As a District President in my state, one of my units is trying to decide whether or not to change from a PTA to a PTO. I am going to speak to this group tonight and I have so many things I want to say. This forum has given me a lot of ideas. First off, the article in this magazine was good, more than that, truthful but there is so much you forgot to say about the PTA. PTA is a wonderful organization that, if properly run, not only raises funds for the children in your school, but also helps out the children throughtout the nation that DO NOT have funds for college or a parental voice. You may laugh when I say that, but has your PTO or PTA ever paid for a child's shoes, coat, field trip? Have you ever made sure that each child in your school was clothed properly for each season? Have you ever made sure that each child in your school has equal opportunity in every sense of the word? Have you ever paid for family night out or paid to have a children's artist come in the EVENING? Not just assembly, but a program that would help enrich many lives? Many PTA and PTO's forget about the advocacy and the whole mission statement because each president/board creates their whole agenda. Many times that agenda has nothing to do with what their group is all about, just what they want to accomplish for the year. Maybe he/she just wants a little recognition, maybe he/she wants to be better than the last president (cause she hates her!) or maybe he/she just wants something to do. Either way, if your don't use guidelines, the kids kinda of get lost in the shuffle. Think about that the next time you get in an argument over who is right about some issue.
I firmly believe that it is not a money issue for either group as the article states. I agree with several of the writers and say stop complaing. Put your money where your mouth is.
PTA promotes the parent education, gives scholarships to HS students, teachers, nurses, volunteers who go back to school (some to become teachers), translations grants for all of you bi-ligual school and so much more. We are an instrument group regarding legislative issues. Yes we take a stand, but only where children are at the core of the issue. CA PTA was instrumental in reducing class size in K-3 grades a couple years back. We are reaping the benefits of this wonderful legislation. PTO was fund raising through this whole issue. I am not talking specific people, I am talking "parent group". You may have been in charge of this leg issue in your area, but you were not speaking for your PTO.
PTA provides an annual convention in each state that provides so much information and knowledge that you can't possible use it all in one year!
I guess to sum it up, PTA is not just about fundraising. PTO is. That is a fact. ON this site there is not one article about parent education, scholarships, child advocay and more.
I could go on and on, but I suddenly feel great about PTA and I will be the best PTA cheerleader tonight.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice MY OPINION.