THE PUB TEST #1 – PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESULTS
THE HEALTH OF ‘VOLUNTEERING CULTURE’ IN PMSA SCHOOLS
THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN
The preliminary survey results are in, and a familiar frustration is creeping back into PMSA Schools. It never really left, but it was somewhat muted during the recent and continuing unrest caused by the PMSA’s actions in 2017. The PMSA’s flawed organisational response has re-ignited it, and if left unchecked it threatens to tear the life-blood from the fabric of a fragile culture which is struggling for survival in our schools. Melodramatic? No – clear data speaks to it. It is very very real.
A growing number in the broader PMSA schools community are contacting us and commenting on the changed “culture” pervading our schools. It’s not a good change – but it’s not the fault of school staff either.
The observations are driven by stakeholder experiences in volunteering. What once seemed like a “family” seems now decidedly “corporate” to many. It’s a turn-off, and it’s not a “positive” point of differentiation from other schools that should be encouraged.
It’s a culture that is defined by a “perceived risk and response” approach to dealing with people and issues at the level of volunteer groups. The feedback that we are getting is that it’s stifling. Volunteers are increasingly feeling the frustration of having a “foot on their throat” at every turn. And it is not so much overt or big things (although sometimes it is), but rather the little things that people notice on a day to day basis. The word “NO” feels like and often over-used part of the vocabulary emanating from the hierarchy at the moment. Sometimes, “NO” needs to be an answer – we get that, but in aggregate, the feedback is that these experiences are creating an environment that (on many levels) feels LESS like a valued and respected COLLABORATION in the lives and education of our children.
WHAT DO THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESULTS TELL US?
So what do the preliminary survey results tell us? Well the depth of dissatisfaction with PMSA influence and the existing governance framework is really interesting.
We have had a broad spectrum of respondents so far (all of whom are connected with PMSA Schools):
22% of respondents who had volunteered had been involved with P&F Groups.
46% had been involved with School Support Groups.
6% had volunteered with Past Students Associations.
10% had volunteered on School Foundations.
Just under 3% had volunteered on School Councils.
No one owned up to having been a “volunteer” on the PMSA itself, although just over 1% confessed to volunteering on a PMSA sub-committee or advisory group.
The balance had never volunteered.
The responses have showed that:
22% “thoroughly” enjoyed the experience of volunteering.
26% “enjoyed” the experience of volunteering.
22% “somewhat enjoyed” the experience.
20% either did not enjoy the experience or “really” did not enjoy the experience.
The balance had never volunteered.
So it appears that 70% of respondents either enjoyed or somewhat enjoyed the experience. Not so bad we hear you say? What’s the problem? Well, these responses only tell part if the story. The interesting data which gives the TRUE picture of the health of our volunteering culture does NOT come from these responses in isolation.
And this is where the survey results got interesting and really shocked us. To understand these responses you need to delve deeper into the reasons “why” people are saying that they enjoyed the experience, BUT ALSO, notwithstanding that they may have enjoyed contributing, how likely they would be to recommend the experience to others after having lived it themselves. The responses have nothing to do with positive PMSA influences and feeling supported and valued. Most respondents provided comments that they were in it for the kids, DESPITE the PMSA. Does that sound like a rounding endorsement of confidence in the PMSA’s contribution to the schools? Does it sound like we’re all on ONE TEAM and rowing in the same direction- like we should be??
If you look to current intentions or a likelihood that existing or former volunteers would recommend the experience to others in the current governance environment, then you would be surprised by the responses. 72% of respondents said that they would NOT recommend volunteering in the current governance environment. Only 11% of respondents were of the view that they would recommend volunteering to others. The balance were undecided.
Respondents were asked to consider what they thought were the most important factors that would influence their decision to volunteer at a PMSA School? They were asked to rank their responses in order of importance, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. The factors motivating the decisions of community members to volunteer (in order of most important to least important) were:
Connecting with and supporting other parents, students and staff;
Being confident that the volunteering group has a real “voice” that can proactively enable it to deliver on community objectives and address community concerns;
Making a difference and creating a lasting impact for a PMSA School;
Being satisfied that their role as a volunteer will not expose them to personal liability;
Raising funds to support the facilities and educational objectives of a PMSA School;
Furthering the Christian mission of the Churches within the school’s community; and
Supporting the vision and objectives of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association.
To deliberately avoid survey bias, we even listed “supporting vision and objectives of the PMSA” first on the list of response options (rather than burying it down the end of the list). Despite this, 77.5% of respondents thought that “supporting the vision and objectives of the PMSA” was the least important of all of the factors associated with their decision to volunteer. To give some context to that figure, these respondents rated “supporting the vision and objectives of the PMSA” at 5 between 5 and 7 on the level of importance – with 49% of respondents ranking it as a “7”. We think that this speaks volumes to the current alignment of values between the community and the PMSA, but if we had not provided pre-existing response options, it may have been entirely probable that this factor would not have rated AT ALL. In that regard, our survey design may have been generous.
Surprisingly, “Furthering the Christian mission of the Churches within the Schools community” scored second lowest on the scale of importance. We had thought that this would rate much higher on the list. It is genuinely a shame that it doesn’t, but it seems that the community feels jaded by perceived inaction and abandonment to the PMSA’s agenda over the last two years. More can and should be done by the Churches to regain ground on this front – especially given the importance of Christian values in our schools. We believe that the community does want to see this move up the list of motivating factors, given the good work that Churches do in the community at large. A good starting point for the Churches in understanding this particular result might be a more objective examination of the real reason for the disconnect between community perceptions about the values being “lived” by the PMSA in their daily interaction with school communities over many decades, and the PMSA’s own take on the situation. It starts and ends with the source of the cultural dysfunction – Letters Patent.
