RANT - I Hate the PTA

[Anonymous]

I roll my eyes at a lot of this stuff, but only say no if the email comes less than a week in advance.

I would speak up if the cost got outrageous. Gift cards for all the teachers? Ok, but I have 3 kids at the school. They're going to be small.

[Anonymous]

PTA mom here who also works. At our pta it’s mostly the working parents who put the most time in. I know each school varies. So please don’t make this a sahm/wohm issue.

You can just do the card and send a box of store bought muffins with your kid the day before and ask them to drop it in the office. Done.

Don’t do anything and don’t worry about it like most parents. 75% of our school doesn’t do a damn thing for pta and if each family contributed just one hour a week to the school, it would make it a hell of a lot easier on those 15 parents who literally do everything because no one else is volunteering.

If you’re that upset about it, go to PTA meetings, offer ideas, offer to run just one event or at least spend one hour a year at the book fair or whatever your school has. Maybe it’ll give you an appreciation of the parents who do so much on their own time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PTA mom here who also works. At our pta it’s mostly the working parents who put the most time in. I know each school varies. So please don’t make this a sahm/wohm issue.

You can just do the card and send a box of store bought muffins with your kid the day before and ask them to drop it in the office. Done.

Don’t do anything and don’t worry about it like most parents. 75% of our school doesn’t do a damn thing for pta and if each family contributed just one hour a week to the school, it would make it a hell of a lot easier on those 15 parents who literally do everything because no one else is volunteering.

If you’re that upset about it, go to PTA meetings, offer ideas, offer to run just one event or at least spend one hour a year at the book fair or whatever your school has. Maybe it’ll give you an appreciation of the parents who do so much on their own time.

I meant to say one hour a YEAR, not one hour a week.

[Anonymous]

As a former ES PTA President, I agree. There's always a small percentage who do the lions share if the work. You BEG other parents to help, and some can't, some would rather "writer a check" than give their time, and others just wont. Trust me when I tell you, none of those PTA parents are wanting to so it all, they just can't get others to step up and help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you. PTA is run by bored housewives looking for a reason for being.
I would suggest ignoring it, but said housewives get their children involved. Sigh. Just do what you can.
[/b]The good news is that these queen bees become less prevalent in middle school[b].

Please tell me this is true!!!

[Anonymous]

This can change. This year, a money donation was requested instead of daily items. It was a huge relief.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. On the other hand, reading about what teachers are having to do around the country these days, including being asked by the President of the United States to defend their classrooms with firearms, I think it wouldn't behoove you to pick up a flower and a box of Krispy Kremes the next time you are at Safeway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA has ever so helpfully organized teacher appreciation week into a 5 day ordeal of holly homemaker hell. They have given us a different assignment for each day of the week - day 1, bring in 1 flower for the teacher, day 2 bring in food for a 7am breakfast, day 3 have a your child make a card for the teacher, day 4 get your teacher something from a "wish list" and day 5 bring in a gift for a specialist.

I have 3 jobs, I am running on 5 hours sleep, and I don't have a nanny, housekeeper, or even a babysitter, and one of these women - the kind that hasn't worked a day in 20 years but whines constantly about how hard it is being a stay-at-home mom, asks me what I'm bringing to the breakfast, and I say NOTHING. I am at work at 7am and don't have time, and she says - everyone is busy, you just have to make time!

What is wrong with these women? This is one more domestic expectation that seems to be forced only on women, regardless of whether or not we work as much as men. PTA is a tool of oppression and I want to punch it in the face.

Sounds like, in addition to a PTA problem, you have a lazy husband problem.

[Anonymous]

I agree completely OP. I can’t imagine that question would have been asked of a dad. It’s more unnecessary expectations on women by women. I appreciate the women (usually it’s women) who step up to be on the pta but I wish they would be mindful of creating unnecessary sh*t to do. Unnecessary because I don’t think the teachers even care about this stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PTA mom here who also works. At our pta it’s mostly the working parents who put the most time in. I know each school varies. So please don’t make this a sahm/wohm issue.

You can just do the card and send a box of store bought muffins with your kid the day before and ask them to drop it in the office. Done.

