I was chosen as a new member of PTA this year. ( A new school year starts from April in Japan.) My job is to take photos of students and report about annual events on the school magazine. I’m happy with doing these chores seriously but I don’t like that unique mood of the PTA culture. For example, I have to take part in the first ceremony thing to start the new PTA of this year and it has a ‘dress code’! means ‘be fancy’. It’s totally a ritual thing. We have to wear suit to pledge to teachers and ex-PTA members not to change their culture. I hate that but I don’t have nerve to wear jeans there… Do you have such a PTA in your culture? Also, i’m curious that have you ever heard or had any uncomfortable feelings like ‘stay at home moms’ VS ‘career/working moms’? In Japan, definitely you have that!! and very scary, hehe……I’m calling myself as Ms,Switzerland. I love the drama “Desparete housewives” but I don’t want to be like that. (^^)
ＰＴＡ役員なっちゃった。。第一回総会にはスーツ着用とのこと。そんなたいそうな事なんかな、て思う。誰に対して正装なんかな？
Hi Naoko,
Nice to see that you are posting a lot again! I enjoy reading your posts!
We do have this in the US. Both the PTA and all of the drama associated with it! I think that schools (at least public ones) in the US tend to be a lot less formal than in Japan, but it can still get very political. (I like how you put it, the “unique mood” of the PTA! I don’t like it either!!!)
Also, there is the tension between the ‘working’ and ‘stay at home moms’ here too. Very much so! I think that I will adopt the Switzerland position, as well!
Sincerely,
Heather