YOUR SAY – AND YOU DIDN’T HOLD BACK!
And what did members of the community have to say about their experiences and attitudes to volunteering in the current governance climate? Well the comments were forthright, and many did not hold back. Here is a random selection of some of the responses. They are representative of a clear and emerging majority theme:
1. “It feels like the PMSA want to push parents and volunteers out of the school and take everything over. Not because they can do better but because they don't want feedback and don't want to be challenged on their view. It doesn't make for a positive experience nor engaged community. It seems when volunteers are needed for the school's needs, e.g. Open Day, they see the value but beyond that it feels like we are seen as a nuisance.”
2. “Forever an optimist. Although I do not have much faith in PMSA the kids still need us. I now volunteer in a casual basis. I will not take on positions in executive committees.”
3. “Volunteering is only for those who are fearless and strong-minded. I would recommend anyone with those qualities to volunteer if they support Beyond PMSA. To increase my score above 5 it would require the PMSA to acknowledge and truly accept the FACT that school communities are a big part of what keeps a school vibrant and alive.”
4. “Whilst having intelligent, informed, committed and capable volunteers is critical for supporting all parents in the current climate and agitating for a better future, I have concerns for the legal and personal cost incurred at the present time. The environment is toxic. The legal structures under which P&F’s operate are insufficient. The value of parent perspective has been eroded.”
5. “Interference by PMSA, fear of retribution to self and children, lack of independent insurance coverage and protection/governance of support structures. Inability of PMSA to understand the importance of independent involvement by parents and others can increase the impact on the school.”
6. “The PMSA need to embrace the benefits and leverage of volunteering and need to "get out of the way". It is possible to create trust and empower the volunteer groups for the benefit of the schools - they just don't want to let go of some ancient view of "power" and "control".”
7. “Big brother does not need to interfere with the day to day management of school groups. PMSA needs to acknowledge the individual schools and their community support & not think the success is theirs, it’s not.”
8. “True and genuine engagement of the community. Stop trying to make life difficult for those who are providing free services. There are a lot of extremely capable resources the school could utilise for free if they engaged and genuinely embraced the community. This will never happen while the PMSA approved legal structures are in place.”
9. “Increase the voice the associations have within the school. The constitution enshrines subservient to the PMSA and at times it has felt the School have listened more to those outside the P&F which diminishes the desire and sense of value of volunteering.”
ALL VIEWS ARE VALID AND RESPECTED IN THIS FORUM
Lest we be accused of deliberate bias, for transparency and balance, there were some alternate views too, although they numbered in the overwhelming minority of respondents – less than 2%. Yes, there were some survey respondents who clearly support the PMSA. Some seemed to believe that the objectives of Beyond PMSA are “ideologically” driven, they are happy with PMSA progress and, moreover, are prepared to wait up to 5 years to see if the current reform agenda will solve the present crisis. Here is what a couple had to say –
1. “Volunteering is an important way to give back. I think the PMSA has come a long way over the past few years and I am happy with this progress. I would like to see the further implementation of their reforms and new strategic plan over the coming 3-5 years but already these reforms are having a material and positive impact. I am concerned that an idealogically (sic) driven agenda by beyond PMSA on change to the the Letters Patent is just continuing to damage confidence and reputation of the schools. I prefer to see the outcome of the current reforms and have another look in 3-5 years at what else needs to be considered.”
2. “Get BPMSA out of our school and volunteer groups. It is a distraction, fuels unrest and is not representative of the bulk of the parent community. I’m sick of hearing their bleats at meetings. Can we please just let those who are actually at the school focus on partnering with the school and PMSA to give our kids the best educational outcomes possible. This is not what BPMSA stand for. So time to shut it down.”
For the record and with regard to these last two comments in particular, a change to the PMSA’s basis of incorporation is not an “ideology”, it is a governance measure – a necessary one in our opinion. And Beyond PMSA does not attend Volunteer Group meetings or push its agenda in those forums. It never has, and it would be inappropriate for us to do so. We hold our own Town Hall meetings separately for that purpose. Perhaps some members of these groups simply agree with our purpose and objectives and voice their support for reform accordingly?
Notwithstanding our rebuttal of these points, the authors of these comments are absolutely entitled to have their view and to express it. That is what a democracy should be. That is not what we get under Letters Patent. We never will. Yes, there is no censorship of opinions on this forum. The above comments are restated exactly as they were submitted in the survey.
POST - SURVEY ROUND UP TO FOLLOW SOON
Over the course of the next several weeks we will deliver a post survey round-up with the full survey results. And in our next blog, we will be providing a more seminal analysis of the preliminary survey results with some interesting insights into why our Volunteers are feeling disillusioned and under appreciated. We will also open a discussion on the real reasons behind why our representative groups continue to operate under a “choke hold” rather than a warm, respectful and collaborative embrace.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the survey process so far, and encourage those of you who have not yet taken the time to complete it to please do so. The survey will remain open for a few more weeks, so please take the time to fill out our survey and provide your feedback on what the role and responsibilities of volunteering groups, including P&Fs should be:
We are not going away.
Beyond PMSA
