Worked my butt off in the PTA and my son is in a "weaker" classroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was no deal. You are awful.

+1

I can't stand parents like the OP hovering around school with the expectation that their "volunteer work" will bring special favors: these types of parent are incredibly transparent in their motives. This is the type of parent who uses her "volunteer" time to identify the special needs kids, then gossips about them with other parents, and insists her snowflake be placed somewhere far away from the kids she deems undesirable classmates. It is sick.

In the past, I have been very vocal about insisting that children of these types of parent are NOT in my class. I was recently told that a certain mother had gone to the principal to request her child be placed in my class for next year, and I pleaded with the principal to put the kid somewhere else (because I do not want to deal with the mother).

OP, it is possible that you have a reputation among teachers, and the "stronger" teacher, who has some leverage with the principal because there are many parents who want their kid in her class, does not want to deal with you and your meddling. Er, "volunteering." She does not want to deal with you and your volunteering.

^^^
Nailed it. Nothing worse than these PTA moms who are always angling for an advantage. They are so transparent. Teachers and administrators are quickly onto them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

The overwhelming number of parents who spend a lot of time volunteering, do so hoping for preferential treatment. Let's not kid ourselves.

Do you have proof of this? Lots of stereotyping here. I'm the PTA President of a Focus school in Mont. County. I have a full time job and honestly I'm rarely at the school during the day so I'm barely in my kids classroom . I volunteered to be the Pres. because no one else wanted to do it. Let's face it, although people know how much a school benefits from a PTA, very few will step up to actually volunteer. The board members and I are dedicated in helping all the kids in the school. We have never received preferential treatment for being a part of the PTA Board, nor would we ever expect it! That would actually be pretty embarrassing. And to the VA Principal- what does OP's actions have anything to do with MD??

OP wrote "MC" which made me think she was in Montgomery County. I was inviting her to stay where she was in MD with her entitled attitude. I was mistaken--MC refers to middle class. Have no idea what state OP is in.

Thank you PP for your service to your school community. I'm sure many appreciate it. It really does make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

The overwhelming number of parents who spend a lot of time volunteering, do so hoping for preferential treatment. Let's not kid ourselves.

Do you have proof of this? Lots of stereotyping here. I'm the PTA President of a Focus school in Mont. County. I have a full time job and honestly I'm rarely at the school during the day so I'm barely in my kids classroom . I volunteered to be the Pres. because no one else wanted to do it. Let's face it, although people know how much a school benefits from a PTA, very few will step up to actually volunteer. The board members and I are dedicated in helping all the kids in the school. We have never received preferential treatment for being a part of the PTA Board, nor would we ever expect it! That would actually be pretty embarrassing. And to the VA Principal- what does OP's actions have anything to do with MD??

Some of us try to volunteer and its made very clear they just want their small group and we aren't welcome. Many people don't get involved after the first meeting or two after the year as its so poorly run, disarranged and unwelcoming.

[Anonymous]

Most elementary schools have a group of "queen bee" volunteer moms who are quite adept at running off everyone else, then complain constantly about how much falls on them. Their children are typically in the social groups and they tend to turn into mean kids who exclude and bully others.
Some principals kowtow to them. The good ones don't.
The OP sounds like one of these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am just venting .

Volunteering isn't about getting something out of it, other than a good feeling. You sound like a delight, OP. You didn't get your way so you're taking your ball and going home. Something tells me you won't be missed when you go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Most elementary schools have a group of "queen bee" volunteer moms who are quite adept at running off everyone else, then complain constantly about how much falls on them. Their children are typically in the social groups and they tend to turn into mean kids who exclude and bully others.
Some principals kowtow to them. The good ones don't.
The OP sounds like one of these.

We don't have queen bee volunteers at all. Our PTA, although small, genuinely welcomes anyone who is willing to help. Our problem is that very few are willing to do that. The PTA board is also really busy outside of the PTA and most of us have full time jobs that we don't have time to be the queen bee moms. We also have very few helicopter parents at our school that contributes to that type of environment. This thread has made me realize how thankful I am that my kid attends our school!

