..in admitting I'm sick of the PTA ?

[runningonthespot]

Yes every school needs them and I certainly do my bit to help out with a bit of time, a bit of home baking for fairs, and a bit of money etc BUT does anyone else have the experience that some of them - and I really don't mean all of them - are in it for the wrong reasons. Like getting favours for their kids or brownie points for being martyrs? Just a thought...

yes meant to say COV do share your secrets! We made 12k last year between 2 schools (infant and junior are separate) and we are considered to live in a fairly affluent area

It was £7k for ours from 120 pupils which is about £65 per pupil. They held 10 events and some quite major dinners, dances and so on.

at betty's list....
Sorry Betty but that just sounds ridiculous. Do you not think that maybe that PTA member won the Wii because she bought loads of tickets!?!
and frankly, if your PTA really has the ear of the head you should be writing to the governors because it's just not on.
Mind you, I'm interested to hear how you know the children of PTA members are listened to more??? Are you in school all day, every day?

Thanks for your response ABD... Am glad to hear it's working so well for you.

I think that people are very unfair to PTAs-they do a lot of very good work, without a lot of thanks! They don't get special treatment-and neither do the DCs. I have been on them in the past and it hasn't made a jot of difference except that I got to know more people. Those that moan are the ones that never do anything.

Betty you should move your children to our school .
I have been on the PTA for 8 years and my children have never had the lead role in any play or assembly. In fact my 10 yr old refused to enter the Summer Art competion as to quote her " theres no point I can't win because you are on the PTA and the children of the PTA never get picked " Which is true we are all very aware that choosing our own children would be controversial.
I do have a relationship with the Head and some teachers but that's because I am a SAHM and so can help in class or go on school trips .But there a large group of people who help out at school who are not involved with PTA and I don't think they help out to get their children trated any differently.
I don't think my children get any special treatment because I'm a PTA member and would be shocked if they did.

Betty - why wouldn't a member of the PTA win a prize? It would hardly be fair to throw all their tickets away, and you would lose lots of money if you didn't let them buy any.

I am very active on our PTA and my DS has never had any special treatment that I can see. He's not in the selective choir (even though he's in a choir outside school), he is not in the selective dance class, he did not have a speaking part in the school play, he did not go on the selective trip to a local NT house, has never won a prize for a costume or Easter bonnet, has never been quoted in the newsletter.

Oh - yes, he did have more than two adults at the school play. My mum and DH took the two allocated seats, because I was at school two hours early to help dress the children and there was no guarantee I would fit in the hall once it was done. In the end, I did get in, sitting on the floor, peering betweeen legs at an angle. Is that a perk?

wed yes I recently judged a drawing comp and ds was most affronted I didnt pick him! Had to explain I couldnt, but obviously I thought his was the best

I am sat doing some PTA stuff now as it happens, so it isn't all about the "glory"...

Oh and our PTA chair won a fairly big prize at the ball last year and was so embarrassed, we had to force her to accept it, but yes she had prob spent a fortune on the tickets.

bettyjack I am really sad and sorry that that is your experience.

I am in PTA, also a governor etc, but I am certain that my DC are not picked first for everythin, lead role in the play etc. Sorry if that is the case at yr school.

But I must correct a misconception; the PTA members have no power over the head's view of his/her staff. An adverse comment from a PTA member would have no more weight than that of any parent. There is no way a PTA member could casue a teacher to lose their job. Really.

Bettyjack, I am in the PTA, have been for a few years and my Dcs hardly ever get chosen to do anything ,in the case of DD1 it is actually NEVER, she is now at the end of year 5 so there would have been quite a few opportunities! I have oten wondred if it is not BECAUSE I am in the PTA that she is never picked!

our pta is small and intimidating
I volunteer for jobs but cannot attend evening meetings as I am lone parent
have given them my email address three times but yet to receive an email
there are is a variety of social backgrounds represented throughout the school but only one represented on the pta, and I think that is a pity

I just meant in my post that this is how I feel things are in my dd school.

The area we live in is extremly clicky, posh etc. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that but I am a younger generation mum being only 30 (I do look about 16 lol begrudginly). I feel that my children (and I am not the only parent who thinks it) do get pushed aside for children that come from posher backgrounds.

I am not from a posh background nor am I from a crappy council one. We have bought our own house, pay our bills and my husband works hard to support our family. I just feel that because we are a younger family we are seen as just not good enough!?

The schools everyone have mentioned sound great and really supportive.

My daughter is a lively, energentic little girl. Has manners doesnt swear or speak badly but for some reason her teacher picks on her.

For instance, she has be prescribed glasses for school work etc and she was very concious of wearing them at school so I handed a letter in to the teacher explaining this and that if she could persuade her to wear them as much as possible etc.

My dd came back from school telling me that her teacher had responded to my dd from the note by saying "So now I have another thing to nag you about".....I was really upset from this as she should be helping her not putting her down. I have had some issues with the teacher before over certain things, where she shook my daughters chair when she was talking which caused my dd chest to be banged up against the desk. This was while other kids were watching and other children had also been talking but I feel my dd was picked on because I am not one of those clicky PTA mums. I know she would treat her better if I was part of the PTA.

(I did confront the teacher with a list of issues my dd had told me and she denied them)

2 issues involving grabbing her shoulder and pulling her away from a group the chair incident and also the way she speaks to my dd. I know I prob have a gripe with the teacher on this but my dd has been friends with the dame girls a while and they are all the same, little chatter boxes. All nice girls though. MY dd just gets picked on and the only reason I can find or justify it is the fact that we are not rolling in money are not part of the special group.

After I spoke to her teacher about my gripes my dd still gets picked on, I cannot wait for the new term as this year in her school life has been devestating to her learning as the teacher is just so tunnel visioned. She only wants ot embrace the children where the mums are clickier and older.

Ohhh rant over...will leave it over to you. Dont want to tar all PTA's with the same brush I think it is just the area we are living in. Keeping up with the jones's types!

For 10 years I did the PTFA game.
during my tenure I was the Sec for 2 years Chair for 2 years and for 4 years I did the Accounts.
Why, so that my dd and then my ds had the little extras that we fund raised for. The added bonus (and, my primary reason)was my children teachers knew who I was.

bettyjack it sounds to me as tho there are serious issues with yr DD's teacher.

But I don't really think you can blame the PTA ... not sure what it has to do with them tbh.

If I were you I might well go and talk to the head about yr unresolved issues. He or she is just as obliged to listen to your concerns as those of anyoen on the PTA, honestly.

Bettyjack,

I am so sorry to hear of your school experience.

The issues with the teacher sound very serious, but I think are a separate issue from the PTA thing. I agree that you should approach the Head abuot those. I also think you could raise your PTA concerns with her, she may be able to help encourage the PTA to widen their approach.

I am the PTFA secretary for my children's school. I did not intend to become this but i attended a meeting and got asked i was put on the spot but thought i would give it a go. The support from parents is rubbish, after spending a frantic 8 weeks trying to get business to donate and organise a summer fair while holding down a job and my 3 children. I was devastated to here parents saying it was not organised well PTFA members children was rudely spoken to and then to top it off people was trying to say the raffle was fixed!!!! Firstly dont moan if you are not gonna help dont be rude to the helpers children who generally lose out more as their parents are too busy rushing round to even take their own child to look at a stall, and if any PTFA wanted to fix a bloody raffle dont you think they would just take the bloody prizes after all half the time parents wont know what has been given until the day any way! I know this is very negative but all i have tried to do is my best i have not judged anyone who can not help but if you are going to an event then have the decency to understand that these events are ran by a small handful of parents trying to do some good!!!!