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.

I think there could be something in that Milly We don't have a PTA - only 2 people turned up to the meeting to discuss whether we should have one!

They had a lovely school fete last week, but I know from the school secretary (are they still called that?) that 3 days beforehand no-one had done anything other than send out letters asking for donations of cakes & prizes.

The teachers and year 6 pupils did it all, without managing to look so "put upon" as some of these volunteers. I'm sure they'd prefer it if there was a PTA, but they do seem to create a lot of "issues" (I only know from what I see on here)

I think its fair enough for PTA to get a seat. I was really pissed off at the parents piling coats on chairs for their mates - like, you can't bear to be separated from your school mum chum for a whole play? Wow.
Luckily, I work and have no school mum chums to save a seat for/ care about sitting with. I did have a moan but it went completely over their heads. Sigh.

Our front row seats are one of the prizes in the raffle at the PTA Christmas Fayre. No perks for PTA members at these events.

I am on the PTA and did reserve a seat at the front row today but this week I have helped out at 2 after school events (Christmas craft clubs), helped wrap presents in the kids Christmas sale (kids bring in money and get to buy cheap tat presents for mum or dad and get it gift wrapped) and served teas/coffees before nativity play started today so I thought I deserved it!!!

There were 3 other PTA mums who did the same (and had all helped before hand) Thinks its totally U if they have not been helping on the day IMO.

I think they deserve front row seats.

If you think it's so unfair why don't you slog your guts out all year an numerous events, spend your own money making cakes etc so that you can get a front row seat next year.

If the PTA members are helping at the nativity and won't get a seat if they don't bag one early - then I think its fair enough. Personally (as a PTA person myself) I think it'd be wise not to bag the front row as its bound to cause issues and rifts between non-PTA (even though all parents are members, etc, etc) and PTA parents. I don't think just because you are active within the PTA you should get special treatment aside from that.

Not about the OP but....I volunteer primarily because I want to help my child school's so that my child and the rest of the children will benefit and because I enjoy it (mostly) - its not totally altruistic. But other people's DC do benefit from it.

Maybe in some schools older children and teachers can manage running odd events - but really, is that what you want your teachers and children focusing on. I'm not being "put upon" but there is an awful lot of work in organising and running PTA events. Its not just work for work's sake. For eg for the recent Xmas Fair several of us spent 10 hours over the course of two days just setting up for it. And that doesn't include all the pre-fair planning etc. And its not for lack of organisation - and I'm not being a martyr either - I choose to do it - but I want my teachers teaching and children learning, not fundraising.

There are some particularly unpleasant characters on this thread.

I'm on the PTA , I have spent many hours organising events (mostly for the benefit of the children) but sometimes adults as well. We raise money for the school which ultimately benefits all the children there.

We don't reserve seats but I wish we did as I couldn't see DD2 stuck behind the tallest girl in the class yesterday!

Those that are happy that the school fair is run by the teachers and yr 6's don't you think that a teachers time could be far better used actually planning lessons and Yr 6 pupils would be better off in lessons than flogging raffle tickets (who got all the raffle prizes anyway!).

It's a pretty crap attitude to have that parent involvement in school, is not needed or required, and money could just be thrown at it to make it go away. We run school discos each term which the children love but again require a large amount of time and preparation.

God this thread is pissing me off now, I go back to my orginal statement there are some really mean nasty and selfish characters on this thread.

When my children were at primary school, PTA meetings were held immediately after school, while the children played in the playground, and many of their fundraisers eg cake sales, were at 3.30 in the school playground - ie inaccessible for working parents. I have no doubt that many PTA members work very hard for schools, however, the fact is there are many other parents who would be equally willing but can't because they are working very hard at a job. Tbh I think that as it is a voluntary role, there shouldn't be any expectation of 'perks'. If it's a specific situation where some parents are helping with make up before a show, then I can see that it's reasonable to reserve some seats so they don't end up in the back row. However, I don't think blanket policies of allowing PTA members to always have the front row are desirable or fair, given that many parents don't have the option of being a committee member if they work or have other commitments. I also think the kind of saving a row by sticking bags and coats down just for mates is really rude.

