Some choose to write to the papers but more accurately, we are contacting our elected officials. Sure, it's important to find out what the PTA is lobbying for. Our positions start small, for example, in the local unit Yucca Mt, the nuclear waste repository in Nevada was put to a vote to each unit, do you support this action? The vote from each local unit goes to each state where it again, goes to a vote from each state based on the units results. The majority of members decide, what we stand for. You as a member have a voice in the decisions National makes. They don't just make them without you so yes, you have a voice.
In a perfect world, you know what decisions are being made for your children and then you can contact or make your voice heard through a vote and they'll seriously listen. But what about the representative who believes in everything you do, except schools? Do you vote him/her out even though you agree with 90% of what they say?
I can't tell you how many times I have sat beside a representative and they have just deleted their e-mails, without even reading them. If you went to your legislature alone and voiced your opinion, how much weight would it carry? What about a group of 100 people all saying the same thing? It isn't about writing letters to newspapers, it's getting in the faces of the politicians and telling them, do this for our children.
Do you always know what is happening at the state and national levels of government? Do you know that a bill for DC, which is not education related, has a portion attached that would allow vouchers for private schools-in other words public funds paying for private schools? (Vouchers have been fought for over 50 years because it takes money from an already underfunded public education system) Have you ever sat and looked at all the bills being proposed just for your state alone? How do you know which ones affect your children? Do you sit and read over 100 bills just to find the one that matters to you. If the news doesn't pick up on it, how do you know if you don't approve or appreciate what they've done.
We do that, someone goes through the bills and find out which ones propose funding cuts, vouchers, etc.
As for whether or not you agree with the stance, you can see the resolutions in your handbooks, and on the national website. Would you really have a problem with being against underage smoking? Tobacco settlement money being used for education? Seatbelts on school buses? The stands are only how they relate to children. We don't endorse any politicians.
Cathie is right, it is great that we all have our opinions but you wanted to know, what does PTA do that PTO doesn't. It's not an opinion, it's fact. This is largely what we do.