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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think you don't need to mention your PhD and MBA when standing for parent governor?

32 replies

jumpy2012 · 01/07/2012 13:10

The person in question is DD's dad, but (maybe it's because I know him!) his statement sounds pompous compared to the others. All have talked about their job and what they can bring to the role, but I am seeing more 'Aren't I wonderful' statements in his than the others.

OP posts:

HecateHarshPants · 01/07/2012 13:12

oh, but it's oh so impressive, don't you know!

I have seen similar.

one bloke going on about how great he is and how much he does and how much he's done

a woman who talked about how great the school is and how much she would hope to contribute.

she got my vote!

I am not suggesting they gave the statements they did because of their genders, it could as easily have been the other way round. The point is the arrogant 'look how great I am worship me don't you want me of course you want me' type is a pain in the arse.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 01/07/2012 13:13

Agree; the only place I think disclosure of academic qualifications is appropriate is on a business card, relevant discussion with peers or at an interview.

carabos · 01/07/2012 13:13

Well it does rather indicate a commitment to education, which is probably a good thing in a parent governor...

tinkerbel72 · 01/07/2012 13:13

Agree- it would put me right off. He needs to write about skills he can offer and what he will bring to the role- which is not the same thing

ToryLovell · 01/07/2012 13:15

Agree, but as far as some men are concerned their worth is measured by their job title, their car and their qualifications

Birdsgottafly · 01/07/2012 13:25

Depending on the school and the wants of the parents, good pastoral support, more arts, for example, an MBA could be off putting.

HarrietJonez · 01/07/2012 13:30

They could be useful but need to be put in context.

LucieMay · 01/07/2012 13:33

I would purposely not vote for him. There were similar statements on my son's. I voted for the super friendly mum of one of my classmates who always says hello to all the kids and has time for everyone. Not a mention of her qualifications at all.

kim147 · 01/07/2012 13:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2rebecca · 01/07/2012 13:41

It's a handy sign to those voting for the governers that he's the sort of bloke who thinks his paper qualifications will impress others.
Having said that I do like governers to be intelligent and able to see 2 sides of an argument and an academic background can help with that as you are used to debating issues, not just hysterically shouting if things don't go your way.

unuat · 01/07/2012 13:47

YABU he is demonstrating that he is both intelligent and able which are crucial to roles like this. It also shows a commitment to the value of education which I would also see as a positive characteristic in a potential governor.

exaltedwombat · 01/07/2012 15:19

"The person in question is DD's dad.."

Come on, you're not going to like ANYTHING he does, are you? :-)

irregularegular · 01/07/2012 15:23

Oh, I don't know. I think it depends on how it's written and the rest of the statement. From what I've seen of the governor role, some business acumen would be extremely useful. Especially for a small school, which often lacks good financial/business management skills on the staff, just because of being small scale.

HappyMummyOfOne · 01/07/2012 15:45

It would put me off voting for him. I would want someone with a genuine interest in both the school and children not somebody who feels the need to state their qualifications.

I8toys · 01/07/2012 15:57

I wouldn't vote for him because of his qualifications. I would vote for the person who I saw at school, helping out the PTA, reading with kids - not someone with qualifications and business experience.

I put in my statement that my two children loved their school, the teachers and the fantastic community that we live in - I have qualifications but felt they were not relevant to what I could bring to the school. I got elected!!!

Original poster

jumpy2012 · 01/07/2012 17:06

It's a secondary school, so not somewhere you're in the playground every day. I didn't see the statement before he submitted it, but I would have suggested that he take that bit out! In fact, I'm surprised he left out the fact he had graduated from Oxford....

As a parent, reading all four statements, I wouldn't vote for him either (but I suppose I have to!)

OP posts:

Acekicker · 01/07/2012 18:55

Depending on the school and the wants of the parents, good pastoral support, more arts, for example, an MBA could be off putting.

To be fair, if he's going to be on things like the finance committee then an MBA could actually be a positive thing. There's a huge difference between what a PTA needs and what a governors board needs. Whilst you'd hope that the governors are passionate about the school and involved in it etc it's actually really important that governors have good business sense/management skills etc. The emphasis on oversight and control is pretty strong.

edam · 01/07/2012 18:58

Yeah, we've had statements like that from potential governors at ds's school and they can be offputting unless the person phrases in a 'how this will benefit the school' way, rather than just showing off. However, it can be very useful to have a couple of accountants on the board, especially on the finance committee.

PenisVanLesbian · 01/07/2012 19:37

Phd AND an MBA? He can shout it from the rooftops and paint a sign on his bare ass as far as I'm concerned. Fair play to him.

HecateHarshPants · 02/07/2012 06:37

Thing is, there is a massive difference between "I have got X, Y, Z which will enable me to offer you 1, 2, 3, because I want to bring A, B, C to this school..."

and
"I have got X, Y, Z. worship me"

Inertia · 02/07/2012 06:43

To be fair it could be relevant to mention them - his skills could be useful on the finance sub committee, for instance. But his statement should be couched I'm terms of how his education and skills would benefit the school.

EdithWeston · 02/07/2012 06:51

I think it is totally appropriate to include qualifications on a job application.

Presumably he's supplied them with more than just a list, so (even in you think it's pompous) the rest of the text would show how he would put them to use in the job of Governor.

A good grasp of how to run a business and get the best out of a fixed budget would be high on my list of "things Governors ought to be doing for the school", as I'd rather leave the vision and educational management to the Head.

HandMadeTail · 02/07/2012 07:01

My Dad used to have to interview people for a course he used to teach. He always gave the benefit of the doubt to the people he knew, because, possibly already knowing their faults, he would be in danger of judging them more harshly than someone he didn't know.

You are reading more "I am wonderful" statements about your X, but is this just prejudice?

I would be interested that someone had a PhD and MBA, as it would signify a commitment to education, and if not business acumen, at least commitment to good business principles.

Sorry, I think Y may well B being U.

Pendulum · 02/07/2012 07:14

YAB a bit U! I agree that the qualifications and skills are relevant to the position, but that they need to be presented in the right way.

My DH also applied for governor and asked me to review his statement- I made a few changes softening the 'job application' language and adding some more personal stuff about what years they were in, what they like about the school and so so.

However I only did that because I knew it was the expected 'form' - in fact when I read statements I ignore the "X is such a fantastic school, I will give it my full commitment" etc etc, anyone can say that. I look for skills that will further the governance role and provide a check on the school's activities. It's not the same role as PTA chair, where I agree that networking and persuasion skills are top of the list.

LadySybil · 02/07/2012 07:19

I'd rather have someone who has proven himself by gaining a phd and an mba over someone who does the wishy washy skills thing without providing any sort of solid evidence to back it up.
so yes, yabu

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