CHILDREN'S FAMILY SITUATION AND THEIR SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCIENCE

Abstract

A contemporary family undergoes quick changes, which can upset the uniformities of educational influences on young generations. Therefore, cooperation between family and school is essential (Okoń, 2004, Kupisiewicz 2009, Szychowska 2001). Family environment is one of the factors influencing child's development, it stimulates intellectual and emotional development, shapes values, etc., which has a great impact on their school life. Nowadays, we face family life crisis. It happens because of , among others, the negative influence of the media promoting violence, abortion, euthanasia, divorces, sexual deviations and lack of morality (Bębas, 2009). The research was conducted among primary school students (level 4th-6 th) in Jaworzno (Poland). 80 respondents of science classes participated in the research. The research method was a diagnostic survey. The questions of the questionnaire concerned, among others, children and parents' forms of spending time together, place and time of doing homework, help and difficulties in achieving better school results. The questionnaire has taken into account the students' perspective as well as it referred to parents and families of the respondents. The research proved that the school results are connected with the family situation. Both children's and parents' interests, ways of spending their leisure, atmosphere at home and mutual relations between children, parents and teachers have an influence on students' results as far as science classes are concerned. Poor school results are the consequence of psychological and environmental factors, but they are also greatly affected by educational mistakes made by parents. It is, thus, important for the parents to emphasize the huge role of education in their children's lives. Parents' attitude towards their children shapes behavioural patterns, their personalities and their attitude towards a range of issues, including school and science. In the light of the research it turns that: students who meet friends after school have better results in biology learning. They meet for fun, but also to learn nature and observe it. An especially important aim for this research was the emphasis on the fact that students met also to learn science. The survey research revealed that meeting other students is not a barrier or a problem in children learning. The research emphasized that it is necessary to teach students cooperation in biology lesson in the classroom. School should have an important role in these activities because its an intermediary between children and society