PV Blues

Early in the morning at 6.45 a.m. and I was standing along the road at the traffic lights, opposite of the primary school. School children streamed in from all directions yet they all gathered around me, waiting for the lights to turn. And I was the parent volunteer traffic warden... aka lollipop lady. I don't enjoy pressing the big, silver button for the children, but it beats standing at the car line outside the school gate.  

Last week (National Day week), I was unfortunately assigned duties at the car line and I was petrified by the hostility of fellow parents (drivers with misplaced road rage) and the hazardous nature of the job (wait a minute, more like free labour). I was essentially expected to shoo the drivers off as soon as their kids' feet touch the ground outside their cars. Occasionally, I also had to give severe warning to parents who 'cut queue' to drop off their kids. I was even told to chase parents away if they had lingered a while too long to watch their kids enter the school. It was also highlighted to me that certain drivers are chronic 'stoppers' so I must anticipate and shoo them off immediately.

But hey, isn't my duty meant to make life easier for parents who want to drop off their kids? I'm under the impression that I'm there to facilitate the process so that there will be less waiting and chaos outside school. Most importantly, I'm there to ensure the safety of the children as they make their way to the entrance of the school. We are all fellow parents who really just want to be sure our kids are safely in school after we drop them off. Who likes to hang around outside school? Why should I scold anyone for being responsible for their kids' safety? I did tell a child, however, to stop alighting at the second lane. It was dangerous to walk in front of moving vehicles and I think her parent should stop doing that to save time.   

For some duties so distasteful, I had to leave my kids to Papa and my helper to get ready for school. Sophie doesn't mind, of course, she can get my helper to do fancy hairstyle for her. Honestly, I have a problem with this whole business of parent volunteer. I was asked to help out in a reading programme on Wednesdays. While I don't mind doing that, I really cannot do Wednesdays. I have to rush down in a cab to fetch Sophie home after that. That would increase my transport cost, not to mention missing my lunch time. However, 'no' isn't much of an answer to her (overall in-charge). Ironically, she kept complaining about the lack of commitment in some parents. How can anyone be committed if they have been 'forced' into it in the first place? In my case, I only have 15 minutes to rush from Ang Mo Kio to Bukit Timah (if I can get a cab). 

Like it or not, I'll help for 3 weeks this term and stop. I think this isn't right. These people running the programmes with parent volunteers shouldn't be pressurizing others to volunteer. They don't see the big picture anymore, basking in the glory (whatever that's left of it) of their contributions to the school and abusing their power. I have met very efficient parent volunteers before, they solve problems for the school, they don't offend others, complain endlessly and give the school more issues to resolve. Time for change.