I believe parents have always considered education as a key to success for their children's future. They want their children to become educated so they could contribute to the developemnt of their community and to upward their soioeconomic status in the American society. Those Khmer parents who are very concerned about their children's education in this country are pretty much aware of the competition in the job market. Therefore, they have often advised their children to study hard in school in order to prepare for a better future.

    In response to why Khmer parents do not participate in their children's education or activities, I believe that there are many factors. However, I personally feel that the main factors are language barrier and the Khmer parents' perceptions of school and its responsibility. First, many Khmer parents came to America with limited English or no English at all. Many do not know what is being taught in school or whether their children have homewrok or not. Thus, they are not able to monitor their children's academic progress in school. They tend to rely on their children to inform them about their grades, homework or school activities. Second, most Cambodians parents instill with them the traditional beliefs that the teachers and the school should be solely responsible for their teaching, learning, and disciplining.