PTA needs to pick their battles wisely, which they are not doing. They are too busy fighting over whether kids should have smartpop or regular popcorn at their holiday parties ...

This. And the school system/teachers are happy to have parents arguing over minutiae rather than important issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PTA could organize a cart (if it has to be a cart) with supplies instead of food? It could have tissues, wipes, post-it notes, hand sanitizer, pencils, whatever. I'm not a teacher but I can only assume that parents making an effort to replenish supplies would be more welcome by teachers than fattening them up with cookies. Maybe make a small care package for each teacher filled with much needed supplies, and then the PTA moms who love busy work can roll the cart to each classroom to hand out the supplies in person. Win for everyone.

BEST POST ON THE TOPIC.

Hmmm. Maybe. But what about all the rest of the school staff who don't need a bunch of supplies? Not only that, I doubt there is a school in the DC area that is running low on supplies. Other places, yes, but not here.

You do realize that the DC area isn't full of well to do schools, right? I teach in a Title 1 school (not in DC) and I just bought my first pack of tissues over the weekend. This is what happens when only 1/4 of the class brings in supplies. Tissues are not required so people don't bring them in. Get out of your bubble.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight: If someone wanted to provide you, at your job, with some kind of food, like lunch, snacks, pizza, candy, doughtnuts, fruit...whatever...you wouldn't like that?

Let's say your clients, whoever they are, wanted to do that to show appreciation. Or maybe your boss or company owner wanted to do it.

You wouldn't like and appreciate that?

Just wondering.

No, it's weird. I am an adult professional, why do I need someone coming by with plates of junk to feed me like I'm a zoo animal? If I'm hungry I know how to procure food. I don't require a donut bar to get grading done. So not only do I not want it, it's there anyway, parents are mad at us like we created this expectation and work for them to do it, and we have to go thank the PTA moms for putting together a snack bar nobody asked for and then listen as they martyr themselves for how much work it was. Meanwhile I am thinking to myself they need to just go home and quit hanging around the main office arranging cookies.

Clearly that was NOT a teacher who typed that. It’s obvious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PTA could organize a cart (if it has to be a cart) with supplies instead of food? It could have tissues, wipes, post-it notes, hand sanitizer, pencils, whatever. I'm not a teacher but I can only assume that parents making an effort to replenish supplies would be more welcome by teachers than fattening them up with cookies. Maybe make a small care package for each teacher filled with much needed supplies, and then the PTA moms who love busy work can roll the cart to each classroom to hand out the supplies in person. Win for everyone.

BEST POST ON THE TOPIC.

Hmmm. Maybe. But what about all the rest of the school staff who don't need a bunch of supplies? Not only that, I doubt there is a school in the DC area that is running low on supplies. Other places, yes, but not here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight: If someone wanted to provide you, at your job, with some kind of food, like lunch, snacks, pizza, candy, doughtnuts, fruit...whatever...you wouldn't like that?

Let's say your clients, whoever they are, wanted to do that to show appreciation. Or maybe your boss or company owner wanted to do it.

You wouldn't like and appreciate that?

Just wondering.

No, it's weird. I am an adult professional, why do I need someone coming by with plates of junk to feed me like I'm a zoo animal? If I'm hungry I know how to procure food. I don't require a donut bar to get grading done. So not only do I not want it, it's there anyway, parents are mad at us like we created this expectation and work for them to do it, and we have to go thank the PTA moms for putting together a snack bar nobody asked for and then listen as they martyr themselves for how much work it was. Meanwhile I am thinking to myself they need to just go home and quit hanging around the main office arranging cookies.

Anonymous wrote:The PTA could organize a cart (if it has to be a cart) with supplies instead of food? It could have tissues, wipes, post-it notes, hand sanitizer, pencils, whatever. I'm not a teacher but I can only assume that parents making an effort to replenish supplies would be more welcome by teachers than fattening them up with cookies. Maybe make a small care package for each teacher filled with much needed supplies, and then the PTA moms who love busy work can roll the cart to each classroom to hand out the supplies in person. Win for everyone.

BEST POST ON THE TOPIC.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and an elementary school parent.

I think it's a nice gesture that the PTA provides treats every once in awhile and find it amazing that people are making such a huge deal about this. What is wrong with doing something nice for somebody? Why does pay, professionalism, age, etc, matter? They're just showing appreciation. As both a recipient and a donor in these situations, I really don't see the big deal.

