Do you have kid(s) in school? Do you participate in/at school?

[uppityperson]

Poll question: Do you have kid(s) in school? Do you participate in/at school?

This is a 2 parter generated by the home school thread. I see many problems with public schools from funding to staffing to inadequate teachers to lack of parental and community involvement.

I know many teachers, some of whom are wonderful and are able to teach, some of whom want to teach but don't have the qualities and capabilities to be an effective teacher (a very tough job to be sure), some of whom are waiting for retirement (thankfully few of the latter).

I have watched monies decrease and be wasted in ways that make no sense for the overall goal of education. I have watched class sizes increase to the point that so much time is wasted in getting people to simply settle down.

I have seen parents who are involved by volunteering in classes, or getting on the teachers assistant sub list, or run for school board. I have seen parents who attend school board meetings, who volunteer to take middle schoolers on outings (my hat is off to them. If I had a had), who bake cookies or help with fund raising projects, etc etc etc. I have seen kids whose parent have never done any of that, or only a tiny amount. I have seen a 3 yr old toddling to school looking for older sib since parents were passed out at home. I have seen kids whose parents have never been to the school they are attending because they don't care enough to, have also seen kids whose parents are unable to but do what they can otherwise.

I have heard people say "I have no child in school, why should I pay taxes or help out?" I have heard people say "I have no child at all, I want to help out as children are our future."

I have more than 1 of my choices, if you do, please pick the one that most closely resembles you, or else feel free to explain in reply. Thank you.

There are many problems with public schools. There are all sorts of people.

Do you have any children in school? Do you participate?

Thank you

[uppityperson]

1. no kid currently in school, actively participated when did and still actively participate

which is a combination of 2, can never get the options just right

[Brickbat]

2. Kids in school, actively participate. Our district has excellent participation, IMO. It's a small

town and everyone does what they can.

[sakabatou]

3. No kids, but while I was in school I participated.

[femmocrat]

4. Kids have graduated, but I actively participated when they attended.

And I am a teacher! :) Both of my kids attended the district where I teach.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. No kids in school, active while they were, support fundraisers etc today

The administration was not real pleased about some of our participation.

[seabeyond]

6. by the time my oldest was freshman in HS i started doing less. but my youngest is 8th grade

this year so still participate with him

[Dappleganger]

7. Two kids left in school, have always actively participated.

Serving on SAC again this year, reading tutor and homeroom sponsor. We have two other kids who have graduated. Parental participation in our school district is extremely high, and expected to remain this way. Teachers lean heavily on parents and for the most part I think it's positive. Our school ratings are the highest in the state, with our elementary school an 'A' since it first opened over 13 years ago.

IMO parental participation is contagious...some are shy at first, but once they see others doing it, how they do even a little while two parents work they see that it can be done. The emphasis is on effective actions which don't waste time, not busy work and the most people will be able to participate and use.

[frazzled]

8. No kids in school anymore, but actively participated for 12 years

In elementary school volunteered at least once a week in children's classrooms (e.g., in charge of leading high-level reading group in library assignments, given Hmong (new American) first graders to help with language and math, read one to two chapters a week every week for a year to a second-grade classroom, individual tutoring of 4th-6th graders as teachers needed, etc.) Also served as member of Building Advisory Council to principal.

In high school worked twice a week for three years with students who had failed state's high-stakes graduation tests (mostly non-native speaking students, but also some minority kids). Also worked once a week in school's career and college guidance center.

Junior high there seemed to be few volunteer opportunities. Can't remember why.

[maddezmom]

9. 2 kids in school and actively participate

:hi:

[LWolf]

10. Other:

I have a grandchild in school. I, and my son/his father, actively participate. That participation takes a variety of forms. I'm a teacher, so I'm in my classroom, not his, during the school day. I communicate with his teachers, though, and they know they can contact me at any point. I also taught him to read the summer before kindergarten, and work weekends and summers to fill any gaps and make sure he is actively reading and thinking. I donate a large tub of classroom supplies. His dad works nights, and is asleep during school hours. He communicates with teachers by email, checks in regularly for updates, and supervises homework.

I put 2 children through public education. I was an active participant the whole way.

I have always welcomed all parents into my classroom. When I taught primary grades, I often had 5 or 6 at a time, and was grateful to have them. Now that I teach middle school, I rarely see parents. We get a rare parent here and there. I wish I saw more of them. Still, most at least feel comfortable contacting me with questions and concerns; my inbox sees high traffic.

[uppityperson]

11. When my child reached middle school, he requested I participate less because,

after all, he didn't want people knowing he had a mom. Except after school when the "mom bus" would drive all over. Or providing loads of food for the locusts. But I digress.

So I found other ways to participate in the younger grades at another school. It all worked and it is good to be involved with community, to be part of community.

You are a middle school teacher? I hold you in awe. Younger kids I can deal with, but hormone ridden angsty pre/early teens? Good job.

[LWolf]

24. Hormone ridden angsty pre/early teenagers need to be loved too,

lol. They need teachers who will spend all day every day with them and love them anyway.

