Complain or not?

My daughter is attending a ESF school and yesterday I went to her classroom to volunteer. That was the first time I do it since now I have a littke flexible time (I work full-time). I have been busy in the whole morning to help on the folders and some prepartation for their activities. At about 11:20am, I finished all the work and thought I would go if they do not have other things (I indeed need to leave before 12 since I have a very important meeting at 1:30. I need travel to work and have my lunch before the meeting).


However, the teacher assistant asked the teacher in the neighbor classroom if I could help to prepare something for the their class. Immediately she already brought a large smount of cutting work to me. I feel really pissed off. She even did not ask if I want to do it. Even for a paid demestic helper, you could not ask her to help your neighbor after she finishes the work for your house without her agreement. It looks she does not show any respect and appreciation to the parents who are trying their best to help.


Do you think I should complain? If so, what would be the best channel?

Hi peanuts. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I work full time also and have volunteered a handful of times to help in my daughter's ESF classroom.


I would advise to just let it be. If you have to run off, just tell them in advance that you have to leave before 12. She probably thought that you were free the whole morning. If you've told her and she still gets you to do stuff, just say, "Sorry, I can't help because I need to leave now". They do respect that you are busy also.


The teaching assistant was probably trying to help out the other teacher because it can be quite stressful preparing materials and teaching at the same time. I was also stressed trying to help them because there was just not enough time to do everything. It made me appreciate the effort they put in. I think I would have tried to help them more if I wasn't working and had the time.


For this time, I would advise to let it be :-)

Thanks a lot, MayC. Your advice is very nice and I will just let it be. I do appreciate their effort to our children and that is exactly why I went there to help.

In fact, my daughter was not at school yesterday because she is sick. Since I promised to help, I still made it.


However, I still think it is unreasonable to request me to work for other class without my prior agreement. The other class has assistant and it seems in the morning they did not do much things (of course, it is none of my business). Again, I feel it is like that they treated the parents who are voluntering as no better than a paid demestic helper. I think it is unrelated with what time I am going to leave. If it is indeed something my daughter's teacher has to finish in the morning, of course I would try my best to help.


BTW, at the time when I am leaving. The assistant has been walking around for a while without anything to do. As a result, I do not assume it is because she is stressful for the workload.