I’m off to the school’s P&C meeting tonight. I’m always amazed at how few parents actually attend these informative and entertaining events. Nothing to do with the content, process or agenda of the meeting, of course. Rather, they’re fabulously fun due to the little band of stalwarts who’ve been attending them since their first born lit up the school back in 1997. I swear some of these parents continued to have children just so their term on the 82 different P&C committees they run didn’t have to come to an end…
About committees…
I love those stalwarts, I really do. They’re the core group of parents (usually less than 10 individuals) who run the canteen committee, the welcoming committee, the disco committee, the fundraising committee, the grounds committee, the uniform committee… the school, basically. Without them, our children would be attending school in a shed. (Thanks NSW Government!)
But what kind of person joins a million P&C committees in the first place?
I’ve been to the P&C. I’ve seen how fast those stalwarts put up their hands to join yet another committee. You’ve gotta be really, really quick on the up to beat them to the post. They want it. Oh, they’ll saaaay they had to volunteer because no-one else put their hand up. But they want it.
I can only conclude (judging purely by the look of them and what they say in the meetings, mind) that they feel loved, needed and dare I say it, powerful. They are doing something that matters, for the children, for the community, for the world.
I love the P&C. It’s a very entertaining place.
livinglifeasme says
Your blog is so pretty. I never joined the P&C, quite frankly they always scared me. Good on you for helping out and braving that world of P&C’s.
lifeinapinkfibro says
You know that by being at the P&C meetings, you ARE the P&C. You’re one of them now. Just saying.
Maxabella loves... says
A bit like traffic…
So Now What? says
I just joined our kindy one. More roped into it than joined willingly and to be quite honest, I am almost scared for my life. There will be no post about what I’ve seen, for fear they will somehow read it.
I never realised what kind of fresh hell could be uncovered with a single solitary meeting.
Nice blog 🙂 Bern
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem says
So true. And your sister’s right – you have a very pretty blog!
I’m on the school’s P&C (or P&F – Parents & Friends – as we call it). And you’re right. It’s the same people putting their hand up.
But then, when we advertised and advertised for some new committee positions last year, we couldn’t get anyone! We have to approach people each year to try and get them to join. On ours, you’re only allowed no more than 3 consecutive years on the P&F at a time. I think that’s good. You need fresh people on occasion.
I’m going to quit at the end of this year (I’ll have done 2 years). The 3yo has 1 more year next year before he starts school, so I want time to just hang out with him and not worry about deadlines (I write for the newsletter each week – which I DID put my hand up for – it’s what introduced me to blogging) or getting things done for it and attending meetings. I’ll put my hand up for the odd excursion or something instead.
I think P&C/P&Fs attract some great people, and some not so great people. Some are a little more than headstrong, and they bulldoze on every issue. (I’ve heard some horror stories of constant bickering with past P&Fs, but I’m happy to say we’ve had no such issues – yet.) Some sit back and genuinely are just there to get involved (I like to think that’s me!)
Good luck. Have fun!
life in a pink fibro says
You know I love this post. Fete tomorrow. P&C heaven.
Cate says
I’m always a parent rep at our school…partly because no-one else ever volunteers, but also because it involves quite a lot of activity (like craft working bees) and coffee mornings!! But I do also use it as an excuse not to volunteer for other jobs at the school I don’t want to do!
Gill@OurParklife says
my kids are too little for me to have entered the P&C stage of life yet…but this made me giggle
thanks for the insight!
gill xo
Heather says
Dear God, just thinking about these meetings makes me glad mine aren’t at school yet *shudder*
Good Golly Miss Holly! says
We haven’t hit the P&C era in our household yet but being a busy body by nature, you better believe I’m jumping on that band wagon when the time comes 😉
bigwords is... says
Haven’t entered that world yet!!! Phew!!! Think I’ll put my hand up for the disco organising committee when the time comes – seems straight up my alley!! x
kristie says
I love your blog and thanks for commenting on my creative space, I have been having a squizz at yours, I think your cool….. I am the President of our P&F (parents and friends- it’s always been called that at our school)…this post has made me smile it’s so true ….I love helping at my smalls school and I love that I know nearly all the kids in the school and they all always say Hi, I initially kinda got roped in But this is my 3rd year and I love the difference we make at school, I am too a working mum and the guilt/juggle/messy house is always there, but it’s all worth it- the way my kids beam when they see me at school. mmmm my own agenda there- squeezing every morsel of pride and love out of them before it’s not cool for their mum to hang out with them….
ps our meetings are a bit of a Hoot, I love to say who’s moving that motion?- so childish, and if anyone gets a little fiery that get to take a break with a kit kat, sometimes P&F’s are a bit too serious!! Anyway I didn’t mean to blab on that much….
I really do love your blog. X Kristie.
Le Mounier says
Bonjour from Lake Annecy in the French Alpes! It’s summer here. 4 gorgeous seasons, gorgeous food, gorgeous life.
When my daughter turned 3 and started at the local village public school ( yep, here its 3), I joined the P and C. I lasted 2 school years and I left quietly……it was run like a multinational corporation. I am a business woman but this was nuts. Infact the P&C and this village school makes sooo much money for the school that they cant spend it all. Vive La France!