working? What do you, and they, draw from personal experiences regarding how we might improve?

Most parents and teachers are obviously doing a lot of things right. The survey is not about blaming anybody for anything. It's about playing to our strengths -- once we find out what they are.

So when the survey comes your way, take it. And take it seriously. It's an honest effort by caring parents, teachers, administrators and College of Education professors to make our children's education even better.

Filling it out is another opportunity to show your kids you care about education.

But this "parental involvement" only takes five minutes. It's five minutes that can pay big dividends for everyone. Please do it.
 

Nicholas Johnson is an Iowa City School Board member. More information is available on his Web site www.nicholasjohnson.org.