As a foster child growing up in Goulburn, Tanayah Howe tries not to remember her unhappy and disrupted school days. Now she is determined her sons will have a much better education.
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Ms Howe, a 27-year-old mother of two boys, left school at Year 7. But her decision to start volunteering with the Salvation Army led to her support back into the classroom. And now her boys are getting support through the Smith Family's Learning for Life program so their primary school days are more positive than their mum's.
As part of National Literacy and Numeracy Week this week, the Smith Family is promoting the concept of parental engagement – stressing the benefits of parents who connect and engage with their child's learning.
Acting chief executive Wendy Field said the home learning environment was a bigger factor in a child's educational attainment than a family's financial status.
"Students with parents who are engaged in their learning and development, no matter what their income or background, are more likely to do well at school and take up higher education," Ms Field said.
This could help reverse a cycle of disadvantage, but there were thousands of Australian parents who were unsure how to engage with their children in educational activities.
"This can be the case for parents who have had negative experiences at school, or have low levels of literacy and numeracy. It doesn't mean they don't have aspirations for their children's success," Ms Field said.
She noted that schools also had a role to play in providing a supportive and welcoming environment for parents who may not have enjoyed their own time there.
"We like to see school making sure their entrance halls are warm and welcoming places for parents to come, and to make the effort to encourage parents and to communicate positively with them, understanding that for some of them, the school environment can be a bit intimidating."
The Smith Family supported parental engagement through a number of programs including Learning for Life, literacy and numeracy support, school community hubs, technical support and financial literacy programs.
Despite her own early exit from school, Ms Howe understands the way education can provide a path out of disadvantage. She was first encouraged to get back into the classroom by the Salvation Army, after she volunteered to provide Christmas services with them
She completed a Certificate 4 in Community Work at the Salvation Army's Booth College and is now enrolled at the CIT to begin a Youth Work Diploma.
She also keeps a close eye on the educational progress of her six-year-old son Tyson and her eight-year-old son Demitrio at their local Ngunnawal Primary School.
"Their school is fantastic, and I am really, really engaged with where my boys are at – possibly a bit too much at times," she said with a laugh.
Ms Howe said she wanted her boys to understand the benefits of study, but it was also important for them to learn how to give back to people in greater need.
"I role model to my sons on the importance of helping other people. I love working with the homeless, and I involve my boys in feeding the homeless and in running the Christmas celebrations for the Salvation Army."
While it was difficult raising two boys on her own, while working and studying, Ms Howe said she felt she was doing a good job.
"My boys know the importance of giving rather than receiving."