[Anonymous]

You are there to help out. That is all. You are not there to teach, assess or diagnose the children - that is not your role and you have no authority or place to do that. You are not there to review and critique the teacher, either. You are generally there to help out with fairly menial things - like making sure all of the kids have the supplies on their table (crayons, glue, scissors, etc) to do an art project. Maybe stuffing folders or photo copying worksheets, bringing supplies in for a class party, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are there to help out. That is all. You are not there to teach, assess or diagnose the children - that is not your role and you have no authority or place to do that. You are not there to review and critique the teacher, either. You are generally there to help out with fairly menial things - like making sure all of the kids have the supplies on their table (crayons, glue, scissors, etc) to do an art project. Maybe stuffing folders or photo copying worksheets, bringing supplies in for a class party, etc.

Not quite. In many schools PTA raises funds to bring enrichment programs in the school, sponsors teacher appreciation events and contributes towards equipment and resources needed at the school. The kind of help you are describing above is usually the role of parent volunteers in the classroom and not what the PTA does. However, it is not unusual that the parent who is volunteering in the classroom often will step up in PTA roles as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

"Educators" like you are why we pay $40k/yr for our children.

On behalf of all public school principals and teachers, I say "Thank you PP."

That principal used the word "idiot" and is pretty identifiable. I would say it takes one to know one.

[Anonymous]

There is no such thing as a selfless volunteer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as a selfless volunteer

Kind of sad that you have never encountered one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

I think you're the idiot here, although OP is certainly way too entitled. I started volunteering for the same reason, because truthfully many fcps principals do grant favors to the PTA parents. However, I soon learned that it wasn't so much about favors as about avoiding an unhappy parent who might make waves. Many parents will never speak up, no matter what you do, but a parent that goes to the trouble to be in the school all the time is likely also to have the ability to cause trouble for an uncooperative or just not so great principal. Many principals need to learn that like it or not, there is a customer service element to the job. While I agree the children of PTA moms don't deserve special treatment, ALL children deserve to have the best possible placement, and if you are going to screw someone over then you screw over the pta moms at your own risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

I think you're the idiot here, although OP is certainly way too entitled. I started volunteering for the same reason, because truthfully many fcps principals do grant favors to the PTA parents. However, I soon learned that it wasn't so much about favors as about avoiding an unhappy parent who might make waves. Many parents will never speak up, no matter what you do, but a parent that goes to the trouble to be in the school all the time is likely also to have the ability to cause trouble for an uncooperative or just not so great principal. Many principals need to learn that like it or not, there is a customer service element to the job. While I agree the children of PTA moms don't deserve special treatment, ALL children deserve to have the best possible placement, and if you are going to screw someone over then you screw over the pta moms at your own risk.

"customer service"? please go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are there to help out. That is all. You are not there to teach, assess or diagnose the children - that is not your role and you have no authority or place to do that. You are not there to review and critique the teacher, either. You are generally there to help out with fairly menial things - like making sure all of the kids have the supplies on their table (crayons, glue, scissors, etc) to do an art project. Maybe stuffing folders or photo copying worksheets, bringing supplies in for a class party, etc.

Not quite. In many schools PTA raises funds to bring enrichment programs in the school, sponsors teacher appreciation events and contributes towards equipment and resources needed at the school. The kind of help you are describing above is usually the role of parent volunteers in the classroom and not what the PTA does. However, it is not unusual that the parent who is volunteering in the classroom often will step up in PTA roles as well.

Yes, I was referring specifically to the classroom volunteers or the volunteers who interact with the kids as part of their volunteer duties.

The Op seems to have a rundown on the kids in the school. I am guessing that she is observing the kids first hand and drawing conclusions about them (which may or may not be accurate). The problem is that she was then using those observations to try pick/choose which kids she wants in her child's classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are just the kind of person who schools should not let volunteer..keeping track of who might have learning issues who stayed back..people's socioeconomic status. Stay away from the classroom please. You are only there for selfish reasons not to help.

I don't share it with other people. In fact other people tell me bits of info and it all comes together, I don't keep track on purpose.

Total BS.
I have been in my kids class basically every week for the last two years to help with their library/reading program. I have no clue what the academic levels of most of the kids are and certainly don't have any idea at all who has an IEP or doesn't. I have no idea who has repeated a grade. And I sure as hell don't make assumptions of people's socioeconomic status. There are a very small handful of kids who stand out on the extreme ends of the behavior spectrum, but other than that, I focus on my task at hand and don't worry about delving into each kids' backstory and academic potential.