tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post116101089401977039..comments2024-03-15T23:39:29.134-08:00Comments on Scribbit | Motherhood in Alaska: Reasons I Haven't Join the PTAScribbithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-70373856302491707292007-01-23T21:18:00.000-09:002007-01-23T21:18:00.000-09:00I guess I've always felt that being a mother was b...I guess I've always felt that being a mother was being the biggest advocate for children and I don't feel that I need the PTA to help me accomplish that.<br /><br />Having said that, it isn't really clear from my list how different the PTA at my kids' school is from the PTA in other schools. Frankly, this school is the plum of the city and it's so uber-fancy that the PTA has nothing better than to raise money for a marquee sign in the parking lot. They're all about fluff and not necessarily about real learning--which I AM a big advocate for when it comes to my kids. I just don't need the PTA to do my job teaching and I don't need to get involved with their job raising money for silly projects.<br /><br />Maybe this explains my position better, but probably doesn't change your opinion :)Scribbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-36880408504188135902007-01-23T19:04:00.000-09:002007-01-23T19:04:00.000-09:00Looks like you missed the bus. How can anyone arg...Looks like you missed the bus. How can anyone argue against one being an advocate for children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1163439229484758652006-11-13T08:33:00.000-09:002006-11-13T08:33:00.000-09:00My schools PTA is made up of a bunch of women who ...My schools PTA is made up of a bunch of women who must have missed the popularity bus in high school so they are having a powertrip good ole time now! I am one of those parents who pays my dues so i can have my say when i want with these baffoons. I also dont need my name on things that I want to volunteer for , I dont need anyone to know it was me who did it, Im not in it for the pat on the back .like the PTA usually are. These women dont care about our kids , just thiers. So wtg you rebel!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1162265675492540562006-10-30T18:34:00.000-09:002006-10-30T18:34:00.000-09:00Here is a bit of irony. I went to an educational l...Here is a bit of irony. I went to an educational lecture this evening as a PTA representative. The talk was given by a guy named Will Richardson, his subject was using blogs, wickis, podcasts etc... in the classroom. The fact that educators and parents need to help kids use the tools and information, not bar them from it. So I came home and checked out his website found a search place for blogs, and found this one! I've been in PTA, the real affiliated one, for about fourteen years. I have stayed with it because at its heart it is a child advocacy organization and encourages parent involvement in education, its hard to argue with that. I don't think of myself as the average "PTA Mom" either. I drive a Prius and live on a farm. I understand the negative outlook, not every PTA functions in the way the state and national organizations encourage them to function. Getting Dads involved is a major initiative of PTAs across the country. You are right it is mostly female, but it doesn't have to be. <BR/>One of my ideas is for PTAs to have "single parent nights" who knows maybe PTA meetings can become a good way to find a date, and become involed in your kid's school at the same time. You may not think of yourself as PTA material, but there is a good chance that the people who are active in PTA at your school do some good stuff that may even benefit your child. Buying a five dollar membership is probably a pretty painless way to support the programs that the PTA sponsors. Check out the national PTA website www.pta.org. You might be surprised!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161998231079672902006-10-27T17:17:00.000-08:002006-10-27T17:17:00.000-08:00Excellent reasons, and I plan to plagerize them al...Excellent reasons, and I plan to plagerize them all next year, when my oldest starts K, and I don't join the PTA.Anjalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17469613639032593194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161926153344309912006-10-26T21:15:00.000-08:002006-10-26T21:15:00.000-08:00I don't think it should be madatory for moms to jo...I don't think it should be madatory for moms to join the PTA. You do what works for you! Happy TT!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161917247508247092006-10-26T18:47:00.000-08:002006-10-26T18:47:00.000-08:00A great list--it takes me back to when my kids wer...A great list--it takes me back to when my kids were in school. Omigosh, I don't miss the PTO (that's what we called it). However, it is important to have a voice when you need one, as in the TV thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161906669923964922006-10-26T15:51:00.000-08:002006-10-26T15:51:00.000-08:00My number one reason would be other moms!!! Enough...My number one reason would be other moms!!! Enough said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161892743223228372006-10-26T11:59:00.000-08:002006-10-26T11:59:00.000-08:00Ya gotta love a rebel!I so understand how you feel...Ya gotta love a rebel!<BR/>I so understand how you feel.<BR/>Thanks for sharing,<BR/>FrancesFrances Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11029519305784921207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161892102051208582006-10-26T11:48:00.000-08:002006-10-26T11:48:00.000-08:00my list would have been one reason and one reason ...my list would have been one reason and one reason only:<BR/><BR/>i hate everyone.<BR/><BR/>also in denial about the minivan thing, even though mine is so great. screw it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161891047690372012006-10-26T11:30:00.000-08:002006-10-26T11:30:00.000-08:00Awesome! I have no plans on getting into the PTA ...Awesome! I have no plans on getting into the PTA stuff. I might get roped into it, but will do my best to resist the Mighty Pull.<BR/><BR/>Currently, I am also swearing to never bake and instead, plan to proudly saunter through the door bearing store-bought goods.<BR/><BR/>You're an inspiration for Lazy Mamas everywhere. I totally heart you.Cagey (Kelli Oliver George)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13691589813815058981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161889165445184502006-10-26T10:59:00.000-08:002006-10-26T10:59:00.000-08:00A great list! I wouldn't join the PTA either! I'm ...A great list! I wouldn't join the PTA either! I'm a bit of a rebel myself, if everyone else is doing something, I usually want to run the other way.