Marty Rossmann:
promoting proficient parenting
BY ROXI REJALI
A PARENT AND CHILD playing with a set of colorful building blocks may seem like an ordinary slice of family life. But to Marty (Marilyn) Rossmann (Ph.D. ’77), professor emeritus of family education, that scene is an ideal testing ground for theories about parent education. During a 28-year career at the College of Education and Human Development, Rossmann specialized in translating knowledge distilled from research and classroom teaching into practical techniques that parents could use at the kitchen table and in the family living room.
Children thrive in an environment of love, encouragement, and consistent discipline, Rossmann believes. “Helping people to be better parents just has to be something that is valuable. If nothing more, the parent is going to enjoy parenting more if they are able to keep their kids from climbing on the furniture,” says Rossmann, who retired in 2004.
Family education programs examine nutrition, clothing, housing, child development, and family life. Convinced that hard data could prove such programs’ effectiveness, Rossmann advocated for research to back up theory. One example was her study showing that young children who complete simple household chores are likely to develop into responsible, well-adjusted adults—research that earned attention in the consumer press as well as at academic conferences.
Rossmann also played a major role in establishing Minnesota’s Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs in the mid-’70s by lobbying legislators and other public officials. Today, the programs are offered by many of the state’s school districts.
By linking research to practice, Rossmann’s work is a great example of the University’s public service mission, says Ted Bowman, family education adjunct professor. Like Rossmann, many ECFE advocates believed that the programs should be available to all families. “It wasn’t tied to income or to special needs or to particular locations. They were trying to make it accessible to all the citizens of Minnesota,” he says.
Rossmann taught secondary home economics for a few years, then went on to earn an M.A. in home economics education and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Minnesota. In 2006, Rossmann was honored as one of CEHD’s 100 Distinguished Alumni. That title honors her work as researcher, teacher, and student adviser in the family education program, which has prepared many of the state’s licensed parent educators.
Retirement has allowed Rossmann, 72, to pursue other interests, including spending more time with her three grown children and four grandchildren. Her recent travels include an Alaskan cruise, during which she and her husband Jack celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
But she’s found her niche as part-time volunteer coordinator for Parent Warmline, a free telephone consultation service at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Parents call with questions on a wide range of parenting issues, such as toilet training or sleep problems, and trained volunteers offer practical advice, encouragement, and referrals to community resources.
Rossmann thinks of her Warmline work as a natural extension of her work as a teacher educator, allowing her to share the knowledge earned during a career of teaching, mentoring, and research. She reflects back upon her career and says she hopes she enhanced the lives of many families.