Haha I think I would! But probably only in a minimal, part time scenario since I WOH full time.
Anyone on the PTA for their kids school? How involved are you and how much of a time commitment is it?
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I don't think I would enjoy it
I am mainly afraid of the drama! But maybe I watch too much TV, lol. Not like I'd have time for it anyway since I WOH!
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Definitely! I would want to be on the committees that plans and executes things, but not the fundraising committees.
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If I was a SAHM I would be all over that!!!
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I signed up and paid dues, but I don't go to meetings or anything. I guess you have to ask to be that involved? I don't get it. But I get emails asking me to volunteer for stuff all the time, which I would gladly do but I have my three younger ones at home and I'm never sure if I can bring them!
I don't think there is much drama (though there might be), but it's a huge financial obligation! My friends who are on it are constantly baking, cooking, making some craft for the PTA (and mostly for the teachers!). -
I sort of feel obligated...so I don't know if "want" is the right word. The benefits for your kid are that you know all of the staff and they know you so you have more ability to get your kid in the best teacher's classes... (I teach HS and my mom was an elementary school teacher.)
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f*ck no. I am not good with those things. I am thankful to those who are up for it!
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@Mrs Green Grass: I'm very curious about this. If you're in the PTA, do you have more pull in your kid getting a specific teacher you want? I'm thinking at the elementary level.
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@Mamaof2: haha right??? I think the best I can do is volunteer for specific events during slow times at work. Whenever that is.
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@regberadaisy: yes absolutely. Not as a policy, but it's just human nature to help out the people you know best. It definitely happens at high school too. I'm sure the rationale is something like the people who are involved and show that they care get a little bit of preferential treatment.
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Everyone I know who is involved in PTA hates it because there is always a lot of drama (at least at their schools). If that was the case I wouldn't enjoy it!
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I don't know about enjoy, but I'm going to try really hard to be involved. I think it can only benefit me to have more knowledge about what is happening at the school. I didn't join this year for Pre-K because I know we are moving schools next year. I also know this school does not have great parent involvement, whereas the school we will be at for K - 6 does.
I've heard feedback from a very involved mom, that being on the PTA when there isn't a lot of parent support sucks. It's hard to get people to commit and involved putting a lot more responsibility on those that do get involved.
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@MamaG: In our area schools (which are not small), it's the same small group of parents at every single school elementary through high. It's like pulling teeth and they don't get a lot done. Hence why I feel obligated but not excited. Although now we live in a higher income area it might be craziness. I've heard of mom's each having a $10k fundraising goal for a charity auction... I think every rich school should have to partner with a poor school and share resources!
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@MamaG: that's kind of my feeling too. It can only benefit us to be more involved! I'm sure there will be drama because when is there isn't when you get a big group of primarily females together?
I also feel like the hard work of the PTA at our school all goes to benefit the kids!
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@Mrs Green Grass: wow that's crazy! Our elementary school just had a chocolate fundraiser. And the goal was 5K, for the entire school. Lol we have like 380 kids from k-5
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@Mrs Green Grass: @regberadaisy: wow that is crazy!
One thing I like about our school is there is zero fundraising! At the start of the school year they ask the families to donate $35 per child (or $50 per family) in lieu of fundraising throughout the school year - its not mandatory but they usually have about 90% do it.
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@Mamaof2: I would be all over that!
Our current school is Title I and it shows in this area. The 4K kids (20 of them) all pay to be there, our families are vested in our kids. They have had two different fundraisers and in each our class came out top for the school (600+ kids). On dress up days (theme) as I walk my 4K kid in, I see very few kids dressed in the theme. On school picture day, many still look disheveled. It just amazes me.
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I'll probably do something in the way of volunteering for my kids' schools. Enjoy, not sure about that. But I'll do it.
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I'm a member of my DD's PTA but I don't serve on any committees. The school encourages every parent to join, pay dues, and attend meetings. I've been asked to participate in various committees but I just don't have the bandwidth right now. The amount of time some of the parents spend rivals a full time job. I would rather work my day job and get paid for it, and then help out in the classroom, but that's just me. What the PTA does for the school is amazing.
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i probably would. my mom was the PTA president for my elementary school while working FT and involved throughout my and my siblings school careers, so I've seen a lot of benefits of it!
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I am not sure, I hate social engineering of any kind and I get nervous in groups where a lot of the folks already know each other, so we'll see what happens when the time comes.
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I might if it wasn't full of drama, and I felt like I could be useful to them. I'm planning to stay a SAHM, so this would be a nice way to stay active and involved in my kid's lives.
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I'll be involved in the school and probably try to be part of the PTA, even though I too WOH FT. I want to know the teachers and the parents that are involved in the school so I know what is going on. My time may be delegated to "homework" and coming onsite when needed but I'm okay with that, to stay involved in the school and goings-ons. The drama is going to suck big time, though.
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I'm on the school board, and a committee instead. It's sometimes frustrating, but I love the school and am happy to serve it.
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For now, I just volunteer. My son's teacher nominated me as PTA president last year but the meetings were at odd times and I couldn't go to any of them
I wouldn't enjoy trying to make it to the meetings rather than going to my son's baseball games! But otherwise, the drama seems minimal? I think.
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We have a Parent Council at my kids' school - which I'm guessing is the Canadian equivalent to PTA? I've been involved since my first started JK 6 years ago and this year I'm serving as Chair (President). I actually really enjoy it and honestly the drama doesn't bother me - it has been really minimal IMO. I'll likely seek a second term ... it has been great being involved with the school and I like getting to know the staff and other parents.
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@Ginger333: thanks for sharing!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. So from your experience. Do you think you could've been as involved if you weren't a SAHP? For instance, are there a lot of obligations during the school/work day?
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I want to be as involved with my kids education as possible, so I probably will. Whether or not I'll enjoy the PTA is another story, lol. I hear some are pretty drama-filled depending on who is running things.
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It's a lot of work so I don't like that to much, lol. I also hate the drama. But I feel like it's a necessary evil because I do get the "inside scoop" by attending the meetings.
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I think I would enjoy it, but I'm kind of a "joiner" so it's in my nature. My dad was actually the PTA president for a year or two at the Catholic school I attended in elementary school. (For reference, he was a WOHP and my mom stayed home.)
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@jape14: that's really awesome!!! Go him for Breaking all stereotypes!
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@regberadaisy: absolutely you could as a WOHP - the only thing I have to do during the school day is meet with the principal once a month to set the agenda for the next meeting and that could easily be done via e-mail. A lot of what I do is making calls/e-mails and that can be done any time. I do volunteer with food days and fund raising, and I did present a gift to the teacher who retired at an end of month assembly but if I couldn't be there, another member could have taken my place. Our last Chair worked full time and I think she did a great job.
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@Ginger333: thank you! That is very encouraging to hear.
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@regberadaisy: he's good like that
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I think I will. Ours (at least right now) has a lot of drama that I've already been drawn into even though lo won't be in kindergarten for 2 more yesrs! I'm not looking forward to that aspect but I don't think I'd run for a position so I think I'd be able to stay on the sidelines. I do like the idea of helping outo and being involved and can be nice socially and also benefit lo. I have the time and I know a ton of people in town so I don't really have an excuse not to be involved.
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I think I would! Don't know if I would "enjoy" it, but as a teacher I see the benefit of a good PTO at a school!
I am mainly afraid of the drama! But maybe I watch too much TV, lol. Not like I'd have time for it anyway since I WOH!
I wouldn't enjoy trying to make it to the meetings rather than going to my son's baseball games! But otherwise, the drama seems minimal? I think.
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