Patents in schools LIP

[orriskitten]

DH sent me this article. I found it very interesting.

mobile.slate.com/articles/life/family/2013/09/ptas_and_bake_sales_why_volunteering_at_your_kid_s_school_does_not_make.html

I'm curious to see what you ladies think.

[katfco]

I think this article is very short-sighted, or at least badly edited. The author seems to be equating "parent involvement" with bakes sales and fundraisers. He also uses Finland as an example of limited parental involvement. They may not be asked to pay for anything, but this article says Finnish parents are very involved in schools: www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_17_b_1066527.html

I think the author is confused about what parent involvement means. I'm waiting for Abby's school to call me back this week or next so I can set up a schedule to volunteer, either in tutoring kids or just reading to them. How in the world can someone say that's detrimental?

[orriskitten]

I grew up in schools where the main parent involvement was donating to the pta. My mom couldn't join because she couldn't afford the dues. My mom also happened to be inn school for early childhood education, so she assisted a few teachers, but she was a rare exception.

I've never seen parents in the schools for anything but events like fundraising or to watch a show/performance/game. I thought this was the norm?

[katfco]

Sept 11, 2013 10:43:47 GMT -5 orriskitten said:

I grew up in schools where the main parent involvement was donating to the pta. My mom couldn't join because she couldn't afford the dues. My mom also happened to be inn school for early childhood education, so she assisted a few teachers, but she was a rare exception.

I've never seen parents in the schools for anything but events like fundraising or to watch a show/performance/game. I thought this was the norm?

I think it depends on the area you live in. My mom could rarely volunteer because she was either working or, in the early years, at home taking care of my brother. Often the only people who can volunteer are SAHMs who don't have other kids at home. The only way I'm able to volunteer this year is because I managed to find someone to watch Caleb--and it took me a year to do that.

The person I talked to at Abby's school said she had several parents calling to volunteer. A lot will help at lunch duty, classroom management or other staff duties.