Why you should
You get to see your kids at their best.
You get to see them a lot!
You know all your kids teachers and friends–in fact entering the school you will be greeted by them loudly–it is a little like being a celebrity!
The teachers are nicer to your kids. (it is true, like it or not)
You get to use the copier, computer, laminator and tons of other school equipment. And if you are really lucky you will learn the inner most working of that copier, including the parts that are super hot when the inevitable paper jam occurs. You will also know who to call when the machine starts flashing warnings and shooting out black copies everywhere.
It is fun and it makes you feel good.
It is good to be part of the community and to be supportive.
Why NOT to volunteer
You get to see your kids at their worst.
You know all their friends, and their idiosyncracies up close and personal.
You get burned by the copy machine–if you are there long enough, it will happen.
It can take a lot of your time.
The PTA/PTO or whatever they call themselves at your school will be watching for you. They will want you to help them. Run away! Just kidding, but really be very careful.
A final quick note–
If you have never done it, as a school volunteer veteran, I highly recommend it! At least once, for a couple of hours!
Trust me, teachers and administration are nicer to your kids and know you care. Mother of five kids I volunteered even at the high school level (Painful and embarassing for all of us), but it was worth it. Now I’m a mom of a teacher, I know how much teachers love, love, love volunteers. Oh, and one more important benefit, your kids understand by your example how important education is to you, even when they are struggling they will try harder because they know it’s important.
Yeah…teachers generally ask me not to come back. My kids dont function well with a change in their routine. I wish I felt like a failure…but, I mostly just feel like I’m off the hook.