Why do you hate the PTA?

Everyone wants a summer fair / winter fair etc… most fuckers don’t want to organise it.

I don't want a fair, thanks.

Also, it might have escaped everyone’s notice, but schools need funding!

That's what taxation is for.

Not quite what you asked but in my opinion PTAs shouldn't exist because they undermine the professionalism of teachers and make up the shortfall in government funding.
Let educators educate and let the government fund that.

I don't hate them, I'm actually a volunteer for mine, but my god they want more than you can give.
Time, cakes, toys, clothes, uniform, stationery, tins, volunteers, set up, break down, more meetings, selling ticket, giving out ice lollies...the list goes on.

The good thing (about ours) is the money raised is very transparent and you can see what it's being spent on. The biggies We've had include playground equipment, a bike and scooter shed and bikes. The smaller things include Easter eggs for all the kids, icepops after school on hot days, selection boxes for Santa to give out, fresh donuts in autumn, trick or treat stations at Halloween...that's all I can think of right now. But you do see your money being spent on things that make school just nicer for the kids.

Because the ones at my daughters school where all very well. And didn’t seem too consider maybe not every one is. The events were so expensive and it got ridiculous. A lot of us simply couldn’t afford it and stopped going.

That's their point.
They're a fundraiser group 😂

Its been a while since I had the displeasure of being subject to a PTA but off the top of my head:

The kids of PTA parents always got 'the best' parts in school productions and the most awards and rewards.

PTA were forever asking for money, often repeatedly.

When anyone outside the PTA volunteered, they were ignored and sneered at because they weren't 'one of us'.

PTA was run by the rich parents who had a SAHP and had time to devote to it. A lot of working parents like me were judged and looked down on for being uninvolved.

I don't hate them. Just learned quickly to stay in my lane.

Well our PTA decided to do a coffee morning for the parents (nothing to do wuth the kids) nobody showed up, and they went on a FB rant on the school page and told us we dont care about our kids as we don't care about the school.

I told them I have a job, and they replied saying they have jobs too and managed to fit this coffee morning in (then deleted my comment when I said they obviously organised said coffee morning around their jobs).

So yeah, they can all get fucked.

Our PTA is great. They raise a lot of money with fun things (that I do hate going to but must admit my children enjoy) which is then really well spent.

Some of the events could be improved. But equally, they’re volunteers so I wouldn’t be too critical.

Most people on the PTA a lovely volunteers giving up their time to benefit the school.

Some are people who dearly lovely the sound of their own voice, and have a real sense of self importance. I don’t think there’s anything you can really do stop people like that joining. But they do annoy people.

I'm convinced most of the hate is simply the fact that PTA parents make other parents feel excluded and like they're not doing enough. PTA mums are always those chatting with each other at the school gate or being active in the class Whatsapp, which in MN land is enough to get you vilified for being "horribly cliquey".

There's nothing you can inherently do with the structure of a PTA to make all parents like you. Some are hellbent on hating and you may need to accept that. It's the same people who moan about how useless and annoying class Whatsapp groups are, and make it impossible for any other parents to contact them.

And running stupid events as well, like asking everyone to buy an Easter egg for a raffle which we then all supposed to buy tickets for. Why wouldn't we just go buy the Easter egg and take it home? You're basically asking me to spend double to maybe win a crappier Easter egg than I bought in the first place.

I was strong armed into joining mine, I mean the mum really would not accept my no I'm busy response. She insisted I could just join and attend when available.

I run my own busy business by the way.

I stuck it out for two years showing up for one or two events in every three. I was constantly met with pas-ag remarks from her and her four side kicks. "We need people for X... Let me guess - you're too busy." They are all SAHMs and very competitive about who has the most children, who does the best parenting etc.

One day while serving drinks at an event they all began bitching aggressively about the other lazy members who barely show up for stuff. I got cross and said "either you accept lots of people that can only come occasionally or you only take a few people who can commit to a lot. It's up to you." There were lots of looks exchanged then silence.

I texted in afterwards and left the group but said I would still volunteer once or twice a year and I do. Two actually apologised to me.

You are not being unreasonable. Everyone wants a summer fair / winter fair etc… most fuckers don’t want to organise it.

Also, it might have escaped everyone’s notice, but schools need funding!

Stop moaning about kind, community minded people who want to help your children’s schools. Hey, maybe you could even offer to HELP! Bake a cake or something? It’s not hard. You might even have fun!

They constantly whine about wanting volunteers but when I show up to volunteer I am ignored and when I try and muddle along and get stuff done people will come over and start redoing stuff I've done. I'm not wasting my time trying to help where I'm not wanted. I do sincerely mean ignored as well, I'm not being obtuse or socially awkward.

I don’t hate them, I just have no interest or time and it all feels about convoluted ways to make you feel guilty and or spend money.

I also feel like it often attracts a type of woman that I am not, I don’t fit in with and often feel a bit judged by. I rarely go to school events or do the school run as I work full time in the nhs and I’m chronically ill. I also volunteer elsewhere as does my husband (hundreds of hours a year).

also lots of the events I have absolutely no interest in and don’t always feel particularly inclusive in the community.

oh and I rarely see what benefit the pta have achieved and feel that schools should be fully and abundantly funded through taxation.

They constantly ask for money. I don’t hate them personally but there’s always something that needs paying for.