Comments on: Queen Bees http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/ Wed, 23 May 2012 13:16:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: K http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-56623 K Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:40:07 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/#comment-56623 They aren't all like that! Our PTA is mostly working parents - and just as many dads participate as moms. Disclaimer: I'm the PTA co-president and I work outside the home part-time. I share the job with a working dad. Our meetings are 1 hour - no more - and we have a very strict agenda - all school-related. We'd love, love, love to have more people involved. Especially people who are willing to write grants! Maybe they were just having a bad night? They aren’t all like that! Our PTA is mostly working parents – and just as many dads participate as moms. Disclaimer: I’m the PTA co-president and I work outside the home part-time. I share the job with a working dad. Our meetings are 1 hour – no more – and we have a very strict agenda – all school-related. We’d love, love, love to have more people involved. Especially people who are willing to write grants!

Maybe they were just having a bad night?

]]> By: Lisa F. http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-56474 Lisa F. Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:02:26 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/#comment-56474 heh. I would so not be the cool kid in the queen bee club. This reminds me of a friend of mine whose son recently started Kindergarten. She tried to volunteer to help out at the school and she was delegated "popcorn maker" for the PTA meetings. Okay, then. But then she went to the meeting and found out that one of the mom's who volunteered had the job of filing student papers in their folders that contained their grades, disciplinary action and communication with the parents. So the entire meeting was spent gossiping on whose 6 year old was the dumb one, the bad one, or the one that had the most calls to the parents. She then mentioned something about confidentiality and they looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language. I don't look forward to any of that. heh. I would so not be the cool kid in the queen bee club.

This reminds me of a friend of mine whose son recently started Kindergarten. She tried to volunteer to help out at the school and she was delegated “popcorn maker” for the PTA meetings. Okay, then. But then she went to the meeting and found out that one of the mom’s who volunteered had the job of filing student papers in their folders that contained their grades, disciplinary action and communication with the parents. So the entire meeting was spent gossiping on whose 6 year old was the dumb one, the bad one, or the one that had the most calls to the parents. She then mentioned something about confidentiality and they looked at her as if she was speaking a foreign language.

I don’t look forward to any of that.

]]> By: KT http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-56460 KT Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:36:42 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/#comment-56460 I am dealing with my first year of PTAs and public education in our area. What I find most amazing and offensive is how closed minded the school's clan is. They may say they want parental involvement but if you go in there with a new set of eyes and questions asking how and why things are done one way as opposed to another way - watch out! You quickly become parent-non-grata. They can't really give you answers and make you feel like somehow you're the crazy one. I realize this is why so many simply stop attending meetings etc - they don't have the time or energy for the long haul it takes for change. It's sad but I guess we're right behind 3cmum and after having seen the school close-up we may be heading for a school of choice next year.... I am dealing with my first year of PTAs and public education in our area. What I find most amazing and offensive is how closed minded the school’s clan is. They may say they want parental involvement but if you go in there with a new set of eyes and questions asking how and why things are done one way as opposed to another way – watch out! You quickly become parent-non-grata. They can’t really give you answers and make you feel like somehow you’re the crazy one. I realize this is why so many simply stop attending meetings etc – they don’t have the time or energy for the long haul it takes for change. It’s sad but I guess we’re right behind 3cmum and after having seen the school close-up we may be heading for a school of choice next year….

]]> By: 3cmum http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-56452 3cmum Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:07:17 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/#comment-56452 I chuckled when I saw Chicagomama's comment about it. I read it last year (my eldest is in 2nd Grade) and I'm on the parent board (Note it is not a PTA). Both books are a good read and I will reread as needed - when I get them back. I found it quite comforting in a weird way as it helped me navigate the dynamics. But then again I would be classified as a floater. Was in HS, am now too. And yes working parents do get screwed. I was initially and am not now which is why i'm involved. Its hard but you have to fight back. There should not be discrimination either way. But its hard to please both camps. Mind you having done the parent board thing...we're now leaving the school as I've found out far too much about how the dynamics work that I don't want my kids there. For the next school...am keeping my head down for quite a while. I chuckled when I saw Chicagomama’s comment about it. I read it last year (my eldest is in 2nd Grade) and I’m on the parent board (Note it is not a PTA). Both books are a good read and I will reread as needed – when I get them back.

I found it quite comforting in a weird way as it helped me navigate the dynamics. But then again I would be classified as a floater. Was in HS, am now too.

And yes working parents do get screwed. I was initially and am not now which is why i’m involved. Its hard but you have to fight back. There should not be discrimination either way. But its hard to please both camps.

Mind you having done the parent board thing…we’re now leaving the school as I’ve found out far too much about how the dynamics work that I don’t want my kids there. For the next school…am keeping my head down for quite a while.

]]> By: Sister Carrie http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/comment-page-1/#comment-56451 Sister Carrie Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:35:12 +0000 http://american-family.org/2007/10/12/queen-bees/#comment-56451 I'm laughing at your list of officers. Our PTA is like that too. Oh, and the accolades they give themselves at the year-end meeting! The comments are making me really sad because I've also seen the discrimination against working parents. I'm a little afraid to read that book. I’m laughing at your list of officers. Our PTA is like that too. Oh, and the accolades they give themselves at the year-end meeting! The comments are making me really sad because I’ve also seen the discrimination against working parents. I’m a little afraid to read that book.

]]>