Do most families join PTA?

[Anonymous]

As of this week, there are roughly 70 members at my kid's elementary school out of roughly 800 students. This is a school in a well-to-do area if that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were sent information about PTA and I am curious if most families join their PTAs. There was a thread recently about how ineffective the PTAs are and I have no way of accessing whether ours is great or not. The events listed were 90% virtual, as expected. We are a COSA family and DH thought it would be a great way to connect with other families. I am just dubious if we would be able to do that due to covid.

I think it depends on the school how many join. Whether you meet families will depend on your involvement level. With COVID restrictions, those opportunities may be limited. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't join the PTA and if you can afford it, make a donation above your membership dues.

In the schools my children have attended, the PTA has provided many enrichment opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to students. The PTA also has paid for needed supplies and equipment when MCPS' school budget didn't give the school an allowance for them. Many PTAs also provide scholarships for kids to go on field trips when MCPS budgets don't include those funds and the families cannot afford the cost. Most PTAs also provide staff appreciation events.

On the county, state, and national level, PTA engages in advocacy with the very small (around $5 of dues that are paid to the "higher up" PTA associations). But at the local school level, the PTA helps improve the school environment for all students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school has a dismal sign up rate - only 76 memberships out of over 600 kids in the elementary school. It’s a good example of how wealthier schools have an edge over less affluent ones; PTAs can make big differences for student, parent, and teacher experiences. When you have a virtually non existent PTA, it’s much more difficult. We have a yearly budget of ~$5,000 inclusive of fundraisers. Even schools with similar demographics / SES profiles in our area have budgets of upward of $20,000 because more families are involved.

As a parent who is a member and who values an active PTA it’s sometimes frustrating that there are so many parents who are “free riders” at our school. The cost of membership is $15 so not super expensive.

$15 is a LOT for many families at a low income school. Many don't join because of how the PTA is run, not money and if you want more members, give a low income waiver.

Most PTAs have reduced membership dues (some as low as zero) for FARMs families. However, the PTA depends upon families who can afford to pay to join and contribute money.

[Anonymous]

The reason why parents don't join the PTA is one of two reasons. Either they're (a) incredibly satisfied with their school, or (b) they know the PTA doesn't exchange parent ideas or have a means of communication. In other words, it's all for show. MCPS says it's (a), but.. as a parent, of the four schools my children have attended over the years, I've only seen one school's PTA actually represent parents, exchange ideas and have an open forum of communications.

[Anonymous]

Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Source?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Socialization has nothing to do with PTA's.

Parents should ask to see how the money is being spent, not just the budget and money spent. Ask to see actual receipts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were sent information about PTA and I am curious if most families join their PTAs. There was a thread recently about how ineffective the PTAs are and I have no way of accessing whether ours is great or not. The events listed were 90% virtual, as expected. We are a COSA family and DH thought it would be a great way to connect with other families. I am just dubious if we would be able to do that due to covid.

I think it depends on the school how many join. Whether you meet families will depend on your involvement level. With COVID restrictions, those opportunities may be limited. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't join the PTA and if you can afford it, make a donation above your membership dues.

In the schools my children have attended, the PTA has provided many enrichment opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to students. The PTA also has paid for needed supplies and equipment when MCPS' school budget didn't give the school an allowance for them. Many PTAs also provide scholarships for kids to go on field trips when MCPS budgets don't include those funds and the families cannot afford the cost. Most PTAs also provide staff appreciation events.

On the county, state, and national level, PTA engages in advocacy with the very small (around $5 of dues that are paid to the "higher up" PTA associations). But at the local school level, the PTA helps improve the school environment for all students.

It depends on the PTA. The two schools we've been at did no enrichment activities, did not buy anything needed for the school and didn't proceed scholarships to field trips. The school would ask for donations from parents to help fund kids who couldn't afford it. That's great yours do all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Socialization has nothing to do with PTA's.

Parents should ask to see how the money is being spent, not just the budget and money spent. Ask to see actual receipts.

Trust me, the PTA would rather you not join if you are going to ask to see every receipt!

