to be really cross that NO ONE can be arsed to help at PTA fayre

[nicefleece]

I have volunteered to help out at the PTA Christmas Fayre. A note was sent out last week in all 410 book bags, asking for any volunteers to help set up / man the stalls.

3 people replied, one of them is the chair of the PTA

What the feck? Shall I ask the heads to mention it? Why are people so sodding selfish! I know people work, have other kids etc etc but really....

What next? Megaphone of shame in the playground? Sooooo cross and disappointed!

There's some very strong anti-pta feeling on here! It seems so odd to be so strongly against getting involved in your own child's school!
Just out of interest, for those of you who have commented so strongly about how you despise PTAs and how irrelevant you think the work they do is:

Are you not interested at all in what goes on at your child's school and where a lot of the money comes from that pays for books in class, work on the playgrounds,improvements to school buildings, fun things for the children at certain times of the year?

Do your children not like to go to the summer or Christmas fairs or other events the pta hold (usually on Saturdays)?

No-one is demanding that parents get involved but it is surprising that there aren't more parents willing to help out at events that, let's be honest, are for the children's benefit and not the parents! Even the most stalwart pta members can think of better things to do with their weekends, but those of us who do get involved do it because our dcs see the benefit.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, just very curious as to quite how mention of PTAs has provoked such an angry response!

I am only saying what you said in your OP- you called people selfish for not volunteering for one cause chosen at random by you - in your case the PTA. If you are shocked to have exactly the same accusation thrown at you, then hopefully you can see how unreasonable your claim of selfishness is.

Oh and I don't believe that everyone spends two hours on the sofa semiconscious every night, although it is the norm chez moi when the opportunity arises

I just fail to see that absolutely everyone (or whatever percentage 398/401 is) has such a tight schedule that they can't spare any time. So I make the assumption that a lot of folk just can't be arsed. Obviously a number of people do have such a tight schedule, and in that case credit to you for managing to dress yourselves each morning.

I helped at scouts each week for 5 years. I still had some PTA parent ranting at me about no-one helping with the PTA. (His child went to scouts BTW. ) When it was pointed out that actually I gave at least an hour a week, every week, helping with scouts I was told grudgingly that my effort was deemed good enough.

All the PTA committee members bar one are working parents at DC's school. Including DH. Not saying everyone should volunteer of course. I don't for one. But working FT isn't necessarily something that stops people.

Nicefleece - what you could do, instead of going out of your way and asking again and harrassing people, is to just suggest to the PTA that the Christmas Fayre is cancelled this year. See if anyone complains or even notices. Passive-aggressive, but you would make your point. Obviously none of the naysayers on this thread would complain, they'd probably be relieved as its such a hassle to attend these community events, but it might make the point to those who are just apathetic rather than openly hostile.

the chasm is the braying by some here that surely working parents have some time to spare if they really care about their children welfare

It does raise loads of cash though

MillyR - fair shout. I think I feel a bit sad about communities (or lack of), maybe I am an old hippy..

OP - no idea why you are getting such a hard time, no I don't think YABU.

But then I'm a volunteering kind of person and a strong believer in contributing to the community I live in

I think that's an astonishing assumption you're making, scottishmummy. Nobody has said that those who have no time don't care. It has been said that a lot of people just can't be arsed, and I stand by that. Saying they can't be arsed is not the same as saying they are bad parents (although they might be bad people )

Thanks laydeez, most of you have made me smile - contributing to the community - now there's an idea I will raise my glass to..

Well our Christmas Fayre was cancelled and there was uproar. A meeting was held to discuss it and loads of people turned up.

It's now back on and there is a planning group etc.

I posted on this subject a few weeks ago and can't be arsed to repeat myself (just got in from my evening teaching job after teaching all day today too) but I would like to say that all of our PTA's 'most active' work, many ft. The vice-chair is a ft wohm dad.

I'm really saddened by the antipathy shown towards the PTA.

reread the thread inc op,get a flavour of the implication that to not pta=dont care

Why are people so sodding selfish
If you're interested in your kids and their education get involved and stop using work as an excuse
I see lots of supposedly time-strapped people actually doing f*ck all, and it is very selfish
some are willing and able to help, some are not, and others are uninvolved miseries.

But why do people feel like that? I was a member of the PTA but stopped as I couldn't bear the attitude that all the 'other' parents (i.e. those that didn't volunteer) were lazy.

My dd cannot even attend her school Christmas fayre due to my work commitments never mind me help out.

Christmas is such a busy time, I am really strugglingto fit everythine in and we are desperatley juggling to try and be able to attend the concerts and nativities the dc are in.

Some people are just not interested in this sort of thing, I prefer to use the little free time I have doing fun things with my children.

I have offered to get PAT tested all the Xmas lights for free they want to decorate the hall with though!

I feel really really strongly about this too.It enrages me that people don't get more involved with thier school and community (the laziest fuckers generally being the ones that are quickest to whinge).

My attitude is make time^.
PTA events are of the highest priority on my book and I work f/t, study, run a business and have a dh abroad for long periods.

It comes before everything else.

I would reserve the leakiest classrooms and most dog earred books for kids of parents who can't be arsed.

Remember gals, teachers note this stuff.If you can't be arsed to pitch in and help out for a few hours a year, then undoubtledly they won't be arsed to go the extra mile for your kids if and when they need is.

i am involved and committed to my paid employment

I must say that some of our newer, more zealous members are a bit sanctimonious at times and I've had to point this out to them.

I entirely agree that don't do PTA = don't care about child's education is bollocks.

It still makes me sad that people have such hostility towards a group of people who are essentially trying to raise much-need money for our lamentably under-funded schools.

So am I.

I don't have patience with disengaged folk.

As I said, teachers generally look at a kid, think of the parents and go
'She can't be arsed ,so why the fuck should I be?'

Beleive me, I know.

Getting cross with people will drive them further away.

But I agree that more people should help out for a couple of hours a year. It's not much to ask.

Good god, PTA does actually stand for Parent Teacher Association doesn't it? Or have I got it all wrong and it stands for Puppy Terrorising Agency??? I am amazed that so much anger is directed towards an association that raises money for their school!

Is it really so offensive to be asked to help out at an event that benefits your child's school? Perhaps you should pass this attitude on to your kids, next time the teacher asks them to hand out books/help tidy up or whatever encourage them to tell the teacher they're too busy and why should they do anything to help when their parents pay their taxes?

Anyway, I can understand why the OP is frustrated but I think you need to have a good look at what the PTA is doing/has done to have lost the interest/goodwill of so many parents? I agree with the poster who said being a bit more explicit about what you need help with. Maybe organise some grown up events - quiz nights/shopping trips etc so that the parents can get a more positive feeling about the PTA.

Don't think everyone is lazy.

Just EVERYONE can't be as busy and committed to work as Scottish Mummy, need a few more of us to 'scurry around'!

I would love to help out at the PTA but unfortunately it would involve me paying a babysitter - sorry but I am not that keen.

Any spare time that I do have I use for volunteering I use for helping young mums.