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?

we gwt twisted hard LOL

I do a morning where I make 400 odd squahes for the little ones, everyone else does it in pairs but no one else signed up so it is just me

and frankly much easier that way

I have no official role like you suggest - but I usually take part in stuff, contribute time & money and help in the classroom quite often.

I think it helps me understand dd's experience of school, allows me to contribute to the school and helps to build relationships with teachers and other parents...all of which are important.

And I enjoy making a contribution and being involved. People I work with who send their children to private schools say they don't expect to contribute because they already pay for it all. I think this misses the point, and state schools are a richer environment for the contribution and involvement of parents

it doesn't benefit me or them as I think squash is an awful thing to give a small child

but if I didn't do it they wouldnt get a drink at all

hate it though TBH, a pIA

I helped 12 7-8 year olds design their own smoothies in dd's class this week, and next week I am helping out in ds's class trip to make their own pizzas in a local restaurant (it will be their last ever primary school outing). I deserve a medal frankly

Ours is in a really mixed area and the problem the PTA used to have was that all the volunteers were the dead posh mums, and they alienated the common folk!!
Now its much more middle of the road and far far better for it. Much more representative of the community as a whole.

The only time I helped in dd's class (in reception) I hated it. There was a supply teacher in that day & she & the helper seemed to disappear (prob reading with children) while I was meant to help them playing games.
This meant I had about 9 children trying to play snakes & ladders, one boy kept knocking it flying, dd started crying cos I couldn't give her my attention, & another boy kept leaning on me & stroking my hair (didn't know him or where his fingers had been).
I just wanted to get out of there, tho was probably just unlucky with the day, they have lovely teachers & it is a good school.
I think I just don't like other kids v much.

People choose whether they want to help or not, their choice but bugs me big style when people accuse the PTA of being cliquey.

Yes, the PTA may well be cliquey - maybe, just maybe, that's cos no bugger else will help and the same few people end up doing everything everytime and just get used to sorting it all.

And maybe, just maybe, the sniffy look on their face when someone volunteers to help is sheer shock!

actually they ignore most of my offers to help, as I don't 'fit in'

depends on the PTA I guess

oh of course, some PTAs can be cliquey. Not disputing that at all.

I go in and help with art week and general things that they need me for.

Have enjoyed it so much am considering doing my teacher's assistant course in September!

I'm class rep for DS1's class this year. This means I organise classroom help and organise stalls at the fair on Sunday, and am notionally on the PTA though never make the meetings - so this term we've been badgering local businesses to give donations for the raffle/tombola for the fair.

I help out one morning a week in the classroom, listenign to readers in Y3 and doing whatever is needed in Reception - my children like to know that I'm there, as lots of other mothers (and some fathers) help, and I like to see what their daily life is like.

No. Go on class trips occasionally but nowt else. Would consider doing more if needed.

I'm secretary to the PTA at primary school, but tend to do most of the organising, as Chair is rarely around. Finally managed to get a victim (oops I mean volunteer) to take over next time around lol.

DH is Chair of Governors.

We're both in and around the school a fair bit but neither of us helps out much in class, would like to, but can't due to work commitments. Used to help out regularly in nursery, both in class and backroom stuff, and I did do the 1st stage classroom asst course through the nursery.

I also help out at cubs and beavers most weeks.

We've so far managed not to get involved with the PTA at High School I feel guilty about this, but there really is a limit as to how much I can do.

I don't help out as I work full time, therefore it is impossible, other than showing my face at the odd event throughout the year. I would gladly be on the School Association (except they hold the meetings before school finishes so no good for me). I am considering going on the governors when they next need someone but will be doing a home study course by then so we'll see!

Someone said about lazy parents doing nothing - well the parents who work full time are pretty restricted in what they can do - I'll do what I can (donate things, visit as many school events as possible) but am constrained.

BH,go for it!
You would be great.
You know so much about developmental issues.

For tamum

No I don't my work is very irregular and I don't like to commit to things then say sorry can't do it next week I have a shift. Plus I have never really seen myself as a PTA type, sorry but at my school there is a certain type. I donate goods to the fairs and gave the nursery a supply of something they needed but couldn't afford.

As an ex nursery nurse I tend to overstep the mark and take charge which doesn't seem to have gone down too well in the past, so I tend to take a backseat now after a rather upsetting experience when I tried to help some mums who set up a toddler group. I think I was just supposed to set out chairs and carry carpets not actually get involved with activities and talk to the other mums.

becuase i work with people and groups of people and their petty power plays on committees every fucking day - some people have nothing else to do than one upmanship and peacock feathering.

i work all day - thats a big point. and schools rarely cater for working parents - except parents evenings. which are usually a fuck up and require you leaving work early to get there for 5.30 anyway.

i do sent in bottles and cakes for fun days. go to fun days and spend my money.

but to be honest - i have a life .

I understand that a working mums schedule will often prevent her from being hugely active in school activities - especially if those activities happen during office hours.

But, I have seen a few examples of events that might have benefited from the organisational expertise of someone with working world "I'm-accountable-so-as-it's-my-ass-on-the-line-things-will-be-thoroughly-sorted" mentality/attitude (past or present).....I'm thinking of last term's quiz night supper where somehow no one thought to arrange plates with the catering!

And please don't turn this into a SAHM v WOHM debate!! Just saying that the learned skills of being an office mum could contribute positively to school life. All those years of conferences, reports and presentations are transferable skills after all....

Parents will always choose whether or not they want to get involved, whether they are working or not.

I work and I do what I can when I can (quite a lot as it happens).

and yes, I also have a life.

I do practical things rather than be on a committee. Inflict my cakes on the stall at the fete, etc. Have done a bit of readiong - and led a drama project during Arts Week.

I think people reacting to what they imagine is power play is as much a part of the problem as any power jostling itself - can't bear hard-done-by whinging about cliquies, OR people who make judgements about other people's capacity or willingness to volunteer.

LO at 'stroppogram' hallgerda!

The other personalities involved in PTA/Friends makes such a difference to who helps and who doesn't. DH was Chair of Friends for a while and had a really nice group, including a woman who organised everything and everybody, came across as v bossy but had the proverbial heart of gold and worked very hard.

Then some new parents came in as a clique, mostly GPs' wives (sorry to any uncliquey GPs' wives here!) and sidelined her in such a mean way that he ended up resigning.

Custy, I know what you mean! before homestart worked for another mainly committe based charity. Boy were those people a challenge!