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05120082899845711321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161888411069519872006-10-26T10:46:00.000-08:002006-10-26T10:46:00.000-08:00no PTA for me...i have WAY too many other things t...no PTA for me...i have WAY too many other things to do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161887899515735812006-10-26T10:38:00.000-08:002006-10-26T10:38:00.000-08:00P.S.J- Sounds like our schools (Charters) and opin...P.S.<BR/>J- Sounds like our schools (Charters) and opinions are pretty much identical. 20% of the parents do 80% of the work.<BR/><BR/>Sad.Loralee Choatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16055102094371755499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161887729850407342006-10-26T10:35:00.000-08:002006-10-26T10:35:00.000-08:00Three-year Founder and President of my kids Parent...Three-year Founder and President of my kids Parent Organization. (Not affliated with the PTA)<BR/><BR/>The job was thrown at me.<BR/><BR/>I accepted because I knew that this was my one opportunity to do something like that. I am NOT "Typical" PO President Material.<BR/><BR/>This was a new school and it was beyond overwhelming, so the probelm of "Not having anything to do" didn't exisist. I was often at the school until 2 am. When the ball dropped (It did a lot) I was the last line of defense. I did it or it didn't get done.<BR/><BR/>I worked my ass off.<BR/><BR/>I would have loved to have more of you 'Reble PTA Haters' to hang out with instead of some of the plastics. I often think that people who dislike the PTA so much are the very ones that should muscle their way in and work to change things instead of sitting there complaining about how horrible it is. <BR/><BR/>I DO realize in some schools this is impossible due to hierarchy and wenchy people not wanting to give up their power and control.<BR/><BR/>I never treated myself, my kids, the teachers, or anyone else with cliquishness, brattiness or the like. Again, though...I am not someone you look at and go PTA President. Things worked well for me because I truseted everyone to make wise decisions, I didn't micromanage and there was plenty of respect, responsibilities and praise going on.<BR/><BR/>Many negative things said about these organizations are dead on. However, without them the kids and the school would be screwed, so try to give them a bit of a break. It is hella hard work.Loralee Choatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16055102094371755499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161887338495853432006-10-26T10:28:00.000-08:002006-10-26T10:28:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Loralee Choatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16055102094371755499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161883907757416442006-10-26T09:31:00.000-08:002006-10-26T09:31:00.000-08:00#10? The only reason you need...Thanks for visiti...#10? The only reason you need...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting!!Tughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603072260312513790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161882236272691622006-10-26T09:03:00.000-08:002006-10-26T09:03:00.000-08:00LOL! This is funny! :-) Good for you. I tend to al...LOL! This is funny! :-) <BR/><BR/>Good for you. I tend to always take on more than I should. I'm working on it...Miss Notesyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16420657918320783568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161882097813146322006-10-26T09:01:00.000-08:002006-10-26T09:01:00.000-08:0010 reasons is MORE than enough!!!!10 reasons is MORE than enough!!!!Knitting Maniachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06227228645350663432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161881444438862972006-10-26T08:50:00.000-08:002006-10-26T08:50:00.000-08:00At our school, the PTA is called the PTLG, and you...At our school, the PTA is called the PTLG, and you don't have to pay dues. The dues (seriously) have something to do with the legality of calling it a PTA. Whatever. Anyway, I don't belong to the PTA, but I was on the school board for 3 years, and I was the head of the (gag) fundraising committee, and I am still mighty involved in the school. Maya goes to a charter school, and we are required to volunteer 40 hours for one child, 20 additional hours for each child after that, per school year. I make my hours EASILY. And I don't try to pull any annoying crap about "I'm on the board, so give my child special treatment" or anything like that. <BR/><BR/>Having said all of that, it's great that your school has such a high rate of involvement. Our school is also on a lottery system, but still it's so often the same 15 families that put in the majority of the hours, and the rest just take advantage. This is my daughter's last year there, and I kinda have 'senioritis'. I want some of the slackers to step up.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653383372182667361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161880722638722782006-10-26T08:38:00.000-08:002006-10-26T08:38:00.000-08:00I always thought of the PTA as a big school run fu...I always thought of the PTA as a big school run fundraising organization. I don't join either.Domestic Goddesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06757796805489244374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161879668179656262006-10-26T08:21:00.000-08:002006-10-26T08:21:00.000-08:00We're lucky to get 50% of parents to join at our d...We're lucky to get 50% of parents to join at our daughters school.<BR/><BR/>Although, we just give our money and don't bother with the meeting, carnival set up, etc. Leave it to the moms (and dads) with a little more free time on their hands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161871824106758072006-10-26T06:10:00.000-08:002006-10-26T06:10:00.000-08:00LOL! Yeah, our kids' last school was like that--s...LOL! Yeah, our kids' last school was like that--so many parents participating that there were waiting lists for volunteer opportunities. I did volunteer in the school library--apparently that was considered too boring to have a waiting list.Darlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08346619210375248680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161871427236401632006-10-26T06:03:00.000-08:002006-10-26T06:03:00.000-08:00I went to a PTA meeting once when my sons were sch...I went to a PTA meeting once when my sons were school age and it was either so boring that I wanted to be knocked out or it was over my head! <BR/><BR/>Mine are in the fast lane.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14194867.post-1161868272075747012006-10-26T05:11:00.000-08:002006-10-26T05:11:00.000-08:00When I worked at a private school, I had to RUN th...When I worked at a private school, I had to RUN the PTA.<BR/><BR/>gag gag whine whine bitch.<BR/><BR/>ugh. Good call, Michelle!Melissa Angert {All Things Chic}https://www.blogger.com/profile/02966938610239372447noreply@blogger.com