To wonder why more people don't help at PTA events ... and what would encourage more people to do so ...

[onthebus]

In common with many other schools, our PTA had its annual summer fayre a couple of weeks ago. The school has quite a small PTA (about 6 people) and every year for this event they send out a note asking for volunteers for people to help set up/run stalls/clear away. Every year about 2 people volunteer and the PTA then run themselves ragged trying to do everything (and generally failing).

I'm not on the PTA by the way, though I do offer to help, and it strikes me that this really can't be the best way for anyone.

I understand that some people don't help because they are looking after small children/are at work/think the PTA are too scary/just don't want to but I'm really surprised that so few do. I did suggest to PTA members that if they actually asked people rather than sending out a note they might get more helpers but they are loathe to do this.

So ... I think most people appreciate that funds raised by the PTA are worthwhile. If you do/don't help out at PTA events, why is that, and what do you think would encourage you/other people to do so?

Those of you who don't/won't join, please tell me why because we are desperate to recruit new people and feel we have tried everything. I'd love some new ideas.

I was put off staying on PTA as I suggested just a social occasion, without the idea of being under the pressure of having to raise money.
I was put straight that PTA is strictly for money raising for school needs.

PfftTheMagicDragonhideGloves are you in our PTA 'choir'?
You sound annoying and pompous enough.
"Lazy buggers" - I'd do hours of hard labour to avoid people like you!

jenny60 - Before I went back to work, I could have joined but didn't. I didn't because I was worried about scope creep. With every single voluntary thing I've done, its always mushroomed to a point where I get resentful of it.

So in answer to your q, if it were me recruiting, I'd have an open coffee morning/evening wine do, come and meet us and ask us questions about how you can help. A list as suggested by another poster of exactly what the jobs are, how much time you need to put in, and so on.

Why I don't help - I'm a full time teacher (at a different school). I spend lots and lots of time organising school events. Therefore the last thing I want to do with any spare time I may have is spend it organising more school events.

Also - many of the events are straight after school, I would never be able to make it as my school works longer hours.

We do donate gifts and support those events we can get to etc. etc.

*I think it's easy to say that the PTA are a clique, that they are uppity and unfriendly. But that's because you don't know them.

Next time some of you lazy buggers are complaining about the PTA, think about what some school would be like without them. You'd all be complaining without the money raised by them.*

I did know them, that's precisely why I could say they were a clique.

And I'm not a lazy bugger. I gave up a day a week to help throughout my daughter's schooling, mostly used as a spare teacher on account of me nearly completing a teaching degree once upon a time; ran the brownie pack and sat on admissions/exclusion appeals for others schools in the area. Plus the school were absolutely over the moon to have Professor Kaka as one of their governors, who brought in loads of really cool stuff for science days. [raspberry]:o

Its the actual school that has put me off. No teachers have attended for years but now the budgets have been cut suddenly teachers are attending the meetings with a view on how to spend the money.

I find the school quite difficult to work with. Dates are organised for events (and school agree them) and then the school will double book stuff on those dates so the PTA have to re-organise it OR (as in the case this year) some of the pupils miss out on an event (as on a school trip) and so the funds raised were dramatically reduced.

I have also experienced the school being quite "ANTI" the PTA and if they don't like a suggestion the teachers and head can be quite intimidating. I am too bothered at getting on the "wrong side" of the school by unwittingly offending them in some way to get involved any more.

I'm not in mine as they are far too cliquey. All fake smiles and bitching behind peoples backs.

I went to one meeting, most of which was taken up by sniping and moaning about the school (judged excellent by ofsted and SIAS) the teachers and parents.

The head honcho then loudly exclaimed "Oh Ringo, your daughter is the one in reception who has SN isn't she? Walks funny."

Never went back.

Our PTA like to think they're martyrs and they do a lot of moaning about about the fact nobody helps, but when people offer they clearly don't want to let them in their 'gang'. It gets right on my nipple ends to be honest, but I like to remind them that as I am not a sahm (they all are) I contribute more to the school as I pay a shit load of tax!

Well, with a fucking offensive attitude like that, flatstomach, it would be better if you stay away from everyone ever the PTA

I have helped out (been rail roaded) the PTA for school events.

Out PTA leave far too much till the last minute. Notice is minimal and that is no way to run any event. They overcharge for stalls (£30 for 2hrs), thus putting off local businesses as on top of this they ask 'please tell us what you will be donating to our raffle' on the application form!

They charge families to get in, £5 a family this year or £2 per adult/£1 per child, then expect people to pay for the raffle, cakes, tea, face painting, bouncy castle etc.

Our school has wide spectrum of disposable income. Around 45% recieve free school meals, 50% are reasonably well off and the remaining 5% are the seriously wealthy 'but don't do private school'.......im sure you can guess which group Mrs PTA belongs to. Many feel excluded because of this, and that is something that has to be addressed as school events should be possible for all.

School also runs a 'who brings in the most for the bottle stall' comp.....Mrs PTA's son won by bringing in a case of vino and a bottle of champagne. It made my kids offerings of a nice bottle of red and a some bath products seem mean and made many kids feel excluded as their parents simply can't afford to donate.

Surely if the PTA became less competitive and more open to all the school as a whole would benefit? Also as with our school many PTA members have been in the position for far too long, there should be a more regular turn over of members.

