Do you volunteer, contribute or get involved at your dc school? Why or why not?

[Earlybird]

Just curious about who does and who doesn't, and their reasons...

'I think a lot of volunteering is just pushy parents trying to get an advantage for their own child - no, not a pushy parent here; and no benefit to DD from me doing the help'

This has not been my experience. My children didn't need any academic/social advantage I might have been able to confer.

I, however, benefited from helping other children and getting to know the teachers. I am with Spokette--you get out what you put in.

I have done in the past - member of the PTA, class rep 3 times in 6 years.

At the moment I've stepped back from it a bit because:

• I'm busier with work
• I have an elderly relative who needs some help from me
• I don't really agree with the way this school's PTA is run, and I find some of the 'personalities' on the committee a bit over-bearing

I tend to volunteer for specific tasks like helping with a visit, or driving kids to a football match, or helping with a particular activity day.

Oh yes, ditto Ruby - and don't you find it means you can nab all the best stuff in the secondhand uniform sale, and also surrepticiously add a few ticks to your child's star chart??

I always go into ds1's clasroom when I am helping
I take the stickers off the team point charts that are against other kids' names and add them to his
I also record the children reading so that I can play it back to other mums in the playground and laugh at them when they don't get a word right

Abgirl - do you get paid time off to be a school governor? Is this a statutory thing in the public sector or is your company particularly enlightened?

We don't help as both DH and I work full time and most things are during the day. Weekend gardening, yes. Help with stalls on the day, yes, but not with the difficult planning & organising bit, which is a shame as I'd like to, just can't be in two places at once and have to keep holidays for other school-related things I don't want to miss.

Yes, I help in many ways as I do not work and know that the need for additional resources is enormous.

It also sends a message to my children that I place a huge value on education.

I have done the following:
Helped run an after school club
Worked on the PTA setting up events
Assisted on school outings
Ferried many children to and from school sports events
Kept the school website up to date
Helped out at lunchtimes/canteen and playground duty
Listened to children read
Made recordings of myself reading books to put into story sacks
And now I'm a governor

Helping out is very rewarding. It gives me an insight into how the school runs, the characters that make up the school population and gives me an opportunity to make a big difference.

$I help out with reading, in DS class, but not his reading group. I started it simply as a contribution, as the PTA was not my thing (I always run a stall at the fairs, but I'm not into the whole politicsorganising side of PTA).
I have found it is truly rewarding; to see the children improving is a delight, and when one of "my" readers moves up a level, I feel just as thrilled as when DS achieves something. It is hard to judge how much difference I actually make, but for some of them, weeks go by with me being the only person to read with them apart from the teacher. I feel I am giving something that DS (and probably most mumsnet children) simply take for granted.

While it is "interesting" to see a bit of what goes on in the school, I do not see my volunteering as an opportunity to nose or gossip, and feel a bit hurt that other parents might think this.

whoever said parents volunteer to gain favour/compare children etc is talking crap
I'm chair of the PTA and I can tell you a lot of the time it's a thankless task trying to persuade parents who can't be bothered to get involved.
I notice it doesn't stop their children enjoying the adventure trail the PTA bought though...
and as for gaining favour with teachers, half the time I'm to self conscious to speak to my dc's teachers for fear of those same judgemental, can't be arsed, parents passing comment on gaining favour!
oh... and whilst I'm ranting.... that, I'm too busy, work full time thing... funnily enough so do most parents on the PTA, doesn't stop them helping occasionally. We need the parents who turn up and help man a stall at the fair/xmas fete just as much as those who organise things on a day to day basis.

No I certainly don't - why not - well because I work full time and have three children and am involved in my church and any spare time I have after that I will be spending on me and on nothing else! Tbh I regard those uber mums who are involved as either having way too much time on their hands or an inability to say no or a happy combination of both of the above. Either way that's not me!

I helped out in dd2's reception class and have been active in pta for 5 years.

I work 4 days a week, long hours and see my, albeit limited involvement, as a chance to support the school.

Also in all my years growing up, my parents never attended 1 parents evening or had any involvement at all in school - and tbh, I didn't like that when I was at Primary school (thanked my lucky stars at secondary!)

see... more crap... sorry Northerlurker, but I'm not an uber mum nor do I have too much time on my hands! I'm struggling to work fulltime and fulfill my commitment to this. Schools just don't have the budget to fund the things that make your childs experience at school a good one. Where is the money coming from for the play ground equipment, the sports gear, the gardening stuff, the rewards that children are given for good work/good behaviour etc?

