Thanks, JHB. You are correct. Volunteers are welcome, but parents can't help in their own child's class. Your reasoning for the decision is probably sound, and, yes, I will ask the principal why they made the decision. Fortunately, my children have never been clingy and seem to be proud that other children will come to me for help. Photocopying is sent out to be completed, so I can't help with that. I will be attending the PTO meeting next week and see what their stand is on the matter.
If I understood the original post, the school WANTS volunteers just not to have a parent in her own child's classroom. We don't have this rule. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I can see how the policy might have come to pass. I think it's often true that, at least unless you get some ground rules established, the child is less self reliant as long as "mom" is around, and it can also be disruptive to the class. I don't get to volunteer as much as I would like, but when I'm there, my son has a tendancy to seek me out for answers rather than struggling through with the rest of the class. I'm pretty firm and the teacher is really experienced, but it does make for small distractions. If I go to get supplies from the resource room down the hall, my child wants to tag along. If he does, the others feel left out. Particularly with some of the kindergartners, I know I've seen teachers struggle with parents who want to stay in classroom (as volunteers) but actually end up helping reinforce their own child's dependence on their presence. (At the very beginning when separation anxiety is so bad.)
Again, I'm not saying I agree - I can just see how it might have happened. Overall, I'd imagine you'd have less volunteers, as it's certainly more attractive to work in one's own childs' room and to develop those unique relationships with the teacher.
Uscanuck, could you talk to them about how the policy came to be and how it might be modified? Could they change it once your child settles into class? Or could you do other work for the teacher outside the actual classroom? Our volunteers often work in the resource room doing copies, laminating, cutting out things. You'd still get some extra interaction with the teacher.
I think I would be asking the principal for an appointment to find out why they don't use parent volunteers. This is the first year in which I have had the opportunity to be at my daughters school. I quite working after the school year had started so I did not get slotted in as a "homeroom mom" but I believe I have a chance next year. We too have a couple of teachers in the school that do not seem to like help in their rooms but they do accept it sometimes. I don't think that I would be confortable with my kids in a school where I did not feel welcome in. What are their policies for visitors?
Believe it or not, I had the same thing happen to me in Colorado! We moved here from Iowa and I was going to stay home so I decided I wanted to help at my daughter's first school. The secretary at school looked confused when I asked for a volunteer form or where can I help? Our daughter now attends a charter school (more challengeing and smaller class sizes)and I signed a agreement to volunteer! My story is reversed but at the first school I just ended up asking around and ended in the library. The Principal was (and still is) a dork and never did understand nor really care why I was there or why I wanted to help. The lirarian loved me and was truly upset when I told her we were transfering schools BUT understood and wanted to come with me! My thought looking back, this school didn't want anyone to be 'milling' the hallways or disrupting the classroom BUT we need you to for feild trips to help us keep track of our students. (which goes better if the kids know your 'Johnny's' mom and listen to you!)
You can talk to the Principal, good luck. I personnaly would ask a teacher- MUCH DIFFERENT!
Have you talked to any of the other parents to find out why the school feels that way? If I were you, I would make sure the principal saw all the articles and studies on why parent involvement in education is so important. If the principal was not responsive, I would take it to the superintendent. (I believe very strongly that a parent should be able to visit a school at anytime. Otherwise it makes me wonder what they're hiding.) There are a lot of articles on this site (under The Latest News) that discuss the importance of family involvement.
My thought looking back, this school didn't want anyone to be 'milling' the hallways or disrupting the classroom BUT we need you to for feild trips to help us keep track of our students. (which goes better if the kids know your 'Johnny's' mom and listen to you!)