Parents, and Other Significant Players, as Partners CHAPTER 8
I
t can be tempting to think that there is a “traditional” family model that includes two biological parents, two sets of biologi-
cal grandparents who live nearby, and perhaps assorted other relatives who will be responsible for stepping in if emergencies arise. Such a configuration of family may have been common at one time (or perhaps it has always only been in books or on TV), but the concept of family has greatly expanded. Some statistics tell the story of today’s family. In 2010, there were about 75 million children in the United States, ages 0 to 17 and:
· 66 percent of children lived with two parents (down from 77 percent in 1980). Of this group, 3 percent lived with unmarried parents.
· 23 percent of children lived only with their mothers; 3 percent only with their fathers.
· 4 percent of all children lived with neither parent. Of this group, 54 percent
With modern families consisting of a variety of diverse situations, teachers need to be both comfortable with and knowledgeable about each student’s situation. How would you prepare for diversity?
Associated Press
lived with grandparents, 21 percent with other relatives, and 24 percent with non-relatives, including foster parents.
· Of all children in the United States, 2.5 per cent had been adopted (America’s Children, 2011).
Figure 8.2 provides an overall view of the United States for 2010.