Is your PTA truly a pTa?

[emkana]

Ie do the teachers get involved? And if they don't, do you feel they should do more, or do you think they're busy enough as it is?

But aren't the parents giving their free time, too, and would not everybody get home more quickly if the tidying up was done together?

but the parents are totally choosing to, whereas (as other posters are saying) the staff are probably there through duty.

The parents are giving their free time for the benefit of their children and thus keeping me away from my child. I give up my free time voluntarily for my child.

Yes sorry you have choosen to be on the PTA, I was at the quiz because I felt it was showing support to the school to have a teachers team. I had paid for my ticket, I could think of a hundred things that I would have enjoyed doing more on a Friday night also I had a fair distance to travel home unlike the parents who all live locally. I had done my bit (I did actually stack my own chair) but feel that maybe it is the attitudes of parents like you, always wanting that little bit more that prevents teachers from doing more.

emkana
Yes, and we are hugely grateful for all the fun childen's events and the funds PTAs provide. But this is my JOB - as I said before do you expect doctors and nurses to give up the amount of free time to raise funds for hospitals? I work long and hard to provide the best learning experiences for my class and I feel it's really unfair to expect us to work even longer. I have a family and home to run and work full time. As with any fulltime working mum, life is a struggle, so if I attend all that is expected something else has to "give". Imagine the uproar ... "sorry I haven't had time to plan this mornings lessons I was in school until 10.30am"?

Yes, events can be fun, but it is still work. Parents are giving up time for PTA events voluntarily, we have little choice in attending events.

I do it out of a sense of duty, too, though! Because I want to do good and right by the school, particularly in a time of budget cuts.

In fact (with reference to another thread), that is what I have always understood as a 'pushy parent'; someone who demands everything for their child, including the teachers' free time and probably last shreds of sanity.

What just from this thread you know this much about me?

Just a general observation.

UnSerpentQuiCourt
"including the teachers' free time and probably last shreds of sanity."

We have a couple of Friends committe like that. I have to admit I hide from them in the playground and around school when they come in during the daytime. The make my life miserable. They are really happy with the school, the teaching and learning, etc. but expect me to live at school. They were so rude to me when I explained my DS was ill and I would not be attending that night's meeting.

I am 100% not like this, I can assure you. I never approach any of the teachers, I never make any demands. But a simple thank you would be nice sometimes, and maybe stacking a few chairs.

What night of the week was this, emkana?

Friday

So, bearing in mind that they will have been at work from 8 o'clock that morning, maybe earlier, you want them to stack chairs at the end of a 14 hour working day? And that's reasonable then? Really?

Emkana I can see your point it doesn't take much to say thanks and stack a chair and the PTA do work hard. Just think you need to understand this is work to the teachers they were not intentionally being rude I am sure just wanting to get home to their families after a busy week. You asked the original questionare are they busy enough and the answer is yes they are always busy and you need to be grateful for any support that is shown to school events as it is more of the teachers own time when they could be with their own children. Keep up the good work schools do need PTA's and are grateful for the support that parents give.

emkana
You are obviously highly committed to your children's school and although it is voluntary you feel morally obligated. But us teachers are instructed by out head's to support events; it is different
May I ask, do you work?

I don't, no.

out our

emkana "I don't, no"

So what are you saying?

At another school I know the teachers get involved, the TAs provide childcare while the meetings go on after school... There is a real sense of sharing and community there. Just regrettable that it can't be like that everywhere.

I used to be a teacher myself, and I would have felt that I was being rude had I not a) said thank you and b) offered some help after an event that was partly done for my benefit.

it isn't for the teacher's benefit though is it? I see PTA activities and the funds they raise as being for the benefit of the children.

A thank you wouldn't have been out of place, granted. But to expect the teachers to stay and clear up, after a 14 hour day? Very, very unreasonable.

I don't believe that the TAs do that unpaid, either. Meetings after school are far too numerous!

But we pay for resources and equipment that often helps with delivering more varied lessons, so in a way making the teachers' job a tiny bit easier?