Thinking of volunteering to be parent rep. Good idea or bad idea?

[BoxcarWaiting]

The PTA are looking for volunteers to be parent reps for my DD's class. I'm thinking of doing it... Not sure exactly what it entails yet but going to have a chat with them about it.

Have done a search on MN and am quite shocked at the hostility to parent reps from some people! Not sure what I might be letting myself in for so...

If you are (or have been) a parent rep - has it been a good thing to do?
If you've had a bad experience of parent reps - got any tips for ways of not pissing people off?

Thanks!

Depends what's expected. At DDS school they act as a link between PTA and class so will need to ensure class stall at summer and christmas fairs are manned, and plead for assistance at other events such as discos etc.
Also as reps, they are responsible for organising teachers/TAs collections at Christmas and end of year for pressies.
On top of that it is usually expected that they will organise mums nights out/coffee mornings etc but how much will depend on you!

I think it really depends on how the school does things and how much of a clique there is within the PTA. Talk to whoever asked you - but do also talk to existing reps and find out what they think.

Just accept 'no' as answer. Just because you may know somebody is a SAHM or doesn't work weekends does not mean they are not busy. They may not want to and do not have to justify their decisions to you. It is not everybody's top priority to raise funds for the school. Chasing people round the playground can feel like harassment.

That said, make it easy for people to volunteer without involving a huge commitment. Make the events very fun and not to be missed. Value people just turning up and spending their cash or even just turning up.

Tall order I know.

I was - and I don't think I pissed tooooo many people off.

Key things:

1. Accept that not everyone can or indeed wants to help - there will be the same core of people who do stuff. DOn't let this piss you off.
2. Organise frequent and varied parents/mums nights out for the class - imho, promoting parental friendships in the class promotes PTA involvement - as parents actually feel a part of the school.
3. At our school, PTA rep is also there to tell the PTA when they are hacking people off (pricing things too high/low; asking for too much etc) - accept that you will hear all the moans, and try and be constructive with them.
4. Offer (but don't expect everyone to want to) to organise a class present at the end of the year. Lots of people would rather put £10/£5 into a pot than buy presents themselves.
5. Dont forget it's only a PTA - there is a danger it attracts the power-crazy, who start to believe cake sales are important. They ain't.

Thanks for replies so far. I think I'm comfortable with organising things, asking people to volunteer their time, bake cakes etc. I'm not so comfortable with asking people for money for collections etc. I wonder if most parent reps have to get involved in that?

Ours don't end to.

^tend!

But sometimes I'd rather give money than time...everyone is different.

I believe everyone has a duty to do a stint in their PTA so yes, go for it. It you enjoy it then well and good and maybe you could go for a bigger role next years and if you hate it well then you'll have done your bit so needn't feel guilty whenever they're looking for volunteers again. How bad can it be? And: somebody has to do it so why not you if you think you'll be good at it!

I believe everyone has a duty to do a stint in their PTA so yes, go for it.

Sorry I really do not agree with this. Some peoples talents and priorities really do lie elsewhere. You can 'Give back to Society' in a very big way without being involved in the PTA.

These kind of attitudes IMO lead to a sense of entitlement from the school / PTA and bad feeling all round.

I think this really depends on how the PTA is run and what it is seeking to do. Is it social events such as coffee mornings or is it more to raise money, and lots of it? At DDs old prep school everyone treated the class reps with respect and fund raising was less of a big deal so they concentrated on termly meetings with the senior staff at the school having first met us parents for coffee. This worked reasonably well as often issues were discussed constructively and action was often taken by the school where requests were totally reasonable. At DDs state school, a few people did a lot of work but a lot of people did a little and everyone pulled together really well. We tended to get plenty of helpers without bothering those with no time or no inclination. We did not actually have class reps here though and there was no mechanism for parents to put views forward, except to the parents on the governing body. This is a route for parents that can be missing in private schools, so class reps can bridge the gap. If you are there purely for organising events, it can be hard work but if you get on well with the other parents and like being involved, I would do it. At DDs secondary school the PTA was there purely for social events and this made them impotent as any form of conduit for parents who had suggestions or requests for the school. DH was on this but a head of steam blew up with the parents and all the PTA 's attempts to have more of a debate about issues with the senior staff came to nothing. Therefore managing parental expectations can be an issue. The parent governors were chosen and there was no election, likewise the year reps on the PTA. They sort of emerged with"grey smoke" after they had been approached by a current PTA member. Unsatisfactory I thought!

Thanks again everyone. Some food for thought... Definitely need to find out what it entails at our school I think!

It is possible to run a pta without wearing head-to,toe beige, carrying clipboards, or expecting you DCs to get the lead part in plays.

Yes I'm sure some are terrible but not all - ours is so relaxed we gave up on parent reps. The same old people plus a few new ones each year help out, we don't hassle people, and we don't get bothered when people don't volunteer.

You need a majority that turns up and supports / spends money, only a few to run things, and if you piss off the majority you make no money. You could just give it a go and if you don't like it, step down.

I like being part of the P&C ( aussie version of PTA). I like being part of the decision making of where the fundraising money goes. The kids like to see you helping around the school.
We have a very social P&C and bring in light snacks for the meetings and we are even allowed to have a glass of wine!!
I know it's different in every school but we have a round 20% of the families help in some way around the school, parent helpers in class, canteen helpers, P&C helpers or just help out once a term at some event. Yet 100% of the school benefit and it's nice to be able to part of something small that does an lot.
Give it a go and have some fun.