Do You Volunteer at your children's school?

[Earlybird]

Do you volunteer at your children's school - Parents Association, class rep, PTA, cake day organiser etc? Do you think it benefits you/your child in any way and if so, how?

If you don't volunteer, why not?

[robinpud]

PTA, governor, help out in classroom , do whatever I can, take kids swimming
Loads of fat arse parents sit on their backsides doing nothing. It's not a big school so they need all the help they can get. Why is the world filled with busy people running around like blue arsed flies when there are loads of others who do nothing.
Sorry, ignore the second bit, too much wine.

[sleepwalker]

If you volunteer it makes your childs life a lot easier and yours becouse your face will fit but be prepared for a very clicky group of people

[sunnydelight]

I bake cakes for the summer fair, donate prizes for raffles etc. but have only actually been in to help in the classroom once. This is partly because I have a younger child so would end up paying for childcare to go into school which I would resent, but mainly because my son is very clingy and to be honest I think he does better without me. I know if I went along on school trips I would be of very little use as DS would cling to me the whole time; also I think he gets far more out of the experience if I'm not around.

[Freckle]

I help out in DS2's class. I often volunteer for helping out on trips, etc.

I refuse absolutely to get involved with the PTA which is a closed clique which bitches for England. DH spent one year as PTA treasurer and, bearing in mind that he is the most laid back, very slow to anger sort of person, came very close to committing murder when dealing with the Chair.

[GDG]

I'm on the PTA and am class rep - very active on PTA so do hosting for guests at school or at concerts etc, lots of meetings, lots of fundraising.

Help in the class when I can - have helped getting kids dressed after concerts etc. Can't do regular reading as still have ds2 and ds3 at home but I will do once I get some 'child-free' time.

I do it because I enjoy it - I like to be involved helping the school, I'm nosey and like all the gossip, I meet lots of people and have made some good friends. I do think it benefits my children - if I'm positive about and active in the school, it must encourage them to be too I'd have thought. I'm ethusiastic about the school and I suppose indicate how important it is but also how much fun it is.

I work from home so don't have a 'work community' if you like, so school is like my community now.

What a load of waffle! Back to work GDG!

[foxinsocks]

I don't do trips or go into the classroom because frankly, I'm pretty crap with other children (have loads of respect for teachers who have that skill!)

I always volunteer for a stall at the fairs, bake cakes, make whatever is needed and do behind the scenes stuff like helping out with swimming.

[nikkie]

DD1's school- Not a lot really, have helped with sports day but not much else as I work in a school p/t and supply so don't have the time.

DD2's playschool- I am on the committee, have done fundraising and have been on trips.

Would love to do more but need to work!

[Posey]

I'm a class rep, PTA member, help with walking to library or suchlike (have a 3yo too so can't go on proper trips), did a bit of gardening just today, helping kids water and weed (again can take ds with me for this and he loves it).
I think some folk like to get involved, some don't. Our PTA used to be very cliquey, now much more all inclusive, quite brill now!
I've always been a volunteerer! Helped out at dd's pre-school years ago and it actually led to paid employment which is great!
Also run a baby/toddler group.

I sound like a do-gooder. I just don't do loafing around too much and get bored quite easily. (I lasted 4 weeks after dd started school full time before having to find something to occupy myself)

[brimfull]

I used to be an active part of pta and regular classroom helper when dd was in primary school.I found it a great way of getting to know the school,kids ,parents and being of some use.
It used to seriously piss me off when other parents who did f&*k all complained about things at school.If you can be arsed to help with pta events or in the class ,don't moan about how things are done.It also bugged me that it was always the same people who helped out.

[brimfull]

should read can't be arsed

[Posey]

ggirl - you're right, I too hate folk who have the cheek to moan (some do constantly) but never help out. A while ago we had a couple of fairly mediocre fetes because there just weren't enough volunteers. Those that helped worked really hard so it was a bit galling to get slagged off.

[MadameButterfly]

My DD is starting in reception in September. When we went to the new parent evening we got a pack of paperwork, in there was a form for if you could help in the classroom.. I have put down to do 1 morning and 1 afternoon. I may also volunteer for futer summer fetes. Too late for this years as it is next saturday and I am at my mums until next friday.
I see it as a way to get to know the other parents

[robinpud]

I have to say that until I came on mumsnet I had never heard of the term class rep . It makes me.. well.. Is it a private school thing or in state schools as well? Are you elected or do you volunteer? I have image of the girl, Patti in Grease, but wearing boden.. tell me I am wrong or have had too much wine!

