Preamble
Raising
children is a sign of hope. It shows that people have hope for the future and
faith in the values they pass on to the next generation.
Therefore
the responsibility of parents for their children is an irreplaceable
cornerstone of society. Parents need not stand alone in bearing this
responsibility, neither in the Europe of today nor that of tomorrow. The
education community helps them with this task, social groups and institutions
support them, public services offer material assistance and expertise.
Many people
contribute to the raising of children in society, as children do not grow up in
isolation but right in the middle of the real world. Growing up is thus much
more than academic education, but is almost impossible without the efforts made
by schools. Mutual support and mutual respect for the responsibility of parents
and schools is the "conditio sine qua non" for raising children in
our age.
The hopes
of many people in Western and Eastern Europe are based upon a new cooperation
on our continent, leading to increased unity and a common identity. Today's
young people will be citizens of the Europe of tomorrow, each with their
distinctive spiritual and cultural background, each with their distinctive
talents and expectations. For them and for ourselves we demand a democratic
Europe, which will continue to regard its diversity as a source of inspiration.
Education
and schooling in Europe should be focused on this objective.
If we want
to achieve this goal, parents must work together: in schools, with schools, but
also at European level and in national associations. Mutual inspiration and
growth towards European solidarity are our objectives.
EPA regards
this as its "to be or not to be". But even more is needed.
Parents in
Europe should have always the right to count on respect for their prime
responsibility as educators of youth. This means recognition for their parental
duties and emphasis on their task as prime educators for their children as well
as support from dedicated people in education and society as a whole for their
educational efforts.
EPA wishes
to formulate this philosophy in a declaration of principles, the "Rights
and Duties of Parents in Europe". We ask the European Commission and
Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe to
support this Charter and join us in its realization.
Rights and
duties of parents in Europe
- Parents
have the right to raise their children in a society without discrimination on
the grounds of the color of their skin, sex, ethnic, social background,
disability, nationality, beliefs, gender orientation or economic position.
Parents have the duty to raise their children towards a sense of responsibility for each other and for a humane world. - Parents
have the right to recognition of their primacy as educators of their children.
Parents have the duty to raise children in a responsible way and not to neglect them. - Parents
have the right to full access to the formal education system for their children
on the basis of their needs, talents and merits. Everyone has the right to
education and to have access to vocational training.
Parents have the duty to commit themselves as partners in education to the school of their children. - Parents
have the right of access to all information at educational institutions which
concerns their children.
Parents have the duty to give to their children's schools all information relevant for the attainment of the educational goals on which they work together. - Parents
have the right to make a choice for the education which is closest to their
convictions and to the values they hold dear in raising their children and the
freedom to found educational establishments with due respect for democratic
principles.
Parents have the duty to make well-informed and conscientious choices about the education their children should receive. - Parents
have the right to ensure the education and teaching of their children in
conformity with their religious, philosophical and pedagogical convictions. The
formal education system shall respect for the spiritual and cultural background
of the children.
Parents have the duty to raise their children to respect and accept other people and their convictions. - Parents
have the right to public material assistance to take away financial impediments
to the access to education for their children. This includes the right to
receive free compulsory education.
Parents have the duty to give both time and personal commitment to their children and their school to support its efforts in attaining educational goals. - Parents
have the right to exert influence on the policy which their children's school
implements.
Parents have the duty to be personally committed to their children's school as a vital part of the local community. - Parents
and their associations have the right to be consulted actively about the policy
of public authorities in education at all levels.
Parents have the duty to maintain democratic representative organizations at all levels to represent themselves and their interests. - Parents have the right to high quality educational provision from the responsible public authorities.
Parents
have the duty to help each other to improve their skills as prime educators and
partners in the home-school relationship.
