Last year my wife was asked to joing our school's PTA and was nominated and elected to President. While this group of teachers, school employees and parents have been on this ("their") PTA for years, when my wife notices soem odd things and called them on it, it changed our relationship with the school, and my son'e educational experience in a very negative way. In a nutshell, when my wife attempted to attract a broader base of parents to participate, she was voted down. When she questioned the "financial" books and how monies had been spent, she was yelled at and threatened by members who were also teachers, and who had full backing of the principal. In a smaller school, it was easy for the these PTA members, most of whom were employees (being an long term member of the PTA is the first step to being hired) to demonized us. It climaxed with my wife, who was 9 months pregnant at the time, finally stepping down after months of being yelled and publically disrespected. Parents that she brought on board either left in disgust, or became part of this PTA cliche. After state PTA officals got involved (much to the dismay of the membership). Per our PTA bylaws, these types of conflicts and investigations would conclude with the two parties speaking their piece in an open forum overseen by the State PTA officials. It was my wife vs. the entire PTA membership. I was asked to leave the room. Sadly, the one who became the most vocal in this witch hunt was the principal, who actually began yelling at my wife. They got what they wanted, and my wife resigned, but ir did not end there. What's the saying, "A woman scorned ..." This PTA gang is made up of lower grade teachers and "supervisor" staff. So those who would be teaching my son and watching over him in the yard still had it out for us. We fought back, filling formal complaints with the district on these teachers and staff (allowing the district to start a file on them, as they had on us). When their attornies asked us what we wanted, we told them that the principal needed to be moved or fired, as well as some of her staff. Overall, this ruined my son's first grade experience. With the districts complaint policies, we have been able to silence some the PTA teachers, though the staff members (most of whom have kids in the school) continue to treat us unprofessionally. We are working on them, again through the Superintent of personnel. But what can one do about the PTA parents who are continue to try to find ways to act out their grudges against us. How does a non-PTA parent protect themselves and their child against the PTA?