Parent's involvements in schools
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Re: Parent's involvements in schools
Perhaps in bigger schools the children who get noticed get more attention ( which is no the same as being favoured). Getting noticed could be due to their own behaviour or that of their parents.
If your child is making use of extra curricular activities at school then I do feel there is some responsibility to 'give back' if at all possible. Staff give up their time to allow these activities to take place and often fund raising is needed to support through additional kit etc. If other people are making it possible for your child to do something its not unreasonable for you to help out. Not necessarily with that specific activity but by supporting the school more generally at least.
If your child is making use of extra curricular activities at school then I do feel there is some responsibility to 'give back' if at all possible. Staff give up their time to allow these activities to take place and often fund raising is needed to support through additional kit etc. If other people are making it possible for your child to do something its not unreasonable for you to help out. Not necessarily with that specific activity but by supporting the school more generally at least.
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
I don't think it makes a difference. I helped out in class at Primary school until Yr4 but I wouldn't say it made a difference to the amount of attention DS received - it is the more outgoing parents/children that do get preferential treatment (at least at my school and I witnessed it every time I was there).
Having said that, my year was particularly full of AlphaMums who did a great job both for the school and with social gatherings for the parents, finishing with a year 6 leavers party privately organised
And Toadmum, I am afraid there is a certain cliqueness(?) with some parents which makes it impossible for some of us quieter parents to become involved in PA/PTA events no matter how much we might like toToadMum wrote:I particularly like the 'reason' often cited for not getting involved with the PA / PTA : 'It's always the same people who do things'. Well, if you pulled your finger out and helped occasionally it would be 'the same people' rather less of the time, wouldn't it?
Having said that, my year was particularly full of AlphaMums who did a great job both for the school and with social gatherings for the parents, finishing with a year 6 leavers party privately organised
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
I think 'getting noticed' is less of an issue at primary school where the class teacher gets to know all the children anyway.
In bigger secondaries where children may spend little time with each teacher it is easier for those 'in the middle' to end up getting less attention. In such cases it might be that parental involvement in the PTA/ extra curricular might get the name to the front on the minds of some staff but I don't believe it would make a massive difference not that it should be necessary. Much better if a parent has concerns to just raise them directly as appropriate.
Also, if you have a DC with a tendency to get into mischief nor forget homework then getting their name know might not help their cause.....
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In bigger secondaries where children may spend little time with each teacher it is easier for those 'in the middle' to end up getting less attention. In such cases it might be that parental involvement in the PTA/ extra curricular might get the name to the front on the minds of some staff but I don't believe it would make a massive difference not that it should be necessary. Much better if a parent has concerns to just raise them directly as appropriate.
Also, if you have a DC with a tendency to get into mischief nor forget homework then getting their name know might not help their cause.....
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Re: Parent's involvements in schools
I've always tried to do my bit at school events.It helps the school so much.The fetes that go on at primary schools( which my two adored ) are completely dependent on parents mucking in. I have to say I really enjoyed it too.
Certainly wouldn't want to think that any parental involvement generated any preferential treatment.
I'm now helping with mock uni interviews in the secondary schools. Good fun too but a couple of Victoria sponges was easier.
It is true sometimes it did seem to be all the same parents but there would always be room for new faces.
Certainly wouldn't want to think that any parental involvement generated any preferential treatment.
I'm now helping with mock uni interviews in the secondary schools. Good fun too but a couple of Victoria sponges was easier.
It is true sometimes it did seem to be all the same parents but there would always be room for new faces.
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
interestingly I can identify scenarios in each of the posts mentioned here. every school and every class is different. Primary schools are different from secondary schools. There are some 'super parents' dominating PTA, who might be using opportunities to their own advantages, sadly. When one dominating parent started behave certain ways, it is easy for other parents to follow... That's my observation anyway. 
Did it occur to anyone that those ‘busy’ parents, especially full time working mums are contributing by paying more tax and hopefully funding all state schools financially? In reality, how many full time parents (who are paying for additional childcare 365 days a year), are able to attend school meetings during weekdays(most of them finish before 7pm or 8pm, otherwise school staffs will have to stay late) or school events after school hours? Being tax payers, full time working parents will need to pay for the very expensive childcare to cover all school holidays and after school hours. They are most likely ‘too busy to attend most of the school events’. Will it be better for them to give up work or reduce working hours? Who wouldn’t want to take children out for a football match? Or watch them singing for a charity event in public? I suspect full time working mums are sacrificing too much for the minimum wage pay they are getting from a full time job these days.
