Back-to-school time isn't only for the kids, you know. At most schools you're expected to be almost as involved as the ones that are getting that education. In fact, as budget cuts hit public schools, parents may find themselves spending more time in the classroom than they ever thought possible.
The parent-teacher association at your school is most likely a necessity and, hopefully, a partnership that helps make the school better for your kids. So naturally, you should join up and do your share, right? Well, not so fast.
First let's take a look at the pros and cons of being a PTA member.
PROS
You will be making your child's school as good as it possibly can be.
You could meet some new parent friends.
Your time will be really well spent, as most schools need every bit of help they can get.
Your child will see that you truly care about what goes on in his life.
You'll get the inside scoop on the school gossip.
More from The Stir: 10 Reasons I Could Never Be PTA President
CONS
You'll get the inside scoop on the school gossip.
You may feel your time is better spent with your children instead of at their school.
You'll meet some crazy new parent friends/enemies.
Your work schedule will mean your volunteer schedule sucks up your weekends.
So, are you joining the PTA?
Image via vauvau/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 42
I doubt I'll ever join my daughter's school's PTA, however, I'm always happy to donate snacks, supplies, and school utensils. I feel like once you're in PTA and you start choosing events to attend (which is totally acceptable according to our PTA) you get looked down upon. As if they suddenly own your weekends and downtime and you're not really "committed" unless you go full force. I'd rather spend that time exclusively with my own child.
When I've tried to volunteer for specific events, I feel I'm being brushed off (we have enough volunteers already). I think we've been labled "racists" because my husband yelled "english please" at the back to school asembly (it was being conducted primarily in spanish, without english translation, and my husband lacks any diplomatic skills).
Fortunately, my son seems to be doing well academically and socially regardless.
I'm a member of our PTO, have been for all of my son's school years so far. Maybe I don't witness this "looking down upon" because it's such a small school in a small town. But I can give you a perspective from the inside.
We have two major fundraisers per year (Christmas Craft Fair, Spring Silent/Live Auction & Dinner), and refuse to have the kids sell stuff to support the school. (the kids have regular bake sales and other fundraisers - but all for their own projects, camp experiences, charitable donations to our sister school in Haiti, etc). We take responsibility for other projects, too - staffing the concession stand and admission tables at sporting events, for example.
And it is brutally obvious that if we want staffers, organizers, or other help for these events and projects, we can ONLY look to a small handful of us on PTO. There is a core group of maybe 10 people who volunteer. We are constantly asking for help from other parents - in the form of time, donations of crafts for our fair, money to help with our silent auction. The overwhelming response is "crickets".
So the next time you feel "looked down upon" for not stepping up, ask yourself why. Are you seeing the SAME faces at every fundraising event, game, and play? Do you ever see any new faces helping in the office or the classrooms? Maybe you're not being looked down on, but rather with longing, that you'd step up and add some new blood.
at the school i teach at we value our ptl ( parent teacher league) and we r a small private school that needs it. but sadly parents dont volunteer a lot of time anymore and it is sad, because without the parents, activities and fundraisers dont get done. its nice to volunteer supplies but schools need ur time to. my school does not require weekend time just time during the week. please think about doing ptl work so that ur childs school life is more full.
As a teacher, I will say that there is nothing better than a well run PTA. We love to see parents in the school and their creativity and good ideas create great fundraising opportunities which turn into field trips, guest artists, and fun days for our students. 99 times out of 100, people will welcome any help you can give. Our PTA meets twice a month on Thursdays at 7 p.m. so working families can be involved, too. However, should you feel rebuffed by the PTA, you can always approach an individual teacher and work with him or her on creating fun projects and activities for the classroom, not everything has to be done through the PTA.
I have 2 children starting kindergarten this year in 2 different schools in the same district. One school's supply list is 5 items long while the other school's list is 12 items long and include "classroom supplies". That is where I can really tell the difference between a school with a great PTA that is really involved and a PTA that could not give a monkey's butt about the school. And remember these are the same grades in the same district just different schools. Oh and the reason for the split of kids is that, one of them is autistic and the specialized program is in the 12 item school, and his twin will be attending our normal school which is the 5 item school.