I assume people don't help largely because they are working? I am sure PTA is lovely if you are a housewife but a bit tricky when you have a career?

I'm distancing slowly from our fundraising group. The petty politics annoys me. I support what the aims are for the coming year, I just cannot be dealing with the way those aims are going to be realised. Shame really:(

My DC's school doesnt have a PTA. They have a 'Fundraising Commitee' which seems to be school staff only

My DSis's DC's PTA puts me off tbh. As a lone parent on a budget I was put off attending their events by the 50p per person admission fee for Summer and Christmas Fairs. I've spent £2 out of my fivers spending money before the DCs have even done anything. I think a charge per family would be fairer, or per adult. They year I went with sleeping 3 week old DD2, they charged me for her to come in, that pissed me off, and I've not been to anything since.

Pressed post too soon.

DSis tried to tell them at the meeting that the charge was putting people off, she was told 'if they can't spare 50p to come in, they're not going to be spending much anyway are they?'

No catgirl - on our PTA the chair, vice chair, secretary and hardest working committee members all work - (Both mums and dads on our PTA). I think PTAs are great - I am on my 5th now - its a great way to get to know people, I have moved several times and its such an easy way to get involved in your child's school and meet new people - some will end up friends, some won't of course.

Wow sewmuch my 50p seems like a bargain now

Well they must have more energy than me ragwort. I am bloody knackered after a 12 hour day and I don't have DCs yet. If they can manage work, DCs and the PTA fair play to them.

I haven't joined because they hold all the bloody meetings at night. My free time is when DS is at school, but they hold the meetings from 730 - 930

When my dd moved to a new village school, I went along to the AGM of the PTA as I wanted to get to know other parents and was willing to help. I am a teacher, so have ideas of fund raising ideas that I have seen in other schools, and I love crafts/baking/face painting, so I thought I might have something to offer.

They were all fairly pleasant during the meeting, but there was no discussion of roles, they were already decided from the previous year. They also discussed the events they do every year and how they would run again, no discussion about new ideas etc. I offered to help at a couple of events- this was not minuted, and I wasn't approached to help.

Noone informed me of when the next meeting was, it isn't advertised anywhere and they all stand in the playground in a circle, so I've felt too intimidated to approach them again. A shame, because they seem nice enough individually!

They did ask for my help at the summer fayre face painting, but told me there was no budget for materials, so I forked out for paints and glitter out of my own pocket and gave up 2+ hours of my time, meaning I did not get to spend time with my dc at the event. I wasn't thanked by anyone.

I'm not PTA bashing- I want to be involved, it just all seems very closed-door.

I will go again to the AGM in October and try again...

I wouldn't help at anything spelt "fayre" on principle

Our PTA is a very small mix of working and sahms, I think people generally don't give a shit and think someone else will do it.

I haven't read the whole thread, but thought I'd give my tuppence worth.
In the letters I have received requesting help from the PTA, they always ask for someone to cover a stall or whatever for the whole event, and sometimes an event can last 4 hours. I'm not prepared to do that long and did once offer to help for an hour but never heard from them. I also said when I went to the event that I would be happy to help out if anyone wanted a break or anything, but I would like to spend some of the time with my dd. The mother in question said they didn't need me.
I don't know whether they don't need help or if it's a bit "all or nothing".
Also, all of the meetings are held at 7pm in a pub! So I wouldn't feel comfortable going and taking dd with me (I'm a single mother) as it's late for her and it's in a pub ffs.
I think they make it difficult for people in my situation to help. I don't know if this is typical or just at dd's school though.

We all have hobbies that take up much of our weekend time, when the kids aren't doing homework. I'd rather give a donation. When they were at primary school I attended the odd "Bingo tea" that was on on an evening. It was quite fun and the only time the kids and I ever played Bingo, plus alot of the teachers came and showed the kids they could be lighthearted and friendly.
I never went to any weekend things though, not that they had many.
Their secondary schools don't do much stuff like that thankfully.

I'm not on the pta but I do help out at events. However the last one has left me feeling they are taking the p somewhat.

I do facepainting. I have my own stuff, I'm fairly good at it, I usually raise a fair bit of dosh doing it and am usually left to get on with it and organise myself.

I turned up to the latest event to find a friend of the head of the pta (not a parent, a friend who happens to run her own wedding make up business as her prominently-displayed business cards say) already in situ doing nail varnish and henna tattoos. "I'm running this today and I've printed off some designs for you to do" she says, pointing at these incredibly complex full-face designs she's stuck up on the wall, that will take a good 10 minutes to do. I say that they're too detailed and I usually do 1 cheek or 'around the eye' designs that the kids are pleased with and I can get lots done quickly. As I say this the kids start pouring into the hall and are all demanding to be fairy princesses and zombies... in the 2 hours I have, I do approximately 10 kids, despite my best efforts to try and do quicker, less elaborate designs. Normally I'd do about 30. Lots of miserable kids in the queue, lots of arsey parents, I don't get a drink or loo break for the whole time.

And then I hear how 'disappointing' it was that more money wasn't raised through face-painting... so I've had it, quite frankly. And if they're treating the other volunteers the same, I'm not surprised that people are getting fed up.