Edited by: side of FRYs.

I think that you’ll find many of us could compile a list of our school and child related volunteer activities.

Thank you for your involvement. The PTA must be happy to have you (no sarcasm implied or intended).

I, like many GEBB members, have logged long hours (days, weeks, years…) of volunteerism in this area.

Also, you were not the blond spoke of in the prior post (or RMK is playing some kind of cruel joke on all of us).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: side of FRYs,

Side of Frys I truly think that you misunderstood me completely. I do not know anyone else on the GEBB. As far as I am concerned everyone is anonymous to me. By NO means did I insinuate that I am the only one volunteering. I simply meant that personally, I can not just sit around and make comments about the district without doing my part. My part may be attending BOE or PTA or volunteering. You know me and you know that I support your efforts 100 %. I also know that you have logged more hours than anyone else I know at the BOE. I understand and support your efforts. No, this is not a perfect system. I know this as I am writing a check to the Advocate that I hired last week. However, I do believe that change is coming. It is too bad that you missed the last SERC meeting. As for the comments that started this thread, I am with her and totally agree that more people should send their letters and make those phone calls. I also agree that the District and Ann need to know the parent concerns and the parent expectations. Yes, there are teachers in my school that I would not want, but on the whole, very few. What is the solution ? I think we could probably find this in any district you go to. Look at the health care system. That is where I work and I can tell you that there are doctors out there that I would not take my pet to. Yet they are still working and remain in the system. It is life. Not fair, but the way it is.

I agree with the post about the benefits of volunteering and spending time at the schools. In fact, I've learned a lot from just the few times I've volunteered this year already.

But we should remember that not every Mom or Dad has the luxury of being able to take time off work to volunteer at their kids schools. They might have no choice but to rely on the paid professionals who are in charge of their kids education during the day.

On another note, don't be surprised to find that there might be some negative feelings still lingering out there about the PTA, from the last referendum attempt. I know of a few people who were really upset that money WE donated for programs and initiatives for our kids, ended up being donated to the Growing D41 group, (they headed up the Hadley super-school efforts). As we now know, that referendum failed miserably by almost 80% saying No.
This was NOT a good (or fair) use of the funds we donated and it should not happen again.

RMK lovingly refers to his wife as the "Stunning Blond."

Hi, I was not around for the referendum, so I admit that I may feel differently about things had I been here.
I do understand that working does stand in the way of involvement for some. Fortunately at our building, the meetings are in the evenings.
I may have been a little harsh last night. After spending the day at the school and learning of the unfortunate events of the morning and the terribly sad situation for a D 41 family, I had a hard time supporting the thoughts that our District is We against Them.
Whether we have all day K or half day , just didn't seem all that important yesterday.

Man, I've been volunteering at Lincoln for nearly 5 years, and I don't remember any Cocktail Parties. Ice Cream Socials, sure, but Cocktail Parties?

...I've been robbed...

quote:

Originally posted by Wm. Schumacher:
...I've been robbed...

At least your name hasn't become synonymous with getting a raw deal in WS' eyes.

Yes, I feel completely Herbolded!

quote:

Originally posted by D87parent:
I agree with the post about the benefits of volunteering and spending time at the schools. In fact, I've learned a lot from just the few times I've volunteered this year already.

WSJ article reinforcing that viewpoint.
The School Volunteer Jobs That Most Help Your Kids

Interesting article....though I did not see PTO Gift Wrap Co-Chair on the short list.

I skimmed this thread. It's a Holiday feel-good tradition for me to read the GEBB threads to find people to add to the Naughty List.

I could only skim, because of my blood pressure, but the subject of criticizing Kindergarten teachers in D41 is deplorable. I have a Kindergartner now, and 3 others in the past: 2 special needs foster kids, and K reader who is in advanced classes. I also had a child in the PreK program, and those teachers are all going straight to Heaven. They are all so gifted. Each child was taught at their level, each given personal attention by the Angels who lead the classroom, and aids who have to sit on the floor in the hallways during learning break-out sessions, because there is nowhere else for them to work.

For those of you who want full-day K, that seems like a good idea, but are you willing to host Kindergarten classes in your homes? Should we put up more portables for these classes? Please tell me you aren't the same folks who voted against a building solution. That would be funny.

I know the purpose of the GEBB is to grumble and belly ache, but you should all be ashamed of yourselves. I certainly hope none of you name any teachers specifically, such that they'd ever read this. I'm sickened by this.