RANT - I Hate the PTA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

You are so obnoxious.

I disagree. This is an anonymous message board. I’m sure she’s polite in person. I mean, would you want to arrive 45 min early to work for breakfast? I wouldn’t. I would want 45 min less time at work!

She complains about everything. Even gift cards. No wonder people think teachers are whiny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

You are so obnoxious.

I disagree. This is an anonymous message board. I’m sure she’s polite in person. I mean, would you want to arrive 45 min early to work for breakfast? I wouldn’t. I would want 45 min less time at work!

She complains about everything. Even gift cards. No wonder people think teachers are whiny.

Said it made her uncomfortable like a bribe. Valid complaint. She gets to have her feelings even if they aren’t the same as yours.
I mean it’s not as if she was complaining it wasn’t enough or complaining about the places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In every school there are those who volunteer to help make school better for teachers and students. And there are those who do absolutely nothing but certainly reap the benefits. In our PTA most of the moms and dads work full time. A few work part time or stay at home. We are all busy. However, we make time to volunteer because we know that it's important. Not only is the help appreciated, but we know that our children benefit by seeing us involved in their schools. Parents like the OP are the takers. The whiners. The unorganized, professional victims.

100% this. And you know what, OP. The moms and dads in this category do make the occasional remark (to each other...sometimes with a laugh and sometimes with an eye-roll) that "it's always the same dozen people" who do the heavy volunteer lifting--because it IS!
But we do not go out of our way to belittle your choice to not be involved. Do it or don't do it. But don't dump on us for trying to build a sense of community for our kids and show appreciation for our teachers.

Exactly. I volunteer a lot, but I have a very flexible full time job that allows for it. I too choose what I want to be involved in. Yes, the regular volunteers do share a private eyeroll every now and then, but frankly we know our community and what to expect and what not to expect. We all have our pet peeves. Mine are not RSVPing and complaining by people who are in the do nothing camp about the efforts of the regular volunteers. But getting after someone to bring in muffins for teacher appreciation week? No way. We don’t even have teacher appreciation week . Take a deep breath and try not to let it get to you.

[Anonymous]

My kid's school has parents sign up to make the teachers each a homemade dinner during TA week. This seems like such a waste - this stuff goes right in the trash, right??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:RANT: PTA prob "hates" you too, OP. Classic freeloader who lives in the fantasyland of pretending all the PTA mom's are SAHMs. We're not.

PTA is optional. Nobody is freeloading. Some people don't have the time or money to participate. Try to be a little more sympathetic to people who aren't just like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

Uncomfortable is a valid complaint. Then you should communicate that to your PTA and Principal.

The rest of your post is obnoxiously rude. The breakfast at our school is not "chik-fil-a" but homemade casseroles and Panera items. And they are set out about 20 min before the doors open. They teachers an partake or not. But, after reading a post like yours, I def won't be contributing this year.

As for the gifts, you're ungrateful and make some ridiculous assumptions. Nothing more to be said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You sound unhinged.

Yes. Yes she does.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for a kid when their mom won't make even a token effort on such things. You don't have to do all of them.

1. Just buy a box of donuts and drop them off on your way to work--or tell your husband tell your DH to do it.

2. Pick some flowers from the garden or from the side of the road and have your kid bring them in.

That would be enough. Anything less than that, I would judge you.

signed,

mother of 3 kids-lawyer who works 60 hour weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

Uncomfortable is a valid complaint. Then you should communicate that to your PTA and Principal.

The rest of your post is obnoxiously rude. The breakfast at our school is not "chik-fil-a" but homemade casseroles and Panera items. And they are set out about 20 min before the doors open. They teachers an partake or not. But, after reading a post like yours, I def won't be contributing this year.

As for the gifts, you're ungrateful and make some ridiculous assumptions. Nothing more to be said.

I think that’s kind of her whole point - she doesn’t care if you participate or not. I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but she said teachers don’t care about TA week so your threat not to bring in breakfast items is kind of silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school has parents sign up to make the teachers each a homemade dinner during TA week. This seems like such a waste - this stuff goes right in the trash, right??

Yes. Yes, it does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school has parents sign up to make the teachers each a homemade dinner during TA week. This seems like such a waste - this stuff goes right in the trash, right??

Yes. Yes, it does.

+1 I can’t imagine much gets eaten. Between diets, allergies, vegetarians, germaphobes and food preferences, this just isn’t a good idea.

[Anonymous]

We have a very nice week. It's not over the top and I don't ever hear any complaints from teacher colleagues.

As a teacher member I used to be more active in the PTA, but many meetings have moved to during the school day so unfortunately that keeps many from being able to attend. I am still able to keep updated through PTA emails which is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

Uncomfortable is a valid complaint. Then you should communicate that to your PTA and Principal.

