PTA asked teachers to pay for student breakfast: unreasonable?

[Anonymous]

This is typical at my school. Parents justify it saying it’s the “parent teacher association” and everyone’s goal is to improve school for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is typical at my school. Parents justify it saying it’s the “parent teacher association” and everyone’s goal is to improve school for the kids.

This is crazy. Totally common among the caring professions for people to take advantage of them.

No one expects say attorneys to do something like this.

There is some nut on the PTA who thinks this is acceptable. Im sure there must be parents who dont like it.

Don't sign up for anything. OP. What's going to happen?

[Anonymous]

Wow! Absolutely not normal in my experience!

[Anonymous]

The parents should be paying AND setting up AND serving the breakfast to the students and teachers. This is whack.

[Anonymous]

Do private school parents basically consider teachers their servants and butlers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has to be a mistake; it is so laughably inappropriate.

Can you reply all to the google doc and sincerely ask if this was sent to the wrong people?!

And cc the HOS, who needs to know what at least one member of the PTA is doing (I'd like to think the others are horrified , but the lack of a panicky followup email makes me doubt)

[Anonymous]

How small is this school? Sounds weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do private school parents basically consider teachers their servants and butlers?

No, this is just some fantasy of public school families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely not appropriate.

But I also wouldn't assume all the PTA moms are rich. I'm sure some are, but the assumption that parents all make more than teachers is common and not true (some are teachers themselves - although a teacher would not make this request!)

This is a private school. At my kid's private school 77% of families are paying the full $60K. I think it's a fair assumption that all of those 77%, and a significant number of the remaining 23% make more money than the teachers. I say this as someone who sends kids to the school on significant financial aid.

When I taught in a low income public school, I did make more than my students. I spent a lot of money on meeting student needs. I still wouldn't have contributed to something like this. Instead, I solved the problems I saw in front of me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your principal aware of this? I would speak to them and have them deal with the PTA. This is either a huge miscommunication or the PTA has lost its marbles.

This. Our PTA doesn't ask for any funds from teachers except we do ask them to become real members. That costs $15/year. Of which a few dollars go to national PTA.

We stock the teachers' lounge with free food at appreciation events. And every teacher gets a $25 gift card at the winter holidays

So no teacher is out of pocket due to PTA.

As a teacher, I would much rather that my PTA pay my dues, than that they ask me to fork over $15, and then consider a $25 gift card (to where?) months later to be repayment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has to be a mistake; it is so laughably inappropriate.

Can you reply all to the google doc and sincerely ask if this was sent to the wrong people?!

And cc the HOS, who needs to know what at least one member of the PTA is doing (I'd like to think the others are horrified , but the lack of a panicky followup email makes me doubt)

This is the weird part for sure.
I hope this is a DC area school and somebody on here is reading

[Anonymous]

Why wasn't this accounted for in senior dues?

When my daughter graduated 2 years ago her senior dues included senior breakfast amongst other things they did that year.

I'd have a conversation with the pta president to discuss who's responsible for this and any other things they would like to host. Either the pta pays for it, they ask for donations from parents or send home a money request to seniors to help cover the cost.

[Anonymous]

My son goes to a private school and the "mom's club" regulary does this. They never ask the teachers for anything and will do snacks and treats for them. Totally unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

I am horrified. Especially don't private school teachers make even less than publics in most places?

It's probably a sign of people who don't think much of spending $25-50 on a food to contribute to a "pot luck" like they literally don't realize that's actual money. The even more insulting thing in my opinion is, even if they are out of touch with money, they are imposing upon your time to go out and do this. That's probably the real burden they are trying to shift - the actual labor.

Please reach out to someone and state that the teachers have neither the funds nor the time for this project, except (if true) are happy to help contribute to the set up at school. Ask if there is a parent you can liase with that can organize the funds from the families and the actual purchasing of items if the families don't have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your principal aware of this? I would speak to them and have them deal with the PTA. This is either a huge miscommunication or the PTA has lost its marbles.

This. Our PTA doesn't ask for any funds from teachers except we do ask them to become real members. That costs $15/year. Of which a few dollars go to national PTA.

We stock the teachers' lounge with free food at appreciation events. And every teacher gets a $25 gift card at the winter holidays

So no teacher is out of pocket due to PTA.

As a teacher, I would much rather that my PTA pay my dues, than that they ask me to fork over $15, and then consider a $25 gift card (to where?) months later to be repayment.

We don't require anyone to join. It's a sign of support for the mission of the PTA (ours is actually a PTSA because high-school students can join).

There aren't any waivers of dues for anyone. I pay for my kid's student membership. The administrators pay. When you pay your dues you become eligible for other benefits like applying for national PTA grants and scholarships. And you fill in your own personal contact details and preferences.

I'm sure the teachers get more than $15 in free coffee, tea, snacks. Not hard at $2.50 for a Coke. The $25 gift card goes to all teachers and not just those who sign up for PTA. It's a gift funded by donors and the gift card drive is managed by PTA.

So you are the kind of person who would get petty about being out $15 for 3 months. OK. I spent $100 of my personal money on snacks for the teachers' lounge for beginning of the school year. I guess we don't share priorities.

Gift cards are usually teacher's choice and they are usually Target, grocery store, or gas cards for our local stations. Not useless stuff.