When my children were at primary school, PTA meetings were held immediately after school, while the children played in the playground, and many of their fundraisers eg cake sales, were at 3.30 in the school playground - ie inaccessible for working parents. I have no doubt that many PTA members work very hard for schools, however, the fact is there are many other parents who would be equally willing but can't because they are working very hard at a job. Tbh I think that as it is a voluntary role, there shouldn't be any expectation of 'perks'. If it's a specific situation where some parents are helping with make up before a show, then I can see that it's reasonable to reserve some seats so they don't end up in the back row. However, I don't think blanket policies of allowing PTA members to always have the front row are desirable or fair, given that many parents don't have the option of being a committee member if they work or have other commitments. I also think the kind of saving a row by sticking bags and coats down just for mates is really rude.

Whoops posted twice

There are only two parents on our PTA who don't have jobs. As I said, DH is on it, and he works FT. If the meetings are held at a time that excludes a large number of parents, then it's time to have a word with the Head I think. It isn't a given that PTAs are staffed by SAHMs (although I was on it when I was a SAHM - DH took over when I went back to work).

I have missed bits of previous school nativities / shows because I was on parent council and had teas etc to arrange after the interval. I have also usually ended up with a rubbish seat at teh back of teh hall as I have had suff to do before the show so could not get a seat - whereas all teh parents who were not involved came early and got all teh good seats. One year I did actually reserve myself a seat at teh front - but felt guilty for doing it!

Yes - it is much better that the teachers should be spending the time they have when not teaching and lesson planning and marking etc. etc. - organising school fundraising events without support from others!? I really do think that parents able to give time to helping at their school actually get something out of it - I do not mean smug self-satisfaction or a front seat at the school play - but a sense of being part of the school community and showing your children that volunteering is a good thing. Being involved can be as little as 1/2 hour on a stall or cashing up after an event or putting up posters.

What an earth is the problem with that?

If your PTA is overly 'entitled' in your opinion but you do not actually have a clue what they actually do - then they need to communicate better and maybe you should spend an hour or two of your time helping in some way to find out.

3/4 of us on the PTA work F/T or P/T and our meetings are in the evenings. But we have discussed having it during the day but at the moment the majority of us find evenings easiest. I think it is difficult to join in if you're working and can't attend during the day, or have DC at home and you're on your own in the evenings. We have a list of volunteers who we email to help out doing a variety of things that could suit someone working or whose childcare responsibilities don't allow much time to do other stuff. I do think that sometimes PTA's don't always consider how it can be as inclusive as possible - I think that's one of the (many, judging by MN!) things that seems to get people's backs up.

The more I read about schools, schools runs and PTA's the more I love DD's school.
I'm on the PTA, but the nativity is done by the kids and the staff, there are no refreshments or raffles so the PTA have no involvement. Which also means no seat bagging and therefore - no resentment. I don't like the idea of raffling off the seats much either.
The PTA at her school is a mix of working and SAH Mums and we all seem to get on well and not slag each other off or be judgey. Some of them have little ones too and some do stuff but don't come to meetings.

My DP is on the PTA, yes shockingly a man is on it, and we had to stand at the back. Saying that I prefer to stand its more comfy and you get better pictures

cunts

I'm Treasurer of our PTA and sat at the back with my Mum if that makes anyone happy. I did notice our secretary was in the front though. I hate being Treasurer, I have lost literally days of my life to it since September. I'm never at the right place at the right time to get my children and don't get to talk to my friends in the playground anymore.

It's only the fact that we've raised over 2k since October which keeps me going. At a time when the TA's hours have been cut the money raised is more vital than ever. It does things like heavily subsidise school trips to keep costs down for parents. I'd be delighted if someone would make a donation - we could gift aid it and then not so much angst over cakeonomics at the school fair , but I know it won't happen.