I just can’t understand what the hell is going on with parents in Edgewood. I just attended a PTA meeting at Deerfield Elementary and there were the same four to five parents plus the Principal and Vice Principal at the meeting. In the past few years, this PTA has been run by just a handful of parents (under ten in total) and it baffles me.
I am frustrated because we have tried everything under the sun to get parents to come to meeting and see what’s going on in the school and participate in the PTA, but out of 510 students only ten parents participate.
Tonight there was a talent show tryout for 4th & 5th graders. I kid you not, that gymnasium was full of parents along with their children to come tryout in the pouring rain. Yet, not one of those parents in that gym has attended one PTA meeting in the past two years. I know this because the same parents have been in every meeting. In a whole school year you cannot make one meeting yet still you can attend a try out for a talent show that has absolutely nothing to do with your child’s future? Honestly, are these people for real? How can a parent send their child to a public institution and never attend meetings that are supposed to be for PARENTS and TEACHERS. Do these parents even know that the PTA is an organization for the parents?
I hear people complaining all the time about the teachers, principal and the staff but really, what right do we have to hold these employees to a standard when we don’t care? Who should care more for your child…you or a paid employee? When you go to work that’s your job but being a parent is a lifestyle. These are the same parents who, when its time for registration in the Edgewood Joppatowne Football and Cheerleading program, line up an hour before the doors open to ensure their children get a spot on the team…they attend every practice, which mind you is 5 days a week in August and two times a week plus a game after school starts. They never miss a game nor do they miss a practice come rain or shine and drive to competitions all over the state. Can they attend one PTA meeting? No sir… that’s not important enough.
Why oh why, someone tell me, even the kindergarten parents do not attend! It’s my thought process that maybe they will be excited about participating, but maybe, this is just a free daycare. I hate to even think about all the excuses that could come from parents after reading this article, but you know what I say to that? Poverty has nothing to do with caring and I beg to differ that the families at Deerfield are that poor. Drive down Willoughby Beach Road and see these wonderful houses that feed that school.
If you are wondering why the school’s MSA scores are so low, LOOK WITHIN YOURSELF!!! You do not care, so how can your children care? Do not blame the teachers, they can do but so much, but with your lack of concern those scores will stay the lowest in Harford County. I have been in other school districts and this is a disgrace. Shame on the parents of Deerfield Elementary!!!! You do your children a disservice and you should not hold the principal and teachers to a higher standard than you hold yourself, after all THEY ARE YOUR CHILDREN.
Cleopatra Simpson
Deerfield Parent and PTA Member
Amen! Lack of adult participation is killing Edgewood on educational issues and a slew of others. If only 30 members of Edgewood would commit to actively work with each of the PTA’s, Edgewood’s schools could become world class. As adults, we know how important an education is to our childrens’ future. This is one area we CAN NOT let slide. Come to the next PTA meeting and help your own children. I know my family will be there and represented. Let’s do what we can to improve our children’s future RIGHT NOW!
The schools in the Bel Air area have enormous PTAs. There is a huge correlation between parental involvement and academic success.
Started off kind of strong to get their attention, but she made the point.
Education is not the parents major concern.
The only reason they show up for the talent show and sport events is because the parents are being PUSHED by the kids and not the other way around.
And, since the kids are not pushing the parents to attend the PTA meetings, they don’t, since education is not as important to them or their kids…..
Little do they know, the kids of the parents who show up for these meetings are treated better by the teachers and the principal. Because the child is represented and the concern for the child well-being is quite evident.
Parents today play the reverse roll and let the kids decide what they want to do in life, and they don’t try to guide them, either because they themselves don’t know how to assist them or don’t care.
That’s why their 60 year old child is still at home and not working, living off of their parents social security. And, the parents can’t say a word because they did not properly guide their kids.
Certainly, if the parents don’t show concern for the important things like education, the kids, who most time don’t know better, will follow suit and will hate their parent later for not correcting or guiding them.
“Train a child in the way he/she must go and when he/she gets older, he/she will not depart from it”.
She made a valiant attempt, but I wouldn’t be surprise if the attendance to the PTA continues along the same vein or might change for a short time due to guilt, then revert back to the old ways….Can’t say we didn’t try to attend….
