What would you do

hellogreg

hellogreg

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This might be a bit of a rant but in these circumstances what would you have done :-

My daughter attends a very small school which being Catholic dosen't recieve much in the way of state funding. As an active member of their PTA we run various fundraisers during the year to help pay for things for the children. I was asked by the chairperson of the PTA if I would take the school photographs this year so the PTA could make a few quid from their sale .

I have been vetted by the education board to volunteer in the school so I agreed ,then after making several visits to the school and having got all the individual and family shots done I returned today to take the class photographs to be told by the principal that some students were absent, I explained that I had already made several trips to the school in an attempt to get the photographs and that I couldn't keep on comming untill all the children were present ,to which he replied that it had been my choice to take the photographs then he stormed off.

I don't know what I should do .....:thinking:
 
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Tell him to f*$!( off.

It's the problem with letting customers get involved (usually when they feel they need to because they're not dealing with a pro?)

Do you think Daryl runs a sweepup system of togs going round the country shooting kids that weren't there the day he turned up?

Simply put; it's ridiculous - they can't ever guarantee a day of 100% attendance and so there will never be class photo's for 100% of the kids. End of discussion. Take the photo and move on, no amount of discussion will make it right.

We once ended up with a full group photo at a wedding without the Brides mum - she know it was going to happen, but nipped home for a feed for one of her grandkids. She made the decision to put that trip before the photo - nothing we could do about it.

I've just re-read this and it might be that I'm grumpy today.
 
If you're doing this for nothing, I would just walk away if they can't even set a date to make sure all the students can be there.

Then again, is it going to cause bad feeling if you don't complete what you started?.......... that can only be your call.

So often, when offering to something for nothing, your generosity is taken for granted.

Hope you arrive at a satisfactory solution.
 
That's what you get when you offer to volunteer, people tend to take the mickey, after all, you've given your time and expertise in good faith.
If they were paying real money for a pro service I bet their attitude would be different.
If it were me? I would tell them to find some-one else to take the p*** out of.
 
Ask the head teacher what day he can guarantee that all the children will be in.

On a serious note, sounds to me as if the head teacher has some issue or agenda that is not immediately apparent. Maybe they feel they weren't properly consulted in the decision for you to take them. Or maybe some other dispute between the head teacher and governing body, and you are unfortunately in the firing line.
 
I actually think that is a serious question and nothing wrong with asking it.

I would also ask if he is concerned that so many children are away from school so often but I do enjoy the direct end of questioning!
 
Thanks for all the replies I think I will take Gary's advice . Regarding the point Steve made as far as I am aware this was discussed at a couple of PTA meetings at which a representative of the board of govenor's was in attendance . The principal also sent a letter to parents letting them know who was taking the photograph's and on what day!

You learn by your mistakes ......:)
 
hellogreg said:
Thanks for all the replies I think I will take Gary's advice . Regarding the point Steve made as far as I am aware this was discussed at a couple of PTA meetings at which a representative of the board of govenor's was in attendance . The principal also sent a letter to parents letting them know who was taking the photograph's and on what day!

You learn by your mistakes ......:)
Click to expand...

The trouble with that approach is that (however tempting!) the people that are ultimately affected are the kids. Presumably the PTA still think it's a good idea to raise some money using your generosity, it's just the headmaster that's being a ****.

I would be inclined to write. If you can email the headmaster and cc the relevant governors and PTA people, that would be ideal. Otherwise a note to the head with a copy sent to PTA.

Something along the lines of how the idea was originally thought of by the PTA and that you were approached and volunteered your time/skill but now from the attitude and rudeness of the headmaster feel that everyone has wasted their time...

It'll either have them scurrying back with humble pie or if not at least you'll have let everyone know how you feel without potentially being perceived as the one that flounced off. :thumbs:
 
I think that the OP has been more than generous, paying a few visits to the school, not charging for the shots, thus enabling the PTA to top up their coffers (which the children will benefit from) from sales.
If a teacher behaved like this to me, after I was giving up my time for free, then I would just walk away from it, and let them get on with it.
After all, he gets paid for his job, someone who volunteers is giving their time for free.
 
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