Reply to Parent involvement in Bethesda public elementary schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does your school have any parent-visit opportunities (like grandparents day mentioned above)?  Ours is limited to back-to-school night and one "open-house" day.[/quote]

There are unofficial occasions where the parents are invited into the classroom to share info about their jobs (a Dad's day even which took place), or how they might celebrate the holidays differently (culturally), or to help organize a one off event like "author's day"

Personally I try to stay out of the classroom and away from the crazy, disorganized mothers who run the PTA.[/quote]

Disorganized?  I don't think so.  At our Bethesda ES our PTA budget is close to $100,000.  There are many, many people involved.  We have three parties a year.  Parents are not invited to the parties because of space but can attend Halloween parade.  Volunteers during school hours are regularly solicited.  I don't think there is any level of "typical." There are some parents who are involved in everything and others like me who volunteer when it's convenient.   I think that the overall number of activities plus attendance at the back to school picnic and other events illustrates to me that a majority of parents are very invested in the school even if they are not regular volunteers.[/quote]

You talk too much and that's part of the problem. I am not criticizing the fundraising. Its primarily the committee "chaos" and email jungle that the PTA seems to be so tightly wound up in. A lot of time and energy (of those very same PTA folks) is wasted. Its like rigor mortis for the soul.[/quote]

NP here. Come on, you know you're generalizing and that you're wrong.

I'm on the PTA board of a Bethesda-area elementary. We are unpaid but dedicated volunteers, and although in some cases our profession dovetails nicely with our volunteer niche, often we learn on the job. Since the hierarchy is loose, organization can sometimes be perceived as lacking. There is only one board member who talks too much at our school, out of 20-odd. The PTA is a machine dealing with tens of thousands of dollars, vendors, artists, deadlines that run into the following year and many volunteers. Occasionally things go awry, most of the time it works fine. No time is lost for anything, we run a tight ship because we keep a rolling turnover, so we know what others did before us, what worked and what didn't. The principal and school administration are very supportive and ready to lend a hand.

Here's what bugs me about PTA perceptions, and keep in mind I came to this country not knowing a thing about PTAs. The only time other parents notice the PTA is when something goes wrong. The main concern voiced on DCUM is that the PTA is a bunch of cliquey mothers who look down on the rest of the school. Not so. We NEED newcomers, and love their enthusiasm and energy. We NEED them to take our places, when we're burned out or our kids graduate, because this is how it works. If you want to come in and change it all up, GO FOR IT. Just don't be surprised when it's a lot more work than you thought. That we all did for free.

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Why say you need volunteers when you don't actually want them?  This year I've tried to volunteer several times and never heard anything.  I've been to every PTA meeting.  I'm one of the few parents who still goes sadly as most gave up feeling unwelcome into the clique.  I just go to find out what is going on at school as otherwise the teacher and school are minimal in their communications.  There is also a huge waste in funds.  Pet projects are funded rather than real school needs that make no sense (they say they have to pay for things that volunteers can do but never get volunteers which makes no sense when I openly offer at the meeting). Its sad only a select few parents get to be involved and the rest are shut out.  They wonder why people like us don't attend their fundraisers and other activities and when you speak up about dates/times, they dismiss those reasons as they live very different lives.  Sure, the PTA does some good things but for all the good, most of it seems like a huge waste of money and time.[/quote]

I'm sorry you've found this to be the case at your ES, but you don't speak for all of the Bethesda community.  My child's ES PTA is not that way--they're pretty eager to have volunteers-most of the parents work. And I don't think the projects they've chosen to fund are wasteful.  Your post has a lot of generalizations.[/quote]

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