Don’t do anything and don’t worry about it like most parents. 75% of our school doesn’t do a damn thing for pta and if each family contributed just one hour a week to the school, it would make it a hell of a lot easier on those 15 parents who literally do everything because no one else is volunteering.

If you’re that upset about it, go to PTA meetings, offer ideas, offer to run just one event or at least spend one hour a year at the book fair or whatever your school has. Maybe it’ll give you an appreciation of the parents who do so much on their own time.

Our PTA is not welcoming nor is our school. I'm happy to help but got turned off after being told no, we don't need help, etc. each year. Show up to volunteer at things like the book fair when they do request it and they say they are fine and no help needed. Why ask and waste my time coming in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This can change. This year, a money donation was requested instead of daily items. It was a huge relief.

Ours is asking for food, gift cars, other gifts, plus the daily gifts for a week. Way to much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PTA mom here who also works. At our pta it’s mostly the working parents who put the most time in. I know each school varies. So please don’t make this a sahm/wohm issue.

You can just do the card and send a box of store bought muffins with your kid the day before and ask them to drop it in the office. Done.

Don’t do anything and don’t worry about it like most parents. 75% of our school doesn’t do a damn thing for pta and if each family contributed just one hour a week to the school, it would make it a hell of a lot easier on those 15 parents who literally do everything because no one else is volunteering.

If you’re that upset about it, go to PTA meetings, offer ideas, offer to run just one event or at least spend one hour a year at the book fair or whatever your school has. Maybe it’ll give you an appreciation of the parents who do so much on their own time.

Our PTA is not welcoming nor is our school. I'm happy to help but got turned off after being told no, we don't need help, etc. each year. Show up to volunteer at things like the book fair when they do request it and they say they are fine and no help needed. Why ask and waste my time coming in?

I’m sorry to hear that, that’s not the case at our school at all. We could you use your help and would appreciate it at our MCPS focus school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree completely OP. I can’t imagine that question would have been asked of a dad. It’s more unnecessary expectations on women by women. I appreciate the women (usually it’s women) who step up to be on the pta but I wish they would be mindful of creating unnecessary sh*t to do. Unnecessary because I don’t think the teachers even care about this stuff.

Maybe they don't want droopy flowers from everyone's gardeen, but I bet they do enjoy feeling appreciated. A really nice card from a student or parent recognizing their work, a gift card after spending their own money on supplies and classroom materials, and even a catered meal. I think those are nice gestures. We have an excellent and devoted staff at our school. I don't think there are any SAHMs just looking for stuff to do. A lot of our parents are teachers themselves or former teachers, and they want our staff to know that we recognize the extraordinary job they are doing. If you can't participate, don't. But don't knock the idea or the motivation for the events just to make yourself feel less guilty about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA has ever so helpfully organized teacher appreciation week into a 5 day ordeal of holly homemaker hell. They have given us a different assignment for each day of the week - day 1, bring in 1 flower for the teacher, day 2 bring in food for a[b] 7am breakfast, day 3 have a your child make a card for the teacher, day 4 get your teacher something from a "wish list" and day 5 bring in a gift for a specialist.
[/b]
I have 3 jobs, I am running on 5 hours sleep, and I don't have a nanny, housekeeper, or even a babysitter, and one of these women - the kind that hasn't worked a day in 20 years but whines constantly about how hard it is being a stay-at-home mom, asks me what I'm bringing to the breakfast, and I say NOTHING. I am at work at 7am and don't have time, and she says - everyone is busy, you just have to make time!

What is wrong with these women? This is one more domestic expectation that seems to be forced only on women, regardless of whether or not we work as much as men. PTA is a tool of oppression and I want to punch it in the face.

Ignore this. They're not your teacher or your boss. They can give you assignments, but you don't have to do them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I hear you and would find a week of homework super annoying too.

Other options you should iggest PTA consider for next year:

- each grade hosts a meal during the year so it shifts the appreciation out instead of concentrating all one month. Then during TAW it is just a “do your own thing” week for cards and stuff to teacher.

- pta purchases lunch and handles the appreciation pieces for each staff person - again aside from personalized notes or small gifts that are then up to each parent to do/not do.

So, OP will volunteer to do all these things listed above? Right?

Because there is no paid PTA employee. There are just parent volunteers in PTA.