Art and Music Vs. Walk a Thon

I joined the Parent's club at my son Quinn's Elementry School. The first meeting was tonight and I was excited to meet the people who were involved and see where I could fit in. I just got home and I need to get some perspective from other parents with school age kids. Quinn is in Kindergarden.

The gal who organizes the Walk-a-thon asked for a motion to be granted $3000 for a budget to ensure that every kid in school gets a walk-a-thon tee shirt instead of only those who got $50 or more in pledges, because the kids like getting shirts for what they participate in, and everyone agreed as there is plenty of $$ for that and because the walk-a-thon generates about $6000 before the expenses are deducted. We all agreed this was good. This budget also includes other expenses associated with the walk-a-thon. No problem whatsoever.

The gal who is the Chair for the Art Masterpiece program which teaches the Art in classrooms as well as the music program asked for $500 to get her program started out for this school year. There was a lengthily discussion as to why she asked for money when she already has $3,238 left over from last year to buy supplies with for the whole school for this school year. We're talking actual classroom subjects that need funding and it's being questioned. It was finally approved after a discussion as to why the $500 was requested.

Needless to say you are looking at the new art and music volunteer teacher for Quinn's class. 

WTF?! Any input you have on your experience with this ridiculous type of parent club nonsense would be appreciated. Everything was sunshine and candy for me until this point in the meeting. I then became slowly disgusted. Not even an eyelash to allocate $3000 for shirts and otterpops but a debate over $500 to start off the art and music programs. Disgusting.

-Sara

Easy answer...self-serving politics. Nice pix, Sara.

Thats awesome Sarah, I have some stuff you can use, a big easel for 1, $3000 for shirts? How many kids are in the school? I would say the first project is making a bunch of shirts, probably save $2800 for math and logic books for the adults.

I would say the first project is making a bunch of shirts, probably save $2800 for math and logic books for the adults.

lol....sounds like a worthy effort.

Good job Sara.

My best piece of advice is to keep on going to the meetings and make your voice of reason heard. Schools parent clubs, school site councils etc can easily get hijacked by a small group of parents who want things done their own way...

If no other parents speak up, the votes go in favor of the small group of participating parents and it can have a really serious impact on the school.

Proud of you, and you just motivated me to find out when the next parent meeting is at Valentina's school!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

My kids are now 27 and 32 so it's been awhile but seems much hasn't changed,

Good job Sara.

My best piece of advice is to keep on going to the meetings and make your voice of reason heard. Schools parent clubs, school site councils etc can easily get hijacked by a small group of parents who want things done their own way...

If no other parents speak up, the votes go in favor of the small group of participating parents and it can have a really serious impact on the school.

Proud of you, and you just motivated me to find out when the next parent meeting is at Valentina's school!!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

On the logic tree, I like the idea of every "participant" getting a tee, but from your writeup it seems 50% of the proceeds is going to shirts?

When I was your age I'd probably have been reluctant to say anything much, but from your story I think now at my age I would have been kinda disruptive in that meeting, 

Not sure how many kids are in that school but $3000 for shirts sounds excessive if not downright shady. (IE who profits from that expenditure?)

On a more positive note I applaud your involvement, my kids were fortunate enough that one of us could always participate in these types of activities and overall their schools always had great broad based parent support and it does make a huge difference.

And congrats on your new position!!!!

What about a collaborative between the 2 groups?
The Art program could come up with a cool way for the kids to make, paint, design their own Walkathon shirts.
Each participant could personalize a memento shirt and walk wearing their own art project.
This of course would mean that the separate groups would have to work together, thereby creating a harmonious
relationship at school.
Or, it could just turn into a huge overly discussed conundrum...

We could host a comedy event and raise money for the T-shirts! jk, sorta, I would for the kids in a heartbeat! Well done Sara, and the mojo you are making will pay big dividends OTW. (I am fishin with you!)

How long are those t-shirts going to last?  Not nearly as long as the fun of Art and Music which could influence children for the rest of their lives... 

What about a collaborative between the 2 groups?
The Art program could come up with a cool way for the kids to make, paint, design their own Walkathon shirts.
Each participant could personalize a memento shirt and walk wearing their own art project.
This of course would mean that the separate groups would have to work together, thereby creating a harmonious
relationship at school.
Or, it could just turn into a huge overly discussed conundrum...

  Why that's just Crazy talk! work together, save money, have the parents collaborate. Sorry, couldn't resist. Good going Sarah. I spent years trying to help the Calif school system. I learned one thing, you just have to let go, don't get too frustrated and just do as much good as you can.

Sara, good for you becoming involved with your kid's school culture! I'm just getting started with our almost 3yr. old in pre-"school" for the past year. I can't say that I'm looking forward to what you are going thru, and must admit that Ashley and I are seriously considering the home school option. With the current state of the public system and a bit of disdain for the private offerings we just might try it.

As far as the shirts vs. art debate, it seems kids glean what they will from their educational experiences, maybe a walkathon/t-shirt is just the thing that will instill a lifelong love of physical activity in a youngster. But, I don't think physical activity should come at the expense of an Arts and Culture program, as I feel creativity is one of the most important building blocks in a child's schooling.

I think you'll be a valuable asset to your kid's Art and Music program.

You are a good woman, Sara.

Thank you so much for the good advice and compliments guys!! We just got internet back so sorry for the late response!!

UPDATE:

Two days after I posted this thread, it was back to school night. There was a sign up sheet in front of the bathrooms/AP room on a table with people behind the table to answer questions. It was a sign-up sheet for Art and Music volunteers. Not one single parent signed up........ so after Quinn's class tour I signed my name hoping some other parents would see it and sign up too, so we will see what happens.

I talked a little with Lynn the Art and Music Chair, and she said that the school principal agreed that the questioning of the art funds in the meeting was out of the ordinary. She also said that I get to have FREE training for the teaching aspect of my volunteering!!! I am stoked. So I am going to take the good advice of not getting too worked up and just doing the best I can for the kids regardless of the self serving politics.

Ben--if you are serious about the easel, I will pick it up from you if you can bring it to red barn or if you are coming thru here any time between then. Thank you so much for the offer!!!

-Sara