Our PTA is falling apart. The core group of mums are burned out from icing one too many proverbial cakes. After years of service, the chair and much of the committee are stepping down and no one has come forward to claim the post. The scuttlebutt on the playground is that it is too clique-y.
Which got me thinking (amazing, I know): What is a clique and how do they form? Why do some mums feel left out, while others are "in". Is it intentional? Are slights perceived when not meant? Is it easier to justify non-involvement by writing the PTA off as being for "another type of mum".
Everyone loves to attend the PTA events, but the fact is that if you want them to happen, someone has to do the grunt work (and much of it is). I have skin of steel and don't pay attention to politics -- just blindly plod forward with my own agenda. To me, the PTA is about adding to my child's school experience -- by organising fun events and raising funds for the extras. Last year our PTA added several new play structures throughout the school grounds (which, by the way, are in constant use).
Is it clique-y? Not intentionally. Is it a lot of hard work? Yes (but it would be less if more were involved). It is a commitment, and in my mind, a worthy one.
Photo credit: angegreen
