Folks, you've clearly missed the point. PTA provides SO much more than a voice in legislation that effects children. I personally value that they are in Washington advocating for childrens issues.
You are far underestimating the benefits and resources that PTA provides. PTA provides guidance, training and materials for the local group to use in engaging parents in the school. It's not about fundraisers and ice cream socials. It's about providing support for our school and children that will make them stronger and more successful in their educational endeavors. PTA offers many programs that are proven successful. There are state and local leaders that are available to support your parent group.
Do yourself, your school, your school administration and your child a favor and look into all the benefits of the PTA before you go the other direction.
One thing that I havn't seen presented as an argument besides the obvious financial benefit of PTO is the very fact that PTA is so political. There are several things that the PTA supports with our money that I do not agree with. For example, they are supporting the homosexual agenda in our schools sex education curriculum. They lobbied against the Bush tax cuts. Focus on the Family and Dr. James Dobson are activley apposed to the National PTA agenda because they see it as damaging to families. Do your own research, and confirm these findings, but even if you agree with them, is it right to require others who may not agree to fund these cawses while trying to support their local school district?
Politics are part of education policy at the local, state and national levels, that's just the way it is. Some may feel they can't change political tides or don't want to and that is fine. Others may have a burning passion to advocate for change or improvements and that may require political activism. When politically advocating, the resources of local, state and the national PTA can be extremely valuable. I can attest to this after having personally met the national PTA staff, a highly professional and well credentialed group (and yes, there is an expense to provide this staff).
In a nut shell, comparing the PTO and PTA, (which are both great and as I wrote earlier, I'm a member of both) are analogous to comparing apples to oranges. There is a purpose and place for both and one is not "better" than the other but is better for a certain group of people under certain circumstances at a certain place and time.
When I read posts arguing that one is better than the other, that tells me they really don't understand the true differences of each. Even "PTO vs. PTA" as a thread topic or "How can I convince other parents to change" pits one against the other. Is that really needed to be supportive of our public schools? Why not "PTO and PTA; understanding the differences and purposes of each". After all, at the end of the day aren't we all on the same team?
Keep up the great work!
Doug Newman
Guilford, CT, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
