"They do nothing useful."

WOW. Our PTA feeds almost 100 kids every weekend. I'd say they do something useful.

Anonymous wrote:Why is your PTA doing this?

At a small private school ours brings gifts to teachers on their birthdays, throws parties for parents at people's homes or restaurants--sometimes with kids, and, just today, hosted a holiday luncheon for staff and faculty.

Why are they involved in kids' stuff?

Is this like a public school thing?

At our public school, the PTA funds science equipment and arts assemblies, sponsors a back to school picnic and sometimes another social gathering, provides a meal to teachers, organizes the booksale and maybe helps organize parent volunteers for things like field day (can’t remember now if they do this).

As others have noted, spirit days are an SGA creation—so generally created by 10 year olds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When too much is asked, the many families that don't participate feel like outliners. Opposite of building school spirit. Opposite of feeling good about school, for most. The PTA needs to always have in mind that what they suggest is not what an ordinary family considers reasonable.

Again, this is not done by the PTA (for the most part). And how is wearing your PJs asking too much? It's literally saving time as they don't need to get dressed in the morning. As a former PTA president, you have NO IDEA the time and effort some of these parents put into the school. But sorry that picking out a colored T-shirt is too much effort for you.

NP. I’m a room parent at my kid’s school, and I wonder if some of these people believe it’s *me personally* asking for donations and choosing spirit days and class parties. I wouldn’t have thought so until I read this thread.

As a room parent, I asked for donations via sign up genius for the two parties. If we didn't get sign ups, I'd get a big costco cake, drinks, fruit and a few cheap snacks, like crackers and done. Sometimes I'd splurge on pizza (usually another parent would) as you used to be able to get $5 pizza's pre-covid so $30 fed the class. And, a few activities. Done. It cost me $40-50. Teacher gifts can be done by the individual family. I never collect money as we were at a low income school and I didn't want those folks to feel pressured when I could do a party cheaply and didn't mind paying and some of the more comfortably families were cheap/lazy or knew I'd do it if they didn't so they didn't bother.

I think the PTA does it as its easy for them. It takes two minutes to create a wish list for donations for food/snacks/presents and then people drop it off, school sets it up and PTA can take credit for being generous and doing a good thing. We have had 7 or so donation requests this year from the PTA for staff - all sign up geniuses that take little effort. So, where is all the PTA funds going? They aren't buying things for the school or doing anything significant. That is my concern.

I will gladly donate to a teacher or directly to the school. If the school asks for something, I'm one of the first to donate. But, the PTA has funds and doesn't spend them appropriately and I know I'm done. (and yes, I tried to change things and it didn't work and the PTA folks were very hostile to me about it).

Anonymous wrote:Why is your PTA doing this?

At a small private school ours brings gifts to teachers on their birthdays, throws parties for parents at people's homes or restaurants--sometimes with kids, and, just today, hosted a holiday luncheon for staff and faculty.

Why are they involved in kids' stuff?

Is this like a public school thing?

Private schools often have money to pay for these things. Publics don't.

Why is your PTA doing this?

At a small private school ours brings gifts to teachers on their birthdays, throws parties for parents at people's homes or restaurants--sometimes with kids, and, just today, hosted a holiday luncheon for staff and faculty.

Why are they involved in kids' stuff?

Is this like a public school thing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When too much is asked, the many families that don't participate feel like outliners. Opposite of building school spirit. Opposite of feeling good about school, for most. The PTA needs to always have in mind that what they suggest is not what an ordinary family considers reasonable.

Again, this is not done by the PTA (for the most part). And how is wearing your PJs asking too much? It's literally saving time as they don't need to get dressed in the morning. As a former PTA president, you have NO IDEA the time and effort some of these parents put into the school. But sorry that picking out a colored T-shirt is too much effort for you.

NP. I’m a room parent at my kid’s school, and I wonder if some of these people believe it’s *me personally* asking for donations and choosing spirit days and class parties. I wouldn’t have thought so until I read this thread.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a way for people to build their resumes.

Pretty much but our PTA does very little. They constantly ask for parent donations and only a few dozen donate and enough gets to be enough. They do the least amount of effort to pat themselves on the back. Some do really good work.

Anonymous wrote:This one isn't on the PTA, the SGA (student government association) picks the spirit days, not the PTA. The kids love it, I am sorry it is causing you and your child so much anxiety.

This. PTA had no role in spirit/costume weeks.

It’s a way for people to build their resumes.

Anonymous wrote:
They do nothing useful.

This week is celebrate week and the kids are supposed to wear specific outfits.

It creates more work for the parents and does not make it more fun for the kids

Today is Match Your Friends day and DD is having a total meltdown over what outfit to wear.

I hate the PTA.

You do not have to participate op. How old is your dd? Let her handle it if she is over the age 5.