Back to School Night gripe

[Anonymous]

Seriously...Does Janney really charge $550 in PTA dues?!!!

[Anonymous]

Dues like that pay for classroom aids. Paying for childcare would be an absolutely frivolous way to spend it when it could go towards educational purposes.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. If you're paying that much in PTA dues, I see no reason why childcare during meetings would be considered a frivolous expense. Even if you aren't paying that much I still don't believe it's a frivolous expense. It was very much appreciated by the parents and staff at our DCPS last year and our dues were no where near this amount. And yes, we had a pretty good amount of money in the treasury from fundraising. That PTA was always looking out for ways to be supportive of the parents, particularly those who did not have high income or extra help at home. I would also like to note that they had money left over for TA's and teacher development. Perhaps because they did try to make it as convenient as possible for parents to participate.

[Anonymous]

This is what a babysitter charges in my neighborhood for 3 hours--$60 for 3 kids. Whenever I have had a teen ager over to sit things have gotten broken or the house has been wrecked by my very wild 10 and 12 year old boys unless an adult is in charge. I don't have the kind of relationship with my neighbors where we "swap" babysitters anymore--they have FT nannies with contracts. So no, I do have to fork over the $60 to go to a dog and pony show on a school night. Not everyone can do this easily and it really feels like an imposition. Their should be an option for kids to be dropped of with a caregiver in the multipurpose room or gymnasium where they can be entertained for a few hours.

So, you think the school should pay for you to drop off your "very wild" kids for a "dog and pony show" you don't even appreciate because apparently even you can't trust your kids with a paid babysitter?

Yeah, you should stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is what a babysitter charges in my neighborhood for 3 hours--$60 for 3 kids. Whenever I have had a teen ager over to sit things have gotten broken or the house has been wrecked by my very wild 10 and 12 year old boys unless an adult is in charge. I don't have the kind of relationship with my neighbors where we "swap" babysitters anymore--they have FT nannies with contracts. So no, I do have to fork over the $60 to go to a dog and pony show on a school night. Not everyone can do this easily and it really feels like an imposition. Their should be an option for kids to be dropped of with a caregiver in the multipurpose room or gymnasium where they can be entertained for a few hours.

So, you think the school should pay for you to drop off your "very wild" kids for a "dog and pony show" you don't even appreciate because apparently even you can't trust your kids with a paid babysitter?

Yeah, you should stay home.

No. I think they should pool the funds of parents who want to bring their kids--at more modest fee and hire some the kids in the gymnasium or auditorium. I'm not expectinting DCPS to pay for this. I pay PTA funds of $500 per kid--take some of that money.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry - HOLY SHIT $500-$550 to join the PTA!?!

So the parents who can't afford that can't participate? Is that how that works? How the hell is that helpful?