Hi Blue,
I think it is great that your move to PTO was what your parents wanted and that you are happy, but I don't understand why you feel it is necessary to change the other groups. IT is probably very likely that although you are not PTA that you could still network with leaders. You wouldn't be on an island. (I talk to other organizations all the time and even partner up at-risk non-PTA schools with some of my PTA schools for assistance.) Secondly, if parents in the future did explore their options and choose to move back to PTA than that would be a choice that they have made for themselves and their children. It is fine that PTA ills you and you have your own opinions as to what PTA does but you shouldn't impose your own distaste for the organization when that may be what is best for them. That is a choice that they should make as it was your choice not to be.
I suggest you focus on what you are doing now for your school and do great things for your children. It is possible to co-exist peacefully.
1. I don't think you want to go an an all-out PTO sales campaign. But I don't think your overstepping bounds to write a note (or an email or a persoanl hello, if you bump into folks) to other parent leaders in your district telling them what you did and letting them know that you'd be happy to help if they're interested in exploring the option.
2. In my experience, one of the key benefits those other 39 schools may like is the existence of a local "Council" of some sort for idea-sharing and support. In strong PTA areas, that can be a nice feature. If that's the case, I'd make the point that 40 PTOs can just as well have a council (with no dues) as can 39 PTAs. I know of lots of towns where the PTO leaders get together regularly to help one another. Gosh -- the $$ argument is really compelling when you're talking 40 schools. That's something like $40,000 per year to state and national that could be staying in your district. And because there's 40 groups, the whole "you'll be on your own if you leave" argument really goes out the window.
3. I bet there are PTA leaders in your town who -- even if you stay PTO and they stay PTA -- would be happy to network with you. Would hope so, anyway.
Our school became the first in our county to dissolve our PTA and go PTO. The PTA fought us hard, but we prevailed.
We moved for two reasons; 1) keeping money in our school, and 2) not making parents join such a politically motivated association (i.e.--lobbying group) in order to fully participate at school.
Our area is comprised of people more inclined to disagree with the National PTA agenda; yet the other 40-some schools in the county continue PTA. I don't want to "launch" a campaign to convince others to move, but I don't want our school to be on an island, and, in the future, have leaders decide to return to the PTA fold.
The National PTA ills me. What used to be a true child advocate group is now masked as one, but, in reality, is a highly politically-motivated lobbying group using parents and children to reach their goals. A parent-teacher group should only lobby for issues directly related to education, and not politics in general.
Any clue on how to go about affecting change in this area and not alienate the very ones I wish to reach in the process??
