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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For not being allowed to sign the teacher's card?

265 replies

BigApple11 · 14/12/2016 15:41

I haven't put into my dc's class teachers' Christmas collection, for a few reasons.
Namely they ( the class reps) want £5 per teacher. That's £15 for my DS and £10 for my DD.
I also have an older child.
Christmas costs us a fortune.
The teachers are paid by my taxes.
Yes they do a brilliant job.
I bake them cakes throughout the year.
I help in class every week.
AIBU to think I should be allowed to sign the bloody card even though I haven't put into the collection???
The class rep pisses me off but that's besides the point. I think

OP posts:
Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 20:36

Hiviscats

I guess what is normal in your school is completely not normal in other schools.. never heard of class reps, we don't have them....who are they appointed by? Teachers! , Or other parents and friends? Totally weird to me. Why do you need a link between parents and PTA? In our school the PTA liaise directly with parents through school twitter site or Facebook site, TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL!!!!! Touché.....Why do you need class reps? We manage without them. I'd be most annoyed if I got a letter from a class rep suggesting I give money to a class collection...just not done in our school.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 20:43

I didn't say think they run the school, said think they run the SHOW..ie trying to boss around other parents etc

Hoviscats · 14/12/2016 20:48

Fair enough if you don't have them but to suggest class goes are self important busybodies essentially is ridiculous, especially if you have no idea what they do, given they are seemingly unheard of where you are.

In our school class reps attend pta meetings and seek volunteers mostly. The bloody class collection is just a job you get lumbered with!

Oh and class reps 'volunteer'. Since I was the only person from our class to attend any its meetings (open to whole parent body) I ended up one by default pretty much.

Fwiw class collections in some schools seem to be the norm. I agree no minimum amount should be specified. if people don't want to contribute then they shouldn't and they should speak up and stand by their choice. Incidentally for those that don't want to contribute but want to sign a card...who do they think should put their hand in their pocket to buy the bloody card?! Or organise a load of kids to make one?!

HaveNoSocks · 14/12/2016 20:51

Mumzypopz in my school each class sends one or two "class reps" to the PTA so they'll be the ones to arrange the contribution from each class to the school BBQ, or fireworks event etc. at least in my school they don't boss anyone around. No idea how they're "elected" I was just told who they were (and was grateful that I didn't have to do any of this stuff myself).

The more I read this thread the more I think everyone should just sign the card. I can't believe the person who was told their contribution of a fiver was insufficient to get onto the card. Horrible behaviour. If you're going to do a whole class thing let everyone get involved if they want to, by contributing what they feel they want to/can.

To be honest I was quite happy the collection was organised as I find the present thing awkward, I never know what I'm meant to get and what on earth the teachers are going to do with so many boxes of chocolates but I'd hate to exclude those who can't contribute the set amount.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:03

Hiviscats

So they "seek volunteers" and arrange class contributions for school events....if a class only has 30 kids in it, how many times must you have to approach this 30 sets of parents? For the position to be viable, I am presuming a lot? Must be quite tiring for the parents to be constantly hassled for money and volunteering by these class reps...if we had them, I would avoid them. By just having a PTA in our school, we already contribute quite regularly to school events, don't need class reps doing it too. The word rep means representative and I wouldn't like another parent saying they were representing me. So you now say they volunteer, so not appointed by anyone as such....so I'm thinking more an extension of the PTA than a representative of the parents.

Original poster
BigApple11 · 14/12/2016 21:05

Dontpokethebear why do you think this thread is about you?

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 14/12/2016 21:05

Jazzmin, I really like the idea of a bauble, that's a lovely memory of the child.

dontpokethebear · 14/12/2016 21:11

mumzypopz

Must be quite tiring for the parents to be constantly hassled for money and volunteering by these class reps...

Not half as tiring as fielding questions from parents who can't be bothered to attend PTA meetings or check social media updates.

I volunteered for it as I was the only person from our class that turned up to the meeting.

You're not coming across very nicely. Perhaps you're jealous that no one would nominate you Wink

dontpokethebear · 14/12/2016 21:13

bigApple11 I only thought it on first glance as I had just sent an email regarding the card (just saying was everyone happy for me to sign on behalf of the class, NOT excluding anyone!) about half an hour before you started the thread!

m0therofdragons · 14/12/2016 21:16

With TAs I would have 11 staff members to buy for! Not happening I'm afraid but wouldn't sign class card as that implies I put towards the gift, which I didn't!

