Is this typical for PTAs in HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is dumb. While some teachers might appreciate the sentiment, most will feel like it's a barrier to getting to their desk as quickly as possible to do their work and an awkward situation where they have to feign excitement.

Teachers would get much more mileage out of:
- encouraging parents and kids to write a meaningful note to a teacher who has inspired or helped them
- a $5 Starbucks giftcard

I am a teacher.

there was a thread a while ago during xmas by some teacher who lamented all the starbucks gift cards they got. I was trying to think of something else other than Target gift cards, so I got them starbucks cards. I've since gone back to Target cards.

When my kids tell me how much they like xyz teacher (both in HS), I always tell them that they should write them a quick note telling them this because I'm sure teachers are burnt out and under appreciated. I always appreciate it when I get "job well done.. kudos" type emails from people at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is dumb. While some teachers might appreciate the sentiment, most will feel like it's a barrier to getting to their desk as quickly as possible to do their work and an awkward situation where they have to feign excitement.

Teachers would get much more mileage out of:
- encouraging parents and kids to write a meaningful note to a teacher who has inspired or helped them
- a $5 Starbucks giftcard

I am a teacher.

there was a thread a while ago during xmas by some teacher who lamented all the starbucks gift cards they got. I was trying to think of something else other than Target gift cards, so I got them starbucks cards. I've since gone back to Target cards.

When my kids tell me how much they like xyz teacher (both in HS), I always tell them that they should write them a quick note telling them this because I'm sure teachers are burnt out and under appreciated. I always appreciate it when I get "job well done.. kudos" type emails from people at work.

Sure. I am speaking for myself because I like them. But not everyone does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is dumb. While some teachers might appreciate the sentiment, most will feel like it's a barrier to getting to their desk as quickly as possible to do their work and an awkward situation where they have to feign excitement.

Teachers would get much more mileage out of:
- encouraging parents and kids to write a meaningful note to a teacher who has inspired or helped them
- a $5 Starbucks giftcard

I am a teacher.

there was a thread a while ago during xmas by some teacher who lamented all the starbucks gift cards they got. I was trying to think of something else other than Target gift cards, so I got them starbucks cards. I've since gone back to Target cards.

When my kids tell me how much they like xyz teacher (both in HS), I always tell them that they should write them a quick note telling them this because I'm sure teachers are burnt out and under appreciated. I always appreciate it when I get "job well done.. kudos" type emails from people at work.

Sure. I am speaking for myself because I like them. But not everyone does.

Starbucks or similar gift cards are great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

You can question the wisdom all you want but except if you are willing to help or do better, stop complaining. At least they are trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

I bet you don't do a damn thing to make the high school that your kids go to a better place. Volunteering your time and energy to be on the PTA is an act of sacrifice and service, and good people with good hearts recognize it for the labor of love that it is with gratitude and kindness. You're miserable.

[Anonymous]

An a hyper-involved PTA mom, I would not participate. But, all the PTA events are lead by parents who care about them and will work to make it a reality. I am sure there is one PTA mom who wants to hold this event and will do everything to make it happen.

You really don't have to participate if you don't want. I am sure that there will be other events that you will care about and you can participate for that.

Very often, I just use the signup genius to send food, drinks, and paper products etc.

[Anonymous]

Are there volunteer options for parents at the high school level like there are for ES like helping with lunch and recess? I know it’s different because of ages and the social aspect of having your parent hanging around. But it seems like what teachers and support staff could really use is people willing to give up an hour or two to help watch the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

I bet you don't do a damn thing to make the high school that your kids go to a better place. Volunteering your time and energy to be on the PTA is an act of sacrifice and service, and good people with good hearts recognize it for the labor of love that it is with gratitude and kindness. You're miserable.

OMG, please get over yourself. This activity - "cheering on" HS students as they walk into school for the second semester - is the very definition of performative busy work. No one wants this, no one needs this, but someone who has too much time on her hands is going to make it her life's mission simply for the selfies and list-serv glory as "an act of sacrifice and service." What an inflated sense of self-importance, and a martyr complex to go along with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

I bet you don't do a damn thing to make the high school that your kids go to a better place. Volunteering your time and energy to be on the PTA is an act of sacrifice and service, and good people with good hearts recognize it for the labor of love that it is with gratitude and kindness. You're miserable.