The rest of your post is obnoxiously rude. The breakfast at our school is not "chik-fil-a" but homemade casseroles and Panera items. And they are set out about 20 min before the doors open. They teachers an partake or not. But, after reading a post like yours, I def won't be contributing this year.

As for the gifts, you're ungrateful and make some ridiculous assumptions. Nothing more to be said.

I think that’s kind of her whole point - she doesn’t care if you participate or not. I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but she said teachers don’t care about TA week so your threat not to bring in breakfast items is kind of silly.

Oh sure. You don't think those teachers would be the FIRST to complain about how "parents can't even be bothered to bring in some restaurant prepared casserole?" MMMk. They absolutely would. 100% sure they would.

And more to the point here, the KIDS know it's TA appreciation week. And in ES, at least, enjoy seeing the teachers recognized and giving them gifts or seeing them receive special treatment. I couldn't possibly care less what any teacher thinks of me or my efforts on behalf of TA week. But my child is involved in picking things out and is excited to participate. So, to hear this teacher's complaining, rudeness, and admitting to just throwing things out, I have a problem with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

You are so obnoxious.

I disagree. This is an anonymous message board. I’m sure she’s polite in person. I mean, would you want to arrive 45 min early to work for breakfast? I wouldn’t. I would want 45 min less time at work!

She complains about everything. Even gift cards. No wonder people think teachers are whiny.

Said it made her uncomfortable like a bribe. Valid complaint. She gets to have her feelings even if they aren’t the same as yours.
I mean it’s not as if she was complaining it wasn’t enough or complaining about the places.

My roommate is a teacher and gets uncomfortable with gift card gifts as well. Especially when it's a high $$ gift card from a student (well, the parent of a student) who isn't doing so hot in the class. I'm sure that's less of an issue in ES as that appears where this poster teaches, but my roommate teaches 8th grade, where grades matter a bit more than in ES. Her standard practice now is to donate the gift card to our local homeless shelter or if it's a Visa type gift card, she will sometimes donate it to the local animal shelter or purchase items either shelter says they are in need of. She then writes a thank you note for the gift card and lets the parent/student know that the funds were paid forward and put to good use. I thought that was pretty clever as she always says something like, "thank you so much for the $50 Visa gift card. I love volunteering and helping my local community and this gift has helped me do just that. I have donated the funds to x or I have purchased $50 worth of socks for the Local Shelter."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Ding! We really don't.

Our week is laid out like this:

Monday - early breakfast; yes, arriving at school 45 mins. is exactly how I want to start off my week. Especially for some greasy Chick-fil-A.
Tuesday - flower day; my favorites are the hand-drawn flowers instead of real ones as most flowers give me an instant headache. I tell the kids I'm taking them home to brighten up my house but immediately toss them in the trash. I do feel bad for .02 seconds after tossing them.
Wednesday - gift card day; this one makes me most uncomfortable because I always feel like I'm being bribed. 99% of the gift cards received will be for Starbucks, which is awesome, but again, I just don't think that money, even in gift card form, should be exchanged with teachers.
Thursday - card day; they're supposed to be handmade, but most are storebought. Some aren't even signed by the kid and are instead signed by the parent as the kid. To make up for immediately tossing the flowers, I usually keep and display the cards for a week.
Friday - lunch & cake day; catered lunch & cake is fine and probably all that's ever really needed for this week. Some years the room parents will take up a separate collection for a larger gift card and give it to you on this day. Again, it makes me super uncomfortable. I'd rather parents just donated that gift card money to the PTA fund that covers field trip fees for the kids whose parents can't.

Uncomfortable is a valid complaint. Then you should communicate that to your PTA and Principal.

The rest of your post is obnoxiously rude. The breakfast at our school is not "chik-fil-a" but homemade casseroles and Panera items. And they are set out about 20 min before the doors open. They teachers an partake or not. But, after reading a post like yours, I def won't be contributing this year.

As for the gifts, you're ungrateful and make some ridiculous assumptions. Nothing more to be said.

I think that’s kind of her whole point - she doesn’t care if you participate or not. I don’t want to put words in her mouth, but she said teachers don’t care about TA week so your threat not to bring in breakfast items is kind of silly.

Oh sure. You don't think those teachers would be the FIRST to complain about how "parents can't even be bothered to bring in some restaurant prepared casserole?" MMMk. They absolutely would. 100% sure they would.

And more to the point here, the KIDS know it's TA appreciation week. And in ES, at least, enjoy seeing the teachers recognized and giving them gifts or seeing them receive special treatment. I couldn't possibly care less what any teacher thinks of me or my efforts on behalf of TA week. But my child is involved in picking things out and is excited to participate. So, to hear this teacher's complaining, rudeness, and admitting to just throwing things out, I have a problem with that.

You are way too invested in this. She’s accepting the gifts nicely so your special little snowflake isn’t disappointed. But clearly you are doing this for your child, and don’t give a shit what the teacher wants. And then are upset she’s not properly appreciative.