How many people use their paid time off to help out in the classroom?

[Anonymous]

I'm a second grade teacher and I beg parents to come in and help. In the years past I had decent support. This year not so much much. I love parents in the classroom and think it is amazing when parents volunteer even an hour of their time to come and help. I can break down my groups even smaller and give more individualized attention to students who need it. I can slo use parents to enrich those students who are higher learners. I wish more parents would get involved. If you don't want to help out in your own child's class then ask if there is another class you can work in. If your teacher doesn't want the support then they don't know what they are missing out on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have used leave to volunteer and do things in my child's classroom.

I found that by the 2nd grade, parents were no longer really welcomed to actually come in during the day and volunteer and to me this makes sense.

I have one in 2nd and one in 3rd. Parents are very much welcome and needed. I typically help out by working with groups or coming up with activities to enhance their creative and independent side. I am not there everyday, but usually once every couple months for a couple hours. I love it, and my kids do too. I feel like I have a better relationship and communication going with my kids because I am there periodically. They can talk to me about school because they know I understand or can relate. I don't want to be in the dark. Scary things can happen when you are in the dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often hear people use the reasoning that they work full time so they can't help out or volunteer at the school. At my place of employment, I get paid time off as a benefit. I initially got 3 weeks, and now I get 4 weeks, but is it crazy that I use some of my vacation time to help out at the school? I enjoy helping out, and the kids love to see parents coming in and showing interest. It is enjoyable, but it is also sad for those kids who really wish their mom or dad would come in and participate. Even if you come in for 2 hours every month or couple months, it makes all the difference to the teacher, students and even more so, your child. I hear people at work bragging about how they are going to carry over 40 or 80 hours and I just wonder what it all means if you drop dead tomorrow. If you have kids, those are precious hours that you could've spent time with them. What is the point of hoarding? Are one week vacations to Disney the only reason to use the precious vacations hours? Anyways, I figured I would throw this out because I really don't get it when people say they wish they could help but they work full-time. Unless you are solving world peace or are solving national affairs, then I don't understand why you couldn't take a couple hours off here and there to help out. Also, if every parent took turns helping out, then it wouldn't be so much on the one to two parents who are the regular volunteers in the classroom that also work full-time. I don't want to start an all out ugly thread here, but I just wanted to give some perspective on how we could collectively make a difference if we work as a team. That is all.

What you are suggesting is already happening and has been since I was in school the 1970's (prior to that many women were required to quit their jobs upon marriage or children and most of the ohters did not have any flexibility). I see many ftwohp taking a half day or full day here and there to be volunteering/chaperoning/attending a concert..... For many, to volunteer one or two hours means taking 4 hours of leave because of commute and/or company rules. They also take time off when we have a snow day, delayed opening, thier child is sick, at any time during the 13 weeks our chldren have for vacation during the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how people get so defensive on these forums. Do you really not get OP's message? It is about teamwork...simple as that. No one can go this alone, and that is a fact.

+1

I do, OP.

Yes, it means we go away less, but as a good side effect not going away saves us some cash!

And my experience is that teachers do appreciate having me there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers don't want you there. They bitch and moan about no parental involvement but when offered, they hem and haw then turn the offer down. No teacher wants you to see what's really going on in that classroom.

I was a SAHM of 5 kids. I volunteered regularly for years, no one ever took me up on my offer. They want your money, your supplies but never want you there.

Go find out for yourself.

Wow. That is not my experience. I have a 1st and 2nd grader. They are itching for volunteers starting from Open House before school starts. Sign up sheets are out and ready.

The "they" you speak about are other moms who are over involved in every aspect of their kids lives. It's not the teachers. The moms have no life and need to be in the classroom to prove to themselves they are the best moms on earth.

The craziness ends by 4th grade. The "they" claim they no longer volunteer because "they" are sick of being the only one but the reality is it is unnecessary noise in the classroom, the teachers hate it and the kids are sick of their moms always breathing down their neck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have used leave to volunteer and do things in my child's classroom.

I found that by the 2nd grade, parents were no longer really welcomed to actually come in during the day and volunteer and to me this makes sense.

I have one in 2nd and one in 3rd. Parents are very much welcome and needed. I typically help out by working with groups or coming up with activities to enhance their creative and independent side. I am not there everyday, but usually once every couple months for a couple hours. I love it, and my kids do too. I feel like I have a better relationship and communication going with my kids because I am there periodically. They can talk to me about school because they know I understand or can relate. I don't want to be in the dark. Scary things can happen when you are in the dark.

You sound mental.

The other problem with parents in the classroom is now you have untrained mental people working with your kids.

[Anonymous]

No, I use my paid time off to recover my sanity so that I can continue to bust my hump to pay my taxes to fund the schools in my neighborhood. I would gladly pay more taxes and gladly support more funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have used leave to volunteer and do things in my child's classroom.

I found that by the 2nd grade, parents were no longer really welcomed to actually come in during the day and volunteer and to me this makes sense.

I have one in 2nd and one in 3rd. Parents are very much welcome and needed. I typically help out by working with groups or coming up with activities to enhance their creative and independent side. I am not there everyday, but usually once every couple months for a couple hours. I love it, and my kids do too. I feel like I have a better relationship and communication going with my kids because I am there periodically. They can talk to me about school because they know I understand or can relate. I don't want to be in the dark. Scary things can happen when you are in the dark.

