For Alphabe-Thursday I chose for the letter P - Parent Teacher Association - PTA
When my son was in elementary school, I was very involved with PTA. At various times, I was secretary, went to council meetings and was membership chairman. Also, I was in charge of the birthday book club for many years. I loved this. It wasn't actually a book club. It was more for your birthday a parent could donate money. Then the child would pick a book from the library and I would put a nameplate in a book the child wanted. The kids would be thrilled that they would have a book in the library that had their name in it.
For years, PTA sponsored a Christmas Breakfast with Santa . One year we decided to start a Bunny Lunch for Easter so me and Magellan figured out how to do that. We did that for a couple of years and then handed it off to someone else once it was a well oiled machine LOL.
Tried as we might, although we had a lot of people join PTA, when it came to volunteering - not so much. Most of the time, it was always the same small group of women that volunteered for EVERYTHING.
For the most part, I really enjoyed being involved. I was at the school a lot. I got to see what was happening. I knew all the teachers and the other workers. By the time my son got out of elementary school which was 6th grade, I was really burned out. Besides doing the PTA stuff, I also was room mother every year and some times I would do things for the principal or the teachers. When he went to junior high and high school, I just joined PTA and really didn't volunteer too much. There really wasn't a whole lot to do in the older grades.
Were any of you a part of PTA? Did you all have a lot of volunteers at events?
I hope you go over to Jenny's to see what others did for the letter P http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2010/05/alphabe-thursday-p.html
Were any of you a part of PTA? Did you all have a lot of volunteers at events?
I hope you go over to Jenny's to see what others did for the letter P http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2010/05/alphabe-thursday-p.html
35 comments:
This is a great P post! You were a trooper because so many parents choose not to participate in PTA and many other school functions. Thanks for the nice reminder my friend! Anne
I think most groups have a core group of volunteers. Nice post.
I think all PTAs are the same. 3 or 4 people doing all the work. I think it is great to be involved in the schools and I Pity those who don't do it.
OH yes, PTA ! Every year! All the way from Kindergarten to Graduation with two kids. We were very involved! You name it we probably did it! This year was the first time in 15 years that I was not involved in PTA. (cuz both my kids are in college now.) Over the years I was Room Parent ( 4 years), holiday party coordinator, Reading club group leader (3 times) Library volunteer (2 years) Carnival volunteer (8 years) Auction food coordinator, 6th grade international dinner chair, 6th grade graduation party co-chair, Bulletin Board coordinator (2 years) PTA Membership chair, MIddle school Team parent Co-Chair (years), fieldtrip chaperone (every year though middle school) Pumpkin Patch Co-Chair, Senior Fashion Show Chair, Project Graduation (2 years), Teacher Appreciation Chair... and on and on.... and that doesn't include the sports and music booster club roles we held(Band Spirit-Wear Chairs, Band Secretary, Band Garage Sale Chair, Men'sTennis Banquet Decoration chair, etc...)
I have to say that even though it was hours and hours of hard work, I loved helping my children their teachers and their schools!!!
how great of you to be so involved...it always seems to be a small group of dedicated parents that are called upon continually.
We too had a large membership, but a very small group of volunteers. I was very involved in the elementary school PTA, but by the time Cait got to middle school she had joined band and the band booster organization became my main focus. And those were BUSY years, as any band parent can attest :) Kathy
We have a ton of volunteers at our school. I am not involved in the PTA...close friends of mine are though and I keep informed, plus I volunteer in the classroom! Good P choice!
I think it is the same for many different groups, there is a core group of people who do all the volunteering.
Girl, with 2 boys you better bet I was part of the PTA!! The strange thing about our meetings--NO one wanted to volunteer to do much of anything! That left the few that did with their hands full!! Oh well, still enjoyed what I did get to be a part of.
Thanks for sharing your P with us today. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company.
MM PTA time was good fun sometimes but mostly like trying to pull teeth. Loads of tasks but few workers. But still good fun.
It's the same at my school, there are a few ladies that do everything for the school and they are always in the PTA! At the PTA meeting on Tuesday ( my class was performing) and they announced next year's officers,most of them have had children in my pre-k classroom. I hope that I have helped to show parents that all of us working together is the way to get things accomplished! I have a very big parent involvment programin my classroom and everyone is welcome!
My kids' elementary school did not have PTA, but they had something similar. I joined, and attended meetings. I also did lots of volunteer work at their schools. You are so right that most people don't volunteer, and the burden to do everything falls on just a few! When my husband and I realized that I was averaging over thirty hours a week volunteering, we had quite a wake up call!