NorthernLurker - Uber mums with too much time on their hands?

What a fucking stupid ill considered statement.

that ridiculous, pathetic, sneering statement makes me so fucking livid!
You may think I'm an uber mum with too much time on my hands
I think you're a lazy, can't be arsed, selfish parent.
Go to school tomorrow and ask what has been funded by your PTA.. I bet your dc are using it regularly.

Northern Lurker. Do you find time to read every night with all three of your children? If not you may find that volunteers at school are directly helping YOUR children. I'm not saying you have to be grateful, but there's no need to sneer.

BTW I am not meaning to criticise parents who don't read with their children. I appreciate it is just not possible sometimes, due to the rest of the family and work commitments, not to mention parents own level of literacy and confidence.

I am aware of the equipment and services funded by the PTA - well actually those things are provided by the time put in by PTA members and the money put in by those members and everybody else - myself included. It is my experience (7 years plus parenting a child in full time education) that many of the parents who do directly involve themselves in this gain personal satisfaction and social contact through this work. Jolly good for them - but it's not an obligatory item on the school calendar and contrary to what some of you seem to believe it doesn't make you a better parent. I'm not going to apologise for my choice of phrase 'uber mum with too much time on her hands' is what I see. 'Lazy, can't be arsed, selfish parent' is obviously what you see Inghouls.

Regarding reading - well I read with my youngest every night. The oldest has read to herself for 4 years now and the middle daughter pleases herself - sometimes we read together, sometimes she does so by herself. I do not consider that my children's education is resting on the goodwill of some parents. It depends on provision from the local authority. I certainly don't need to be grateful that some parents choose to volunteer. We actually would muddle through without them and there is absolutely no need for people to martyr themselves feeling hard done by because some parents choose not to get up close and personal with the book corner, the christmas shoebox appeal and the hook a duck at the summer fete. If you want to do it - then great, knock yourself out - just don't moan about it.

The fact is, if parents did not volunteer to organise these things, there would be a lot of moaning parents complaining about the lack of play equipment, books, computers, trim trail, christmas parties and presents that the PTA provide. The same moaning minnies would also not get off their behinds to do anything constructive about it.

Anybody can put their hand in their pocket and hand over a few pounds. It takes altruism, dedication and commitment to plan, organise and administer the events that raise the funds. The people who give freely of their time to do this should be commended, not sneered at. Most of the people doing it, do so for the good of the children and the school, not to polish their halos or gain favour or to elicit praise. They just want to improve the experience of the children at their respective schools.

What's 'trim trail' - sounds hellish!

Well at my children's school books and computers are provided from the school budget. I certainly wouldn't complain about a lack of a Christmas party - that's nice but not essential and whilst the kids enjoy it they wouldn't exactly break their hearts if it didn't happen. Play equipment - again it's a nice to have but it's also important for children just to play with their friends running around without props.

Like I said below if people want to do the PTA thing then on they go. But it is NOT an essential part of life, those who do embrace it have no right to judge those of us who don't and it is NOT all about improving the children's experience. It improves the parent's experience too. Nothing wrong with that - but don't pretend it's ALL for the kids because that simply isn't the case.

Yeah I am a governor at the infant school and on both PTAs (sep inf and junr schools for us).

I also help in class at the infants and am on the eco schools committee. Also occasionally on trips out tho only if on my day off.

I do it because I love it! esp helping in class, I love the children and watching them learn and helping a bit.

Also like to organise stuff and get involved/meet people etc. Also I don't do all the drop-offs and pick-ups as I work so this is a way of being part of the place my DC spend so much time.

Interesting what you say deadpirate - I don't help in DCs' classes (not allowed but I wdn't want to) so it still feels very much their place.

MillyR "I think a lot of volunteering is just pushy parents trying to get an advantage for their own child, gain influence with staff and snoop and gossip about other people's children." I'd be horrified if anyone thought that's why I help
By all means volunteer elsewhere if you like (and good for you). I volunteer elsewhere too actually (Beavers, Brownies, church, footie team) but that neither negates nor - whatever the opposite is - my school work.

Northernlurker maybe I struggle to say no?? I do think that if PTA's didn't operate then the school woudl be poorer. The kids would miss the Christmas fair if nothing else!

trim trail btw is something our PTA worked for 2 yrs to provide (cost £15k).

It's a climbing frame/trail thingy in the playground - they queue up to go on it at lunchtime and because there is something specific to do rather than 200 5-7yos "running sround with their friends" , behavour has improved no end. I know because I've been on the playground and seen it.

Well the kids are grateful even if the parents aren't.