What bylaws do you go by. Maybe we have the same and I dont know it. I dont have a copy of this Roberts Rules of Order
I have a copy of a constitution but it is very vague. I want to find a loop hole in the worst way to nail them

Assuming your group operates as an open membership group with regular general meetings, I would take your petition and a few people willing to speak in favor of your events to your first PTO meeting of the year (or the last one for this year, if it's not too late).

Clearly outline the benefits of these activities and honestly ask for the leadership's reasons for canceling them.

Give them a heads-up that you will be doing this, because that is the right thing to do.

Do not be confrontational. Be concerned that your group is not acting in the best interests of the students and the school.

Our 'Santa Shop' was cancelled in 2004 because we had no volunteers to run it. We asked personally, plead at meetings, and published in our newsletter that if noone agreed to run it we would cancel it. We did.

There were a good many upset parents. We had no idea how popular this thing was. Last year, we managed to talk someone into chairing it, and we are happy we did.

Parents love that they don't have to drag their kids through the mall at holiday time to shop. There is also an educational element -- divvying up their funds to get something for everyone on the list. Kids also feel special giving an item they selected secretly.

Brainstorm and list all the positive things that come from your events. Don't forget about benefits to the volunteer community and tradition.

Here's a link to the (spartan) web page for ours:
Cape PTO Holiday Shoppe

If your group is a school committee that is now controlled by the principal, you may need to do this at a BoE meeting. Non-confrontational, concerned, and prepared is the way to go here, too.

samsmom- "The new officers want to replace it (Fun Fair) with a Math night...the officers have the support of the principal.They also want to disband Santa's Workshop after this year.........."

Yours sounds like an OPO, OfficersPrincipalOrgnaization and not a PTO or PTA ...

At our school the officers, parents and teachers get to vote on changes and the majority wins, according to our bylaws. If your group has similar rules but flaunts them and just decides in their own small leadership group, with support of the principal, on making any chnages, that is a very sad commentary indeed on the leadership there.

At least, you are almost out of that school, it sounds like.

Maybe in the meantime do whats best for YOU personally and the cost benefit of trying to do the right things. Sometimes doing the right thing, truly isnt worth the hassle or headache. Sometimes it is, but only you know all the details and if its a fight worth taking on.

I really wanted ideas, without the religion issue. That we will just have to live with. We were told the fun fair is out dated, the clean up is a problem (which the parents do) the decorations are a problem, so we can work around that. And middle schoolers in the building running around. Well if you have a child that has a older sibling they have the right to come. And some middle schoolers come to work. But the kids still Love fun fair isnt that what we do it for. I am not saying that when it is all over I am not dead tired, because I am. But I sign up to work at it each year. Because I love my child and she loves Fun Fair. We also have a auction during Fun Fair which is a fund raiser. We make $$$$ during fund fair. Not our largest fund raiser but it will be a big loss.
Santa's Workshop I have Co-Chaired for the past two years. It also is outdated so we are told, parents time could be used more wisely and their expense utilized differently stated by new Pres. And Parents can take their kids to Dollar stores there is not a need for us to do this. We also make a small profit from Santas Workshop. Enough to cover buying wrapping paper and tape. We wrap parents gifts to send home with kids. And we buy lunches for volunteers that work all day helping with kids buying gifts. Whatever may arise. The kids love this. The feedback I have gotten from my petition is more for the santa's workshop than anything. I am not a trouble maker. I am trying to keep something the kids love. Arent the kids what we do all this for? This is my daughters last year at this school and she will be going to middle school it would be just as easy for me to shut up and let them do whatever they want. But I dont want the other kids to do without. They deserve to have the same as all the kids before them

AHHHHHHHH!!! yes...I like it ..I like that idea alot!!!!!

OOOOOhhhhhhh. Not a fun time. I'm so sorry for the position you are in.

I'm assuming that the PTO has filed for non-profit status with the IRS. So, I would start by pointing out to them that to keep their non-profit status, they need to abide by the rules. Such as, quorum on a vote. Since they would have applied under education they cannot use religion for basing their votes, or the way they run their PTO.

Good luck,
DJ