Jessica14
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2010
- Messages
- 732
I know this is an older thread, but wanted to chime in. I worked for 12 years as a kindergarten and second greade teacher. We had a lovely Staff Appreciation Luncheon every year. The PTA asked for volunteers to prepare dishes for the entire staff, not just teachers. I still miss it! I had class mothers and each one was different. They were really on their own as far as I knew. Most collected a lump sum in the beginning of the year and used it for parties and chipped in more of their own if they ran short. And yes, they did leave names off the cards if the kids didn't participate. I didn't know one teacher that didn't feel embarrassed by this. BTW, meetings were held alternately day and evening so everyone was included.
Now I have a kindergartener and a first grader. I do not teach full-time, but sub in their district, often in their school. We also have a staff appreciation luncheon and that's it. No one expects more. And I do not consider teaching just another job. We (and I know not everyone) spend a lot of our own money on our classrooms. We deal with tough kids everyday. We often have overbearing parents or worse uninvolved parents. We deal with trying to get a troubled child, whether it be an academic or emotional issues, the help they need. We often battle administrators who are not in the trenches with these kids everyday. We take home these kids problems with us. So really, a little appreciation is very nice.
I have learned that PTA's really vary. Our PTA is really awful-very clique-y, uninviting to new parents, and this year, worked to oust our wonderful principal. They do some nice things, but have way too many fundraisers in a school where the majority of kids are on free lunch. We have a lot of ESL students and they do very little to include these kids parents because they can't be bothered. Meanwhile, these are the parents that show up for every other thing at school, but are essentially shut out of the PTA. I think that it would not be in my best interest to be part of such an organization at this time, even though I was all ready to join. They are way to hostile a group at this point.
PTAs have a different approaches. I think it is important to speak up and change the dynamic at your school if you feel its going in the wrong direction. I hope to have an opportunity soon to help out. I miss seeing the PTA in my former school do so many wonderful things. They were a really great group of dedicated women. I'd love to bring some of that to our school where inclusion and participation are sorely needed.
Jessica
Now I have a kindergartener and a first grader. I do not teach full-time, but sub in their district, often in their school. We also have a staff appreciation luncheon and that's it. No one expects more. And I do not consider teaching just another job. We (and I know not everyone) spend a lot of our own money on our classrooms. We deal with tough kids everyday. We often have overbearing parents or worse uninvolved parents. We deal with trying to get a troubled child, whether it be an academic or emotional issues, the help they need. We often battle administrators who are not in the trenches with these kids everyday. We take home these kids problems with us. So really, a little appreciation is very nice.
I have learned that PTA's really vary. Our PTA is really awful-very clique-y, uninviting to new parents, and this year, worked to oust our wonderful principal. They do some nice things, but have way too many fundraisers in a school where the majority of kids are on free lunch. We have a lot of ESL students and they do very little to include these kids parents because they can't be bothered. Meanwhile, these are the parents that show up for every other thing at school, but are essentially shut out of the PTA. I think that it would not be in my best interest to be part of such an organization at this time, even though I was all ready to join. They are way to hostile a group at this point.
PTAs have a different approaches. I think it is important to speak up and change the dynamic at your school if you feel its going in the wrong direction. I hope to have an opportunity soon to help out. I miss seeing the PTA in my former school do so many wonderful things. They were a really great group of dedicated women. I'd love to bring some of that to our school where inclusion and participation are sorely needed.
Jessica
