I agree with the replies so far. If your questions had to do with a particular classroom, the first place to present them would be with the teacher. Beyond that, a phone call to the principal or a private meeting with the principal would have been the next step.
However, if your questions had to do with classroom policy or instruction in general, we would be interested in hearing them as a PTO.
Moving a little off topic: My desire for all students is that they be taught the way they learn and not expected to learn the way they are taught. This may sound like it's asking too much of teachers to modify assignments for a handful of students, but any teacher with true passion for the job wouldn't give it a second thought.
Had this been our school, I would have politely suggested speaking with the principal after the general meeting had adjourned to either address your issues then or to schedule a time to do so.
We also try not get into issues that don't fall under the mission of the PTO. Yes, they are important and deserve the appropriate attention. But if it's not something that involves the PTO, it really shouldn't take up the PTO meeting time.
This happens with us also, since it's a time the parents can easily catch the Principal. The problem is some of these are long, drawn out discussions over statewide testing, lunchroom behavior, school policies, curriculum, etc. We usually have plenty of PTO business to get through. Our President will usually let it go on for a moment or two, but then suggest those interested meet with the Principal or stay after and talk to him one-on-one.
If you think that these are issues of general interest, maybe you could ask about adding an "Ask the Principal" segment at the end after the PTO business is concluded.
At our school such issues should be taken up with the SBDM, teacher, or principal. It is not the duty of our PTO to make rules for the staff to follow, we get to take care of the fun stuff.
We try not to let this happen because it can be an embarassing situation for everyone involved. Sometimes the situation can be easily remedied by following the correct steps, with out anyone getting red faced. But if the PTO was involved in this problem it was the appropriate time. If you are still unsure go ahead and ask for the by-laws.It may be time that they were gone over by other people anyways.
I have a child in 5th Grade and have just started attending the PTO meetings at his school. The meetings are informal with a brief agenda to follow. They do offer a comment and concerns part, last meeting a few parents brought up some issues they had with the school with the principal who attends these meetings. He answered all questions without a problem. Went to this months meeting and the prinicpal and PTO Pres. said they would not conduct a meeting like the last, that these questions should of been squashed at that time and that it was inappropriate. Should I ask to see the by-laws so I know what the appropriate procedures are? Is the PTO meeting not the time to bring up issues in the classroom? Help.
