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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No interest, not a joiner.  I'm happy to write you a check, [b]but it's not clear to me that "parent engagement" per se improves the school[/b].  If there's a specific thing you want me to do (like clean up the school yard, take a role in a fundraiser) I'm likely to pitch in.  But just "be involved" for the sake of being involved?  No.  [/quote]

Who do you think organizes those clean up activities, or coordinates fund raising?  These things don't magically happen -- they take commitment of time and energy from parents like yourself. No one is forcing you to join, but your dismissive attitude towards people who make these things happen is the bigger issue than parents trying to contribute positively towards their school communities.[/quote]

the issue is whether the "these things" that you are making happen are worth my time.  sometimes I don't think they are.  my time is valuable, and I'm not going to waste it on activities that are just presumed virtuous and positive simply because they are backed by a desire to "contribute."

anyway, OP asked the question and I'm answering!  I am not likely to get involved if it's an emotional/community/"show we care" type thing.  I am more likely to get involved if it is clearly related to a tangible benefit, like a garden for the school or money to pay for aides.  [/quote]

So you basically agree that some of the activities DO improve the school

Since you agree that school cleanup days and fundraising are both "worth" your time and money, again I'd ask you how those things get organized?  So many parents bitch about their PTOs but these are the people making these activities happen, soliciting volunteers and donors. It's not the school administration making this happen.  It's hardly "cheerleading" even if getting spirited buyin may help these causes.[/quote]

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