This is how I feel. I use time off to volunteer and DH uses his leave time to go on field trips or attend special 'events'.

I agree that even just being in the classroom/school a few hours a month makes a huge difference. People/staff/other parents know your face. We're at a fairly large ES and my kid takes the bus. I know the other parents at the bus stop and DD's bus driver but I get to know all the dozens of other people that my DD sees at school on a regular basis. And meeting DD's classmates has also been a huge benefit like the PP mentioned.

Agree that I don't want to be left in the dark either!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have used leave to volunteer and do things in my child's classroom.

I found that by the 2nd grade, parents were no longer really welcomed to actually come in during the day and volunteer and to me this makes sense.

I have one in 2nd and one in 3rd. Parents are very much welcome and needed. I typically help out by working with groups or coming up with activities to enhance their creative and independent side. I am not there everyday, but usually once every couple months for a couple hours. I love it, and my kids do too. I feel like I have a better relationship and communication going with my kids because I am there periodically. They can talk to me about school because they know I understand or can relate. I don't want to be in the dark. Scary things can happen when you are in the dark.

You sound mental.

The other problem with parents in the classroom is now you have untrained mental people working with your kids.

Not the PP, but I would much rather have her as a volunteer in my kid's classroom than have anything to do with you. So nasty.

I don't know either of you but the PP sounds like she is 500X better of a person than you.

[Anonymous]

I don't get any paid vacation. I take off for field trips, school plays and class parties when I need to, as well as school conferences, teacher info sessions, etc. and it works out to several hours every week during the school year, plus special end-of-camp parent performances during the summer. I could take off more time, but as the sole breadwinner of our household, I like to ensure that I continue to earn money.

[Anonymous]

If I wanted to be in a classroom full of other people's kids I would have become a teacher. Our school has plenty of type A SAHMs who hang out at the school all day, I'm happy to just volunteer to help out in ways that don't require me to interact with kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have used leave to volunteer and do things in my child's classroom.

I found that by the 2nd grade, parents were no longer really welcomed to actually come in during the day and volunteer and to me this makes sense.

I have one in 2nd and one in 3rd. Parents are very much welcome and needed. I typically help out by working with groups or coming up with activities to enhance their creative and independent side. I am not there everyday, but usually once every couple months for a couple hours. I love it, and my kids do too. I feel like I have a better relationship and communication going with my kids because I am there periodically. They can talk to me about school because they know I understand or can relate. I don't want to be in the dark. Scary things can happen when you are in the dark.

You sound mental.

The other problem with parents in the classroom is now you have untrained mental people working with your kids.

Not the PP, but I would much rather have her as a volunteer in my kid's classroom than have anything to do with you. So nasty.

I don't know either of you but the PP sounds like she is 500X better of a person than you.

I have bad news for you I have a very flexible job so I was in the classroom with kids. So there you go! Not only do they have untrained mental moms, they have nasty ones too.

Thanks for making my point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be in a classroom full of other people's kids I would have become a teacher. Our school has plenty of type A SAHMs who hang out at the school all day, I'm happy to just volunteer to help out in ways that don't require me to interact with kids.

I am partly like this too. I also fundamentally disagree with the need for so many "extras" all in the name of "But the kids love it!" Cut out 1/2 the extra crap and just teach them. That is what I am paying her tuition for. Then, at the end of the school day, send her home, and I'll do the rest. I feel like type A SAHMs create so much extra and unnecessary "hubbub" over "MUSTS" like organizing the: Santa's Secret Shoppe! or Popcorn in your Jammies! or Visiting Santa with the Eighth Grade Secret Elves! I am not making up these things. These were actual events at my DD's school during the month of Dec. I do not know WHAT work they got done, I really do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I wanted to be in a classroom full of other people's kids I would have become a teacher. Our school has plenty of type A SAHMs who hang out at the school all day, I'm happy to just volunteer to help out in ways that don't require me to interact with kids.

I am partly like this too. I also fundamentally disagree with the need for so many "extras" all in the name of "But the kids love it!" Cut out 1/2 the extra crap and just teach them. That is what I am paying her tuition for. Then, at the end of the school day, send her home, and I'll do the rest. I feel like type A SAHMs create so much extra and unnecessary "hubbub" over "MUSTS" like organizing the: Santa's Secret Shoppe! or Popcorn in your Jammies! or Visiting Santa with the Eighth Grade Secret Elves! I am not making up these things. These were actual events at my DD's school during the month of Dec. I do not know WHAT work they got done, I really do not.

PP back. So, in the end, no, I am not using my limited time to come in and work for Santa's SEcret Shoppe or Popcorn in Your Jammies. Like other PPs have said, I am judiciously meting it out for times when the endless 2 week holiday vacations necessitate that I am home for childcare; for snow days like today when I would have to go into work and DD has off school; for her dr. appts; if she is sick; if I am sick (actually, scratch that: I go in when I am sick b/c I don't have time to mete out of that) (which leads to what another PP said: When I am not working, I am run down and exhausted and sometimes sick from busting my hump to work and pay taxes.

[Anonymous]

Why is it so difficult for some people to accept that some teachers enjoy having volunteers and for some it is more work? I don't see how an individual preference like that makes someone a good or bad teacher.