Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE our PA moms: they do so much that I don't have to!

Another vote for loving the PA parents! Ours are wonderful - they've done so much for our school.

[Anonymous]

Didn't read the thread but I'm not very involved because meetings are in the morning and don't end till 930 or 10 am always the same day of the week, which conflicts with my work schedule. I wish they would mix it up with some at different times and days. I also wish they would send out the agendas in advance and clear minutes afterwards.

[Anonymous]

It's just not a good use of my time and I don't want to be sucked into a larger role that takes more of my time. I'm grateful for all they do. I'm happy to donate stuff and write a check. I participated a bit more when my kid started school, but I found that at many of these meetings, there was a ton of indecision and fretting about things that don't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't read the thread but I'm not very involved because meetings are in the morning and don't end till 930 or 10 am always the same day of the week, which conflicts with my work schedule. I wish they would mix it up with some at different times and days. I also wish they would send out the agendas in advance and clear minutes afterwards.

+1 for mixing it up.

+1 for agendas in advance.

+1 for clearing minutes afterwards.

Let's all get on the same page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE our PA moms: they do so much that I don't have to!

Another vote for loving the PA parents! Ours are wonderful - they've done so much for our school.

Most of our PA parents are incredibly dedicated. We do have 2 or 3 of the "mean moms" too so it is a legitimate issue.

[Anonymous]

I don't do it because PTA is boring as well as the moms who PTA. I have different olunteer "job" that I do for 12 hours a week and I love that role, so I leave the PTA-ing to the people who want to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the meetings provided child care- I would go.

Our school does provide childcare and dinner for your children. When I go, I see 90% of the moms/dads there doing pick-up from the afterschool program and leaving. They don't want to stay an extra hour, because they are exhausted and need to get home (walk the dog, deal with life). The moms/dads who do make the meetings picked up their children hours earlier when school ended and have to make the commute all the ways back to campus. I think meetings should be at different times each month. Maybe one late for working parents, one after drop-off, one after pick-up, one on a weekend. I think PTAs should rotate meeting times so different people can make it.

I went to my first one this year. They had food and child care. No one said hi, I tried to ask several people at tables what I was supposed to do and they said sit down. No one ever suggested getting dinner, welcoming me, or telling me to take the paperwork on the table in front of them (I was the only one once it started without paperwork). Hmm... would you go back?

To avoid the PTA moms, use the pick up line.

This was my experience 3 years ago when DC started school. It was awkward and I left feeling bad. I would go if the parents who I now know would go, but they think it's a waste of time. I'd like to know what was happening at the meetings, but I'm not into returning to HS with stupid cliques at my age. It doesn't seem to affect DC at all.

[Anonymous]

I hope pta parents read this and take into consideration ways to make people feel welcome and open participation options to more people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope pta parents read this and take into consideration ways to make people feel welcome and open participation options to more people.

I'm in the PTA at a newer charter, and I've found this discussion helpful. Thankfully, we don't do many of the things mentioned (emailed agendas and minutes, varied meeting times, etc) so I'm hoping that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Solution: more PTA dads

No kidding. My DH was president of our PTO one year. Shorter meetings, fewer 'community building events', same level of $ raised.

Oops, your misogyny is showing. How embarrassing.

I'm a woman and I completely agree. At our school the parent group is basically an outlet for the mothers in it. They corner you at back to school night and drop off and wear you down.

It's not about being female. It's about not having other commitments during school hours.

The ones in my school give dads a pass for working but moms who don't live like them are not their cup of tea. It's their own sexism that turns me off.

+1 Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just not a good use of my time and I don't want to be sucked into a larger role that takes more of my time. I'm grateful for all they do. I'm happy to donate stuff and write a check. I participated a bit more when my kid started school, but I found that at many of these meetings, there was a ton of indecision and fretting about things that don't matter.

+1

[Anonymous]

IMO these orgs move at a snail's pace when it comes to the high impact work. Let's focus all of our attention on hanging out together. I am part of the in crowd let me use several social events to see if you newbie folks are worthy to join us. Oh my the school year is almost over, let me complain about how we have no parent help to do meaningful work. No thanks. I volunteer with my child's class and work with the principal and AP directly on efforts that impact everyday learning in the classroom and long term school goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer with my child's class and work with the principal and AP directly on efforts that impact everyday learning in the classroom and long term school goals.

Exactly. This is my first year on the PTA board and it's been useful in terms of getting to know people and how things work, but next year I will only work on the school council plus volunteer in the classroom extensively. The PTA is run by a long term board member, now president, who likes things her way or pretty much the highway (and I understand). I don't know who will be president next year, I am not really willing. I suspect the PTA might disintegrate as most parents are inert and don't care and the school is run by a small group of enthusiasts.