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PTO Seeks To Lure Parents To Meetings
by Riquee Blackman Jarmon | Nov 11, 2009 1:38 pm
(5) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Schools
Almost 700 students attend Conte West Hills Magnet School. Fifteen parents showed up for the schools Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting this week.
PTO member Tracey Harris—who did show up Monday night—called that a problem.
“I come from New Haven. I’m from the inner city, and I think education is your way out,” said Harris. “If we show our kids that we value education then they’ll value education.
Harris and her fellow PTO members ended up talking a lot about why parents don’t show up—and what could lure more of them to meetings.
One idea: Have kids entertain. That might help.
“We all find time for entertainment, to go to the movies, to get our hair done, to get our nails done,” said Harris. “So what is giving an hour a month for your child? To me, it’s sad.”
Parent Debby Sullivan agree that parent turnout could be better. She said parents who don’t show up may not be totally at fault.
“I don’t think it’s about the parents not caring,” Sullivan (pictured left with one of her daughters) said after the meeting. She said she thinks the attendance problem could stem from time conflicts.
Sullivan suggested the meetings be timed to coincide with afterschool activities. She said if parents are going to meetings at the same time activities are held, more children may get involved in activities as well.
Richard Sartini has three children who attend Conte. He said parents need to take responsibility.
“I see other parents stepping up, and it’s time to step up,” Sartini said after the meeting.
He was voted “sergeant of arms”; the small group giggled when no one could explain what the title means.Harris said he will serve as a functional leader, making sure meetings run smoothly and stay on focus. Sartini said he would research the title when he gets home, but he’s already thinking of solutions.
Harris, who has a son in kindergarten at Conte, said the PTO’s second focus is to raise money. She suggested a scratch-off type game to parents as a way for children to participate in fundraisers. Other suggestions included collecting water bottles and juice bottle tops for money and books.
Harris and Jerry Smart, also a parent of a kindergarten student and president of the PTO, agreed that the money should go towards technology—computers and media—and an annual field trip to reward the children.
Post a Comment
Comments
posted by: New and Improved on November 14, 2009 10:17am
15 out of 700? But TOC’s numbers seem to keep growing. I wonder why.
posted by: SMOKENMIRRORS on November 14, 2009 8:59pm
“Time conflicts”?? Please, it’s one excuse after the other. “I can’t drag all my kids on the city bus to come to school.” (But they drag’em on there to get to Wal*Mart.) ... “Two weeks notice of parent-teacher conferences isn’t enough time to get a babysitter.” (Yet they’re at school the moment a teacher looks the wrong way at their child.) WHAT A BUNCH OF NONSENSE. PARENTS: Own up to your responsibility and get involved with your child’s education and school. Stop making excuses, grow up and do what’s right by your child.
posted by: SMOKENMIRRORS on November 14, 2009 9:01pm
Posted by: New and Improved | November 14, 2009 9:17 AM
15 out of 700? But TOC’s numbers seem to keep growing. I wonder why.
—————————————————————————
Great observation. Absolutely dead on. Where is TOC on this? Education works both ways: PARENTS MUST BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
posted by: Debby Sullivan on November 15, 2009 4:30pm
We have a small number of involved parents and grandparents who have been at the school pto meetings and helping organize and run school fundraising and activities for a number of years now. One of the main questions we discussed was how to get more parents involved, which we all agreed was a problem.Some of the suggestions were meetings in the morning at drop off time(which was tried last year),holding meetings on the days parents are already picking their kids up at afterschool programs (Tues.,Wed.,Thur.)...this meeting was on a Monday,working with the student council and/or the school store on specific projects and even adding room parents to make parents aware of ways they can become involved in pto or other volunteer activities at the school.Entertainment was an idea to showcase our student talents whether it was a formal band concert or a less formal showing of our afterschool arts,dance,theater,writing or sports activities.The main goal was once again to welcome and encourage parents to participate in our school. We discussed the possibility that transportation may be an issue for parents (since it is a magnet not a neighborhood school )and lots of kids ride the bus both ways. This meeting also included our principal ,assistant principal ,2 teachers and a parent translating to non -english speaking parents.I am proud to be a parent at a school that addresses the learning and social needs of a diverse group of children and parents so, rather than compare this meetings numbers to TOC let’s work together for all our children’s benefit.
posted by: SMOKENMIRRORS on November 16, 2009 11:36am
Sorry, but any parent who needs to be “encouraged” to participate in their child’s school and education needs his/her head examined. If you as a parent need to be entertained or fed to be enticed to get involved with yoyur child’s school, then you have no business being a parent.
