Even though I am really looking forward to Summer vacation this year, I can’t help but feel a little melancholy as the year comes to a close. I volunteer weekly at our school of choice and I will miss and worry about a lot of the children who I have encountered at school.Volunteering has been enjoyable, but almost did not happen. Long story short, I had to contend with a exclusionary PTO and a go-along Principle before I could even begin to volunteer doing the things I am capable of doing. Since my daughter is at this particular school on a waiver, the PTO felt that I was not a true part of that School’s community, therefore, I needed to be limited on what my participation in the school and PTO was/is.
Thankfully, there was one teacher, a tenured teacher, who did not have to care about what the PTO and the Principal thought and she made it possible for me to volunteer in her classroom. It is three years later and I am still volunteering in her classroom.
When I first started reading with her children, I only gave books to the children with the most problems. However, now due to the continuous and generous donations from my siblings (THANKS FAM), for the second year in a row, I am again able to donate a book to all of the children in her class.
At this time, I would like to thank the PTO for shutting me out and propelling me to find better, more effective ways to make a difference for my daughter and the children at her school. No gossip, no bullshit, I am there for the kids.Hey PTO, I see you looking - watch me work... Oh, and by the way, see ya next year!
6 comments:
Where there's a will, there is a way! Good for you! I would hope other parents take your lead. The little ones need all the positive reinforcements they can get.
Hey Ms. Emerge! Always got your back. Glad I could be of help. I have seen you come through this, and I am Proud!! Hang in there and throw it right back at them next year. They won't ever say it but they are glad you are there. We can either drown in a sea of spiteful jealous women or we can relish in the thought that they are saying, " That Bitch". Ha Ha you go girl.
Good for you! I really admire that you are willing to knock down the doors getting in the way of doing a good thing.
I can't believe anyone would give you "the business" for wanting to volunteer in the school. Do they have so many parent volunteers in 61603 that they cannot use more??? Strange approach to encouraging parent involvement in the schools.
You should see if you can't expand your idea and see if there is a grant available. Sounds like your are doing great work. Heck, think big and write Oprah and ask for some funding!
Thanks for the words of encouragement. The PTO had a hunkering down sort of mentality towards parents who had waivers, assuming that your zip code signifies your values. The best volunteers at our school work outside of the PTO - less drama.
MAWB has given me info on a friend of hers who gives books to schools. I like doing it on a small scale and donations from my large family have been good. It's really kind of selfish, because I get such a kick out of the kids being happy about books. Big fun!
Anybody can adopt a classroom, find out the need and do what you can to help. Don't let a PTO limit your ideas for volunteering.
Well done, Emerge. I ran into a similar situation when mine were younger. My kids still talk about the fun we had on parent helper days.
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