Working Mummies Support Group #3

[wysiwyg]

Glad to hear it is going well Mumma T.

Hope you can find something better soon (and in a different area if that is what you want) BD.

Congrats OP!!

People who have children at school - does your school have parents association meetings during the day? Do you go to them?

I am keen to be involved in the school where I can, but is very challenging when they have their first parents association meeting during the day and on the same day as an open classroom and picnic in the evening which I am already having to leave work early for. With travel time I would have to take day off work really to attend - I can't fathom why it is a good idea to have them in the daytime??

Back when I was a child, mum was always involved in the parents association or the PTA as was called in UK, but then (when there would have been far less working parents) they were always held in the evenings.

[Astrid]

People who have children at school - does your school have parents association meetings during the day? Do you go to them?

I am keen to be involved in the school where I can, but is very challenging when they have their first parents association meeting during the day and on the same day as an open classroom and picnic in the evening which I am already having to leave work early for. With travel time I would have to take day off work really to attend - I can't fathom why it is a good idea to have them in the daytime??

Back when I was a child, mum was always involved in the parents association or the PTA as was called in UK, but then (when there would have been far less working parents) they were always held in the evenings.

Held in the evening here. Most parents work in some capacity. Even if only one parent works, it opens it up to both parents being able to attend. There are many fathers on school council, whereas parents club seems to be all mothers.

There is one meeting held during the day and that is the Finance one, this is due to needing the business manager (Office) there.

I am school council and one sub-committee that is about building the school community (not a standard sub committee, but one those in the Dept want more schools to have). Would like to be on Finance, but the day and time does not fit with work (anyway 2 meetings a month is enough really )

[wysiwyg]

Held in the evening here. Most parents work in some capacity. Even if only one parent works, it opens it up to both parents being able to attend. There are many fathers on school council, whereas parents club seems to be all mothers.

See that is what I thought too, evenings would be the best option to get most people to attend. I asked about it in the starting school thread, and the answers I got about daytime meetings not being uncommon because night times are 'difficult' really surprised me (most of the difficulties with night-times are also faced by those who work in the day - but the fact is however difficult it is to work around meal-times and bedtimes etc etc - it is much easier than trying to get time off work.)

I am just surprised at how many things are scheduled during the school day (3 so far) (things that are supposed to be about people getting to know each other, giving out information and fostering as sense of community – not things that obviously have to be during school hours – like tuck shops etc) - is like there is an expectation that work is a thing that people can easily come and go from as they please, which can’t be normal surely? (certainly isn’t the experience of DH or I – or friends of ours (teachers being a prime example)).

The one on today I sent my mum on my behalf - and she thought was only about 20 - 30 parents there (the school has 600 pupils) - it was meant to be a welcome one for foundation parents too which I thought would have bolstered the numbers some what - she did find out that they do alternate the meetings daytime and evening - so I wonder what attendance they get in the evening - I would have thought that if they get double that in the evening then why do the day ones.