[Anonymous]

Join the PTA. Try and raise issues/questions at PTA meetings. Active PTAs are a great addition to any school. More than anything, appreciate people who volunteer on the PTA board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Socialization has nothing to do with PTA's.

Parents should ask to see how the money is being spent, not just the budget and money spent. Ask to see actual receipts.

Trust me, the PTA would rather you not join if you are going to ask to see every receipt!

If you are spending someone else’s money they have a right to see how it is spent. What do you have to hide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As of this week, there are roughly 70 members at my kid's elementary school out of roughly 800 students. This is a school in a well-to-do area if that matters.

That is not good. Without a strong PTA, I would be very concerned. The PTA can make a big difference in terms of the quality of experience for kids. Movie nights, dance parties, climbing walls, kona ice and food trucks trucks, etc. Even though its extraneous to the actual education, it is vital bonding and community building which makes the educational experience more enriched and stronger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Socialization has nothing to do with PTA's.

Parents should ask to see how the money is being spent, not just the budget and money spent. Ask to see actual receipts.

Trust me, the PTA would rather you not join if you are going to ask to see every receipt!

If you are spending someone else’s money they have a right to see how it is spent. What do you have to hide?

Nothing! Because it’s the PTA. What do you think they’re buying so secretly? You really want to see the itemized receipts for snacks for the Halloween party or the annual fees for the website to stay up? It’s really not that exciting. If you can’t trust that they are honestly their spending money then just don’t join or better yet, run for treasurer and you can see every receipt there is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were sent information about PTA and I am curious if most families join their PTAs. There was a thread recently about how ineffective the PTAs are and I have no way of accessing whether ours is great or not. The events listed were 90% virtual, as expected. We are a COSA family and DH thought it would be a great way to connect with other families. I am just dubious if we would be able to do that due to covid.

I think it depends on the school how many join. Whether you meet families will depend on your involvement level. With COVID restrictions, those opportunities may be limited. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't join the PTA and if you can afford it, make a donation above your membership dues.

In the schools my children have attended, the PTA has provided many enrichment opportunities that otherwise would not have been available to students. The PTA also has paid for needed supplies and equipment when MCPS' school budget didn't give the school an allowance for them. Many PTAs also provide scholarships for kids to go on field trips when MCPS budgets don't include those funds and the families cannot afford the cost. Most PTAs also provide staff appreciation events.

On the county, state, and national level, PTA engages in advocacy with the very small (around $5 of dues that are paid to the "higher up" PTA associations). But at the local school level, the PTA helps improve the school environment for all students.

It depends on the PTA. The two schools we've been at did no enrichment activities, did not buy anything needed for the school and didn't proceed scholarships to field trips. The school would ask for donations from parents to help fund kids who couldn't afford it. That's great yours do all that.

DP. Our PTA helped to collect, on behalf of the school, funds for the field trip to St. Mary's so that all kids could attend. That was probably the most memorable field trip my kid ever had with MCPS. Also collected donations to fund a weird wild animal show at the school (I'm not sure how to describe it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Active and Effective PTAs help bring different ideas and activities to the school and for the kids. It help kids and parents (if they want) to increases socialization. If you think that is important, than join. Many people don't want to be involve because they think it involves alot of participation. Yes and No. If you are anti-social, don't make your child anti-social. Socialization is important.

The majority of crimes are committed by those who are or were (as kids) who lack socialization.

Socialization has nothing to do with PTA's.

Parents should ask to see how the money is being spent, not just the budget and money spent. Ask to see actual receipts.

Trust me, the PTA would rather you not join if you are going to ask to see every receipt!

If you are spending someone else’s money they have a right to see how it is spent. What do you have to hide?

Nothing! Because it’s the PTA. What do you think they’re buying so secretly? You really want to see the itemized receipts for snacks for the Halloween party or the annual fees for the website to stay up? It’s really not that exciting. If you can’t trust that they are honestly their spending money then just don’t join or better yet, run for treasurer and you can see every receipt there is.

In fairness to the PPP, there was a case of that person with the MCCPTA some years ago that embezzled funds. But that was the MCCPTA and not a local school PTA. I would not believe that someone would steal from the local school PTA. You're stealing from your own kid and their friends, what would be the point?