I can see one common thread with both rants, the relationship your PTO has with the school.

After many years wondering why our teachers were not more involved we figured out we had to change the way we do things. We now ask teachers directly for thier help, and you know what they say yes. And once one teacher sees another teacher helping it starts a momentum that just keeps on going. We had a record number of teachers help out with our fall festival this year in many different capacities and I think mainly because we went to them and asked, did not get mad if someone said no, and offered them alternatives..."if you don't want to do A well then how about B or C?"

Teacher appreciaiton at our school was really beefed up about 2 years ago and I think this is the outcome.....It does not happen over night but you must have a plan, stick to it and don't ever take anything personal.

It is kind of like if you have a boss that is a hard worker how much more likely you are to work hard for him...if your boss is lazy, does not do their job how motivated are you?

Hey Writer--your school must be related to mine. We earned enough money already to order a new copier. We had 2, one died. The teachers hae to wait in line at the one we have and if the school is running something for all 640 kids, they get mad. We get the money and get with the school accountant who orders this type of stuff. The teachers start wanting to know where it is going.
it is going in the workroom, where they have always been. One group wants it in the library (closer to them), another wants it in the computer lab (closer to them). I mean GROW UP!!! Then they start on what type is it, and that kindof stuff. They are the most ungrateful bunch of people I have every met. No thank you--just where is it going, when is it coming, what kind, it needs to do this and that.....ARGH!!! I really want to cancel the order and just order kid stuff. Keep in mind that at the carnival that raised all this money, a bunch of teachers didn't come because it was on a Saturday.

I can't believe they wouldn't even order food for you!! That is really crappy!

We have 2 full time subs, who basically sit around and read the news paper a lot of days while we are there doing stuff for the school (not PTO related). That really ticks me off. We had to handle all the schoolmall stuff for the school fundraiser (not PTO). We were going from room to room collecting books and giving out prizes while 1 of the subs sat in the workroom, drinking coffee, gossiping and reading the paper. I was HOT!! but of course, didnt say anything, just kept right on picking up the books. ARGHH!!!!

Wonder what Shawn's serving in page 2???????

I think sometimes people #$%@# just to hear themselves talk!

"Was it a full moon or something?!?"

sounds more like plain old bad manners, or no manners, to me.

WriterMom - Sorry to hear things are going the way they are. Full moon may not be too far off in thinking. Weather plays a big part in moods of people (and other 'things' when you get too many women working together). Hope things get better & remember the kids appreciate your efforts even if others seem to forget more often than not.

A few days ago I was in the school office working on a project that turned out to be much longer than expected. Part of the reason for that was two staff members and another parent were supposed to help me and did not. I expected to be there for an hour, which soon turned into three. The office staff ordered lunch for themselves. No one asked me if I would like anything. When I asked for some food to be ordered for me as well (and paid for by me) the office staff said no, they could only order for the school. After four hours of work, I finally had to leave and get some food so I wouldn't faint away. I still had another hour of work when I got back.

Then, to top off my lovely day, a staff member commented on how much better the program I was working on was this year and how so-and-so (staff member who was supposed to help me but was suddenly too busy) was doing with it.

Excuse me??? I arranged the program, planned it, ordered all of the supplies for it, and did all the prep work.

I don't do this for credit (at least I don't think so), but it felt like a slap in the face to be treated this way. And these are people who normally have so much gratitude for everything the PTO does! Was it a full moon or something?!?

AND then I get evaluation forms back from the recent event we held. The teachers don't like it for this reason, parents don't like it for that reason and NEITHER group put in any help in planning it, aside from the regular few who do everything.

The year's not even half over and I am ready to walk away in disgust with both the P and T of our group. Most of our teachers are big babies because they don't like some of the changes the administration has made this year and are barely fulfilling the terms of their contract. The few parents we have who aren't living in poverty simply can't be bothered with school involvement. Too busy at their high powered jobs making all that money.

Why am I doing this??? My kids would be so much better off if I didn't because I would have more time to focus on them, and no one seems to appreciate what the PTO is trying to do. Oh sure, they pay lots of lip service but when the time comes to put your money where your mouth is, the scatter to the four winds. We've been talking about getting our nonprofit status, but why bother? Seems better to me at this point to just disband.

If you've read this far, thank you. I needed to get this out of my system before our upcoming meeting this week so I don't scream at everyone.