Under the slogan “Family, roots and wings of education,” representatives of parent associations from across the country will meet at San Agustín School in Zaragoza to exchange experiences and reflect on the role of families in educating children and adolescents.
Sara Fernández, Zaragoza City Council’s municipal councillor for Culture, Education and Tourism, has stressed the need to understand education as a shared task between schools and homes. “Families have to be part of that education,” she said, while defending the importance of the community created among schools, students and their parents.
OVERPARENTING AND LISTENING: THE TWO MAJOR DEBATES
The heart of the programme will take place on Saturday, with two talks focused on issues that are part of everyday life for many families. The first is titled “Are you listening to me?” The importance of listening to connect, understand and support” and will address conscious and empathetic listening as a tool for improving communication between parents and children.
The second will address a phenomenon that is increasingly present in educational debate: overparenting. Journalist and science communicator Eva Millet will give the talk “Parents or overparents?” Educating with confidence, not overprotection,” in which she will analyse the consequences of excessively protective parenting and advocate for an education that helps foster autonomy, effort, play and confidence in children.
Ana Domingo Martínez, representing the San Agustín School parent association, explained that both sessions aim to offer families tools and ideas they can later take back to their respective schools. She said the talk on overparenting will encourage reflection on “the role of parents today,” while the session devoted to listening will address how to improve communication within families.
PARENT ASSOCIATIONS: A PILLAR OF EDUCATION
Beyond the talks, the event also seeks to highlight families’ participation in the educational community. San Agustín School principal Nacho Montorio defended the view that parent associations play a role that goes far beyond organising extracurricular activities.
“Parent associations are not simply external collaborators; they are a fundamental pillar of our shared work of educating,” Montorio said, citing the collaboration between the Zaragoza school’s management and its parent association as an example.
The slogan chosen for this edition reflects that philosophy. The family acts as “roots” by becoming the space where many of children’s values are built, but it must also provide the “wings” needed for children to develop autonomy and face adult life with maturity.
For Montorio, this values-based education is “at least as fundamental as intellectual education.” The goal, he explained, is for children to develop their own autonomy and enter adult life “with appropriate moral strength and personal maturity.”
A CONGRESS THAT WILL ALSO SHOWCASE ZARAGOZA
The Friendship Congress will combine educational debate with cultural activities, socialising and spirituality. Participants will have the opportunity to visit some of Zaragoza’s main heritage sites, including Plaza del Pilar, La Seo and the Aljafería Palace.
The programme will also include a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of the Pillar and a dinner that will provide an opportunity to socialise and exchange experiences. The congress will close on Sunday at the Aljafería Palace.
Ana Domingo explained that the parent association decided to apply to host the event after taking part in previous editions and seeing the value of these gatherings. The experience had been “positive and enriching” and, together with the good rapport with the school’s management and the centre’s facilities, encouraged Zaragoza to submit its bid.
The congress will also have a tourism component. Sara Fernández highlighted that the arrival of participants from other parts of Spain represents an opportunity to showcase Zaragoza and turn visitors into future ambassadors for the city.
The aim is for the event not to remain merely a weekend of activities and talks. The organisers hope that families and representatives of parent associations will return to their schools with new tools and ideas they can apply in their daily lives and that will help strengthen cooperation between families and educational centres.