:hi:

[MerryBlooms]

12. We participated while ours were in school

From pre-school on - classrooms, field trips, fundraising, PTO, Odyssey of the Mind co-coaching, parent-teacher meetings, I chaired our elementary school's LSC, library, worked in and then was the admin. for our before/after care program, etc... we also split the team mom and score keep duties for our sons' baseball teams. We generally had high parent participation, but there was a core group who you could always count on - they were great and you could always count on them to help with the head lice checks.heh

[FreeJoe]

13. Wife is a full time volunteer

My wife is a SAHM. My kids are in elementary school. She has a virtually full time job volunteering for the school - helping with the library, yearbook photographer, PTO secretary, set and costume design for plays, ambassador for new people to the area, and on and on. There are lots of other parents (including at least one SAHD) like this. The school has access to all the volunteers and money it needs for everything. I took off from work to go on a field trip last year and there was roughly a 1 to 3 ratio of chaperones to kids.

On the flip side, we have schools in the district that can't get parent volunteers for anything. Instead of having a high percentage of stay-at-home parents, they have a high percentage of single, working parents. They are struggling to meet their kid's basic needs like food and shelter. The luxury of spending days working on cakes for a bake sale or costumes for a play is a fantasy life they can't live.

My kids will probably go through their entire school career without meeting more than a handful of other kids that aren't college bound. Across the tracks (literally) in our district, a lot kids will go through school without ever seriously seeing college as an option.

I have no idea what the right solution is. Sending more money to poor schools certainly helps, but it doesn't really substitute for volunteers. It doesn't read to kids every night when they go to bed.

[uppityperson]

21. I agree that there are a lot of people who don't have time or money to participate, but

also think those who can should. Be part of your community. Participate in raising the next generation.

[blueamy66]

14. no kids in school

interned at an alternative jr high school during my senior year of college...loved it

I went to private school....parents paid tuition and volunteered (mandatory)....they still had to pay taxes for other kids' public school education

I don't know how I stand on this issue...alot of variables....

[w8liftinglady]

15. I participate at my kid's school and my partner's school.

...but I'm lucky- my schedule allows it.

[TwilightGardener]

16. Kids are in high school now, no longer participate as when they were little

and there were bake sales, class parties, etc.

[TBF]

17. Define "participate" --

I have some health issues so I tend to not give my time, but I give generously in terms of donating to the fund-raising efforts in their schools (one public and one private right now), and also their activities. One of the activities includes other parents I particularly like so that's the one I tend to actually give both time and money to.

We've had teachers/administrators that we both like and dislike at both of the schools we deal with. As for teachers we don't like, we had one last year and I figured it was a good lesson for my daughter in learning to deal with folks you don't care for so much. She still did well academically and was generally positive, even if she didn't love the teacher as much as some in previous years. It's a learning experience.

[Arugula Latte]

18. Kids in school; actively participate.

Our youngest is no longer in elementary school so things are changing. However, I've been a room mom, planned and put on class parties and helped with class parties, co-chaired the fund-raising committee, tutored kids in reading and math skills, gone on countless field trips, helped set up and run the school carnival, helped at field days and Run-for-the-Arts several times, helped prep school beautification/fundraiser project off site, helped with special art projects and reading fundraisers and garden plantings, watered the garden for part of the summer, spent hours and hours in the copy room (with temperamental copy machines -- aaargh!), donated services to the school auction, helped set up for the auction, served food at Multicultural Night and supervised projects at Art Night, prepped countless classroom assignments, created flyers for school concerts, prepared countless food dishes for events like Grandparents' Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Kindergarten Orientation, and Book Fair ... and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. My husband has also helped out. I think it is invaluable that our kids see us as interested and involved in their education and their lives.

[humankarenball]

19. Kids have been out of school for a few years

I was a very active participant when they were in school. Still actively volunteer helping to coach speech & debate and to judge at tournaments.

[WCIL]

20. When my kids were in school

I volunteered every Friday morning to make copies for the teachers. I also chaired the school picnic, ran the book fair, was president of the Grade School Association, and was volunteer librarian for many years which took 3-4 afternoons/week. My husband (and many other dads) took time off work to drive on field trips and be guest readers in different classrooms.

My husband, my now adult children, and I all attend "Special Persons Day" a few times a year at my nephew's school in order to be the buddy of a child who doesn't have an adult who can attend with him.

[krabigirl]

22. Kids are too young for school, but when I went, my parents were barely involved. I preferred it.

Got straight As. My mom did help in the library, but that is it. I will most likely do a bit more, but I won't be one of those busybody types.

[uppityperson]

23. You can volunteer in a class that doesn't include your kids, or somewhere else

Even in the office, helping do office work. Or make copies/etc for a teacher. Field trips. Attend school board meetings. Attend PTA meetings.

[HappyMe]

25. When my boys were in school,

I did participate. Was a teacher's helper for art classes & a regular chaperone for field trips. :D I loved every minute of it.
When they reached high school age, I still participated a little. Eventually, at the boy's request I stopped. I stayed involved in the local outdoor ice rink and the hockey program.