to get pissed off with class reps every year?

[TeacherSaysSo]

If class reps are supposed to represent the class, why do they always organise their meet ups in the day?? Being a working mum means it is hard to find time to say hello at the school gates, and to be able to meet up with mums at an organised event would be great. However, at my kids school they jusy don't bother. I've been polite and everything, but they're not interested and I have to wait for the annual xmas do to meet up. I know I can try and rinf mums individually but that's not the point - surely a class rep should make a blimin effort..grrr!

and I really don't meanthis to turn into a SAHM vs working mums, I just want to know if I ma being unreasonable to be getting so cross!!!

Mercy I am surprised that parents go through a class rep. Parents at our school would not hesitate to talk to a teacher if they had an issue, and regularly do. Don't they mind you knowing all their problems?

We used to do pot luck supper inc spouses once a term. I used to think that did the job.

It's refreshing that you want to be more involved, I used to feel, sometimes still do, a bit looked down on by the working mothers.

Iotas, it depends on the number I have on the list. This year I am a class rep for DS' nursery class. As most of the p[arents are new to the school it's more of a chore to collect names. So, I don't have many yet. I sent out an invite to the night out on e-mail. I also sent the invite out in book bags with anote to e-mail me if your name and details are not already on the class list. So I have to double up the communication until I get most of the class on the list.

Least year I was rep for DD's reception. I had e-mail addresses for about 27 of 30 sets of parents. So the few that weren't on e-mail heard from the other class rep who was at the gate.

I must admit I haven't got a lot of sympathy for people who don't have e-mail. I think it is a basic form of communication these days. And I can't understand not having it. That's like saying I don't open my letter box so please don't send me any post.

that's a little harsh Athene - some families can't afford a home computer and not everyone has a work email

I agree, don't get cross with the rep. If you think you could do it better, you should do it yourself. It's a case of asking and showing interest or offering to help organise rather than getting cross with a volunteer.

And I sort of think being class rep can harden you up -- it's a lot of effort and other mums do piss you about and take advantage. Scuse language.

but there can only be 1 class rep! so its up to the rep to rep the whole class, that's the job surely. Though I agree we mums all love a whinge anyway

"?It is unacceptable that the digital divide is growing with 35 per cent of families having no access to the internet and around a million children having no computer at home."

from DCSF website 23/09/08

erm... I don't think that's the case at our school. The question we should be asking is how do class reps reach the parents who aren't at the gate?

I guess if there was a parent who really didn't have e-mail because they didn't have it at work and couldn't afford a computer, then I would ask someone who has a computer and who goes to the school gate to print off the e-mail and hand it to those parents who don't have e-mail.

But, I don't think there is anyone in this situation at our school.

no, we used to have two

if there's a rep at the pick up and one doing emails, it is not beyond the wit of any parent working or otherwise to maintain contact somehow, or at least to ask the rep to help out

a lot of stay at home mums can't do the evenings remember so it has to be pretty fair

plus a lot of meet ups are to do with organising stuff like reading rotas and DT helpers so not of much interest to working mums

it's nice for everyone to be involved but the poor old reps get it in the neck every time

Teachersaysso, no I don't mean parents ask about their children's progress or anything; most just want information or a moan about anything from school dinners to when is half-term or who should I see about after-school club etc.

A few have problems at home and/or don't want to approach the teacher.

But there are also some who use class reps as an opportunity to slag off the school