We have control????? Holy misconceptions batman!!
If I could change the world I would definetly NOT start at the PTO!!! Now Pinky and the Brain THEY took over the world!! Remember the mind control thing.....lol [img]smile.gif[/img]
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>many people believe that the PTO/PTA/PTG or whatever the group is called CONTROLS many things at the school that we in fact have absolutely nothing to do with.<hr></blockquote>
Tell me about it! Last year we received a letter from a parent with a laundry list of concerns. Some of them were issues for the principal to address. Some of them were issues for the school board to address. Some of them were issues for the superintendent's office to address. In fact, by the time the principal was done taking responsibility to address the issues, or taking responsibility for communicating the issues to the appropriate people, what was left for my co-Pres and I to address? NOTHING! While there were a number of very good points in his letter, and I appreciate that he took the time to write it, there was not a single point that there was anything we as the PTA could do anything about.
And if I may add one more point to KC's very eloquent response . . . many people believe that the PTO/PTA/PTG or whatever the group is called CONTROLS many things at the school that we in fact have absolutely nothing to do with. From personal experience I have had parents ask for help with the transportation department, grades, etc. At least in my experience, school lunches are determined by the school and/or the district and in many cases it is subcontracted. I'll bet I can tell you what your kids had for lunch today if they bought lunch and your school subcontracts to the main school lunch company - it's pretty much the same across the country. Would it be my first choice of what my kids eat for lunch - probably not, but that's why most days I pack their lunches.
Long and short of it is that the parent groups do not run the school, we are here to assist.
As for our group writing a letter, my guess is that it won't happen, but that parents are encouraged to voice their opinion independently by writing letters if that is their choice, and we would be more than pleased to provide the address to those who are concerned.
The PTO cannot make a response because it doesn't exist.
This is an example of the difference between PTA and other parent group organizations. If it is important to you and your parent group that they be part of an organization with a national voice, and you are willing to accept that sometimes you may not agree with what that voice is saying, then your group should be a PTA. If you and your parent group are unwilling to accept that you may be considered in support of a message you disagree with, then the PTA is not for you. If you and your parent group don't care, then other factors should weigh on that decision.
So the question in this forum would more appropriately be "I was wondering if your PTO has sent a letter...".
I was wondering if the PTO had sent a letter in response to the USDA's request for comments on their proposal to buy irradiated foods for the School Lunch Program. The Congress passed a Farm Bill last year that included legislation that encouraged the USDA to purchase irradiated foods for its programs. The USDA requested comments from the public in November of last year before going ahead with this proposal. The health effects of children who consume irradiated meat is unknown. Irradiated foods will not be labeled and parents will not be told that there children are eating irradiated foods. Has the PTO addressed this issue or if not, will they in the future?
The address to comment on the USDA proposal to purchase irradiated food for the School Lunch Program is:
LiveStock and Seed Programs
Agriculture Marketing Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Stop 0249, Room 2092 S
Washington, DC 20250 0249
or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
