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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Seems like some people in Ohio think I’m a slacking, uninvolved mom.
Well, not me per se, but moms like me. Moms who constantly juggle jobs and kids and grocery shopping and making dinners everyone will eat and somehow – gasp!! – aren’t able to volunteer at their kid’s school during the school day.
(Let’s pause a moment while I get settled up here on my soap box. Don’t get up here much, but this time I’m up here proud and tall.)
A Representative out of Cleveland has a bill in the Ohio legislature that would basically make it a crime if parents don’t regularly volunteer at their child’s school. The only things that count – according to the bill – would be time in the classroom, lunchroom, on field trips or doing other jobs that help the district during the day.
For those horrible parents (being facetious here) who can’t get away during school day, they’d be slapped with $100 fine. Let me say that again – They’d be slapped with $100 fine!!!! And ... if the parents don't pay the money would be deducted from their income tax refund. (I can't even believe I'm writing this!)
Now you may be saying, “That’s in Ohio, three states away, what in the Hell is Laura so crazy about?” Well, if it can happen there it can happen anywhere. If a Representative from Cleveland thinks this is a good idea, who’s to say one from Kansas City, St. Louis or Wichita wouldn’t?
That said, let me spell out why I think this is a very bad idea. So we’re going to start forcing parents to be involved? Threaten them with a fine if they aren’t?
Yeah, that’s what we want, a mom or dad in the classroom who’s ticked off they’re being forced to be there. Nice family atmosphere, huh?
Shouldn’t we have parents in the classroom and at school who want to be there?Who can be there regularly? Call me crazy but that seems reasonable. And, HELLO, the word is "volunteer" isn't it?
Then there's this: If a parent doesn’t volunteer during the school day, is that suppose to mean they don't care? That they’re not involved in their child’s life? (This soap box thing isn’t so bad. Sometimes it’s good to purge all the negative things we’re feeling… Here comes some more.)
Whether you stay at home or work outside the home, sometimes being at the school during the school day isn’t feasible. No matter how much you really want to be there.
I’ve always wanted to be the mom who spent a few hours a week at my son’s school, but it just hasn’t been feasible. So to compensate, I do whatever works with my schedule as often as I can. I take vacation days to chaperone field trips. I spent two years on PTO helping run the hospitality committee – cooking for deserving teachers is something I can do at night when the kids are in bed. Now, though I’m no longer a chair, I still cook or bake something nearly every month.
This year I’m also a co-room mom and take off work for every holiday party. And when special things come up, I rearrange my schedule a little, like when I took a late lunch when my son was in the school Spelling Bee.
I’m at school quite a bit, but I'm afraid that my actual room time wouldn't add up to the collective 13 hours the proposed Ohio law would require. And the bill isn't clear on whether Dads would have to "volunteer," too. First, we'd be paying $100, then there's the shame of actually breaking a law and basically being labeled an uninvolved parent. The whole idea makes me a little crazy, as you can tell.
Please tell me this sends you over the edge, too? If we legislate volunteering, what's next?
(OK. I'm jumping down from the box now. ... I do feel a little better. But I still have a few words for a Representative out of Cleveland.)
