To think class parents need to do more?

[annoyedatotherparents]

Probably will get told that people have their own lives, everyone's busy, etc etc.

But am seriously annoyed today. I've done two years of being a class rep at my DS's school. Primary aged kids, but pretty minimal work - organising vouchers for teachers at Christmas, occasional presents for class mums who've had babies, organising volunteer rotas for two fairs a year (Xmas and summer). The kids are getting older so there's minimal reminders needed and everyone knows everyone else now so fewer social things - people just hang out in the groups they like. So all pretty easy.

I asked around today as the usual pattern is for people to do two years as class rep then hand over to someone else. The class WhatsApp was totally silent...tumbleweed. Everyone appears to be utilising the Mumsnet maxim of no being a complete sentence. However....this will mean I end up getting saddled with it all again. And I have 3DC and a full time job. There are plenty of mums in the class with one child and no job. (Rich enough husbands to not need to work).

I guess my AIBU is - would I BU to just tell everyone I'm drawing names out of a hat? The competitive busyness thing is ridiculous and I'm sure everyone will have a tantrum if I do that but the alternative is me just putting up with it and that will drive me mad!

Out of curiosity do you put Dads in draw for class reps or just the mums. Surely some parents work away or never do school run. Can just imagine you emailing to say you are the class rep and they’re like err I’m on deployment in a submarine for 3 months so no I won’t be organising a collection for Mrs X.

I think this sounds like a really unnecessary role from an arse licking school parent who does it by choice and if you pulled my name out the hat you would quite frankly be laughed at and told where to go 😂

Sounds like this role does not really need to exist.

Why not say you can no longer do it, but you think the role can be retired for this year group?

This is a role is not needed. Parents are informed of events etc. that's all the school needs to do. No class rep or any member of the school staff or anybody needs to remind people. Parents responsibility. If people want to buy a present for another parent or the teacher, crack on. That's it.

If someone told me I was responsible for buying presents for mums to be that I barely knew I would be handing out contraception at every school fair...

A mum in DDs class had 6 more babies throughout (Catholic 😬) primary school. Buggered if I was buying gifts for them all! Barely knew her other than she was quite rough.

I only dropped off and picked up about ten times the entirety of primary school so wasn't really close to any other mums. Us teachers never get to do that stuff.

organising vouchers for teachers at Christmas, occasional presents for class mums who've had babies

If parents want to buy their DC’s teacher a present then just do it. No need to harass other parents to contribute to a class present. I think it’s odd that you’d harass other parents for money for a pregnant mum. Surely you’d only buy presents for your friends?

I’m quite happy to admit I am a lazy non contributing dick head that can’t be arsed helping and still stand by my comments that it’s only a job the arse licking clique parents want for a pat on the back. I’ve never met one pta helper I could physically stand and if that makes me a dick head then so be it

For a more useful answer than I have made so far. Some parts of the job seem useful some parts seem pointless, maybe no one has enough free time to do it all

Why not:
Ask for one volunteer to arrange presents for the teachers
Ask for one volunteer to co-ordinate volunteers for the fair
As for one volunteer to pass on messages as required
Suggest if anyone is that bothered about doing collections for pregnant mums they can volunteer for it (who does the class reps collection if they get pregnant not that its relevant Im just curious)
Suggest that all volunteer periods are reduced to 1 year

Maybe your parting gift as a class rep is to question why class reps are needed at all. My DC moved from private to state school and I don’t miss the whole “class rep” thing at all.

God, don't worry - I don't!

just say you’re not doing anything after a certain date.

I’ve been class rep for both my dc classes. And another role with the PTA at one school for a bit. Also work FT.

You have set a great example to your dc of valuing and supporting a community you are part of.

Sadly some people just never help/volunteer for things. No way round it. I just accept that BUT it can be vexing when they want their dc to come to a fete/disco etc that others are stretching themselves to organise.

Could you suggest two people share it?

@WimpoleHat no it’s specifically for being a school governor. NHS let employees do this. It’s good experience and gives back to the community. Fairly common in business. Realistically I’d never take the full allowance.

Collection for what @Mouk

imo should only be 2

one at Xmas. And one for end of summer term

This is a real MN classic thread

But "preggoes" ?? Really?

Don't any of your kids enjoy having a Christmas or summer fair to go to, and don't you see any benefit in raising some funds for cash-starved schools? The feedback from ours was that having even small amounts of extra funds they could use as they liked made a significant difference with budgets so extremely tight. I find it hard to get my head round the idea people think helping with very minor school stuff is something people do for personal glory or gain. Really people do not benefit from doing these things and they are very small things in the lives of most people who do them - often they do seem to fall to people who have a lot of other stuff going on. Seems v odd that people are so hostile about it - really has not been my experience.

God, just give it up. No one, literally no one, gives a shit about any of it.

Just tell the pta you are stopping. Ffs.

I’d just tell them all you’re resigning at the end of summer term, and if nobody steps forward your class won’t have a rep. End of. Don’t back down.

I hope they get you a thank you gift!

You collect money for mums with new babies?? That’s totally abusing the class rep position. What about people with secondary infertility or whose children are much older pre class WhatsApp days - why should they give this money? Our class WhatsApp is for reminders and teacher collections only. I wouldn’t want to take your version on either so I can’t blame the parents for their tumbleweed approach.

OP I feel your pain… and I think I know where you are!

I've not even bothered reading the rest of the thread, only your post, because, honestly, this is such a non-issue. No class needs such a thing as a class rep, which is probably why you're getting the tumbleweed. Once your children get to secondary school and find that actually everything stil functions without such a thing you'll cringe at the thought of once badgering other people to be one.

oh and as for buying other mums a present for the baby. Well, everyone at primary is at that age where there might be a new baby at some point, they're 10 a penny. The people that want to buy a present for someone will buy one, they don't need to be badgered into contributing to a joint one.