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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In thinking WTF about the PTA reserving the front row seats at the nativity

244 replies

TrollopDollop · 07/12/2011 23:08

I saw it with my own eyes on monday at DS reception nativity. Why? I am not seeing the link between being in the PTA and getting a monopoly on the front row seats. One of them actually asked people to move before placing 'reserved for PTA' signs on the chairs.

OP posts:
IloveJudgeJudy · 07/12/2011 23:39

Confused Sara? What did you mean by doesn't take ALL of them?

hohohoshedittant · 07/12/2011 23:39

At our school the PTA make the costumes, help with rehearsal and provide refreshments to the cast and audience so I think they deserve a good view tbh. If it weren't for them there wouldn't be a nativity/christmas show at all.

MillyR · 07/12/2011 23:42

I don't recall a raffle being in the nativity story at all. Having said that. Michael Jackson was in our school nativity one year (not the real one, obviously).

MabelOranje · 07/12/2011 23:42

YANBU. The PTA make my teeth itch. There's no need for them to be martyring themselves selling teas and coffees; the nativity/concert only lasts an hour so no-one is going to die of thirst if they don't get a cuppa at the school. Also, I'm going to watch my child perform, I don't want to be pestered into buying a raffle ticket.

Sillyoldelf · 07/12/2011 23:42

I think they deserve to have reserved seats . Yes it's voluntary but they give up their time to tirelessly improve resources for the children .

Original poster
TrollopDollop · 07/12/2011 23:45

I repeat they were not helping at the play. It was all the PTA members in our year group. And as for giving time etc - we all contribute to the PTA funds whether through money or time. I agree they would contribute more time than most but still don't see why that means they need to have the front row seats if they havent helped in the actual play.

OP posts:
hohohoshedittant · 07/12/2011 23:46

MabelOranje what dya think the PTA do with the money they raise selling tea/coffee and raffle tickets?

Sillyoldelf · 07/12/2011 23:46

PTA forerunners aren't ' martyrs '- they just care about supporting the children in that particular school. And it's a good job too judging by some of the comments on this thread .

hohohoshedittant · 07/12/2011 23:48

trollopdollop It's a perk of the job, if you're that bothered join the PTA, raise some funds for your kids school....

Sillyoldelf · 07/12/2011 23:50

Trollopdollop- popping some money in an envelope to buy raffle tickets is a lot easier than actually sourcing the raffle prizes , which the PTA do in their own time as well as lot of other very hard work .

IloveJudgeJudy · 07/12/2011 23:50

Mabel, I think you'll find they're not martyring themselves. Usually they will have been asked to provide refreshments and sort out a raffle. As hoho says, what do you think happens to all the money that's raised by the raffles, etc? Obviously, it all, every single penny, goes to help the DC in some way.

MillyR · 07/12/2011 23:52

Maybe the OP would rather do the one of the hundred and one other volunteering tasks that people generally do that are solely about helping others and not about the perk of school seating arrangements.

hohohoshedittant · 07/12/2011 23:55

millyr do you really think people give up loads of their spare time, throughout the year, to get a good seat at the nativity?

Come on, that's silly isn't it?

randommoment · 07/12/2011 23:55

Our PTA was everyone - common in small schools I believe - so I'm in bewildered territory here.

MillyR · 07/12/2011 23:58

No I don't think that, but I would say that Primary PTAs have a reputation for behaving in certain ways that people who volunteer in other capacities (working with the homeless, the elderly, young offenders) do not.

daenerysstormborn · 07/12/2011 23:58

normally i would join the grunting about the pta getting front row seats but after having now joined, and spent friday afternoon as 1 of just 5 volunteers who set up and ran the christmas fair for the whole school, i say butt out and so what if there are perks, get off your arse and do something instead of complaining.

Original poster
TrollopDollop · 08/12/2011 00:01

I volunteer at every event in some capacity or another - my eldest is in year 4 so that is a whole lot of spare time - but I still don't see why parents should be asked to vacate their seats for PTA members who have mot helped on the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
TrollopDollop · 08/12/2011 00:04

What's with the assumption that I don't do anything to help the school? I do plenty of volunteering but am not in the PTA clique as it were.

OP posts:
AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 08/12/2011 00:05

yup, i think the bottom line is that if you don't like it, get voted onto the PTA and get it changed.

TwoIfBySea · 08/12/2011 00:09

This sounds like something the couple in charge of our PSA would do - as long as they ensured their dd had a starring role.

A lot of people have taken a step back after they took the reins, we were working fine beforehand then this parent council thing started & most of the good organisers went there.

I understand the whole 'but they're helping out' thing - these events have a certain towels-on-sunbeds air to them.

TwoIfBySea · 08/12/2011 00:09

This sounds like something the couple in charge of our PSA would do - as long as they ensured their dd had a starring role.

A lot of people have taken a step back after they took the reins, we were working fine beforehand then this parent council thing started & most of the good organisers went there.

I understand the whole 'but they're helping out' thing - these events have a certain towels-on-sunbeds air to them.

Spermysextowel · 08/12/2011 00:23

It's not the PTA members that get my goat, it's the seats reserved by 'mum' for 'dad' who turns up late & then his phone goes off mid-nativity (despite the prior stern warning from Head) and he never reappears, but that's ok because Mum has stood the whole way thru to record it. Despite this being banned.

Primary is penury; but I feel a sneaking admiration still for those PTA parents. Unless they don't work.

MabelOranje · 08/12/2011 00:35

I'd rather just write a cheque at the start of each term or school year than have to endure the PTA fundraising efforts.

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 08/12/2011 00:39

do it.

MabelOranje · 08/12/2011 07:46

Only if the PTA would promise to resign en masse.