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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Generosity of the PTA.....

85 replies

whydoibothersometimes · 27/11/2013 11:21

My son came home with a letter from school stating the whole school can go to the pantomime in December, it goes on to say that through the generosity of the PTA all children can go for just £1.50 each....wibu adding a star next to that and writing at the side *and the collective generosity of parents that support PTA fundraising events....? I just read it this morning and thought I've spent far more than that saving at all the bake sales, Christmas fayres, summer fayres etc etc and donated things for all these events so actually i have paid for the whole ticket in a round about way....

OP posts:

givemeaclue · 27/11/2013 14:57

How would you like it worded, do tell

Snowbility · 27/11/2013 15:02

I think it's a badly worded letter by someone in the admin office. The PTA are not generous - the parents who fund the PTA are. And although it would irk me slightly I'd move on to the next email and forget about it.

LemonBreeland · 27/11/2013 15:02

I think the wording is slightly wrong. I think they should have acknowledged the hard work of the PTA which allowed the funds to be raised, rather than the generosity of the PTA.

Iamsparklyknickers · 27/11/2013 15:15

Over thinking it massively, but that kind of wording does give off the impression that the PTA somehow has a budget that is set by some outside resources - I'm thinking along the lines of how those houses are sponsored by old students in American Universities (can't think for the life of me what they're called!).

I suppose you could argue that it could harm fundraising efforts in the future for people to have that impression from quickly reading a short letter - but that's what marketing and advertising is all about isn't it?

It would have been much better wording to reference their hard work and generosity of those who have supported them. People like to see the result of what their donations have achieved and are much more likely to put their hand in their pockets/help out if there is a tangible recognised benefit.

treas · 27/11/2013 15:21

Iamsparklyknickers - Fraternities and sororities

Iamsparklyknickers · 27/11/2013 15:28

Thank you treas! Bugging me that was, I couldn't stop thinking Alpha and Omega

kerala · 27/11/2013 15:31

Thats why you get marketing/PR parents to edit your newsletters

Arielle1 · 27/11/2013 15:33

I can't believe you are letting this worry you. Every time I've been on the PTA committee I've had to spend loads of my personal money subsidising and supporting the cost of events. Only yesterday I spent £30 on cakes for a cake sale which too few parents had contributed to as well as then selling them and giving my money to little ones who hadn't brought any in.
This afternoon I've spent 2 hours making signs for Santa's grotto which I'm making from card bought out of my own money.

My entire weekend will be taken up with setting up, manning and clearing up after the Christmas fair. I've donated all the gifts for the lucky dip as parents havent given enough. I'm sure PTA committee members up and down the country can say the same thing. Then I've organised the parents christmas party, organised the class pantomime trip, bought the teachers christmas gifts and cards...
To think some parents are questioning the word 'genorosity' is disheartening. A few people just don't have a clue.

NynaevesSister · 27/11/2013 15:37

OP has said the school wrote it!

WooWooOwl · 27/11/2013 15:54

I think you are being a tad pathetic to even notice this.

The active members of the PTA probably give just as much money to the PTA as the rest of the parents that do next to nothing, so there is no reason not to mention their generosity.

octopusinastringbag · 27/11/2013 15:58

All the parents at the school are automatically PTA members at DS's school so I think it would be unreasonable to say something as it's usually that way at most schools so the school are thanking the parents.

DziezkoDisco · 27/11/2013 16:09

I promise you the parents in the PTA have not only given up their time and effort for no thanks, they also shell out more than you have.

Im on the PTA and we are always buying stuff and not claiming for it.

So if they get a bit more praise than you do for occassionally putting your hand in your pocket or bringing in the odd bottle, cake or whatever get over it.

says the bitter chair who is hoping to retire but no new naive people ever turns up at meetings to be 'encouraged' into the post

Original poster

whydoibothersometimes · 27/11/2013 16:18

Oh lovely, PTA martyrs have joined the discussion. I was pointing out the wording of the letter not how much more members/chairs of PTA do! And was using the word generosity in the letter to equate to financial contribution. I realise now that time/effort etc may have been meant by the school now. And my posting on here about being a bit peeved about the wording is no different than anyone reading my post and then choosing to comment....it hasn't effected my day I was merely wondering if anyone else thinks the wording could have been better...so starting conversation really.

OP posts:

AmberLeaf · 27/11/2013 16:22

The PTA are not generous - the parents who fund the PTA are

Parents who are active in the PTA give not only their money [do people think we don't also have to contribute?] but their time too. No one has to do it, so I'd say that is pretty generous.

IME those that complain most about things PTA related are those that do the least.

ilovesmurfs · 27/11/2013 16:24

Bit you are part of the pts, all parents are by default so they are thanking you! They dont need to add 'and thanks to the generosity oftrhr parents' as the parents are the pta!!

The wording isn't great but they have that led the parents.

AmberLeaf · 27/11/2013 16:25

Oh bore off with the PTA martyrs rubbish.

MsUumellmahaye · 27/11/2013 16:25

if you paid upfront say your £100 quid per year for your trips etc.. there are lots of kids at most schools wouldn't be able to go on the trips, see the pantos ect, ect. the pta raising funds to subsidize all these events makes it possible for all the children to enjoy.

AmberLeaf · 27/11/2013 16:28

I don't think it should be worded as the PTA are generously deciding to use the money parents have in part raised for the children to do this, because that is what the fundraising is for!

Funds raised by the PTA certainly aren't just for 'jollies'

There are lots of things that are funded with that money in my childs school that I'm certain many parents think just comes out of general school budget.

ShoeWhore · 27/11/2013 16:33

But as has already been pointed out - all parents are automatically members of the PTA - so in theory thanks are going to all the parents. The letter just means the trip has been subsidised by PTA funds.

Very petty to be nitpicking about it imo. It's worth remembering that the letter was almost certainly written by the Head who is you know, a teacher, rather than some PR guru and has about a million other things to do (especially at this time of year).

MsUumellmahaye · 27/11/2013 17:17

indeed, pta no longer exists its a parent forum which is all parents.

ITCouldBeWorse · 27/11/2013 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilacroses · 27/11/2013 17:24

It's a little bit unfortunate in terms of phrasing but I wouldn't split hairs about it. If they are anything like the PTA at the school I work in or the one Dd goes too they do ALOT of work for the sake of all of our children and I, who only help a little bit, am very grateful to them.

SoupDragon · 27/11/2013 17:28

Petty and pointless IMO.

tobiasfunke · 27/11/2013 17:31

My Ds started primary school this year and I had no idea how much of the school stuff was funded by the PTA including the library, school trips, fencing, road signs, improvements to the playground, presents from Santa. Now the councils have less money the PTA funding is way more important. Maybe by mentioning the PTA funding in the letter the school was making it clear where the money actually comes from. Some people still think that the school has a budget set aside for all these extras.

If it wasn't for your 'PTA martyrs' your child's school experience wouldn't be half as much fun or enriching.

Lilacroses · 27/11/2013 17:31

PTA martyrs?! I don't mean it like that. Clearly you ALL have raised the money. What I meant was that even if it does sound as if they are being given some of the credit it isn't such a bad thing.

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