Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Remind my why I shouldn't be class mum this year?

29 replies

Frontpaw · 26/07/2012 21:23

I have the forms and think 'maybe....'. Tell me your tales of class parent madness (especially Alpha Mum woes) so that I bin them!

OP posts:

Timandra · 27/07/2012 00:25

What's a class mum?

Floggingmolly · 27/07/2012 00:32

Do you mean class rep?

BackforGood · 27/07/2012 00:40

I too need to know what a 'class Mum' is. After all, if you are a Mum and you are clssy, then surely you can't help yourself ?

lisaro · 27/07/2012 00:53

What is 'class mum'?

Original poster

Frontpaw · 27/07/2012 08:47

We call them 'class mom' - class rep? The one that organises the coffee mornings and teacher christmas presents...

OP posts:

Original poster

Frontpaw · 27/07/2012 08:48

And I'm not a bit classy...

OP posts:

Pagwatch · 27/07/2012 08:49

Yep, class rep.
The women that have done it seem to find it ok. I can't think why it would be hideous
go for it.

imnotmymum · 27/07/2012 08:50

There are people who organise coffee mornings and teacher presents? Where we live we sort all that ourselves

GoodButNotOutstanding · 27/07/2012 08:57

I've never heard of this either. We all do our own thing for presents and anyone that wants to be involved in organising coffee mornings etc is encouraged to join the pta (by encouraged I mean that anyone expressing even the vaguest interest is given a job in the pta)

GoodButNotOutstanding · 27/07/2012 08:59

It sounds like fun to me though, I'd have done it if they had such things at dd's school and I wasn't working full time. I say go for it.

lisaro · 27/07/2012 09:01

Never come across this apart from the literally odd bored neurotic woman with no life everyone avoided when she git a glint in her eye. Seriously do this type of people really need to feel important so desperately they've made up a name for it? How sad.

imnotmymum · 27/07/2012 09:04

So is there one for each class ?? Is there a PTFA type thing as well ??

Pagwatch · 27/07/2012 09:06

At our school one parent from each class circulates newsletters, class lists, sends out requests for raffle ticket prizes or organises stall at the school fair etc. They also send out coffee morning dates and collect for presents.

I am not sure what causes them to volunteer although I know one did last year as her child was new and it was an easy way to get to know lots of the parents, but they do a good job.

SunflowersSmile · 27/07/2012 09:08

Not a parent council/ forum then?

Original poster

Frontpaw · 27/07/2012 09:09

Its the link between the pta (who run the christmas fete, summer picnics, etc) and the parents - most of whom rarely set foot in the school. Each class in our school has one or two. It looks a bit fun (I have a lot to do otherwise - its not like I don't work) but I wonder if everyone just comes to you with their moans and complaints about the school.

OP posts:

imnotmymum · 27/07/2012 09:17

DontEatTheVolesKids · 27/07/2012 09:50

We don't do this, either.
Does the Class Rep go around collecting everyone's phone numbers & circulating, them, too?
How do you do that if the parents never set foot in the school?!
What do active parents think of the other parents who don't participate, don't you end up knowing too much about who contributed what & joined in?
If the parents don't set foot in the school, how do you manage to get the newsletters to them?
If the parents don't have time to set foot in or near the school, how do they have time for coffee mornings?

Original poster

Frontpaw · 27/07/2012 10:05

We book them well in advance (or have them in the evening)! You do get a lot of notes in book bags.

OP posts:

happygardening · 27/07/2012 10:25

Its a crap job and everyone avoids you like the plague in case your going to ask them to make 300 fairy cakes and three polar bear costumes for Friday! The one at my DS's old pre prep was incredibly irritating hard working and used to organise all sorts of events and twist peoples arms into coming. When an event was coming up we used to run for the hills when we saw her. Raising money for presents was an endless trial as people didn't really want to pay anything and she used to end up paying out of her own pocket because the "promised" money was not forth coming. If I was you I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Oh and contrary to popular belief it doesn't confer and special privileges on your children.

flexybex · 27/07/2012 13:49

Blimey those coffee mornings must be fun! Heaven forbid if you had a child who wasn't on the top table! [cringe]

I guess the class mum's coffee group ends up as a coven of super unbearable organised alpha mums intent on boasting about their brats!

Original poster

Frontpaw · 27/07/2012 14:39

I went to one coffee morning and it was quite a laugh really. It was good to get to know some of the mums and dads, who made an effort to go (it was the first one in the new school year) and there were a lot of them who were new to the area, so were asking about local amenities, best places for kids shoes, etc. I don't think we talked about the kids beyond one mum who had an older child with odd habits that she was worried about (one of the mums was a psychologist). I don't really know many people around here so it was a good way to meet folk.

I don't fancy stalking people with a clipboard and evil glint in my eye... Or maybe I do?

OP posts:

MagdalenaAlec · 27/07/2012 15:57

My SIL was the class rep last year and swore she would never do it again: it requires a lot of time (fine if you do not work) and you should not expect any acknowledgment for the job done. Besides you will be "the lady not to talk to if you don't want to get enrolled in cake making" that I would :o people avoid.

BackforGood · 27/07/2012 19:56

I never realised that there was such formality in some people's PTAs. I've managed to guide 3 dcs through (3) different schools without encountering this fortunately.

ScorpionQueen · 27/07/2012 20:18

If the role involves hounding people for money please don't do it. If it means organising the odd cake sale and helping out at stuff, go for it.

pennefab · 28/07/2012 17:57

I was parent/class rep for my child's class last year. Actually, I was the link between school and parents, teacher and parents. Lots of emails, etc. Organized gift from class to teacher, etc. More of communication role at our school. Parents were grateful, more often as not, because I was point of contact if they had questions. Easy role, a bit time consuming. I didn't solicit for funds ever. Never requested participation of other parents in anything. I viewed it as making school life and communication easier for everyone.

My advice, find out what's expected first.

Flip

1 2