Volunteer generals and foot soldiers (short vent)

[Anonymous]

it's good to volunteer or be present enough that the primary teacher/teachers know who you are and you feel like you can reach out to other parents as necessary. but for some of us in jobs where you actually have to take (limited) vacation hours or time without pay to do the volunteering, it can be a bit more of a challenge to volunteer or visit more than a few times per year (i know, i'm exposing some local private school attenders as more-income-challenged, with parents in jobs where you clock in, no less!!). i love the saturday volunteer opportunities, but frankly, those are just a couple of times per year. just injecting another voice.

[Anonymous]

Lab wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps [some] volunteers are getting something out of the volunteering that they want to preserve. Volunteering also gives you access to the school head and administration, among other things.

Not to take this discussion too far off-track, but why would anyone care so much about special access to the school head and administration? If I want access, I just send an email or pick up the phone or schedule an appointment. That's about all the access I can conceive of needing or wanting. Are you thinking that some people might use their greater access to influence ... what exactly? School policy? Curriculum? Scheduling the play? Lunchroom choices? Are there big influence issues I am naive about? I'm not trying to be sarcastic; I really don't understand. Please help.

If you attend a school that ends in 6th or 8th grade, like we did, then you will need to apply to a different private or middle. And in this case it becomes really important whether or not your family contributed to the first school. Your head makes the rounds of the upper schools that kids are applying to, and your family is indeed important, not just your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Lab wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps [some] volunteers are getting something out of the volunteering that they want to preserve. Volunteering also gives you access to the school head and administration, among other things.

Not to take this discussion too far off-track, but why would anyone care so much about special access to the school head and administration? If I want access, I just send an email or pick up the phone or schedule an appointment. That's about all the access I can conceive of needing or wanting. Are you thinking that some people might use their greater access to influence ... what exactly? School policy? Curriculum? Scheduling the play? Lunchroom choices? Are there big influence issues I am naive about? I'm not trying to be sarcastic; I really don't understand. Please help.

If you attend a school that ends in 6th or 8th grade, like we did, then you will need to apply to a different private or middle. And in this case it becomes really important whether or not your family contributed to the first school. Your head makes the rounds of the upper schools that kids are applying to, and your family is indeed important, not just your kid.

This can start even at the transition from preschool to PreK/K admissions. I heard some folks argue that chaperoning on a field trip does not count as volunteering; if one wanted to catch the preschool director's attention and elicit support for the next round of applications, then one should volunteer for a parent committee position with a large portfolio, etc., not drive on field trips and bring snack. I didn't necessarily follow this advice, as I work, but pitched in where I could: some times I chaperoned, other times I cleaned up after events, and I also took on a few larger projects. So much depends on the school, the culture, the parents that year. Some folks prefer to stick with their friends, even when volunteering, and may be inclined not to enlarge the circle.