The origanial thought of this post was the fact that our school is adopting policies and rules outta the blue that make it ridiculously humorus to conduct PTO business.
Many of our policies started or came about because of maniac mom's marching into the school, disruping classes and yelling (I'm not kidding) at the teachers for whatever reason. Short of the long, many felt their safety at risk- the teachers. Also in an effort to 'streamline' the office and papers that come through many of that forms I use came about. I would love to talk to the Principal about this but I feel I want to be able to offer positive suggestions on how to better or improve than to go in and......complain (that's the PG word!)
In six months we have had five new women come through that office, for awhile there I knew more than they did! I would love to volunteer my time and knowledge but with a 3yr old and 20month old I just can't right now.
I am going to talk to the Principal about her Assistant as there are quite a few other issues that need to be addressed that I don't want to bring here.
This has been quite interesting! Thanks for the conversation!
I disagree. I think the topic of the thread is that we as parents need to recognize that the schools and their staffs are under TREMENDOUS pressures and that literally do not have the time to do the things like the toy drives and the cookie dough sales and all the other things that we ask them to do.
I have 8 teachers and one principal in my family (get-togethers are SO much fun), and they all say the PTO's just don't get how much work and disruption they cause teachers. Yes, we do great things for the teachers, but every time we ask them to take up money or interrupt their class, we take time from the things our children are really there for and the thing that teachers are evaluated on. I know that just sticking my head into the door to tell the teacher something disrupts the class for 5-10 minutes.
I see so many posts about how teachers are not involved in the PTO. This might be one of the reasons.
We also have a school secretary who at times can be less than helpful. But asking her to help rather than just expecting her to help makes a world of difference.
I am a parent first and foremost. Nothing means more to me than my children, but when they are at school, they are under that authority. I respect that.
I think the thread has lost the orginal question. I think it has to do with an administrative assistant POSSIBLY setting policy or rules. I disagree with anyone who says that the administrative assistant has no control of the rules. I've met a couple whose interpretation is subject to routine redirection by the principal.
I've heard the "Keep Happy Order of Succession" before and it is was the same as previously posted. BUT, we do pay the salaries, give the gifts, buy the lunches...... and these things should not be taken lightly. Though a little honey does go along way, I stress reason, logic and a direct line to the principal above all else.
I think the safety and security issues are important, but not the topic of this thread.
I think what we have to remember is that this is their JOB! The administrative assistent probably has as much control over the rules as the counter worker at McDonald's has over the prices. While it is nice to be appreciated, I would never for a minute forget that the prinicpal and his or her staff have the say-so in how the school is run. I appreciate the safety concerns and I appreciate the fact that they don't just let anybody in the halls without knowing they are in the school. It is disruptive and at times could be unsafe.
My mom was a teacher for 27 years in the school my children go to and my sister is a teacher there currently. I know everyone and everyone knows me. I still sign in and out of the school whenever I am there. If nothing else, I am teaching my children that the rules apply to everyone.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but in this day and age, I don't think the schools can be too careful. Recently in a neighboring school, a middle school child was picked up from school by a man she had met on the internet. Just a case where the rules were not followed.
Cathie, I think we've gotten off the beaten path. The issue of picking our kids up when we see fit isn't as much about security as it is about "rules". Schools these days seem to follow the "rules" to the letter, not because it is necessary, but because it will bust the you-know-what's of their slave volunteers. There seems to be a direct link between the school secretary having to retrieve a fax for me and then telling me I can't sign my kid out for an orthodontist appt. because I "didn't send in the proper note". See where this is coming from? The total and absolute lack of respect and appreciation from the administration in so many schools is appalling. Afterall, we are giving our time free of charge to better the school as a whole. Doesn't that deserve the least bit of consideration?