[tallmummy]

I try. Am class rep and so far all I've done is organise a collection for leaving pressie for teacher who is pg.

I've offered help in the past but like so many things in life it is extremely clique. Seem to get all the duff jobs. e.g helped at a few discos but gave up as my last job was turning the lights off!!WTF. How come I never get to dress up as a sexy Mrs Santa and sell raffle tickets at the Xmas fair?

Spare time limited at mo with four littles but once they are all at school I'll probably do more.

[Earlybird]

ggirl - you've touched on a point that I wonder about too....why is it always the same people who help out? Can understand that mums with office jobs/self employed might find it extra difficult to be involved. But, I've just spent the afternoon at dd's school fete. It was the same core group of us who helped out. I like being involved, and want to know what's going on at dd's school. I also want to be part of a community (but not part of a clique), so try to contribute when/where I can.

But I was astonished today when several of the mums who had volunteered to help at the Fete simply didn't show up, one came quite late, and one sent her au pair!

I would be curious to hear from those who don't volunteer, and why - maybe I'd be much less interested in it too, if it was my third or fourth child.....or maybe I'd go to the opposite extreme and be in charge of the Parent's Association!

[Jasnem]

I've done weekly helping in the classroom for both dds until the birth of ds this year, but won't be able to do anything reguular now as I have no childcare and will not be allowed to help at fete etc with baby in tow.

I loved being in school every week, and got to know the school, teachers and children, also what was being taught, as dd1 is very un communicative and I'd never find out if I wasn't there.

Both dds loved it, and it helped their confidence, but they were not clingy and understood that if they made a fuss if I wasn't with them, I wouldn't be able to go in.

[mckenzie]

I help out sometimes in DS's class and will probably do it on a more regular basis (one morning a week) once DD is a playgroup. I'm also running at stall at the school fete and DH's company sponsored the Santa's Grotto at christmas and are sponsoring the Pimms tent at the fete.
I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it but I do also see it as my way of being slightly more involved in what is after all quite a major part of my children's lives.
And if I'm honest, I just love being in the playground at break time and having a go at the hopscotch!!

[coppertop]

I don't help out in the school because I have 2 younger children and no childcare. Ds2 is also autistic which makes it even more difficult.

I try to support the school in other ways though, eg going to the events organised, collecting sponsors for sponsored events etc.

I am on the pre-school committee though as the meetings are when ds2 is attending pre-school and no-one minds me bringing dd along .

[GDG]

robinpud - I'm a class rep and it's a state school. I volunteered at the first PTA meeting I went to where they were sorting out the reps for the new academic year. It's nothing fancy - you take responsibility for the class stall at the Ccristmas fair and summer fun day - it doesn't mean you do everything, you just have the job of rallying the rest of the class parents to do their bit.

[Hallgerda]

I avoid PTA involvement as I have been badly sucked into playgroup and one o'clock club committees in the past. At one time I had the playleader ringing me up for about half an hour a night to complain about the committee chair and the other playworker, was sorting out the tax affairs of the other playworker with the Inland Revenue, was trying to come up with some sort of plan to keep the place running and felt unable to sleep or to look after my own children properly. I don't want to get into another situation like that, so I say no to anything that might lead that way.

I do buddy reading for half an hour a week, and have been involved in the redrafting of the school's Equal Ops. policy (I was invited to participate after writing a stroppagram on a feedback form over the use of "gay" as a playground insult). I don't think either benefits me, except for a feeling of satisfaction at Making The World a Better Place. I certainly wouldn't want to help in my own children's classes, as I (and they) feel that they need some space away from me.

There seems to be a bit of an assumption on this thread that all SAHMs ought to be doing voluntary work in their children's schools. I think it's unreasonable to expect anyone to work for nothing, and I do believe anyone has a right to be properly informed, and for their views to be considered, over their children's education without them having to earn that right by selling cakes etc.

[roisin]

I did quite a lot in school until ds1 went into yr4. Since then I've worked school hours, (different school), so it's not been possible.

Helping out in school has really helped me understand what school is really like from the children's perspective, and from the teachers' perspective.

Dh is a parent governor, so he goes in a lot, so I still keep up with all the gossip!

[Posey]

We're a state school too with class reps. Our role is to liaise between teacher and parents, or PTA and parents. Take the responsibility for the stall at a fete or cake sale, so idealy need to be good at rallying support.

[robinpud]

I think these schools with class reps and people who volunteer for things rather than having their arms twisted HARD by the PTA must be a little posher than mine