Grumble Grumble

Last night, thanks to the hard work of two Fitzgerald parents and two of our teachers, we held our first annual Science Fair.  It was awesome: there were 39 projects done by 70 kids and covering everything from Ice Cream Freezer Burn to Sea Turtles; Basketball Science to Squid Ink; The Physics of Flight to The Science of Lava Lamps.  There were volcanos, potato batteries, and static electricity.  There were games to try and there was research to review.  It was The Bomb.

The two parents who came up with the idea also recruited judges, came up with judging criteria, applied to a local science-based business for a grant, worked with another local business to get awards for participants, and made plans for a bake sale to run concurrently with the Science Fair.  The Fair was held 5:30-7:30 and awards were presented from 7:30-8:00.  

I loved seeing the experiments and the passion that the kids had for their projects.  It warmed my old, jaded, scientific heart to see so many girls getting an early start in exposure to a field that is still short on women.  The creativity that all of the participants showed was fantastic.  

So why is the PTO Mom grumbling?  Well, it's not a short answer.  It's probably pent up frustration from so many years of volunteering.  As carefully as I can so as not to offend, let me offer the following:
The Fitzgerald, like all of the schools in the Waltham District, has about 500 kids.  That leaves roughly 1000 parents to participate.  So then why does it come down to two parents (and a few ringers) to do all of the heavy lifting?

OK, I can hear you saying, it's the choice of a parent to get involved or to not get involved.  And I get that.  I am a bossy oldest child who believes aphorisms like "Be the Change You Want to See in the World" and all of that other crap: if I want to volunteer, that's my problem.  

My point, and the reason for grumbling, is this: if you don't choose to help, then you don't have the right to criticize.  If, during the 6 weeks or so leading up to the Science Fair, it never occurred to you to offer help or to make suggestions, then the evening before the Science Fair is not the time to do it, unless you want to own it.  If you see something during the Science Fair that needs to be addressed and you take the passive-aggressive route of complaining about it rather than doing something about it, I take issue with that.  If you have a better idea of how judging should be done, the Awards Presentation is probably not a good time to tell that to the people who took the time to put it together.  If you think that your kids are too young to be bothered with Science, then don't have them do a project and don't come to the Science Fair to complain about it.

Last night, I was just a bystander and a parent of a participant (the Fair was limited to 3rd-5th graders for this first year.)  However, because I am a bossy oldest sibling type, I got there and pitched in.  I asked the parent leaders how I could help.  I stayed after the Fair to help clean up.  And, you know what, I had fun doing it.  Probably a lot more fun than I would have had standing in a corner kvetching about how much better it could have been.

About the 'pent up' part: I wouldn't be blogging about this if the Science Fair was the first time this sort of entitlement had reared its head.  In fact, this happens at every single function and every single event in which I have been involved, both with the PTO and with other volunteer work I have done.  I am done with hearing all of the complaints, so spare me.  If you want something done, then step up and do it.  If you have a better mousetrap, the time to tell us is either before or after the event: not during.  On behalf of the parents who put their hearts and souls into creating wonderful extracurriculars for kids everywhere (including volunteer coaches and Troop leaders and religion educators), I am here to say that if you don't get involved, you relinquish your right to criticize. Specific to the PTO, it is the PARENT TEACHER Organization.  If you are a parent, then YOU are the PTO and I encourage you to do something rather than waiting for someone else to do it for you.  

There's my rant.  Grumble grumble.