Hi Michelle B –

I understand your frustration, and I am not trying to stir anything up here – no really I am not! But when I went a searchin’ for PTO information and did a Google search, ptotoday.com came up – and that is why I am here. To use your example: “non-partisan political site that claimed to be for all members of any party and yet, there are pages devoted completely to how the Democratic party is better than the Republican party. Would you be offended if you were a Republican?” IMHO is comparing apples to oranges – this is ptotoday.com not ptostoday.com (parent-teacher organizations.com).

While Tim has invited everyone to join in and participate – bottom line is that it is his web site (and commercial endeavor) and he may run it how he chooses.

I think one of the reasons PTAs as a whole are attacked, is that they are a large, nationwide, highly visible, and structured group (the size does not diminish the good works done at all levels). PTOs are however, individual, self-governing independent groups with no national affiliation or structure. There is no central clearing house, if you will, that generates press releases (or negotiates large contracts) for PTOs – it is left up to the individual groups to generate their own publicity.

Of course, at a quick skim of the PTA web site – I found nothing negative in regards to PTO groups. But there again, I do not expect to find information that would assist the PTO at my child’s school. Not to say it is not there – but we are not a PTA.

Someone educate me – is not the birth of most PTO groups basically disgruntled, former PTA groups? I am sincerely asking this.

Just my 4 cents (I wrote much more than I thought I would!)

I have been “lurking” here for about 4 or 5 months now – in anticipation of participation with the PTO in my child’s school.

I never really was interested in reading this topic – but since it is slow in the other boards, I thought I would give it a read – boy have I been missing something!

Tim has built a great site with open opportunities for ALL to participate and contribute. All of this anti- and pro- whatever your group’s affiliation is – just seems to mirror some of the pettiness that goes on in the very same organizations that are committed to helping our children. (Probably get flamed for this remark!)

IMHO – bottom line is that this is ptotoday.com, not ptatoday.com. Tim has said everyone is welcome to visit and participate, but you should not be shocked if there is a slant or bias to the groups organized as PTOs . Are you PTAers taking up the PTOs cause at the PTA websites?

Just my two cents.

Well of course this is your fault TIM! [img]smile.gif[/img]
If you hadn't gone on vacation, then you wouldn't have, not only one but two highly active topics running in the PTA v PTO forum (which really hasn't happened in quite some time...)
You put the voodoo hex on it! Which means that both topics should be well done by the time you get back!
However, when you get back, I expect to see at least one blog with no negative PTA stories on it and would be ELATED to see just one positive. (some past blogs have been completely PTO negative free)
It can wait until Tuesday and I will be happy to help you find them!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Apparently I spoke too soon! I was speaking from my daily glance at the blog section--I usually don't go there, and have never checked the archives. It would seem though that since this thread even exists (with as many posts as it has), the anti-PTA sentiment is obviously something people have been giving thought to.


Enjoy the beach!

Originally posted by kmamom:
Now for MY $0.02 :

I honestly don't remember the last time I saw a story in BLOG that showed an anti-PTO story--either thievery or questionable bedmates, and we ALL know it's out there in places besides the PTA.

You guys are killing me! I'm supposed to be on vacation (spending all my millions!)

Did want to jump here and respond to kmamom. KMA -- the entire blog archive is available. Click on latest news, and there are links to previous months at the lower left. We've had tons of stories on PTOs embezzling money. I can honestly tell you that we've linked to every embezzlement story we've ever found, and it seems they've come in a nearly identical % acronym-wise to the actual % of PTOs and PTAs in the world.

When it comes to local PTAs and local PTOs, we link to about every story we find. When it comes to national, I hate to tell you, but we do the same there. My commentary may have an edge -- but that's part of the blog experience. Why have there been no links to negative national PTO stories? That's easy -- there is no national PTO. And even if you consider us the national PTO, there have been no negative stories about us. Find one -- I'll link to it.

Back to the beach -- can't you guys give me a break til Tuesday?

Tim

[ 07-28-2004, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Rockne ]

Metzymom- blog is like opinions and thoughts on various subjects usually from a sites web master. On this site I believe it says "Tim's idle thoughts of the day", or something to that effect, it is on the home page. He uses articles he of interests he finds and put's a title with it. Sometimes he uses "ouch" if the article is damning to the group, which is sometimes a PTA and sometimes not. It seems like alot of it is about embezzlement, but there are ALOT of postives too, such as supers and principals backing volunteerism.