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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:
sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 18:39

I actually did make tea before a play once when it fell on my only non working day. I made tea for ages and ended up watching the play from the hatch as the seats were only allocated to members.

bbcessex · 12/12/2011 18:40

sickoftheemails - I did miss that.. apologies... My career doesn't allow me time to read entire threads or post during work time.. Wink

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 18:40

You should try stress leave like me..started today

bbcessex · 12/12/2011 18:45

sickoftheemails Oh no - sorry to hear that. That's tough. Look after yourself xxxx

higgle · 12/12/2011 18:46

I know my views are not acceptable to the PTA brigade, but I really think that most parents do find the constant badgering to get involved, buy stuff they don't want, go to things that they don't want to go to and then being judged by those who have far too much time on their hands and would be better employed doing something genuinely constructive - like helping a worthwhile charity is a tedious waste of time. I was pleased when my children moved on to secondary school where there is more space to hide from them. I really could not endure another fete ( attendance compulsory) school disco ( driving an extra trip to school) cheese and wine evening ( cheddar and plonk - for one of us because of the extra driving) fancy dress party (costumes and extra driving) ever again.

It is not 50p for a cake that you are asked to contribute but quite a lot each year - even more if you add in the cost of all that fuel for the extra trips.

sickoftheemails · 12/12/2011 18:47

Hell, bbc I might just join the pta now

oldenglishspangles · 12/12/2011 18:52

Mine are more PiTA than PTA. I dont think they deserve front row seats. They are70/30 sanctimonious quodos seekers /altruistic. My time an effort has been pissed up the wall by the glory hunters so I tend to be less involved now.

MabelOranje · 13/12/2011 10:46

The smell of burning martyr is becoming quite overwhelming on this thread ...

seeker · 13/12/2011 12:35

Why is it martyr-ish to defend yourself when attacked? Rather the opposite, I would hve thought!

lockets · 13/12/2011 13:09

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeerGrinchPotter · 13/12/2011 13:11

This reply has been deleted

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Hulababy · 13/12/2011 13:13

Doesn't happen at the school I work at. Not for PTA.

We did reserve some seats for:

  • the parents who helped us walk the children down from school to the venue - as they would be arriving much later thean if they went straight there

  • the parents of a child who has a specific need and needs them to be much closer than other children would need

At DD's school there were no seats reserved for the nativity. For the main end of year school show the main characters are the leaving Y6s, and there are seats reserved for those parents on the first couple of rows.

boschy · 13/12/2011 15:31

I am actually quite shocked by the level of vitriol against those involved in PTA work on this thread. Yes, if your child is at nursery/primary/secondary and they have a PTFA then you are by default a member.

Of course that doesnt mean all those people put their time in - but some of us do; not for kudos or advancement of our own children, but in order to provide some of the icing on the cake that govt funding doesnt.

I've been involved at every stage with PTFA, with varying levels of input (chair/committee/random helper/just turn up and spend money on the day - depending on level of other commitments at the time); sorry if that makes me a do-gooder but I actually think its important!

I can honestly say I have never received - nor expected - a perk as a result. I do it because sometimes its fun; it sets a good example to my own children; whichever school my kids have been in at the time have needed the money; and because if you dont DO anything then nothing happens. For those of you who say things like "the adventure playground is never used" - then get on board and effing change it, otherwise you dont have the right to whinge.

MabelOranje · 13/12/2011 16:06

How exactly do you want me to "effing change it"? I can hardly patrol the school at playtime ordering the children to use the adventure playground. It's there for them to use if they so wish but they're a resorceful bunch and can make up their own games without the assistance of several thousands of £££s worth of equipment!

BeerGrinchPotter · 13/12/2011 16:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lockets · 13/12/2011 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MOSagain · 13/12/2011 16:53

*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*
oh trust me, I know exactly how much arranging it takes. DD just had her school fair and as vice chair I did a lot of 'arranging' including wrapping up 250 presents which took over my dining room for at least a month.

I have to say, we don't get priority tickets for the nativity play but it would be nice Wink

dragonlaydee · 13/12/2011 17:25

I dont have a problem with the principle of PTA's unfortunately, just as with other walks of life some people abuse their position. For every person that genuinely wants to help there is a greedy meglamaniac undermining what could be achieved.

BeerGrinchPotter · 13/12/2011 18:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CheerfulYank · 13/12/2011 18:47

Some people are joiners, some aren't. I am. If you want someone to help out at the Christmas concert, the Muffins With Moms breakfast, the tae kwon do gift exchange, etc, etc....Cheerful's your girl. :) I just like doing stuff.

I have a good friend who despises anything school-related, just cba. It's not her nature. She doesn't like doing "mom stuff", as she says. She adores her DDs, she's just not a "Me! Me! I can do it!" person.

Sudaname · 13/12/2011 21:03

daenery

" Sudaname so you're arguing against my point about the moaning and reasons not to join by moaning and providing reasons not to join ? "

Yes - dead right l am arguing against your point - which stated that there are two kinds of people - the joiners who do stuff and the moaners who always have an excuse not to join. I could argue against that point as long as you like tbh because it is ridiculous to seperate people into two compartments - one good ,one bad - with no middle ground whatsoever and refuse to accept that anyone not in your compartment could possibly have a genuine 'excuse' (not that anyone has to answer to you btw - sorry to break that to you) or actually be anything other than a lazy shirker with no community spirit whatsoever.

tralalala · 13/12/2011 21:21

totally agree about the fecking moaners..

I'm on the PTA, find it really hard to find the time especially when I was working FT but our school only has a few members and was about to shut.

After the xmas fair two friends with kids at the school moaned to me that there wasnt enough to do. Both of these I had asked to help out earlier in the week, both declined. They only work p/t (as I do now) and have no little ones (though I had to have my 3 with me the whole time). I was so fucked off.

Some of the ones moaning on here about lack of time magically can be on mn all day Wink.

boschy · 14/12/2011 07:31

in response to mabeloranje - if they dont use the expensive adventure playground, talk to the school about why not. does it need to be supervised? or classes given allocated times? then get the school to do something about it.

or if you would prefer the PTFA to spend the money they raise (through sheer hard work) on other things, TELL THEM!

PTA committee members are not psychic, they do not make decisions on things in isolation. There were probably several very long discussions about what they should raise money for; staff probably thought an adventure playground was a good idea. And in every PTA I've ever been involved in we have told parents what we are raising money for (if a big thing) and what we've spent it on (if lots of smaller things).

boschy · 14/12/2011 07:46

oops, forgot to say: we have ALWAYS asked people (those who dont come to meetings) via newsletter what they think about the plans. Funnily enough, most cant be bothered to comment either way.

exoticfruits · 14/12/2011 07:52

PTA committee members are not psychic, they do not make decisions on things in isolation.

Agreed-where were the moaners when it was being discussed? I bet they couldn't be bothered to go to the meeting. Anyone can attend, everyone can have their say-you don't have to be on the committee. People don't bother to say how they want the money spent and then moan when it is decided!
Even if you don't go to the meeting, you are told before they spend it and that is another time to raise an objection.
You are all PTA members, luckily some agree to go one step further and go on to the committee and, if you don't want to, you should be really pleased that someone else is doing it.