Perhaps the problem is that it’s Edgewood? Sorry, had to say what many are thinking. Amazed is right: the PTA at my son’s Bel Air school is huge.
Someone had to say it again. And again, and again.
My heart goes out to Cleopatra Simpson. Been there, done that. My kids are grown now, the last one graduated two years ago, but I faced the same frustration over a 20 year period.
I suggest she never gives up the fight, and can stay true to her convictions.
Cleopatra, Thank you! This does not hold true for Deerfield only. It is in every school. It is always the same core group of parents that get involved and advocate for their children as well as everyone elses. It is a real shame that many parents rely on others to raise and advocate for their children.
We could all sit back and think like Bob and just say. “It’s Edgewood.” The problem with that is that Edgewood’s problems will be (and are becoming) Harford County’s problems. Poorly educated young people are a recipe for gangs, violence and disaster. Ask Baltimore City! Last time I checked, Bel Air is only 8 miles from Edgewood. If you think 8 miles will protect Bel Air from the problems that are in Edgewood, you are sorely mistaken. Ask Baltimore County and the surrounding areas.
I see education and the PTA as preventative measures…a way for communities to keep kids on the straight and narrow path to life success. If Bel Air has a great PTA program that is having success, a possible solution would be the Bel Air and Edgewood PTA’s teaming up and sharing ideas on how to make Edgewood based PTA’s more effective. Doing so is in everyone’s best interests.
Edgewood’s youth and Bel Air’s youth go to the same malls, the same movie theatres, the same eateries and the same clothing stores…the question you must all ask is when your child is out and about, what kind of person do you want him or her around, one that is is educated and that has a bright future…or one that feels he has nothing to lose and nothing to live for? Helping Edgewood educate its citizens IS helping Bel Air, Harford County and your own children.
Omar
I think we tried that once. It was called section 8 housing. How did that work out for you?
How many GOOD, caring parents does it have to take to keep helping Edgewood? Or how many are willing to get sued? You know that situation will come as soon as caring outsiders get involved.
We cannot tell other parents how to raise their kids.
And please don’t give me the “poorly educated young people” excuse because there is no excuse in this year of 2009 for that.
Edgewood kids have the same opportunity to succeed as the Bel Air kids.
If they are poorly educated, it’s their own damn fault and choice to stay that way. The tools are plentiful for everyone. Some are just downright lazy.
I guess you’re right Carole…we should just sit back and let their lazy butts suffer…the only problem is that we’ll suffer too when their “lazy” uneducated butts hit the streets. Broadbased stereotyping of our youth as lazy is unfair to all of the intelligent, hard working kids that only want the tools to better themselves via education. Less sterotypes and more solutions please.
What concrete steps can we take to make Edgewood’s PTA better? If I wanted to learn how to swim better, and Michael Phelps lived next door, I’d be a fool not to take swimming lessons from him. In the same way, if successful PTA’s are right next door to our PTA’s, we’d be foolish not to learn what we can from them. For example, a lot of PTA’s start small and grow over time…how did they increase parental participation? What strategies did they use and could we use those strategies in Edgewood? That’s the type help I’m referring to.
Finally, since when did we start expecting kids, especially teenagers, to know what’s good for them? If she could, my daughter would sit around all day eating brownies and my son would sit in front of the TV watching Noggin. As their father, I know that won’t work so I “guide” them to more fruitful activities. (Homework and Exercise) The Point: Parents need to get more involved and they need to use whatever tools and resources available to get the results our children deserve…even the “lazy” ones. 😀
Omar: Maybe you could get Mark Wolkow to help you with your PTA issues. Before he was on the Board of Education, he was invovled with the PTA at Abingdon and Edgewood. Pat Skebak came from Edgewood schoools too and is familar with the community. Harford County Council of PTA’s has parents from Edgewood on their Board too.
Some principals don’t want any parental input – just parent support which is very frustrating. I know many people over the years who have been beat down by fighting the system and trying to do what is right for their student. Remember what is good for administrators is not always best for parents and kids. Many times, they have a different agenda which may include their own promotion or trying ideas that can put their name in “the limelight.”
