Japan's inexplicable PTA

Today, October 14th, is "PTA Formation Day" and the start of "PTA week". PTA stands for Parent-Teacher Association. The Japan PTA National Council was formed on this day in 1952. The aim of the PTA is to brings parents and teachers together to support school education and community activities. However, it relies on the cooperation of the parents volunteering, often under pressure, to take an unpaid role in the PTA. And they often have to take unpaid leave from their jobs in order to attend unnecessary, drawn out meetings, as well as participate in school events.

Few changes have been made to PTA since its formation more than 70 years ago. That is one of the main reasons there is so much trouble about it in recent years. Seventy years ago there were more stay-at-home mothers and thus more people to 'volunteer'. But in recent years there are very few stay-at-home mothers and, in my experience, few people want to volunteer for the roles. In my town, most of the PTA end up in the position after losing a game of 'rock paper scissors' or quite literally drawing the short straw.  

I have four children in the Japanese school system, the first entered 13 years ago, and I really can not understand the way they run PTA in Japan. It would seem that I am not the only one who feels this way, as in recent years there have been a growing number of calls for its dissolution. At the very least, a complete overhaul. Of all the things that perplex me most about life in Japan, the PTA is high on the list of Japan's most inexplicable obsessions!