being a member of parent teacher association the fors and againsts please.

[TenaLady]

I just feel (our school has just 70 pupils) that it will become the mummy clique we all hate.

I was asked if I might like to attend the first gathering but refused politely. Then found that 12 others had turned up and hardly any of them had a work to say to me this morning in the play ground and especially the one who had asked that I came along.

Is my hunch correct that it could be another excuse for a power clique?

word not work!

Feels like a bit of a coven thing going on

they think you don't care about the scool and that you are happy to leave all the hard work to them and too lazy to put in any effort to help out. theres no power in the pta just a hell of a lot of work the less pepole who do the work the more there is

Aha, well I suppose its because I got clobbered for 3 years running a big toddler group. The usual sods all not turning up to helping out and yours truly running it like clockwork at the irritation of my dh.

I get very engrossed in my projects to the point that home life suffers so I guess I am just feeling like its time for others. I did the preschool bit.

I even used to raise funds for the nursery delivering chocolate brochures (bit like Avon) to get measly bits of cash to give to them.

Im all worn out. I would much rather help in a classroom with the children.

Suppose it doesnt help when the person heading it gushes one minute like a water tap and runs stone dry at other times.

Maybe if a more pleasant personality was running it I may of been a little more enthusiastic. Its just I know the personalities involved and I am too old for this girly clash of personality rubbish, Im always the mediator. (always the same with women together).

Well I can see i made the right decision then as no-one can give me anything positive about pta other than lots to organise

our PTA is fine and run by nice friendly women - we have a laugh and a chat at meetings, and sometimes have a meal out after. But if you don't like the people on yours don't bother

yeah thats what I thought, too closer community in a tiny village and tiny school, I just smell trouble. Im not normally wrong with my instincts, I will help in other ways.

Sounds like you've made your mind up and it's not for you. There's not much point those of us who love being in the PTA posting why we like it so much - it's different at every school and it sounds like you've got the measure of yours and you don't like it. Fair enough.

Thats what I am going to do, I don't want to be on the PTA because when they have meetings at school I can't get babysitters but I will always turn up to help if my kids can be near by like to supervise a stall or organize an afternoon thing.

Absolutely - well said sobernow

Our PTA is a great laugh and I get all the goss from school.

The only reason it's 'cliquey' is cos it's the same group of people who do anything, so they become friends and therefore tend to talk to each other in teh playground. Y'know, like you do.

Aw thanks Sobernow, I ignored that rubbish earlier, and resolved to come back when I had calmed down.

But you have saved me a post.

And why do we look cliquey ?? Because no other buggers will get up off their arses and help. Same old faces ??? Same old mugs more friggin likely.

Oops it would apppear I have not calmed down.

LOL LGJ! I just had revive this old chestnut!

Being on the PTA is often a thankless task.....but somebody's gotta do it!

I jest......I think, lol.

Totally agree gdg!

If you don't get involved you can't complain about the pta not doing anything.

btw I am now the proud owner of a bar license for next week's treasure hunt/barbecue at school! I had to take copies to the Town Hall and the Police station - they had 48 hours to object

so whadda you havin?

ours is cool - nice mix of mums and dads - 1 hour meeting - followed by 2hrs in the pub. Have a right larf

Ours is awful, a few members who don't do much but make it clear if they don't/like someone making it uncomfortable for new members. It has become more like an exclusive club where they all drink/party together with no room for anyone else to join/help. I have been a member for 10 years with a stint as chair, really feeling like I don't belong . I joined to make a difference to the extras that are available for my children and others at the school....think they have lost this vision!

PTA/PSA is not a clique. The reason we talk to each other all the time is because there are not many of us and there's an awful lot of work to be done to get all the events organised.

We would welcome new members to our group but, unfortunately, people do not want to come forward. We are a friendly group and we would certainly not make anyone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.

We are holding a "Meet the PSA" evening in a couple of weeks in a bid to attract new members.

Its a lot of hard work and a thankless job, especially when you have to go around grovelling to other parents who have criticised something trivial and are going full out to slate us until they get a proper apology. (I'm talking about things like daring to change the start time of the summer fete by half an hour!)

So, why do I do it? Because its great when we make loads of money (more than £7000 last year) and get to make a real difference to the childrens school lives.

Yep, a lot of the comments are just what I expected from the pta'ers Double confirmation.

I will make myself much more useful and get the inside information from assisting the children in the classroom. ooh the gossip I will get on all you mums from the intelligent end.

Name down and job done. >>