If your school's PTA is asking for donations 10-15 times a year then that's an issue with your PTA. Why don't you JOIN THE PTA and try to get them to see your point of view? Ask them to limit their donation requests to provide one breakfast, one lunch, and one school supply donation drive a year?

People on here talking about hitting a saturation point for donation requests but clearly, if the PTA continues to ask and continues to receive, then it's obvious there's more people than not that think it's a worthwhile endeavor.

Also, as an aside, both FCPS schools I've worked at (one Title I, one not) have provided tissues and basic classroom supplies to teachers (pens, pencils, colored pencils, glue, dry erase markers, etc). In fact, we're not even allowed to ask for classroom supplies anymore. We can "suggest" donations but that's about it.

The snack bar was to be on Monday and the email was sent on Saturday saying "urgent need of donations...we barely have any snack food donated." Clearly your bolded assumption isn't accurate in this case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do the snack cart at my school and it's always filled with junk food! Do teachers really want this?

Generally, no.

PTA's need to start cluing in.

PTAs are run by SAHMs with nothing to do all day. They pretend this is a "job." 99% of what they do is busy work they create for themselves and the teachers neither ask for it or want/expect it. Almost none of the teachers in this school will visit this snack bar because we are there to work those days which is what we are doing. We don't want snacks, we aren't juveniles. If you don't like this proposition, and I don't blame you, tell the PTA. The teachers have nothing to do with it and don't care at all about it.

Our PTA is majority working mothers, as is the one where I teach. I don't know if you are bitter that you have to work, you have a crappy school or it's something else but your attitude sucks. I say this as a former SAHM who returned to teaching (and I like the snacks but don't expect them)

Until just as many men as women participate in the PTA and organize snack carts, I’m not getting involved.

Oh wait, men don’t typically perform unpaid labor. I won’t be either.

Enjoy the busy work, bake sales, dumb meetings, stupid teacher perks no one wants (they want cash!) etc.

I had previously lamented the lack of male involvement in the PTA, and my friend pointed out that her husband chooses to coach their daughter's soccer team instead, which I did think was a fair point. They are a lot of demands on volunteer time these days.

Anonymous wrote:The PTA at my DC's school is asking for donations for a "teacher snack bar" for this Monday and Tuesday, which are teacher workdays in Fairfax County. I'm curious why PTAs do things like this. I already am finding alternate care for my kids on those days, which is absolutely my responsibility, but I'm also expected to provide snacks for grown adults who are being paid to go to work those days? They aren't volunteering their time, they are just showing up to work on a paid work day. I already think that it should be teacher appreciation day, not week, why in the world would the PTA think this is a good idea?

It’s corruption

I'm a teacher and an elementary school parent.

I think it's a nice gesture that the PTA provides treats every once in awhile and find it amazing that people are making such a huge deal about this. What is wrong with doing something nice for somebody? Why does pay, professionalism, age, etc, matter? They're just showing appreciation. As both a recipient and a donor in these situations, I really don't see the big deal.

If your school's PTA is asking for donations 10-15 times a year then that's an issue with your PTA. Why don't you JOIN THE PTA and try to get them to see your point of view? Ask them to limit their donation requests to provide one breakfast, one lunch, and one school supply donation drive a year?

People on here talking about hitting a saturation point for donation requests but clearly, if the PTA continues to ask and continues to receive, then it's obvious there's more people than not that think it's a worthwhile endeavor.

Also, as an aside, both FCPS schools I've worked at (one Title I, one not) have provided tissues and basic classroom supplies to teachers (pens, pencils, colored pencils, glue, dry erase markers, etc). In fact, we're not even allowed to ask for classroom supplies anymore. We can "suggest" donations but that's about it.

It's been said, OP, if you don't want to contribute then don't.

Snacks and treats are not necessary, but little tokens of appreciation are always welcomed and put a smile on teachers' faces.

Sure there are some who avoid sugar and gluten but the MAJORITY of teachers are gobbling down the treats. There's usually so much left over because the PTA brings in TONS of stuff. And a lot of it goes home with teachers. At the end of the day, an email will go out saying there's lots of snacks left over to take home. TRUST ME, teachers DO.

