The article 'sounds' like the reporter was female. If thats the case, I bet the arrticle would have had a much different (maybe less slanted) tone had the reporter been a male.
It is definitely NOT a representative of the whole gamut of parent associations across America, from my experience anyway. Conclusions are interesting and maybe even amusing but focused on too small a sampling and therefore amount to just that, and are not statisticallysignificant, IMO of course and without haveing all the data on which it was based.
HAHA maybe they should interviewd ALL the folks on these boards.......every org is run differently and demographics vary SO much. I think most parent groups are struggeling financially to do their best with what they have, and DONT have the 'problems' that the (affluent) ones cited, seem to be encountering. Man, would that ALL school parent groups have the same 'problems' (ie lots of monies to spend and the little power struggels and politics that come with it).
Anyway, made for interesting reading, together with the book cited. Its just not the 'norm' i think.

That numbers in that article made me feel like our group is so small. A $16,000 budget - compared to theirs. COMMITTEES???? I've heard of them. I don't think the group picture is fair or even the norm. Everyone in our group (all 7 of us) are S.A.H.M. doing the best we can with what we've got. When it comes to money, we run businesslike - but when it comes to action I think that emotion plays a bigger part in what we do. For better or worse.

hehe - meant to say moving isnt always an option

I agree somtime talkiing to bad mgmnt is a waste


Its a good article but way too negative a slant (even for me)

They could attract better admininstrators across the board if they paid them their proper due. But if the admin are in fact, the root cause of your schools problems, being vocal wont help solve anything. Sometimes moving IS the best option (or finding an alternative solution w/o moving). Good management is key. Talking to poor managemnent is a waste of time.

Big Business- agree

Schools and admin did a better job- parents wouldnt be a challenge, parents in REAL WORLD arent used to being told no (they usually arent told by morons) and can use another service, contractor, etc and their money and childs education isnt wasted; parents compalin (or go over someones head) becaue in the REAL WORLD accountability and service are key (I can switch banks, mortgage co, car delaers, restaurant) but if my school is run by idiots and the district isnt much better - the only way to change it is to be a "Pain" because finding a new school isnt an option

Experience in education- EVERYONE has it - a degree only makes you supposedly better at education. Administators, BOE and such that dont understand that are in for problems

more later gotta run.....

Cape dad...I know if that was my biggest mistake I would be queen of England by now...ha ha ha. Trust me!!! One of the things that I mentioned when talking with her was the increase of males in our group, this year we have seen a big increase, we even have one running for office-which is a first for us! That as well as how alot of parents work full time and make time for it, as our group is alot of working parents.Oh well!

Cape Dad I agree with needing to be responsible with your resources and the need to be like a business, we need to protect ourselves and our work. I thought that was the twist the story was suppose to take but guess not!

Now I guess I can give myself a pat on the back for my biggest misteak being the curtains, it is amazing all the info that I gave her and that came out...ugh!