mominct I am so glad that it worked for you, I think sometimes people need to see them in another person. What I did this year at k-Orientation with "I dont know anyone" I had them all stand up and for three minutes talk to the people around them, these are the people that they are probably going to be sitting next to at graduation in 13 years they might as well know them from the start.
I also had them all stand and I started eliminating tables to show how many would actually step forward to help the school. I think that woke them up a little. You need to get creative and catch people's attention...
I just wanted to thank PTO Today and "pals" for the great skit idea post I got from this Board. We had our Open School Night last night and I did an adapted version of his skit (copied below), trying to show parents and teachers that there is no excuse not to get involved. I also worked in our 2 Hour Power Kickoff into the skit and we had a GREAT response. Our school has 650 students; 59% free or reduced lunch, 72% minority, and 41% ELL (but much higher for parents) populations. Can you believe that we ran out of room on our sign-up sheets?! Thanks again PTO Today! Here is the skit...
You have five people up there with you, they are:
1-I don't have time
2-No one ever asks
3-I don't know anyone
4-Someone else will do it
5-it's not for me
These are the actual top responses to a survey that was done a few years back on why parents dont get involved.I cant remember who had done the survey but it was in a magazine or something like that.
as you introduce yourself these people are spread out. You talk about getting involved and go up to one person, you mention getting involved and they reply with their "name". then you get into the reply to their name!
1-I don't have time-you go into how you have part time workers, full time workers, night workers, day workers, single parents, stay at home parents, etc. It is nice is you can actually have one of each there with you so that the new parents can see that maybe they work full time at night but they could do this...
2-No one ever asks-This is a great time to talk about newletters , minute flyers asking for volunteers BUT what I do is say okay I am asking now! I also will get down and beg..okay that is funny right???
3-I don't know anyone-This is a excuse that is all it is. Look at all of your helpers and ask did you know me before the group? at out school the answer is usally NO! talk about the friendships you do build that can turn into life long relationships.
4-Someone else will do it-I once read that three out of ten parents will volunteer with the pto or classroom what about the other seven? I always use those numbers, look at how many are at the table, have that percentage leave the table...that way they SEE that if you wont do it then most of the other people wont either. I have a great story about how our old pta would send home notices and i would put them aside thinking someone else would do it. the thing is that pta dissolved because of lack of people doing it...i got involved when they dissolved and I felt that I did nothing to help.
5-It's not for me-Im not one of them!!! Different personalities, different backgrounds can work together and have a great time. Is it about how you feel of is it about helping your child's school?
The whole skit is sort of an eye opening thing, you are taking the reason that they have in their head and calling them on it. Okay that is your reason have you thought the reason all the way through?? Have fun with it. It is funny when the people you are asking may have that little bit of attitude when they say "it's not for me-im not like you".