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
All members of our PTA work full time. They seem to find time to organise events, unlike the patents who live "too far" away to attend or help out.
I really think it is all irrelevant to "getting noticed" in senior schools. The head at our GS knows me by name for various reasons, but I doubt he connects my children with me, and certainly doesn't teach any of them.
I really think it is all irrelevant to "getting noticed" in senior schools. The head at our GS knows me by name for various reasons, but I doubt he connects my children with me, and certainly doesn't teach any of them.
scary mum
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
As I said in my previous post, it perhaps isn't quite correct for anyone to say they don't have time, but that they don't choose to make the time. But I still don't think that's unreasonable. Those who help out are not doing it for purely altruistic reasons, it makes them feel good, they enjoy the social interaction and the sense of involvement, and yes, the school benefits. Usually these parents are the ones who's children make most use of the extra curricula events and opportunities these fund raisers make Maloney for, and that's fine too. But for some of us, it makes us uncomfortable, just like a party where we know no one. Its not a shyness thing, but whether it's the presence of alpha mums or smug mums or whatever, I think it makes some people uncomfortable and they shouldn't feel pressed to take part by other parents who are more socially happy to pitch in like this.
No one knows what else is going on in people's lives, other volunteering, tough times at home, other hobbies, family members who are not happy to tag along for very good reasons - all of this can contribute to a reluctance to pitch up. These people may very we'll be contributing far more financially than we know and that's ok too! And for those who say they could be doigm other things, they work full time and still help out, well, it does smack a little of criticism of those of us who don't, or at least a tiny bit self praising, I'm so busy but I still manage to do it. Good for you, that's fab, and we're very grateful, hit you do do it because you want to, not for pure altruism. Those of us who don't help out would not be doing it because we want to, but because we felt compelled to, and that's different, it really is.
I helped out a lot at primary, committee, fetes, they whole shebang. I don't choose to at secondary as I feel my life could implode if I take on any more. I don't want to be judged for deciding that the balance of my life does not allow it, for purely comfort reasons. My boys are home bods, maybe I am too.
No one knows what else is going on in people's lives, other volunteering, tough times at home, other hobbies, family members who are not happy to tag along for very good reasons - all of this can contribute to a reluctance to pitch up. These people may very we'll be contributing far more financially than we know and that's ok too! And for those who say they could be doigm other things, they work full time and still help out, well, it does smack a little of criticism of those of us who don't, or at least a tiny bit self praising, I'm so busy but I still manage to do it. Good for you, that's fab, and we're very grateful, hit you do do it because you want to, not for pure altruism. Those of us who don't help out would not be doing it because we want to, but because we felt compelled to, and that's different, it really is.
I helped out a lot at primary, committee, fetes, they whole shebang. I don't choose to at secondary as I feel my life could implode if I take on any more. I don't want to be judged for deciding that the balance of my life does not allow it, for purely comfort reasons. My boys are home bods, maybe I am too.
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
I help at discos because I'm essentially lazy and can't be *rsed to drive home and back again!
JD
JD
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
I think the parents have been judged as well as innocent children, by their parent’s involvements at school. 'I work full time and I can do it, why couldn't you?'
Socialising has been turned into gossiping and even bitching opportunities, which really put people off! Some mums got so involved, they were not only judging on parents but on innocent children too. Is this fair? There is not much any school can do about it, frankly speaking.
Socialising has been turned into gossiping and even bitching opportunities, which really put people off! Some mums got so involved, they were not only judging on parents but on innocent children too. Is this fair? There is not much any school can do about it, frankly speaking.
Re: Parent's involvements in schools
So do I JD but I quite enjoy it as it can be very entertaining watching the years 7&8 strutting their stuffJamesDean wrote:I help at discos because I'm essentially lazy and can't be *rsed to drive home and back again!
JD
Helping can range from running the PTA (which I did at their primary school) to attending events and sending in a cake for the cake sale. Believe me, having banged my head against several brick walls when running the PTA all help, however insignificant you think it is, is very gratefully received.
