Appendix
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION BY MADRES UNIDAS

These questions were prepared by Madres Unidas for the teachers at UCS to discuss during the research presentation. The order and grouping of the questions is the order in which they were presented to the teachers. For more information on the questions, see chapter 6.

Selection of Students (Admissions)

What are the consequences of leaving out some families? How does this affect our community?

What suggestions do you have for the selection of students for next year?

How do you plan on doing the selection of students for next year?

How would we describe our school to say that it’s a “community school”? What does it mean to be a community school?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of admitting students whose parents did not participate in the organizing process?

How can parents be involved in admissions decisions?

Parent Voice

What does it mean to have parent leaders in the school?

What would it mean for parents to have “voice and vote” within a school?

How can we value the voice and vote of parents?

How does it affect parents when their decisions are not respected?

How do you feel when you are heard? How do you feel when you are not heard?

What does it mean to have equality between parents and teachers?

What are the consequences of insincerity toward parents (on the part of the school)?

How do you recognize and value the interest of parents in participating the school, and how do you maintain it?

How do you define communication among staff at the school?

How do you define communication with parents?

What are the advantages of getting to know and understand the different cultures of our community?

What does it mean to have trust (confianza) between school staff and parents, and what are the consequences of mistrust?

What factors affect the ability (or inability) to have good communication among parents?

What should be the role of parents in the selection of personnel for the school?

General

In what ways is social justice reflected in this school?

How are the most important aspects of the school reflected?

What does it mean to be an autonomous school? In what ways are we applying autonomy in this school?

We know there is a system of conflict resolution for students. How is conflict resolution handled between staff and parents? Among the staff?