OMG, please get over yourself. This activity - "cheering on" HS students as they walk into school for the second semester - is the very definition of performative busy work. No one wants this, no one needs this, but someone who has too much time on her hands is going to make it her life's mission simply for the selfies and list-serv glory as "an act of sacrifice and service." What an inflated sense of self-importance, and a martyr complex to go along with it.

If you think the school needs something different, feel free to organize it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

You can question the wisdom all you want but except if you are willing to help or do better, stop complaining. At least they are trying.

At least they are trying to do what? Usually you say "they are trying" in response to people who are trying to solve a problem. But what problem exists that people could possibly think is solved by this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

I bet you don't do a damn thing to make the high school that your kids go to a better place. Volunteering your time and energy to be on the PTA is an act of sacrifice and service, and good people with good hearts recognize it for the labor of love that it is with gratitude and kindness. You're miserable.

OMG, please get over yourself. This activity - "cheering on" HS students as they walk into school for the second semester - is the very definition of performative busy work. No one wants this, no one needs this, but someone who has too much time on her hands is going to make it her life's mission simply for the selfies and list-serv glory as "an act of sacrifice and service." What an inflated sense of self-importance, and a martyr complex to go along with it.

If you think the school needs something different, feel free to organize it.

That would be too much like work and effort, which the OP is allergic to. It would take too much time away from her being a cynical, snobbish, sarcastic critic.

"Criticizing is easy. Creating is hard."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

You can question the wisdom all you want but except if you are willing to help or do better, stop complaining. At least they are trying.

At least they are trying to do what? Usually you say "they are trying" in response to people who are trying to solve a problem. But what problem exists that people could possibly think is solved by this?

Teenagers feel alone, anxious, stress and depressed at rates that have never been seen before. They are literally saying all the time they feel like no one cares about them.

I think, just maybe, that this idea is rooted in physically demonstrating love and support for a cohort of children who have been crippled emotionally due to a global pandemic, and everyone feeling like they should be able to catch up with academic discipline and rigor in the blink of an instant after checking out for nearly two years on Zoom. But that's just me reading the news, paying attention to what's going on in education and connecting the dots, just like these parents in the PTA are trying to do.

[Anonymous]

I will point out: Does this on its face potentially sound cheesy? SURE.

But if you know ANYTHING about teenagers, even if they find something lame or cheesy that their parents do, they internally and secretly LOVE that the adults in their loves are willing and caring enough to put in the time and effort to do something like this. Even if they complain verbally, internally, this can be very fulfilling for them.

Teenagers need love and validation as much as the younger kids, even if they act like they don't need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids are at the same school, OP. And I think it’s shitty that you’re making fun of this on a public forum. It might not be for you, or for everyone - I’m not participating, and I don’t know who is. But I appreciate the fact that some parents are making an effort (and they do much more than this event, as you know.)

So parents are not allowed to question the wisdom of the PTA moms? Give me a break. And save the sanctimony. You "appreciate that some parents are making an effort" to do something pointless and ridiculous? But don't worry, there will be 20 reply-all messages tomorrow praising the organizers for their Selfless Dedication to Our Children's Education -- which is, after all, the entire point of the whole enterprise.

You can question the wisdom all you want but except if you are willing to help or do better, stop complaining. At least they are trying.

At least they are trying to do what? Usually you say "they are trying" in response to people who are trying to solve a problem. But what problem exists that people could possibly think is solved by this?

Teenagers feel alone, anxious, stress and depressed at rates that have never been seen before. They are literally saying all the time they feel like no one cares about them.

I think, just maybe, that this idea is rooted in physically demonstrating love and support for a cohort of children who have been crippled emotionally due to a global pandemic, and everyone feeling like they should be able to catch up with academic discipline and rigor in the blink of an instant after checking out for nearly two years on Zoom. But that's just me reading the news, paying attention to what's going on in education and connecting the dots, just like these parents in the PTA are trying to do.

The pandemic has been over for most people for 1-2 years. Stop blaming the pandemic for problems we had long before covid and will have many years to come. Just because you didn't see it in the past doesn't mean it wasn't there. If your kids are struggling, MCPS offers lots of free support.

Its great these PTA parents are trying to do this and look after kids whose parents are checked out and too busy playing the blame game to actually help them.