Worked my butt off in the PTA and my son is in a "weaker" classroom

[Anonymous]

This is really crappy, OP.

I know how it feels to be a higher SES family with a higher level child at a Title 1 school; I've done it. When it no longer worked, we left. That feels crappy too, but you can't throw other kids under the bus because you have more resources; you explicitly stated you wanted to do that, too. You volunteering doesn't mean you get to take a "good" spot automatically. Volunteering your time doesn't mean you get to take a free extracurricular spot from a kid who can't afford it - that seems really shameful to me!

[Anonymous]

It would make me mad too op. Can you ask to be in class with the best friend?

[Anonymous]

it seems like you should spend your time working for $$$ to be able to afford to live in a better school district rather than volunteering at the Title I school.

[Anonymous]

So the Title I school is no good, yes? Your kid deserves better than he got? Move, but don't move IB to our school. You are a pain in that school. Schools should be as parent free as possible.
Maybe another parent requested your kid not to be in the small class with yours because yours is a slow learner.

[Anonymous]

Don't they try to balance the classes with high achievers, average students, special needs, etc... just relax he will be fine. Kids have to learn how to deal with their adversaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't they try to balance the classes with high achievers, average students, special needs, etc... just relax he will be fine. Kids have to learn how to deal with their adversaries.

Diversity is not adversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Schools usually honor requests to avoid another child, so you can ask why this request was not honored.

However for all the rest, shame on you, OP!

What you expected was highly unethical and immoral.

I have been on the PTA Board for years, and would not tolerate it if my child received favors as a result. That is NOT why I volunteer.
I want to help all the students, not my children in particular.

And as the parent of a child with special needs, I find your remark about the slow learner particularly offensive. At our MCPS school, children with special needs do not slow down the rest of the class - they have aides in the classroom, who help others as well as the child in question, so it's actually a bonus for everyone.

You are a disgusting human being.

I agree with you that OP's request was improper. But you have unrealistically rose colored glasses in claiming special needs students don't slow down the class and actually benefit others because of aides. In truth, it is a mixed bag and depends on a lot of factors, including the SN kid(s) and the aide(s). I've had circumstances where there have been frequent, significant disruptions and others with few disruptions and the aides were able and willing to help other kids.

I am not suggesting the SN kid shouldn't be in the class or get extra help, but that extra help does sometimes come at the expense of other kids and the pace of the class. Pretending otherwise doesn't help anyone.

Also, remember not all SN kids have aides, exacerbating the problems and taking away some of the potential benefit.

Too bad. SN kids have a right to be in the classroom. If you don't get that, go private.

[Anonymous]

If any parent feels that their student would do better in another classroom, they should definitely talk to the Principal and make a case. However, they should be prepared to be open to hear the reasons why the school might feel that the student is a better fit in the "undesirable" class. This has nothing to do with being in the PTA or not. This has everything to do with parents advocating for their children.

As a parent I would cringe if my child is shown a preferential treatment at school just because of my involvement with the PTA. Do the staff and teachers know who my child is? Sure. My kid is roped into doing PTA work outside of the school day and many people witness that he is tagging along for evening meetings etc because I cannot leave him alone at night to attend PTA meetings.

Every parent wants their students to be liked by teachers and staff because they are good students, well behaved, respectful and helpful. As PTA parent we are in the business of facilitating enrichment opportunities for all students. Our children automatically benefit when the whole school benefits.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Your scheming ways would be better utilized in a workplace environment. Do you have a job OP? If not, get one and move your kids out of the Title One school. Title One schools are for people who don't have any other choice.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To clarify, there are kids with aides, one in each class, it's all good.
I am fully ok with the teacher my son got. And, it's ok, he can live without his good friend.
The disruptive child is not picking on my son only. He is equal opportunity aggressive to whoever is close to him not all the time of course. But I wanted to minimize their interaction. It seems like they have a lot of common interest so they tend to hang out until the first burst of aggression so to speak. So from the outside it looks like they are good friends (they were in different classes before) who sometimes have fights.
I hardly ever volunteered in the classroom literally. It was more help with organizing things. No, I don't discuss children with other parents.
I am not going to go and ask for anything.
Upon a second thought, classes are not blatantly different. And they are doing a lot of things together, like field trips.
Whatever. Thanks for letting me vent. Btw middle class parents who work usually find the time to volunteer (at least at our school). So they are known and appreciated, too.
There are no queen bees and they don't target anyone at our school.

[Anonymous]

Op again- I just needed to get it out. Obviously I can't discuss it IRL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again- I just needed to get it out. Obviously I can't discuss it IRL.

No worries. It sounds as though you've worked this all out in your own mind now so that you won't be burdened by this when school starts back up.

[Anonymous]

Wow. In my view, volunteering is something that I do to help my child's school overall, not something that I do because I expect the school to do special favors for us in exchange. I expect that my kid will be assigned to teachers and classes in the exact same way as other kids whose parents can't volunteer due to other obligations and life circumstances are assigned to teachers and classes. That being said, if you think the class assignment is problematic, you should talk to the principal about your concerns, just as any other parent would have a right to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the world doesn't owe you anything because you did a good deed by sending your child to a title one school and volunteer.

+1

Your attitude is disgusting.

The only valid concern I'd have is being in the same class as the other child who has known bad chemistry. I'd ask the principal to change because of that. But the principal probably knows that you're a scheming, entitled parent by now so probably won't change it.

Next time - only give one preference based on valid reason - if any at all. Requesting teacher + friend + avoid kid = demanding & entitled.

And only volunteer because you are trying to help, not gain "points" with the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you "volunteered" because you thought it would curry you favors with the principal with class placement? If you'd just stuck to sharing about how frustrated you were that your communicated request for separating your child from another wasn't met, I would have offered some helpful advice. But you had to throw in the part about expecting some preferential treatment because you volunteered.

You're an idiot, OP. You fail to see how your kid will be fine, even with some kids who learn differently. Even worse, though, is that you're an entitled idiot. Please stay in MD.

-Principal of a Title 1 school in Fairfax

To be fair this principal doesn't get it cause title one schools don't have ptas

Principal here: We do. I just met with our president on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it. She would be equally appalled by OP's post.

I think the Principal is right. If I remember correctly from the Title 1 school we used to be at, they usually have PTOs because PTOs don't require mandator dues and are not part of a national organization, whereas PTAs are and are usually at higher SES schools. Is this right?

I think it depends on the school. We're at a Title 1 in Arlington and we have a PTA, as do all other Title 1 schools in Arlington, with one exception (one school has a fr/l rate close to 90% and that school has a PTO).

OP, you are gross. And probably a troll. I am a SAHM who has the luxury to volunteer. I do it because I love our school and I love the students. My time with them is rewarding to ME not because of the benefit that may accrue to my child, but because I get a window into the world of some of the sweetest and most interesting humans around. That is why I spend my time volunteering--because I enjoy it and it fills my heart. If that's not the reason you're doing it, you should spend your time elsewhere.