Why are you not active in your elementary school's parent organization?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A NPR story on the radio featuring this article:

http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2014/12/16/54797/pasadena-schools-experiment-with-charlas-to-help-students-by-coaching-their-parents/

"“We found that most forms of parental involvement yield no benefit to children’s test scores or grades regardless of their racial or ethnic background or socioeconomic status.”
Robinson found traditional activities like attending PTA meetings didn’t help.
But he said a few things can make a difference.
“The list of what consistently works is pretty short. That would be expecting your child to go to college, regularly discussing activities that your child engages in at school and requesting a particular teacher for your child,” he said."

This is not surprising. Our school has a PTA funded program that doesn't appear to be audited or measured for performance in any way. Everyone loves to talk about our unique "XXXX" program but nobody can answer basics questions about how the program is measured for effectiveness and impact or why the PTA continues to fund it year after year. So we will keep paying $00 because everybody thinks the program is so great and some of us are wondering why we don't consider other programs.

I think you and other posters are confused about the study cited in the NPR study.

There are two different propositions here:

1) the attendance of low-income parents at PTA meetings does not improve the test scores of the children of those parents. Other involvements are more effective for engaging these parents, for example the "charlas" discussed in the article.

2) PTA-funded programming is ineffective at raising the test scores of children or meaningfully contribuing to their education.

The study established (1). It didn't say anything about (2), and we know that (2) is false because for example, PTAs can fund these types of charlas and also tutoring, enrichment, classroom aides, and many things that help students.

If the PTA showed the numbed of parent hours invested, the amount of money raised, the costs for fundraisers, the profits, the decision-making process for how funds are spent, and where
the money goes....that would help encourage participation. Rather than guilt-tripping parents, or bullying them as labeling them as freeloaders....how about each PTA make a persuasive case such as a start-up would. Or even BBB transparency standards. http://www.bbb.org/council/news-events/news-releases/20131/09/meeting-bbb-charity-standards-associated-with-greater-fundraising-results/

You want shareholders without demonstrating what the shareholders are getting for the investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An inordinate amount of PTA time is spent on planning, staffing, and follow up from fundraisers. I say just give me a $ amount at the beginning of the year and I'm happy to write a check for the year.

+10000

+ a million...assuming you actually cut the check.

Some folks prefer to be free-raiders, investing no time or money in their kids' school.

Amen, sometimes I wish parents were interviewed prior to enrolling their child into school so they can have an understanding of the support needed. Write a check or get involved.

This is such a DC fear. Someone, somewhere is getting away with something and we have to stop them.

Haha! I know right? "Look at me, I am busting my ___ selling candy bars....why isn't everybody doing the same? They must be free-loaders....they must be stopped!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just time. I have the utmost respect for those who do it, but I mostly just can't figure out where to fit it. I make the effort to introduce myself to the more active parents (some of whom are also part of 2-working parent households). I'll write a check and show up to a couple of events during the year. (I offered to help with the school garden this year but haven't heard back.) But I lack the time energy or talent to be an involved organizer type. Most of my day is scheduled in 10 minute increments, I get about 3 hours of straight family time at the end of the workday, and 5 hours of sleep at night. Weekends are a little looser, but I like to keep them that way to keep myself sane.

Yes! Spend the time with our kids! Not "Not now dear child....I am off for another meeting for your own good."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not involved because it is boring & fluffy.

Makes sense.

Now, you donate you due, correct?

My taxes are my due.

[Anonymous]

Can't figure out how to join. I thought I was signing up at back-to-school night, but haven't heard anything since about meetings, etc. Similarly, I believe there's also a school listserv but can't for my life figure out how to get added.

[Anonymous]

Our PTA is a clique of mean moms who get botox, wear make-up to pick-up, and stuff their boobs in push-up bras. Tried to fit in, but I'm 40-lb overweight with only chapstick and clothes that make me look like a sausage. I was the clearly the un-cool person there, no one talked to me, and one of the mean girls (not the official PTA president, but clearly the "leader" basically told me that I didn't have any good ideas on the one time that I spoke up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't figure out how to join. I thought I was signing up at back-to-school night, but haven't heard anything since about meetings, etc. Similarly, I believe there's also a school listserv but can't for my life figure out how to get added.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA is a clique of mean moms who get botox, wear make-up to pick-up, and stuff their boobs in push-up bras. Tried to fit in, but I'm 40-lb overweight with only chapstick and clothes that make me look like a sausage. I was the clearly the un-cool person there, no one talked to me, and one of the mean girls (not the official PTA president, but clearly the "leader" basically told me that I didn't have any good ideas on the one time that I spoke up).

That sounds about right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA is a clique of mean moms who get botox, wear make-up to pick-up, and stuff their boobs in push-up bras. Tried to fit in, but I'm 40-lb overweight with only chapstick and clothes that make me look like a sausage. I was the clearly the un-cool person there, no one talked to me, and one of the mean girls (not the official PTA president, but clearly the "leader" basically told me that I didn't have any good ideas on the one time that I spoke up).

That sounds about right.

+ 1. Long wait list charter school? Amazing teachers, amazing staff, amazing facilities, amazing school -- b!t(C)#es on the PTA that do not know how to be genuinely nice to anyone? They come up, say hello, but are immediately nodding their head and looking elsewhere and leave as soon as they find one of their own. I work part-time and my friends are very successful (le.g., aw partner, executive director of big NGOs, private PA consultant that's highly sought after) with the big cash to donate, so try being nice to them! Some on the PTA also work, but many of them seem sexist like they think only men donate money, since I notice they'll drool over the few men that attend the PTA meetings.

[Anonymous]

I think you are projecting a bit there, pp.

[Anonymous]

Is there any school without a PTA? How are the students doing without one?

[Anonymous]

1)Time of meetings.
2) kids in 2 different schools. I cant be at everything.
3) We don't live near the school. It's a pain to get there at rush hour, especially after doing it already during am rush hour.
4) Special needs kid. I do not want to use your free or low cost meeting sitter that knows nothing about special needs. (I don't need you talking about my kid's behavior any more than you already do.)
5) DH and I both work full time, high stress jobs. We are tired.
6) We write checks. Several times a year.
7) At one school, the PSA pushed

[Anonymous]

Pp. Hit submit by mistake
7) At old school, vocal minority PSA pushed for changes not everyone was in favor of. They didn't care.
8) Too much focus on petty stuff, like if aftercare provides french.
9) I volunteer during the school day (trips, etc)
10) spending the evening with my kids is more important to me.

[Anonymous]

Burnt out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not involved because it is boring & fluffy.

Makes sense.

Now, you donate you due, correct?

My taxes are my due.

I knew it, you are a free-rider. No time or money invested in your school, let other parents contribute while you b*tch around.