That is just nuts! It's wrong for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus, think about all those schools where there's already no/little parental involvement. In lots of those schools, it's already an economic issue. They'd never be able to enforce it--the parents who couldn't afford it either wouldn't have the money to pay the fine, or wouldn't make enough money to take it out of their taxes either!I'd like to see a link or some reading material to what you are refrencing. But, my thoughts are that this will never come to a head. There are just too many things wrong with it.What about the moms and dads with younger siblings still at home. Am I supposed to lug my toddler along to my older kids classroom? That wouldn't be distracting at all.... (sense sarcasm dripping from mouth)Holy Cow. I have six children, would that be 13 hours per child of volunteering? I only have three to be school aged next year, but still. Wow. I think parents should be involved in their kids' lives but this is amazing and hardly fair. Do grandparents count? I can see it now, thousands of mothers getting grandparents who are retired to substitute. I believe this bill cannot make it, it just makes no sense.Wow...what's next...community service for not stepping up to coach your kid's little league team? How about a fine for not volunteering to help out the local food pantry? Or a fine for not cleaning up cans off the side of the highway? Oh, and...how are they going to collect those fines if people get fired for having to miss so much work to volunteer?! PLUS...Don't get me started on the "volunteering at school" thing. When I worked outside the home and I was buried in work that I frequently had to take home to get finished, I didn't have anyone lining up to volunteer to help ME out...(sorry, I know I probably just offended a few teachers out there, but...).I agree with Risarenee-- this thing won't pass too many holes in it. It' crazy - simply said. I did volunteer in my DDs classroom and dragged a preschooler with me-- BIG HONKING MISTAKE that I won't do again. Go ahead and fine me. Good soapboxin' Laura.I do not feel that parents should be obligated to volunteer. My child is only 3, so I have not had to participate in school yet, but I think it should be up to the parent. I work full-time as a receptionist, and it is very hard to get away from work. When my son starts school in a couple years I will be involved in his school, but I do not want to feel like I have to otherwise I have to pay a fine. Thats just rediculous!!!Thank goodness I'm not alone in thinking this is crazy. I wanted to post a link to a story about this, but I had to pull tidbits from several stories because there's nothing comprehensive (could be because the bill is so vague). A lot of the good information is on blogs. And I agree, it likely won't go anywhere. But the fact it had any legs at all is mindboggling.And here I was this morning, feeling guilty because I can't drive my kid to the math comp, since it's in the middle of the day and I took a lunch on Friday to pick up the kids for an early out, two Friday's in a row is a bit much. I just can't imagine who in their right mind would think this is good? I would think it infringes on some right, telling me I HAVE to volunteer during specific times! I volunteer because I want to, but it also has to fit around my work, sorry. It would cost more to police this craziness than the children would get out of it!Cleveland doesn't rock on this issue... Sounds like this "line leader" spent too much time in detention or inhaling chalk fumes growing up. ... Too late to "teach" the parents, focus on the children!If I lived in Ohio, I would be highly peeved that my elected officials were wasting time and money debating this issue when there are more pressing issues, like state budget shortfalls and scant school funding and highways and bridges that need to be replaced.Thanks for jumping on your soap box and bringing this issue to us! I agree that it's crazy and too full of holes, but crazier things have happened (like light rail finally being approved then left to sit and fester). I too am one of those mom's that has two kids in elementary school, but works full time and cannot be in the the classroom a lot. I always sign up to help with holiday parties, whether it's sending in something, calling parents or even taking off work to attend and organize. It's sad and foolish that someone in government would think that parents don't volunteer at school simply because they don't want to. I'd like to see him include in the bill that businesses have to let parents take time off work for these 13 hours and not dock vacation or sick time. The bill will die even quicker then. Also, the point about parents who SHOULDN'T be allowed in the schools (couldn't pass background checks) is a great one.I am a parent who volunteers and we do need more volunteers, but as you said, who wants angry parents there! Maybe they could do a tax credit for those who do volunteer if they really want to do something to get more volunteers? Crazy though!I completely agree that parents who are able should be involved in what's going on in their kids' lives. Helping out at school is great for those who are able. But, here's another thought...what about if schools simply had enough funding to hire the teachers and aides necessary to do all the work!!Seriously!?! I also have a toddler and another on the way which makes it hard to help out at my son's school. He's only 4, so in preschool, but I usually have to ask my husband to take off work so he can be with my 2yo while I volunteer. Not sure what I'll dowhen #3 gets here. Can't exactly take a newborn to school now can you, oh and can I breastfeed there? I also agree with the background check coment- scary that people who can't pass that would be forced to help out in our kids' schools!Seriously...there are kids in the school who's parents can't afford to buy them lunches so the kids go hungry...and they're worried about parent volunteers?I found this link from local6.com (hope it shows): http://www.local6.com/education/ 15775391/detail.html Seems a big waste of time even considering it. So why not give incentives (by the school, not via legislation) to parents who volunteer in any way possible--day or night-- by giving a "pass" on fundraisers or something? Not that we need a pass as we can all decide if we will participate or not. But it might get more volunteers to come in if they knew they wouldn't be asked to buy yet another cookie dough tub.
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