As a teacher at a Florida school, I can tell you that if you are having a problem with what you are being asked to do to help, then you need to say something to the teacher. I wouldn't be overly aggressive about it, but maybe suggest that you would really like to help the students in a different way such as reading with a few students or helping with spelling, vocabulary or math skills practice. I can tell you also that many of the "fun" activities that we as children were given to do, simply don't fit in with the lessons we are mandated to teach. Because of FCAT (many states, but not all have their similar tests), we have had to cut out a lot of activities that aren't considered "educational". What educational value is there in making snowflakes to decorate the classroom? How does this prepare our children for the all important test? (please note the sarcasm)

I have a room parent and many times I ask her to help with bulletin boards. If it weren't for her, we wouldn't have as many cute/fun displays in our room. I still hang the children's projects that relate to our educational goals, but even there we are limited....only 20% of our walls may be covered in flammable materials, i.e. paper.

And while we also are a five star school, that isn't nearly as important as our school grade which is based on our FCAT scores. Yes, the school gets money for being an A school, but that money does not go to SAC. It's purpose if for the faculty. Our SAC gets money based on the number of students enrolled.

I know I'm rambling, but I do have one other thing to put out there for all room parents. The teacher is already spending countless hours preparing lessons. Maybe the teacher hasn't gotten a chance to plan how you can help best. If you really like working with the kids, be proactive and suggest how you feel you could best be used.

My two cents,

Mom of two school-agers, 1st grade teacher, PTO Pres., and active SAC member

Does your school or district have a written volunteer policy? Ours does that defines what parent volunteers are allowed to do.

Our teachers also have the kids do items for school decorations as art projects. Parents can be ehlpers with the art projects or help hang them when all finished, but they don't do them instead of the kids.

thanks for that explanation, grh!!! what an earfull. public school admin is rife with things such as your star system, every state has their own, or similar but with a different name. know that you are not alone.

but at least, you are lucky to have some control, ie if they wont give you more meaningful work in the class, you can always choose to politely decline to spend your time there and donate it eslewhere. (and the kids WONT suffer if moms arent there to cut snowflakes, its not like the teahcer has lost an asset if you dont go there for such work!!)

It takes an enormous leap of faith to expect the people who caused our problems to solve our problems.(unk)

Yes, you didn't bore us. Information is power, right?!?! It sounds like yet another well intentioned initiative has gone awry. And it sounds like your school is going way overboard. So, twice as many hours as students? That means each parent only needs to give one hour. Or, adding to the burden of being a single parent - two hours. A very attainable goal. Two Hour Power!

Schools are so desperate for money that it's hard to blame them for doing whatever it takes to get more. In theory, it's hard to find a problem with such a "highly successful" program. Your school must look great on paper. And the benefits they're receiving from it will be impossible to give up.

I guess the challenge is redefining "successful" so that they still reap the rewards but the focus is put back on the students' education. Perhaps there are other activities outside of the classroom that parents could help with? Inventory the library, help maintain the landscaping, reading buddy, AR test monitor, things like that?

"Both the letter and spirit of the school improvement and accountability legislation are built upon the active involvement of parents, guardians, business people, and other community members in an effort to improve Florida's schools. The legislative intent is to return the responsibility for education to those closest to the students. That is the schools, teachers, and parents ... the Commissioner of Education ... established the Five Star School Award.

[There are many requirements to satisfy, here are 2]

- A minimum of 60% of families are involved in a positive way in the school more than once during the year.
- Total number of hours in volunteer service equals twice the number of students enrolled in the school. (Any volunteer activity that contributes to student improvement may be counted.)"


This is a pretigious award - and it appears often on school literature. To qualify, a school has to undergo a kind of 'home study' and meet various requirements - one of which is having a School Advisory Committee or SAC. SAC gets money from the state. It is the 'bonus' that teachers get for getting their kids to pass FCAT, but it doesn't go to teachers only.

5 Star is linked to SAC and SAC $. But, there is not a (volunteers hours = dollars) direct relationship to the school. You need the 5 Star to get the most $, but the stars alone won't get you there.

Is anyone still awake?

when my children were in K I was in the hallway helping with reading and math skills and went on field trips. The same in first and second. In third things relaxed a little, my first exposure to busy work. Fourth was more like K and 5th is more like 3rd. The difference in my opinion is the teacher and their teaching style. I have never heard of the fact that a district gets $ for parent volunteers from the federal government and I have been a PTO leader for 4 years now. Can you prodive adittional info on that?