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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:
daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 13:31

astro turf, sorry.

singinggirl · 12/12/2011 14:01

I think you will always get some people who take the p* with seats etc, but you get as many people who are extremely vitriolic about seating when there are really no grounds to be. At the church nativity last Christmas Eve one mother had a go at me for having claimed a front seat with my coat. I felt I needed to since I had gone off to help a dozen or more DC get dressed (including hers), and since I had to sit at the front since I had the script to prompt those who forgot their lines....

Mind you, I wished I'd sat at the back when a sheep throwing contest broke out amongst the shepherds and baby Jesus got tipped out of the manger...

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:08

The PTA might "arrange" fund raisers but its myself and other parents who supply the goods and those funds so I feel no sense of gratitude for their contribution

seeker · 12/12/2011 14:24

I repeat, do you ensure that your child does not take part in any treat or use any equipment paid for by funds raised by the PTA. You might
RO IDE q bottle for the tombola, but it's not going to raise any money just sitting on a table is it???

seeker · 12/12/2011 14:24

That was "provide a bottle"

daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 14:32

do you know how much 'arranging' a christmas fair for 250 kids takes?

wrapping all the presents that father christmas gives out alone is a huge task, particularly when you only get 5 volunteers.

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:35

We all pitch in, PTA or not. Dont assume non pta members arent doing just as much.

IloveJudgeJudy · 12/12/2011 14:37

I cannot believe what you wrote, sickoftheemails. perhaps you could try and help at maybe one event - summer fair or Christmas fair. Your bottle does not just get sold by itself. It takes a lot of work to organise the fundraisers. I suggest that, as you feel such vitriol against the PTA, you stop providing funds and stop using anything that the PTA has provided - playground equipment, equipment for teachers, top-up funds for school trips.

BreconBeBuggered · 12/12/2011 14:38

PTA members have to contribute as well as 'arrange' events, you know. Some of us use up days of annual leave to help out. Some events do take whole days to set up and run. Our school doesn't give any seating perks, but you can still hear people complaining if somebody known to be on the committee happens to get into the hall first.

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:38

I do help at events...im not in the pta though, like many of us who DO help at events

CaroleService · 12/12/2011 14:38

Our PTA members were selling DVDs of the performance and cast photos while the parents had coffee beforehand. So they were well to the rear of the charge for seats - I think they should have had reserved seats really. But then I am on the PTA at my other dc's school and know how thanklessa role it is!

daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 14:40

oh, ok Hmm

it's just at our school, it's pta = do stuff, other parents = moan, but always have a reason why they can't become involved.

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:41

I work on setting up, taking down and stalls at fairs.....im just not on the pta. Dont assume its only pta memers who do this

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:42

I dont help at plays though as I have to whip back to work

seeker · 12/12/2011 14:42

But all parents at a school are members of the PTA!

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 14:44

Wonder how that works with the OP's sign "reserved for PTA" then?

daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 14:45

actually, that's true. we have a committee of 15 (who have sworn allegiance to outdo each other at cake sales) but officially, all the parents are classed as pta.

loulabella81 · 12/12/2011 14:47

solution = Join the PTA :)

seeker · 12/12/2011 14:47

Because "reserved to those members of the PTA who have been at the school since since 8.30 helping set up the play, doing the make up, arranging the costumes PTA funds bought and preparing the interval cups of tea and mince pies" might be q bit long.

daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 14:47

"Wonder how that works with the OP's sign "reserved for PTA" then?"

because, lets face it, a lot of parents see the letters pta and run a mile!

i am an ex-runner, now reformed. got caught by a friend who is now the chair person Wink

PatriciaHolm · 12/12/2011 14:52

"I work on setting up, taking down and stalls at fairs.....im just not on the pta. Dont assume its only pta memers who do this"

I think the conversation is confusing "PTA committee members"/people who go to every meeting with people who help out sometimes but don't go to meetings etc.

We have a committee of 7, about 15-20 people who come to most meetings and put the real hours in organising events, but another 40-50 who will help out at fairs etc, without whom we couldn't operate. All of these people are members of the PTA; all parents in the school are. The 40-50 wouldn't describe themselves as "being on the PTA" but they are!

Sudaname · 12/12/2011 15:05

My daughter tells me the PTA are known as the 'Mafia' in my DGSs school and god help you if for example your child is in dispute with one of their offspring Grin. Doubtless many PTA members do wonderful work for no (financial)reward for all the right reasons but there will also no doubt be a small element who do it for the 'power' or bit of 'clout' as we call it round here [northern .]Its just human nature and you cant generalise. On balance OP in the circumstances you've described I agree with you.

daenerysstormborn · 12/12/2011 15:07

ph - 40/50 volunteers!, wow, that's really good. wish we could get that many at my dc's schhol. they had to draft in year 6 to run stalls at the fair due to lack of parent help.

higgle · 12/12/2011 15:17

I always used to say to the head of my sons' school that I would willingly give him a cheque each year to ensure we did not have to endure the endless round of raffle tickets and cake sales from the PTA which totally pissed me off. I also found the type of person who really enjoyed being involved in all this time wasting drivel rather tedious. Surely if you want some money for something you should just ask rather than spend hundreds of hours trying to engage people in things they don't really enjoy?

seeker · 12/12/2011 15:18

And why people think being on the PTA committee gives you any "clout" completely escapes me!

I Think people who are too bone idle to do anything but take advantage of the stuff PTA raised funds buy for the school make themselves feel better by slagging off those people who actually do stuff.