Back to School Nights - What Did You Learn?

This past week, I attended two back-to-back Back to School nights.  By the time Friday morning came, my head was spinning from the material that my children will be learning this year. 

At each presentation, we all heard the new superintendent and the BOE president discuss their goals and commitments for the upcoming year.  Along with this, we also heard from the MEF and the PTO/PTSOs.  Please understand that I have a great deal of respect for these people, the organizations and the job that they do.  But truth of the matter is that I attend these evenings to hear from the teachers; most of whom did wonderful presentations given their allotted time.

I understand the idea of a captive audience and how the opportunity to seize their attention is so appealing.  But I already am well aware of the MEF and the PTO/PTSO organization and over the last several years, I've been to more BOE meetings than some of the current members of the board.  I stay on top of things that affect my children's education, as I believe most parents should.  Although none of the presentations were all that long in and of themselves, but when you added them all up, it took an additional 45 minutes for each evening. 

Believe me, as an active volunteer in the schools since my oldest child entered kindergarten, I certainly appreciate all the work that all the volunteers in these organizations do.  I have always contributed my time, talent and treasure toward the organizations that help the students.  However, I don't think it is necessary to spend so much time on these evenings talking them up.  If people want to get involved or contribute, they will and there are plenty of other means of communication to inform people of these opportunities. 

Perhaps it was just me complaining about hearing the same speeches two nights in a row.  Or perhaps feeling over-tired from running my children to and from their activities along with trying to help them complete homework, etc.  But, if the speeches could be cut down to only 15 minutes total, so I could be home before my children went to bed, and possibly even discuss the evening with them, I would certainly find it much more valuable. 

Maybe after 12 years of Back to School nights, I'm feeling too old to listen like I did when my child was in Kindergarten.  Either way, I'm glad it is over for this year; and in only 2 more years, I'll only be attending 1 of these annual events.  Then I will probably miss it.