HELP!! Our PTA is having a horrible time with the schools office staff. For starters..they are very rude not only to children, but also to the parents. This has been an on going problem which seems to never get resolved. But lately, our school has had many changes. . .and we (PTA) try to understand the there is a lot of stress in the office at times. This is why, we help out as much as we can. I for one have spent the last week of the past 2 summers putting together pactkets that need to go home the first day of school. Not to mention the hundreds of other things PTA has helped out with. The rudeness and dirty looks have gotten out of hand. The last straw. . .a sales rep dropped off fliers for cookie dough and cheese cake sales. Thse were put in my box. I was interested and called him later in the day. (Iam at school a lot, Plus I was a sub. yard duty that day) I asked if I could get a sample and was told that he already had left a whole cheese cake. Now, am I wrong or should I have at least recieved a note that a sample was left?? I feel that the sample is left so that whom ever is responible can see if it is worth buying. I always leave these types of things for the teachers to try and let me know. The secretaries kept it for themselves and did not tell any one that they got it. The sales rep was kind enough to bring me more, but when I ask the staff to please leave me a note the next time samples are left so that I did not feel like an idiot they chewed me up and spit me out!! Not once, but twice! This has upset me to no end. . .I have been at this school for 6 years as a very deicated PTA member. After talking to a few other PTA members I have found out that at least 8 others have had some simular experiences and they are thinking of either quitting now and/or not comiong back next year. This is sad because it only hurts the kids. But, as voleenters, we do not need to put up with this. I do have an appointment with th eprincipal next Friday. . . I know its late, but he is gone til then. The staff does not know that I am talking to him. I have spoken with a teacher whom I am close to and sh eis very upset with what is going on. She is also going to talk to him. I am not a whining parent. I really hate to see the kids suffer becuase of a few rude adults!!! Please help me any suggestions will be appreicated. Even if you feel that I am in the wrong. . .I need help!!!

This may not seem like the advice that you are looking for, but I think the best thing that you could do would be cause no additional waves and then just "Kill "em with kindness." Believe me, I know that it is hard to bite your tongue. I've felt a couple of times like I needed stitches. However, the next time trouble arises, bring it to the principals attention or to your superintendant if that doesn't work. The next time something like your cheesecake disappears, instead of going to the office staff, do one of those conversations with the principal where you say, "oh, by the way, a fundraiser company dropped off a cheesecake and I can't locate it, could you help me." They will know of the incident and I'm sure that it probably won't happen too many more times. The kill 'em with kindness comes in when you just are nice and pleasant and so sweet that they just can't stand it. Keep doing what your doing, and never let them see you sweat! Sounds like a commercial doesn't it. Most of the time people will rattle your chain just to hear you bark. Just keep purring!

By going to the principal about staff, I think that you are just opening yourself up for a bad rap that might also cause some bad outcomes in the future. But if on the other had you discretely handle it with the principal witout looking like a tattle tale then it might be more beneficial.

Just my thought. Seems to work for me, but may not work for you.

Gee Ohiomom that was the advice given to me two years ago. I will say it worked (esp. in rasing my BP). Be helpful but maaybe NOT TO helpful. Help the kids, do your stuff, but DO NOt do the work they are paid to do and maybe they will come around to you and be a little nicer. I am not saying advertise that you aren't helping them but be a little "too busy" yourself.

Thank you girls!! It helps a lot! I'll keep you posted!!

I would have to say that talking to the principal might not be a bad idea. Of course we should always be nice as can be to everyone. Sometimes the principal is busy with alot of other things and might just assume that everything in the office is going okay. If the principal is not made aware of the situation, nothing can be done about it. I know that I've talked to our principal about things I didn't like in our school. I always take the approach that I don't want to make a big deal about it, but myself and some of the other parents feel a certain way. Our principal is always very careful not to make it known who talked to her. In fact, she's waited a few weeks after talking to me to make a comment in case someone knew that I talked to her. Hopefully your principal can be very proffessional about it. Just my thought on it.

I have a great relationship with my Principal and would not think twice about going to her about something like this. I have the luxury of having only one front desk person in my school prone to having a difficult day EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE and can count on the other one to pull us both through. I would aslo suggest the --do not do their work --idea would get your point acoss sharply.(Pun intended) Just think of all those days you can enjoy in the summer out of the office and on the beach! And I will also say, even though I over look alot, the KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS routine is getting real hard anymore and may be highly over-rated. (Could the end of the year be close?)