It is so true. I was asked, but no one came to me seeking me out as if I was a valuable member of the group. I did it on my own, but I really feel like if I was valued, if someone came and asked me, I would go more steadily to PTA meetings.
At my school, all the teachers are members of our PTO. But basically all this means is that we pay dues and go about our business. To my knowledge, no teacher ever shows up to PTO meetings. So while we were asked and we all "participated," we still aren't achieving the type of involvement that comes from a true PTO/PTA.
In my kids' elementary school, there is a big push at the beginning of the year to join the PTA with all the paper work that comes home, as well as at Back to School Night. A table is out there front and center when you walk in the school with people looking directly at you with the envelopes asking if you've joined yet. Creates a bit of peer pressure to go ahead and sign up if you haven't already. There is usually over 100% involvement (meaning more than one parent joins from each household). There is an outline of the activities planned for the year that goes out right at the beginning of the year. In addition to outlining events, there are specific requests for how you can help - emphasizing that you can be involved if you can only offer a few hours a year or a few hours a week. They list out very specific needs as well as the time investment estimate - that is extremely helpful to parents who are reluctant to "get involved" because they don't know what it will entail, so just don't do anything. A sheet is provided for you to fill out with check boxes next to what you'd like to participate in and how much time you have to offer - whether it's spending an hour a month helping re-shelve books in the library or on kindergarten lunch duty, an hour a week coming in to do copying work for teachers, or helping out once a year at home sorting t-shirts that came in for the fundraiser, to taking on a more intensive board position. When there are so many opportunities to help in small time increments, it is very difficult to say "I don't have the time to be involved." Our PTA meetings are held once a month. Each one has a grade level that participates somehow in presenting something, so you know you are going to get a majority of at least that grade level parents out for that meeting to watch their kids. Our teachers are great. I am always amazed at how many come to the PTA meetings. They are very supportive and as a parent it makes me that much more grateful to them that they are willing and care enough about the kids to spend yet more time with them. Kudos to them!
As I continue to think about teacher (and parent) involvement in the PTA, I can't help but wonder if it might help to not only ask them to participate, but show them how their participation can really affect what happens. Most teachers I know, and quite a few parents, would like a forum to share ideas and bring up ideas for improvement. Perhaps if you let ask them to participate and then ask them to share their voice about the school climate/policies/etc., they might be even more willing to participate. In my experience, giving people a voice helps them feel empowered and feel ownership over decisions that are made.
Multicultural Education is essential to helping students develop an awareness of their own culture and beliefs and also establishing how they will function as a part of the larger society. This approach educates the whole student and creates a safe environment for children to learn about their classmates. In order to facilitate true multicultural education, there must be a connection between home and school. Parent Teacher Associations can be a useful and effective vehicle to foster these important relationships between families and educators.
About us
We're five graduate students advocating the need for both parental and teacher involvement in our schools' PTAs in order to encourage multicultural classrooms.
It is so true. I was asked, but no one came to me seeking me out as if I was a valuable member of the group. I did it on my own, but I really feel like if I was valued, if someone came and asked me, I would go more steadily to PTA meetings.
ReplyDeleteAt my school, all the teachers are members of our PTO. But basically all this means is that we pay dues and go about our business. To my knowledge, no teacher ever shows up to PTO meetings. So while we were asked and we all "participated," we still aren't achieving the type of involvement that comes from a true PTO/PTA.
ReplyDeleteIn my kids' elementary school, there is a big push at the beginning of the year to join the PTA with all the paper work that comes home, as well as at Back to School Night. A table is out there front and center when you walk in the school with people looking directly at you with the envelopes asking if you've joined yet. Creates a bit of peer pressure to go ahead and sign up if you haven't already. There is usually over 100% involvement (meaning more than one parent joins from each household). There is an outline of the activities planned for the year that goes out right at the beginning of the year. In addition to outlining events, there are specific requests for how you can help - emphasizing that you can be involved if you can only offer a few hours a year or a few hours a week. They list out very specific needs as well as the time investment estimate - that is extremely helpful to parents who are reluctant to "get involved" because they don't know what it will entail, so just don't do anything. A sheet is provided for you to fill out with check boxes next to what you'd like to participate in and how much time you have to offer - whether it's spending an hour a month helping re-shelve books in the library or on kindergarten lunch duty, an hour a week coming in to do copying work for teachers, or helping out once a year at home sorting t-shirts that came in for the fundraiser, to taking on a more intensive board position. When there are so many opportunities to help in small time increments, it is very difficult to say "I don't have the time to be involved." Our PTA meetings are held once a month. Each one has a grade level that participates somehow in presenting something, so you know you are going to get a majority of at least that grade level parents out for that meeting to watch their kids. Our teachers are great. I am always amazed at how many come to the PTA meetings. They are very supportive and as a parent it makes me that much more grateful to them that they are willing and care enough about the kids to spend yet more time with them. Kudos to them!
ReplyDeleteAs I continue to think about teacher (and parent) involvement in the PTA, I can't help but wonder if it might help to not only ask them to participate, but show them how their participation can really affect what happens. Most teachers I know, and quite a few parents, would like a forum to share ideas and bring up ideas for improvement. Perhaps if you let ask them to participate and then ask them to share their voice about the school climate/policies/etc., they might be even more willing to participate. In my experience, giving people a voice helps them feel empowered and feel ownership over decisions that are made.
ReplyDelete