To think SAHMs at my school don't pull their weight?

[Donningflakjacket]

Our school governing body is struggling to find someone to take over as chair, because we are all working mums or dads who find it hard to find the time to be a governor anyway, never mind the extra responsibilities of chair. There are NO SAHM on the board of governors and no SAHMs have even put themselves forward in the last 3 years - even though about 20% of the school are SAHMs.

Why are none of these people prepared to do their bit to help the school educate their child? They are more than happy to moan when the school doesn't do something well but not prepared to actually take some responsibility.

And also, if you are a SAHM don't talk to me about the pressures of work when you have no idea! And especially don't talk to me about pressure of work and then expect me to run round sorting costumes and presses for a night out.

Ok, rant over. You can throw your biscuits now.

a) Oh come on OP, you're only working part time. Put yourself forward.

or

b) Fuck off

You can choose.

You are concerned about finding a chair for your board of Governors - it;s got to be one of the current Governors - not necssarily a parent governor .- you said in one of your posts that you re worried about what will happen if you dont find a governor - if you are that concerned and passionate about the school - as you think other parents are not as they ' dont help out ' be a good example and do it yourself !

I have to admit that I was put off by the letter that came home about parent governors: it was all about how you had to argue your fitness for the post and be voted in by the present governors: I have never been part of the clique and thought it unlikely that they would want me. If they want me to apply they need to make me feel that I would not just be making an idiot of myself. To be honest, I wouldn't apply for a paid job if I felt nobody would want me.

cory - unfortunately that is the rules on parent governors they have to be voted in by parents , staff governors have to be voted in by staff - you have to put your case forward so people know who to vote for .

It is quite a responsibel position but thereis alot of support out there and you get to go on alot of courses aswell to help with your post.

In our school we have apparently never had to have an election to choose a parent Governor, as we've never had more than 1 person prepared to take it on when a post comes up.

We are currently up to our correct number of Governors for the first time in years.

So OP, as a SAHM you'd like me to pay for childcare (on one income and dh not home in time to feed/bath/put the dcs to bed) to attend PTA meetings and be tutted at by you and your friends?

Hahahahahahahahahah !

Sneer all you like, but there are a few people really putting themselves out to try and help and some - just some - people who could help but cba.

Does make me laugh even more hysterically at the cleggeron 'Big Society' idea!

I'm not sneering. I've done plenty of voluntary work in my time (12 years as a Brownie Guider, afterschool clubs, fundraising) and it's someone else's turn now.

It's complete cheek of the OP to be looking down her nose at SAHMs.

BeerTricks - yes, I'm hoping that my joy in contributing to the Big Society will distract me and my family from the stress and financial implications of being made redundant next year.... (work in public sector, job going in the summer.....)

Just a thought, but a lot of WOHP feel guilty about going to work. Do you think that they become so involved in the running of their DCs school as a way of taking part, because they miss out on the day to day stuff? (Not saying that they ought to feel that way, just that some people do ).

I am a SAHM. I chose this way of life because it suits my family. I don't have the free time, at the right times, to become a governor and I don't want to become one. If I was prepared to use childcare, then I would be out at work. I feel I am making more of a contribution to my DC lives by being with them in the evenings, rather than at meetings.

If you want to volunteer then that is your prerogative. I don't want to and I am not accountable to you,OP, for how I choose to spend my time. Do what you want, but don't expect other people to do what you want!

I find this wohm sahm division just weird. Personally I make my value judgements about people based on how open-minded, interesting, funny, kind, patient and generous they are.
Points deducted for rank stupidity combined with patronising arrogance.

Why should I not talk to you about the presures of work? I used to have a job, quite a good one in fact. One advantage of having left it is no longer having to put up with people like you. How dare you judge my life and my choices based on your narrow, petty-minded, ignorant idea of what a 'busy' and productive life involves. And you wonder why SAHPs avoid your committee?

Wow. Maybe they got a whiff of your disdain

*pressures. Typing while breastfeeding. Multi-tasking, innit.

too busy!

stretches- see even too busy to check for typos

When I was a SAHM, actually I still do this now, but I became a parent helper at my sons school.

I did join the PSA for a little while but left as it was ridiculously clique and this hasn't changed over the years. And they wonder why more people don't join in - it is because they cannot get an idea heard or a word in during meetings!

Nothing to do with being SAHM or not. Have you looked at the group dynamics, that might be turning people away.

Phew. I spent 8 years as a SAHM - or as you put it "one of these people". Oh dear, no wonder so many of our schools are in trouble when they are governed by ill mannered people like you.

Have you ever thought that often the life of a SAHM revolves around her children and what they do at school and supporting the children and possibly, just possibly, they might want something more broadening for the intellect than yet more school and not just school but school with a bunch of semi professional committee sitters.

The other angle OP is that as a SAHM I actively chose not to be a governor of my children's school to avoid potential conflict of interest. It didn't stop me being a non exec director of a public body of being chair of governors of a secondary school.

OP - sounds like you have huge issues with SAHM's - are you jealous?

I am a SAHM, 2 children at school and a 1 year old. I am also a parent governor and have been for 3 years. I chose to be a governor in order to keep my CV active whilst I enjoy the precious time I am able to have at home with my children. I am chair of personnel and it works well because I am constantly at school. It is not easy and childcare is the main issue. I am constantly have to ask friends to look after the little one whilst I attend meetings, the last one which i chaired with 9 people I had to take baby with me, chair meeting whilst trying to entertain her and keep quiet - it is bloody hard work and embarassing and I constantly think why do I put myself through this childcare nightmare. When I can get childcare I pay for it myself (though you can claim it back I never do).

I enjoy being a governor, I did not have to compete, as like someone said before there is often only ever one person (if you are lucky) who shows an interest in a post - I would not have gone to election I would have hated it.

OP I think you are being very self righteous just because you work, being a governor is not for everyone and to criticise SAHM is just showing your ignorance.

At the primary school where I'm a parent governor, I'm the only one apart from staff who's of working age at all, so those WOHP/SAHPdivisions don't arise. The playground moaners do get to complain about the governors being old farts with no get-up-and-go, though.

I'm a sahm, trustee of 2 charities & I volunteer on a regular basis for all sorts of things. I have no intention of ever being on a pre-school, or school committee of any sort, certainly not while I'm a sahm. I spend all day every day (incl weekends) with small children, attending to their needs. I have no intention of focussing my free time on them too. God knows I love the dds but enough's enough.

In ten years of volunteering the most important thing I've learned is not to volunteer for anything you aren't passionate about because you just end up feeling put-upon & resentful. This IMO, if I might get a tad political, is why the 'Big Society' is a big load of b*llocks.

I think it's foolish to make such divisions between SAHM's and WOHM's.

Very tabloid press !

Most of us are both at some stage, with varying amounts of time spent at home, whether on official maternity leave, taking a career break, or dedicated home-makers - Or anywhere in between !

Most SAHM's have worked before having their children as someone pointed out !

Let's stick together wimmin !

United we stand, divided we fall !

P.S I was a parent governor at DS's Nursery School for two years, starting as a SAHM, and continuing as a WOHM. I have worked as a Nursery Teacher so I was interested to see what the experience would be like, and what I could contribute.

I'd only recommend it to those who have an interest and possibly a background in education ( as can be quite dull and unfathomable at times - lots of financial stuff, but that could have been partly as there was a building programme underway at the time I was there )

Can be a good way to feel more involved in DC's schools though, and may be impressive on the getting in to good secondary school C.V ( But only alongside other do-gooding criteria for faith schools !)

mrmagoo our school in London was like that. Was fantastic, we even had sports day catered.