Teachers are paid professionals indeed, but they're also tasked with the well-being of my children-both physically and academically. I want those people to be as happy as possible. ALWAYS. That's been my feeling of ANYONE who had my child in their care. I did everything I could to ensure my co-parenting relationship was amicable, and that the new spouse (who'd have my child in her care) was happy too. No I didn't buy them snacks but I was always kind and sent thoughtful cards for the holidays, a few thoughtful tokens here and there. My ex was the same way. He made sure my life was as stress-free as possible because I'd be taking care of 'his' kids. I'm always kind to my DIL, taking gifts, sending flowers etc because she has my grandchild in her custody and I want the person taking care of that little one happy as well.

I can't understand begrudging educators small tokens of kindness several times a year when our children spend so much time in their care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do the snack cart at my school and it's always filled with junk food! Do teachers really want this?

Generally, no.

PTA's need to start cluing in.

PTAs are run by SAHMs with nothing to do all day. They pretend this is a "job." 99% of what they do is busy work they create for themselves and the teachers neither ask for it or want/expect it. Almost none of the teachers in this school will visit this snack bar because we are there to work those days which is what we are doing. We don't want snacks, we aren't juveniles. If you don't like this proposition, and I don't blame you, tell the PTA. The teachers have nothing to do with it and don't care at all about it.

Our PTA is majority working mothers, as is the one where I teach. I don't know if you are bitter that you have to work, you have a crappy school or it's something else but your attitude sucks. I say this as a former SAHM who returned to teaching (and I like the snacks but don't expect them)

If your PTA is working moms then I guarantee it doesn't do stuff like this. Because they're actually busy with real work. I choose to work, I LOVE my job. I do not love PTA moms who insist on doing this stuff for their own need to feel busy and then we the teachers who don't even want it (or a weeklong teacher appreciation, or Starbucks gift cards at Christmas ) get blamed for the work the PTA moms make you feel like you have to do. People love to act like the teachers demand this stuff and we don't even WANT it.

Really, some of the most intense PTA moms I've met are working moms

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is our school. I don’t mind it on occasion, but to do it for back to school, November work days, teacher app week, Xmas, etc - is a little excessive.

I think it’s nice, but excessive too. But it’s not mandatory so simply ignore.

The one email asked for contributions to three different events. They aren't mandatory, but shouldn't the PTA at some point worry about donor fatigue and show some care in how many donation asks they make? I don't think teachers should have to buy supplies. I would be perfectly fine if at the beginning of quarters 2, 3 and 4 the PTA puts together a teacher supply request list and asks for donations. All these random solicitations make me want to just delete the emails without reading them.

Agree with this so much. PTA, pick your battles. I would look askance at this request and then be pretty uninvolved in every request after that since it tells me their priorities are so out of whack.

Teachers should not be spending their own money in the classroom. Let's solve that problem first, as PP said. I give right to the teachers at this point. So done with PTA.

Agree with this. PTA needs to pick their battles wisely, which they are not doing. They are too busy fighting over whether kids should have smartpop or regular popcorn at their holiday parties, as other threads here have shown.

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight: If someone wanted to provide you, at your job, with some kind of food, like lunch, snacks, pizza, candy, doughtnuts, fruit...whatever...you wouldn't like that?

Let's say your clients, whoever they are, wanted to do that to show appreciation. Or maybe your boss or company owner wanted to do it.

You wouldn't like and appreciate that?

Just wondering.

If the clients do that proactively with no prompting because I do a good job, then I'd gladly accept it. If someone were soliciting the clients for donations and some clients felt put upon or obligated in anyway, I wouldn't want any part of it. Many parents, including me, give proactively over winter break, teacher appreciation week and at the end of the year. I'm also happy to contribute to requests for supplies. The PTA's other solicitations for snacks, breakfast, lunch, thanksgiving pies...at the beginning of the year, teacher workdays...for adults who are paid professionals is weird and off putting to me.

Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight: If someone wanted to provide you, at your job, with some kind of food, like lunch, snacks, pizza, candy, doughtnuts, fruit...whatever...you wouldn't like that?

Let's say your clients, whoever they are, wanted to do that to show appreciation. Or maybe your boss or company owner wanted to do it.

You wouldn't like and appreciate that?

Just wondering.

No, it's weird. I am an adult professional, why do I need someone coming by with plates of junk to feed me like I'm a zoo animal? If I'm hungry I know how to procure food. I don't require a donut bar to get grading done. So not only do I not want it, it's there anyway, parents are mad at us like we created this expectation and work for them to do it, and we have to go thank the PTA moms for putting together a snack bar nobody asked for and then listen as they martyr themselves for how much work it was. Meanwhile I am thinking to myself they need to just go home and quit hanging around the main office arranging cookies.