Pta tsoris | Imamother

↑ imaamy ↓

Thu, Dec 23 2004, 10:50 pm

Thank you all for the suggestions and discussion. At our school the PTA runs the hot lunch program and also makes the parties for holidays. We do a major fundraiser at Purim. It does not involve the teachers talking about teaching, although we'd like to involve them as parents of kids at the school. We do have separate conferences with the teachers about academic issues. Parents are required to attend those to get their child's report card. So basically it comes down to a handful of moms doing the parties and fundraisers year after year. We understand people are busy with work and family, but if parents could help with just one event per school year, it would ease the burden on the core group. We'll try donuts. Wink

AweSumThenSum

Wed, Dec 29 2004, 8:44 pm

what pta are u talking about?
the pta where parents and teachers meet to discuss child's progress, or a mothers' association, where mothers become involved in planning events for the school I.e. fundraising events, school contests, etc....

↑ imaamy

Wed, Dec 29 2004, 9:37 pm

At our school we call the parent-teacher meetings about individual students "conferences." The PTA meetings concern mainly fundraising and holiday parties for the kids. Also as I mentioned the PTA runs the hot lunch program. Everyone is required to meet with the teachers about their child(ren) but attendance at PTA meetings and participation in events is optional.

raizy

Tue, Apr 26 2005, 12:28 am

I think that the pta is a waste of time for little kids. I went like a good mommy and the teacher had nothing to complain or talk about just how sweet etc your daughter is.

I had to be the one to bring up the issues that I wanted to be discussed.
and if I don't show up does that mean that I am not interested.
it a no win situation.

↑ Motek ↓

Tue, Apr 26 2005, 12:16 pm

raizy wrote:

I think that the pta is a waste of time for little kids. I went like a good mommy and the teacher had nothing to complain or talk about just how sweet etc your daughter is.

hopefully, when your children are big, even in high school, the teachers will still have nothing to complain about! So do you think PTA is only for problem children?

Quote:

I had to be the one to bring up the issues that I wanted to be discussed.

so? it sounds like PTA was worthwhile then, no?

Quote:

and if I don't show up does that mean that I am not interested.

well, if you had no compelling reason not to show up, not showing up would mean you had no interest in meeting the teacher, wouldn't it?

Quote:

it a no win situation.

sorry to hear you think that

ilvmommyhood ↓
Guest

Tue, Apr 26 2005, 12:23 pm

teachers these days in conferences are only allowed to say good. And if there is something not so good- they have to make it sound good. Total waste of time.

↑ Tefila

Wed, Apr 27 2005, 12:49 am

Quote:

Total waste of time.

Maybe they are just telling the truth, though sometimes we wonder if we are talking about the same child LOL

↑ Motek ↓

Wed, Apr 27 2005, 10:45 am

I think that if you just meet the teacher, dayeinu (to use a timely phrase Wink

). Like even meeting them the first day of school when they certainly have nothing to say about your child. Don't you want to meet and talk to the person (or people) who your child(ren) spend the day with? When your child refers to their teacher, don't you want to be able to visualize who they're talking about?

I think that once you meet them one time, you don't have to take the time to leave the house and see them in person again, but should definitely be in touch with them by phone.

Pearl

Wed, Apr 27 2005, 11:01 am

here the pta (the parent-teacher meeting, so 1 on 1) takes place twice a year, and it's when the teacher hands the report card to the parent. I am sure all parents show up for that, and I agree with that approach, because it automatically gives something to talk about.
whenever there is a different kind of parent-teacher gathering I try to show up, to respect the teacher's effort and time, but must admit that sometimes, if my husband can't stay with the children, I don't bother looking for a babysitter......... embarrassed

but I do think that parent-teacher contact is very important, and could be very useful.

re the original post, usually only 10-20 parents show up for gatherings like that, no matter if there are 100, 200 or 300 children in school....

TzenaRena

Tue, Jul 12 2005, 4:19 pm

When my kids were younger, and I didn't have a babysitter, it was hard to show up on time. I would sometimes arrive half an hour before PTA was over, and wait on line.

Some teachers would still rush out the second the clock struck twelve(PM), and not care who was standing there, how long they were waiting and how hard they had to work just to get over there.

Most though would be understanding and give a few minutes of their time.

Another problem I have with PTA's is that they come too far along in the year, usually in Kislev. If there are any problems, they are usually entrenched by then. If there are specific needs, suggestions or requests, it's sort of late to begin....

And around here there is usually only that one conference for the entire year. It's not always enough .

↑ Motek

Tue, Jul 12 2005, 7:43 pm

SaraYehudis wrote:

Some teachers would still rush out the second the clock struck twelve(PM), and not care who was standing there, how long they were waiting and how hard they had to work just to get over there.

do they get paid overtime?

I understand your frustration, but how about the poor teacher? Maybe her babysitter was waiting for her to return? Who's paying the babysitter overtime?

Quote:

Another problem I have with PTA's is that they come too far along in the year, usually in Kislev.

How about calling up the teachers the FIRST WEEK of school? How about calling them up once in a while to see what's going on? How about dropping by the school?

yes, all these suggestions take up the poor teacher's time, but now I'm looking at it from your perspective! Smile

basmalkah

Tue, Jul 12 2005, 8:01 pm

Quote:

Another problem I have with PTA's is that they come too far along in the year, usually in Kislev. If there are any problems, they are usually entrenched by then. If there are specific needs, suggestions or requests, it's sort of late to begin....

Just a little note as a teacher:
The parents of a child with difficulties are always contacted before the pta meeting is scheduled. Sometimes, depending on the severity of the child's difficulties, they are actually called to a separate meeting w/ the social worker and or occupational therapist when needed.
The regualer pta meeting is meant to give parents an idea of where their child is holding academically, socially, physically etc.. and discuss areas where improvement is necessary.