Hi again Viki!
What a great 'P' post - great blog too. I'll be popping back to have another read through!
Happy Alphabe-Thursday - and look forward to *seeing* you again next time!
Thanks for stopping by over at my place!
XOXO LOLA:)
I hear you, Viki. I haven't done PTA, but I was in charge of women's ministries at my church for two years. It was the same thing there, with the same core group doing ALL the work. Burned me out big time...
Oh dear, you make me feel guilty about my lack of volunteerism when my kids were little. I worked all the time back then and just didn't have any energy left over. I'll try and make up for it with my grandkids.
Thanks for working so hard so us slackers could goof off!
Hi Viki! Wow, this post really struck a chord with me. Like you I was very involved in my children's PTA. And you are so right, it was always the same group of mothers. For years, I was the Easter Bunny and my husband was Santa Claus. Our kids never knew! Those were really good times. But it definitely burns you out.
xoxo,
Kim
I was not part of the PTA...but it was a good choice for today's class!
Catholic schools have HASA's instead of PTA's but I did my time, unfortunatly I still have kids in grade school and I am the mom who never (at least rarely) volunteers any more. Thank you for doing your time!!!
I have been in and around PTAs for many years. I worked in 2nd grade, my wife is a teacher, and we have two kids and one grandchild...so I am with you on this theme. Good choice for Alphabe-P...Peace and blessings
so good of you to volunteer :D
i have my oldest going into kindergarden this year so i guess i'll learn all about it :D
I'm not yet in a position to be a part of a PTA...but as an earlier commentor said, it's usually the same group of people willing to work hard in any situation. And everyone else knows it so they can leave it up to them!
Perfect P Post! I was the whole PTA since I home-schooled but I know that the saying "If you want something done ask a busy person" all too often holds true! :)
I'm not a parent but when it comes to volunteering for something, not every wants to, it just seems like people just rather be in a group or community but don't want to really participate, anyway, it's good to know certain people are willing
thanks for your visit to my alphabe-thursday
Perfect topic for Alphabet Thursday. I have been a member of the PTA and also been on the receiving end of having wonderful volunteers like you help in my classroom for 34 years. You certainly were appreciated. It really is sad that some parents get left to do everything. If you get a chance, after you read my p post, go back and read the post where a Mom said she didn't need "facetime at school". Blessings to you sweet lady
It sounds like you really helped make your childs years in school a success.
I think the burnout is part of the volunteer world for so many...me included.
But while you were doing it...oh, wasn't it great?
Thanks for a memory filled stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "P".
I always enjoy coming here. It is so warm and welcoming!
A+
Up here we call it the PAC - Parents' Advisory Committee - but it's the same thing. I was a member for 20 years and was so happy when I could finally hang up my hot-dog day apron!
Schools would be totally lost if they didn't have people like you! You are amazing for working so tirelessly for your kid's school.
Thanks for visiting my P post too, Viki! I really appreciate your comment.
Best wishes,
Natasha.
What an interesting P Post. I never joined a PTA but I am a volunteer for the Quimper Collectors Club and we have exactly the same situation,sort of too many chiefs and not enough indians!
~Maggie~
I went to a lot of meetings but did not serve. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Sounds like you were a really involved, serving parent. They call the PTA something else where we live. I was more involved at the school when the boys were younger and especially liked opportunities to be in their classrooms. PTA always makes me think of Beezus of Ramona and Henry Huggins fame (Beverly Cleary). In one book she thinks PTA is something special that she can't have, because it is a "spelled out word" P-T-A.
I didn't join the PTA, but I volunteer for helping out whenever they need help. I still am, tutoring my son's classmates with math, one hour a week.
PTA was something I never got too involved in cause we moved around the country so much. But I've always supported their events, even now when my kids aren't kids anymore! Great post!
i was never in the PTA ... i did do the classroom/teacher's helper thing, i went on field trips, did the annual activity day ... coached field hockey, did the team mom thing for soccer and did the brown owl thing for Brownies ... but you are right, it's always the same group of people that step up and give back to the community.
My mom was in the pta......I was a working mom once my youngest was six so from then on it was hard....I always volunteered for field trips and things though...The kids always loved having me in school things with them.....
I remember PTA well! Always the same few doing everything but at the time it seemed fun! I always used to say 'if you want something done, ask a busy person'!!
Post a Comment