Your Thoughts on PTA

You asked for the good and bad....

What I don't like about the PTA at my children's school is that it makes me feel that, as a working mom, I'm not "there" for my kids and that I am not putting their needs first. I can assure you, my life revolves around their schedule. The reason they have a schedule is because I also hold down a full-time job. My husband and I chose to both work so that we can afford to say "Yes" more than we say "No".

PTA-sponsored events are usually during the day and poorly attended by working parents.

I can appreciate all they do and the need for fundraisers but it's too much when you have multiple children in a school within a neighborhood that's well populated with kids the same age. I would much rather write a check at the beginning of the school year to cover the expenses than to explain to my children why I'm not purchasing 20 items at $20 each so that they can win the cheap, dollar store item they want.

I'm sorry I'm venting but this gets under my skin that I am not good enough because I try to do better for my kids.

Last year was my first year to join the PTA. I just wanted to be a part of what was going on at my daughters school. I really feel like all I did was pay my dues and that was it. I have 4 kids so being a part of a committee wasn't an option for me because I'm busy enough. I went to a few meetings then always forgot when they were and there really wasn't enough notice of when they were either (at least I feel). Personally, PTA didn't do anything for me. I'm sure the fundraisers were beneficial but I hate having to do 3. I don't work and my husband isn't into pushing co-workers to buy stuff so it's hard. I'm competitive by nature though so I would end up trying to sell the stuff becauase really, I don't want my kindergartner spending him time doing it. I just want to be more informed about the happenings at my childs school. I help out in any way I can. I was a PAL last year and room mom. I don't think I will be doing the room mom thing. It was a little hard to find someone willing to watch my other 3 who are not in school. I don't know if that is what you want but there it is.

I am a mother of 3 and grandma of 2. I am also a retired PTA volunteer...(15 yr. volunteer) PTA can be a great place to meet friends and to help the schools, which we all know don't have enough staff for any one on one time with kids who really need it or to free up staff to do the one on one.

I started out in PTA, just sending in my money at the beginning of the year and when I finally quit because I had a grandson who needed me at home, I had been on almost every committee and held every elected position on 3 different levels,elementary, middle and high school...

I have done work for the offices and teachers, gone on field trips with classes that my kids weren't even in, run fundraisers, tudored, filed books in the library, thrown holiday parties and carnivals, and project grad over-nights.. but I have also helped with the book checkout at the first of the year, and checkin at the end, and mentored a middle school girl with low self esteem and not much hope, who later invited me to her high school graduation where she was in the top 10%... for a parent who can't help at school, there is always work that teachers can send home, like cutting out stuff for bulletin boards or prep for an art project... PTA doesn't mean you have to work everyday... even one job done during the year helps... and as any younger kids get into school it becomes easier to volunteer time... there is even a committee where I have eaten lunch at school, once or twice a year, and then sent in a report to the district about the taste...even little things help.

PTA isn't all about raising money... it is about caring about the kids and the schools... when my grandkids get old enough to start school I will probably get back into PTA... GIVE ALITTLE TIME VOLUNTEERING WITH PTA AND YOUR SCHOOL... YOU MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONES LIFE...

PTA is about $5-10 to join. It is inexpensive. You can be active or not active. You join it to be involved with your children's school, no one keeps attendance unless you decide to serve on a committee or become an officer. They have meetings once a month, usually before a student performance.
They usually have a membership drive at the beginning of the school year. They encourage all parents, grandparents, etc to join, they often award the class with the quickest or 100% membership little parties. Teachers get a list of who joins and who doesn't.
It is worth it. I used to be a teacher.