The other problem when people aren’t engaged and coming out is that the school then thinks they are doing everything right and parents are satisfied. That isn’t true either. Many parents want the best for the kids and don’t always have the information or ability to advocate for them. You may need to re-educate your parents that the PTA is supposed to be an advocacy group in the school not just an organization to serve food. Maybe have activities that include both parents and students sponsored by the PTA (movie night, Spring Fair) and include staff in the school that the kids really like. It may just be they want to dunk some teacher in the dunking booth but use it as an opportunity to promote the organization.
I think you are doing something very worthwhile and encourage you to keep it up. It can be frustrating but I don’t think you are the only community to have this problem. I have walked around at sporting events and begged fathers to come to meetings (usually it is the mothers who are running things). They have time to watch sports so it isn’t a matter of time. I also think parents get ego gratification from watching their students doing things and the PTA stuff isn’t high profile.
Thanks Kate. I’ve already told my wife she needs to read your post and the others. Its funny you should mention sporting events because I was teasing her and telling her they needed to have the PTA’ meetings during halftime of EHS football games! 😀 Thanks again. Cleo and I will personally contact Mark Wolkow. I’ve worked with him in the past on educational issues. We’ll also get in contact with Pat Skebak.
Omar, HCCPTA can be a great resource for ideas about how to attract members (hccpta.org). They can also connect you to any other PTA in the county.
I would also choose an event, an activity or an issue that you think would be beneficial to your school community and focus on that first. For example:
I remember a reading challenge the PTA organized at one elementary school where students got to make a link in a paper chain for every book they read (or was read to them, for the younger ones) and the chain stretched all along the hallways. There was some goal for the length of the chain and if the kids reached the goal, the principal would do something silly or fun at an assembly. I’m sorry I can’t remember the exact details (I’m old) but something like that supports education, involves the whole school and doesn’t require a big fundraiser. You just have to be sure to have the support of the administration and the staff before you begin.
Also, ask your principal to send a teacher representative to your PTA meetings. Ask a teacher to help with a PTA event or activity.
Do you have a parent newsletter? Just a monthly notice from the PTA about what’s happening in the school can make parents feel connected and welcome. In elementary school, it can go home in backpacks (with the principal’s approval) or you can do one via email. Keeping parents informed about issues and events is a good start to greater involvement. If your school already has a newsletter, you can ask if PTA can have a separate section for your news and events.
Finally as Kate said, PTA is the nation’s largest child advocacy organization. If you have specific issues or ideas about how HCPS can make improvements, explain the issue to those parents on the ball field. Ask them to sign a petition or help you rally others. Or, even if you are the only one, come to a board of education meeting and speak out. Board members are there to represent the public interest in education. I’m not saying it’s magic and it will work every time, but it does happen.
These are just a few ideas, there are lots of people who will have many more.
Again, I would contact HCCPTA and through them, other PTAs.
I won’t tell you that you can reach everyone, because some parents are simply not going to respond. But success breeds success. Doing something positive for kids will attract like-minded people to your PTA and a even a small number of like-minded people can do a lot of good in a community.
Thanks Cindy. This information is extremely helpful and I WILL use it. I can’t wait to see what HCCPTA has! If we can recruit 30 parents to become active PTA members at Deerfield I would be ecstatic.
Way to GO!!!!
It’s a shame but I hear this from a lot of parents whose children attends public school. There is always a lack of parents involvements in the PTA’s meeting. I must say it’s seems to me that this school really needs to revamp and adopt the same methods used by private school.
The need to enforced points system and parents involvement to 25 services hours per family per school year and you get fined $25 for every hour you missed. For the PTA’s meeting you get 1 service hr per family. I understand that people’s schedule are hectic but if you are planning on having kids you need to stay focused and be in that child’s life. It’s no excuse for a school of over 500 pupils to only have a hand full of parents participants.
They wonder why their kids don’t progress, the reason why public education is having such a bad rep is starring us right in the face. Lack of parents involvement!!! People don’t think it’s important enough to be involve in their kids life and the education system.
Don’t loose hope or your fight if more parents like you scream loud enough the rest of them will get their act together and do the right thing.
You should feel proud of yourself for raising such wonderful and smart productive kids.
Kudos to you as a concerned parent staying involved. We owe it to our children to do so and the teachers need parental support. I’m glad your speaking out Cleo!
Shani