Unfortunately, just like we all have a problem getting parents to our meetings and volunteering their time. Teachers are no different. We are quite lucky, because we have a good amount of teachers/staff who are also parents of students at our school, but still only have a few teachers that attend meetings and it can be pulling teeth to get them to volunteer their time outside of the classroom. We do have 1 teacher that sits on the PTO Board and is the "voice" of the teachers, my goal for next year is to try to recruit a few more. Our principal, who is a huge PTO supporter, changed the teacher policy as of this school year. They HAVE to become PTO members, and they have to work both the Fall and Spring festival. Some were a bit bitter about it but most just resigned themselves to it. I really wish the teachers would realize how much the kids love seeing them working the games and sitting in the dunk tanks...lol.

I agree. Our group is a Parent Teacher Organization. At our last PTO meeting, a parent asked, "Why aren't there any teachers here?" Great question. Teacher involvement is something we have to work on. Our school director has attended our meetings and when I expressed the parents' concerns that they want teacher input, she suggested having one teacher serve as a liason to attend meetings.

I take issue with the article on this site - Let Teachers Teach - regarding what to expect from the T in PTO. As a business owner, parent, and parent volunteer, I am stretched thin. Because I own my own business, I have the flexibility to participate in PTO and other school activities. However, I also have a life outside of school.

Yes, teachers teach and I appreciate that, but parents have jobs, too. Taking the teachers' responsiblity out of the Parent Teacher Organization is more than just a matter of semantics. It is an insult to the parents who take time away from their families and other responsibilities to plan activities and help raise funds to supplement the classroom curriculum of teachers.

Asking a teacher to attend a once a month meeting and volunteer outside the classroom does not take away from their teaching any more than it makes the doctor-parent volunteer less a doctor, the CEO-parent volunteer less a CEO, or the stay-at-home mom volunteer less a homemaker. If anything, teacher involvement gives them ownership and a voice in the organization that can really benefit them in these tough economic times. More importantly, minimizing teacher participation can lead to an "out-of-touch" PTO which focuses on their own pet projects rather than efforts that really benefit the education of students (our children).

I don't want to forget about the "name" of the organization. I started participating in the PTO because I thought it would be equal parts parents and teachers. If the PTO is really just a parent organization that must try not to "offend" teachers lest they undermine the PTO fundraising efforts, then I am left wondering if my time, money and effort would not be better served by focusing on the teacher and classroom of my child.