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

[TrollopDollop]

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.

Chuck their coats and scarves off and sit there if you arrive first. Thats the kind of language these selfish idiots might understand . Unless seats are officially reserved for people connected with the production, who are helping out immediately prior to it, then this sort of behaviour is ugly, selfish and oozes entitlement

I think yabu. If it bothers you that much get off your lazy arse and try contributing yourself and see if you feel like you deserve maybe a little something in return.
I had a similar problem when I used to run the riding club shows. We used to meet for an hour twice monthly, spend all Saturday setting up show ground, all Sunday running the show and listening to abuse from competitors then all Sunday evening putting the stuff away. 6 weekends a year. Plus fundraising and painting jumps etc in the meantime. We got our christmas party tickets free (worth £6 each) and a free bacon sandwich on show mornings paid for out of riding club funds, but apparently even this was too much to ask.

Mabel you sound fairly unpleasant Judgemental and ignorant .. I feel sorry for you . I am extremely grateful to our PTA . They have raised thousands to pay for an external agency to come in and run a Drug Awareness course .

I think it's perfectly acceptable - and I'm not in the PTA. If you think it's wrong, why don't you ask why it happens? I'm sure there's a very good reason for it - even if it's simply a "perk" to encourage more parents to give up their time for the school. If the PTA members have helped with the performance in some way, doing more than other parents, why should they end up at the back, behind a pillar?

Our PTA raises thousands of pounds every year for the school. They all work really hard, and it benefits all our children - not just theirs.

What annoys me is the parents who get there early and "reserve" loads of seats with coats, bags, whatever - for their mates, who pile in at the last minute. Grrr.

DH is on our PTA. They get there before anyone else, so they get the seats they choose. They just can't sit in them until the last minute because they are doing all the other stuff.

Well, the PTA work hard all year for very little thanks, so one small privilege doesn't seem that much to ask. OTH I would be very embarrassed to be a part of it and couldn't ask someone else to move.

Saving a seat for your DH? Really people think that's unreasonable?

PTA were never involved with school nativity play at dd's primary school, it was teachers and class assistants. I know this as they were never mentioned in thanks at the end of the show by the head like the others.

Plus it is a voluntary role, volunteers shouldn't expect anything, if they do it's not morally volunteering, iyswim. I volunteer and never expect anything but get do get a feeling that I am helping someone who needs it.

I think people have no idea how much work the PTA does. We have replaced lots of the nativity costumes this year which has taken hours of work just for the bought ones let alone the made ones. 150 children have had their photo taken in costume which has been printed up and put in a card, the sets have been made, the raffle prizes and refreshments sourced, the tickets printed and distributed. Nobody will die of thirst or hunger if tea and coffee isn't sold but nor will the PTA be able to make money to buy equipment for the school. If you have already put 10+ hours into the production then it is a nice perk to get a seat rather than have to come in early (if you get a chance to go home after setting out all the chairs) but in our school the rule is you can reserve a chair if you are actually helping with dressing the kids or something.

I watched my sons play yesterday, after spending half an hour before the play selling raffle tickets to the grandparents. I do a lot of PFA work and I am very happy to, they do some excellent things for the school. I got moaned at yesterday by parents as the PFA did not lay on tea and biscuits (can't get the helpers) during all the plays.

I sat in the second row, which was lucky, as Master OuiOui was sick all over the stage and I had to run backstage.

I would never expect to get any >perks< from being in the PFA. It's quite the opposite, we have to bend over backwards not to look as if we've got a good seat etc because we will get moaned at.

Im vice chair of our pta and i always end up standing at the back or precariously balanced on the font ! Have noticed that it always seems to be the same people who get front row seats though

I mean fgs just because your five and dressed up as Mary , why the heck should you get a seat

Sillyoldelf - back to yourself (sorry, couldn't resist it). Don't feel sorry for me, you twerp. Spending thousands on on a visit from a drug awareness agency - what a waste of money!

I help out in school a lot, just choose not to be on the PTA.

Op, how weird that the first bit of your name spells Troll

I get moaned and glared at because the school always let me sit at the front in my wheelchair! Honestly the other mums hate me getting 'perks' and someone one year tried to wheel me out of the way

A lot of the PTA 'work' on here seems to be created by disorganisation. At DD"s school, raffle tickets are sold by year six children; they also run the stalls. Nativity costumes are the responsibility of each child's parent to provide; the same happens for other school plays. If a parent doesn't have a particular item, the school secretary mentions it in the newsletter and another parent will send it in. It is a nativity play - costuming is mainly a tea towel or bit of tinsel on the head and a toy sheep.

The same is true with things like school bulb planting - each child is given bulbs and it is their responsibility to plant them, with supervision by a parent if they are little.

It just seems as if some PTAs are doing things for the children that really children should be either doing themselves or are the responsibility of the family.

At DSs last school the head and the Governors sat at the front but the PTA sat scattered in the audience.

I went to their new school carol service last night. Arrived late, sat at the back, DS2 did a lovely reading (which he had neglected to tell he us he was doing) and I had a lovely time joining in the carols. He didnt see me (he would have been put off a bit if he had) but I could see and hear him. It does not really matter who sits at the front in the grand scheme of things.

At ours the parents that help dress and get the children ready reserve their own seats unusally at the front. I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing as otherwise they're squeezing in just before the start wherever there's space.

Anyway I prefer the first row standing as the front row is often too close to see the children properly.