Just do your own card. I don't do gifts for teachers for Christmas. End of year yes but Christmas I have 20 family members to buy for and teachers, lovely as they are, are way down my list for Christmas gifts. We do do a card though.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:17

Don't poke the bear

Don't want to be nominated...it's a complete non job if you ask me.....again what seems normal in some schools is completely not normal in others....thinking it's quite a new thing.n on existant round here...if it didn't exist you wouldn't have to field questions....parents don't have to go to PTA meetings...again that's a volunteering thing, not compulsory.....our PTA just have a Facebook site and people ask questions on there if they want to....

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:20

Instead of people asking the so called class reps they could either ask the PTA directly or ask the school.....always amazed by the parents who ask questions on the PTA site like "does anyone know what the term dates are?" When they could simply look on school website.

Original poster
BigApple11 · 14/12/2016 21:21

Dontpokethebear it's not you Smile

OP posts:
dontpokethebear · 14/12/2016 21:21

Oh it's definitely a new thing. We didn't have them when my teenager was in nursery/first school.

TBH I don't mind doing it. I enjoy organising the mums nights out etc.
I didn't attend any with oldest as I was at uni or working full time and the mums that met in playground only included themselves in that sort of thing. This way, everyone is invited and the working mums who don't do drop off/pick ups can meet everyone else etc.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:23

A representative is usually someone who is appointed by the people who want to be represented, I wouldn't want to be represented by anyone else...quite capable of asking the school direct if I have questions or the PTA if I wanted to, don't need a go between. Rant over.

elodie2000 · 14/12/2016 21:27

Why do other people get to say how much parents give? Cass reps? What on earth are they? Genuine question, never came across them at DC's school.
I wouldn't a) donate any amount specified by another person
b) want to sign their group card.

As a teacher myself, I find this kind of thing distasteful. I would hate to receive a group gift like this.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:32

Elodie2000

Yay.....someone else who thinks the same as me....I'm not alone...was starting to think I was going mad... not my place, but think class reps should be banned ha ha....if anyone suggested it in my school I would strongly oppose it.

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:33

Not one parent has the right to say they are a representative of another parent. They should be called PTA reps, not class reps

Monkeyface26 · 14/12/2016 21:35

I'm a class rep. At our school, as with havenosocks, each class sends one or two reps to the PTA and those reps then organise through their class. It's not a non-job exactly but you can put as much or as little in to it as you want.
I always organise a class collection at Christmas and at the end of the academic year. We have a lot of busy working mums who would rather throw a tenner at me to buy gift vouchers with than spend time and brain space coming up with their own ideas. I just email the class and say which day I'm buying the vouchers. I stress that people should only join in if they want to. I print the names of the contributors, in alphabetical order, inside the gift voucher card and tell everyone that this is because I know how important it is to them all to send their own cards. It is really because I can't be arsed to stand around in the cold at the school gate collecting signatures. Some of the busiest mums just stuff envelopes in my daughter's rucksack. It is completely fuss-free and guilt-free for everyone. Teacher usually gets about £150 of vouchers.

HeCantBeSerious · 14/12/2016 21:36

I'm chair of our PTA. 9 classes in the school and only 4-5 regular attendees at PTA meetings (doubling up on classes). Briefly considered trying to get a parent for each class to engage and get help because it's soul destroying hard work being the only ones doing anything to raise money. But odds of getting a system like that working are below zero, so we just get on with it. Sad

dontpokethebear · 14/12/2016 21:42

mumzypopz you're getting a bit hot and bothered about this.
I'm representing a class of about 20 parents in regards to fundraising, volunteering and important calendar dates. Not representing a small country...

Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:43

Teacher gets £150 worth if vouchers.....us that really necessary!!!!!! Totally over the top in my opinion. And quite wrong! Do they have to declare this to the Head I wonder? What other profession gets that sort of amount at Christmas? Could this then not be awkward if later on in the year they have to discipline your child, and a parent complains to the Head? Gifts should be small and discrete in my opinion and not over the top.

elodie2000 · 14/12/2016 21:43

Teacher usually gets around £150 of vouchers ???
That is ridiculous & excessive.
I just don't get it and I am a teacher myself.
I really don't think 'organised collections' are a good thing. Not everyone can afford to 'throw a tenner in the pot' but many will feel obliged and/or embarrassed if they are one of the parents who don't/can't.

elodie2000 · 14/12/2016 21:43
Angry
Mumzypopz · 14/12/2016 21:44

Don't poke the bear
Not getting hot and bothered at all, just enjoying participating in a debate....are you sure all the parents want a representative? Or need one?