Reply to If you don't join and/or volunteer in your school's PTA, please explain why

Forum Index » Schools and Education General Discussion

Reply to "If you don't join and/or volunteer in your school's PTA, please explain why"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I just don't get it. I don't understand how any parent can choose to do nothing at all over the course of a school year. I don't care how financially strapped or busy (a lot of these parents are well resourced) - if you chose to parent you should make time for some school related duties in your life. If every parent did ONE thing, the same ten parents wouldn't do everything. They do it out of a sense of responsibility, not because they magically have 'more time'. It's kind of like shoveling your elderly neighbor's car out; you just do it b/cause it's the right thing to do.[/quote]

Of course you don't understand.  You can't see beyond your own experiences.  People like you are like a repellant.   You DO have more time, you DO have more resources than others and to expect anyone to operate as you think they should is bullshit.  We have a lot of ESL and FARM kids at our school whose parents are doing the best they can.  They have the same aspirations for their kids as we do.  How dare you think you understand what it's like to work two or three jobs trying to make ends meet, have unstable housing and limited English proficiency?  Even someone like me has challenges you can't imagine.  Two of my three kids have special needs.  DH and both WOH.  We have 3-5 therapy appointments every week.  Insurance doesn't pay shit and we have no family around that is capable of helping us in any way.  In fact, my FIL is a home bound invalid, paralyzed on the left side from a stroke and suffering from dementia.  My MIL died 4 years ago and DH is an only child. How dare you think you're just as strapped for time and money as I am.  You're not.  We do make time for school related activities - my kids are clean, dressed appropriately, get to school on time, eat breakfast, do their homework, we attend school events and are in frequently communication with the school and teachers.  Volunteer at whatever level you're comfortable but don't presume to think I should give PTA any of my time.

If PTA is where you want to focus your energy on PTA because you think it's worthwhile, goody for you.  Just don't expect others to make the same choice and don't play the martyr. [/quote]

You may be financially strapped right now--but you say you make time for many school related activities.  So I am not referring to you.  Good for you, and I'm sorry, and sympathetic to your struggles.  It sounds like you are a fantastic parent making it right for your children.  BTW, when I have served on a PA/PTA I have always advocated for families who do work or have other time challenges when scheduling events etc.  Not all PA's/PTA's are obtuse.  A good PA would also be aware of your situation and seek ways to help YOU. 
I also think the title of this thread is a little confusing.  I took it to mean respond to calls for volunteers/participation by the school and PTA.  Not, why don't you serve on the PTA as an officer.  Perhaps that is how I got off on this tangent. If you respond to me, please respond to that bigger question of "if you participate at your school at all".  We have a bunch of apathetic parents at our school, and I started off in a place of Oh well but I am really starting to basically detest them. I am speaking to rich or poor who state they simply don't have time/resources to do ANYTHING at their kids' school.  Yes, I think that's pretty repellant. Obviously we all go through passages in life where we can go do more, or less and I am not speaking to an outlier who suffers from crippling depression for example.  But let's take someone who works on the Hill and says, Gosh, I don't have time to do anything at all this year.  Not one thing. They can't muster to come to a single event or send in twenty dollars for a class fund or volunteer for one field trip or party during the year, especially with choices of daytime, nighttimes, Saturdays...  
My chagrin is not with poor or rich but with people who use money or time as an excuse to do NOTHING. And in my experience, it is the well off and time strapped who often slack the most. At many schools in which I've participated the poorer families have found a way to kick in, whether by contributing a small dollar amount (which is a lot compared to their net worth) or sending in food for a potluck or sharing traditions at a heritage night. My hat off to them for that.  It's a great example to their better off, shameless counterparts.  I will state it again: I think it's repellant, rich or poor (barring extraordinary circumstances) to do absolutely nothing in/for your child's school.
[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics