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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

409 replies

onthebus · 21/07/2011 13:29

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?

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:52

It is a fairy cake. Anyone who calls it a cupcake will not get one.

And yes it is priced at 20p even though the fairy cake cases are from WAITROSE (caps necessary) and they have nigella silver balls and the ingredients and effort would make a realistic price £1.10.

scottishmummy · 21/07/2011 22:54

love pingu differentiation FULL pta and inferior pt gimps
hilarious
and yes confrms what i think of pta

funnypeculiar · 21/07/2011 22:54

Flipping heck, pingu, as a PTA chair (outgoing, thank the lord), I bloody well hope you're joking.

Rest Of World - ignore her, please don't assume all PTA's have such a self-serving attitude...

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:55

I had to do the slackarse mother walk of shame when my plate of cakes for the bake sale was evidently somerfield specials with icing flowers added on at 8.10am in a desperate and misguided attempt to make them look homemade.

Mind you, you wouldn't want to eat any cake I baked.

iceandsliceplease · 21/07/2011 22:55

oh pingu, you're hilarious! I was almost laughing out loud, but I think you made your post just a little too OTT. Next time tone it down a little, and I guarantee it will seem believable.

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:55

lolol at the word gimps.

pingu2209 · 21/07/2011 22:56

In our school the PTA's fundraising really is a huge help to the school. The PTA raises thousands a year - over £10k each year. In the 3 years I have been on the PTA, the school has been given (we don't choose, the school says what they want):

  • 2 new large sheds for the nursery

  • a 'trim trail' across the playground

  • 'sails' to give shade in the playground so it can be used as an outdoor play area

  • 'sail' in the nursery playground so children can go outdoors when it is very hot or if it is raining

  • new stage for the school productions

  • new sound system for school productions

  • pay for art week each year for every child

  • musical instruments

  • 6 new laptops

  • sports equipment

  • sports vests for the clubs

  • each new term every class teacher is given £50 for wet weather 'stuff' for their class' children (clearly needed more in Winter than Summer!).

  • there is more but I can't remember just now.

The reason all this happens is because of about a dozen people who work really really hard all year, not just at Christmas or Summer.

The PTA promote with bi monthly newsletters what has been raised, thanking those who helped, and what the money has gone on. We also ask for new members in the newsletter and have done since September. We are becoming desparate because over a third of the PTA are going to leave at the end of this school year and the fundraising won't happen if there are not enough people to replace them. We have asked and asked for members and people just don't turn up. We too have had people say 'no way' as though being asked to give a limb.

The idea for PTA members to get prime seats at school events was out of desparation for people to join and become active members. The teachers really need the money we raise.

I would like to point out that this does not happen at the moment and I have worked bloody hard for 3 years for no direct personal reward. Although clearly indirectly my children get the benefit of all the things the PTA have purchased.

I have got 3 children and when I started at the PTA they were 1, 3 and 5. It wasn't easy but I could see how much the school benefitted.

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:56

'bring out the gimp'

nenevomito · 21/07/2011 22:56

Waitrose and Nigella's balls?

I'll take two. I've only got 50p, but I'll let you keep the change. Have to do my bit!

juneybean · 21/07/2011 22:57

I'd help out more if there was the chance of a free xbox...

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 22:58

Am laughing as well as zealous use of the word bi-monthly. I don't know why.

Katisha · 21/07/2011 22:58

Don't worry about it Getorf. First year of school I went OTT (I soon realised) doing intricate iced cookies which took bloody hours, and which should have gone at 50p each at the very least, to see them shoved 8 to a plate, £1 the lot.
Didn't bother after that.

KoolAidKid · 21/07/2011 22:58

DD doesn't start school until Sept, so I have yet to find out. But I imagine the sort of people in the PTA will be the same sort of people who run our local NCT. And this is enough to put me off. But we shall see.....

nenevomito · 21/07/2011 22:58

Thats awful. I can't imagine why they say no way. No idea. No idea at all.

Muffin?

nenevomito · 21/07/2011 23:00

I'd love bi-monthlies. Sadly they've every 28 sodding days whether I like it or not.

emmanumber3 · 21/07/2011 23:00

PTA helper here (have been helping since DS2 was in Nursery Class & he has just finished Year 5). I attend some meetings when I can - they are at 8pm on a Tuesday not during the day.

I don't know where you all live but all but 1 of our PTA members work (mostly full-time) and are the most non-cliquey approachable bunch you could imagine. I assure you I wouldn't still be helping out if this wasn't the case. The actual people in the PTA have changed over the years but the positive relaxed vibe has remained, thankfully.

I help because the money raised through the PTA goes straight back into buying things for the school which benefit the children. I support the idea of what the PTA are doing therefore I help when I can.

Yes, it can be hard work when you have 6 people trying to set up & organise a fair & there is very little thanks. If you are the kind of person who needs constant praise & recognition for your help then, quite frankly, I wouldn't bother.

Pingu - I'm ashamed that you associate reserving the first two rows of seats as a PTA perk. Our PTA members will be found in the kitchen during the first half of any given performance, organising refreshments! We then end up standing at the back of the hall during the second half! How can you be helping with something when you have your bum plonked firmly on a seat?

Also, to the person who posted about the facepainting incident - I would have told the interloper that I knew what I was doing, that you very much, and stuck to my guns. I'm not surprised you won't be helping again Sad.

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 23:00

Oh koolaid, koolaid. Bless you you have got it all to come Grin

Katisha · 21/07/2011 23:01

If it's so difficult to recruit new pta members, pingu, is it not time for a radical rethink on what is involved, when and for how long?
I don't have any answers, but patently the prospect of doing that amount of stuff fills people with horror, not with joy.

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/07/2011 23:02

Why don't you print the newsletter monthly, you slacker.

I scoff at your bimonthly laziness

emmanumber3 · 21/07/2011 23:03

thank not that!

midnightexpress · 21/07/2011 23:04

Hmm. I can understand what puts people off and that lots of people just don't have the time or the flexibility to help, but I wonder what some of you lot who are slagging pingu off would say if all the PTA activity stopped at your DCs' schools. None of the materials bought, none of the 'fayres' or discos or whatever. They may well be busybodies or SAHMs with too much time ontheir hands, but they are trying to help your DC. I think it's a bit harsh to judge them all as self-serving.

Though the two rows at the school play is Shock. At our school they'd probably get the heid put across them if they tried that.

MerylStrop · 21/07/2011 23:06

Our PTA work hard and do manage to raise quite a lot of money.
(I'm not on it). Fairs etc are made more fun by serving alcohol (for a donation) which I believe increases sales by several hundred percent.

MerryMarigold · 21/07/2011 23:07

"The teachers really need the money we raise." Really? REALLY?

I think the school would be ok without all those things, nice as they are to have. Or the school budget could stretch to some of the more necessary. Our school is making instruments out of pots, pans, metal pipes and so on - recycling, creativity.

I know quite a lot of schools with NO PTA. (Can you imagine?)

MrsBaggins · 21/07/2011 23:09

pingu where do you think that money comes from ?
Some people just dont want to get involved in PTA stuff .They have jobs and lives that dont revolve around "School Fayres "(shudder)
I think there should be options to just bung the school £30 every term and be done with it.

scottishmummy · 21/07/2011 23:09

pingu,presumably you dont work.not encumbered by actual rl constraints like say work or life external to school

you will arguably protest you et al efforts benefit school, and self serving need for 1st row seats.and you see some parents contribute externally to rl, aye that thing beyond pta.land of no cake but much work