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=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Three kids, I work full time and we move quite often.  I just don't have the time.  I attend school functions, donate and make purchases through the PTA.  Overall, PTA is pretty low on my totem pole.  Sorry.

In my mind the PTA is for SAHMs.  I'm sure that is a broad assumption and I will get flamed, but that's my two cent donation.[/quote]

many sahm feel that they already do "enough" for the school and therefore don't do PTA, that all for you honey, want to give you an opportunity to do something too![/quote]

You know what, though?  The SAHM do that by choice so they shouldn't be resentful.  At least at our school, the "volunteer" opportunities in the classroom exist largely to give parents a chance to participate.  I may not volunteer every week, but I send in whatever the teacher needs, go on field trips, donate, etc.  Just because I can't be in the school during working hours doesn't mean I'm not involved.  If you're resentful that you, as a SAHM, perceive that you're carrying too big of a load, then stop.  I think you might find that you bring it on yourself and perhaps even enjoy being a martyr and lording it over the WOHM.[/quote]

What?  I was being sarcastic, I don't give a shit what you do or how you spend your time-your post said the PTA is for sahms-many of which do other things around the school and don't have time for the PTA or not interested in it either.  "lording it over the WOHM?"  Are you insane, why can't I lord it over the mom that works out of the house?  Who uses that term?  Nut job.[/quote]

I am the one you responded to, but I'm actually not the original poster quoted first.   I realize you can't tell because it's all anonymous, but I was not the one who said the PTA is for SAHM.  I was merely responding to your post because I get a lot of attitude form SAHMs at our school who think I owe them something because they volunteer in my childrens' classrooms and do PTA stuff (which I tried to do one year, but wasn't in the "club").  Frankly, I wish the school didn't allow parents to volunteer in class on a regular basis.  I find the most of the mothers come out of the classroom and gossip about which kid is at which level, which kids are "smart" and which ones are "dim bulbs."  I find it completely offensive -- especially when AAP selection comes around and they have these crazy opinions on which kids are gifted and which are not based on what they (as untrained volunteers) saw in the classroom.  So basically, I think the parents that are doing it, do it because they want to and they have time.  Perhaps they should consider that others don't have that choice (i.e. work and can't be there during the day) or choose not to do it and stop acting as if the rest of the parents in teh school owe them something for volunteering.  Nuts?  Maybe I am, but I'll bet there are others who agree.[/quote]

This is completely overboard. Everyone understands that you can't volunteer because you work. Big deal. But that saying that mothers come into the classroom to gossip about the kids and spy on them to make their own judgement about who belongs in AAP and who doesn't and who's a dim wit and who's smart? Maybe you had a bad experience with a few bad apples, but I guarantee you that's by no means the rule.
 In fact, many of the moms whom I've volunteered with on the PTA and in the classroom don't have a kid in AAP, don't care much about the issue, don't know who your kid is, and really have better things to do. I can also guarantee you that when I'm in the classroom, to the extent I'm not interacting with other children, the only kid I'm interested in is MINE. That's right, ladies, mine. 
I don't go stuff folders, or serve cupcakes, or entertain the kids with games that bore me to death, or plead with the kid who's decided to take his balloon and that of five other classmates because I need it  to prop up my self-esteem or be in some privileged (privileged, my ass) circle or because I don't have other things to do. I do it because the kids get so excited for days beforehand and things like this are some of the few moments they'll recall from the otherwise dull routine they go through day after day after day.
Seems to me your worry about spying mothers is more a reflection of your own insecurities about AAP or otherwise. Also, whether your child is a genius or a dim wit, have no fear, the other kids already know, as do lots of other people (teachers, counselors, future employers...). The mothers who volunteer in the classroom are the least of your worries.[/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