I think you're right that lots of people join lots of organization even if they don't believe in all the position statements of those organizations. That's true of the PTA, the AARP, the Democratic party, the Republican party, etc.
The big difference, though, in my opinion is that individuals join those organizations directly. You can become a Democrat or an NRA member or an AARP member on your own. If the NRA's positions go too far from your own, then you can leave. It's a one-one, clear relationship between you and the group. I bet every NRA member knows he or she is an NRA member.
In the PTAs case, the vast majority aren't joining national PTA at all. Instead, they're joining the parent group at their kid's school. They'd do that whether the group was PTA, PTO or XYZ. They don't make any assessment at all of PTA political positions. And they wouldn't leave the group, because leaving would necessitate leaving the local group of which their so fond. I'd go so far as to say that vast majority of PTA members have no clue: a) about National PTA; and b) (more clearly) about PTA political positions. What % of national PTA members know anything at all about national PTA?
That's why I like the development of the National PTA's direct membership unit, where people can join PTA directly rather than through a local school. I think it's more in keeping with PTA's new emphasis on being a voice. You can be sure that all the members of the national group have made a conscious decision to support national PTA. You can't say the same at all about regular PTA members, who've become national PTA members without even knowing it.
Dave, As a PTA member and recent past President, I am troubled by what you are saying. I know that at a local meeting, PTA's cannot endorse particular candidates and political issues are not allowed at our meetings. It's hard to believe that it's endorsed at the higher levels. I would be interested in seeing a link to that proof also.
Frankly, I agree with most of the National PTA's programs but not all. When I vote for a candidate I don't usually agree with 100% of their platforms either. However, I feel that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. By being a member of the PTA, I am not being "duped", I am standing up for what I believe in. or, mostly believe in [img]smile.gif[/img]
It's not unusual to have a candidate that I voted for feel differently and vote for something that I don't support. Same with the PTA, probably same with members of any other national group.
To be fair, I've never seen national or any state PTA actually endorse or advocate for a particular candidate. That would be against 501c3 regulations, and I find that the PTA is careful about it, as it should be.
Dave -- you seem to imply otherwise. Can you cite specific examples?
I do think that certian actions -- especially of national -- can be viewed as close to the line, but I think they've been on the right side of the line.
The national and various state PTAs never deny that they're political. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Most groups (75%+) have decided that the PTA model isn't for them. Doesn't mean the PTA model is wrong, just that it's not for most groups.
I dont know if I would call it a vast left wing conspiracy or not! What I do know is the lack of endorsements for canidates for office from the PTA that arent Democrats regardless of the qualifications of the canidates. As an example I would cite a state assembly race here, where the incumbant (Teacher, Principal, School board member, long history and list of supporting education issues) was challenged by a democrat (no experience in education, a lawyer, no politcal history at all) and the PTA of the state endorses him.
This is not an issolated example there are thousands of them across this country but no where is it more glaring than on Senate and the Presidential elections. There are a few exceptions to this - "rule" - but they are few and I havent found a Presidential canidate that wasnt a democrat that has been endorsed by the PTA in my lifetime!
Now this does not mean that all members of the PTAs are democrats - does it? Same as with the Unions - I am sure not all the membership is democrats either! In fact according to studies the political demograhics of Unions break down pretty much as the national averages do - with the majority being registerred as indies - I suspect that PTA memberships would do like wise if anyone took the time to find out. Yet these organizations for the most part seem to cozy up to one political party regardless of anything.
Local PTAs are not the problem! There are multiple layers to the PTA, what many and the reason why many PTAs have opted out to form PTOs is because of this political nonsense. The dues are part of the nonsense. So although many of us, myself included find the national and state PTAs to be a total waste of time, should not be equated to that we feel the local PTAs are the same. IMHO they are dupes of the national and state organizations lending their names to issues and canidates that they may not vote for nor want, but that is an american right. What they do at the local level is the same as any PTO - they work to make education and the school better.
I am involved in politics if you could not tell, I would never presume to speak for my PTO on that level nor represnt myself as being able to deliver the vote of my PTO to anyone or on any issue. So why does a national organization that has no idea of what its membership really thinks presume to be able to do that? Or a state one for that matter? For those that want to know - our incumbant easily won her reelection because the people in this district rallied to her - we had the largest turn out in our assembly districts history, in fact it ranks as the largest turn out in 150 years of elections in our Parish (County for those of you that arent in Louisiana). The respponse from the state PTA because of these results has been at best shameful - a promise to never let it happen again, that their will not be done! The few remaining PTAs in our school district are looking to opt out as a result of many of the remarks and actions of these self appointed "we know better than you do" types. One thing for sure is that politics in Louisiana are different! Or are they?
The Eagle Forum was founded by Phyllis Schlafly?! That's a name I haven't heard in years (it was an interview in Rolling Stone)! That's why I asked about the info--I don't trust all my sources, and I'm especially glad now that I asked.
I too believe that many/most of the political critics of the PTA are over the top. I don't think there's some vast left-wing political agenda in PTA.
That said, I do think it's fair to say that the vast majority of the national PTA's positions are two things:
1. Very, very politically correct; and
2. Almost always more aligned with the Democrats than the Republicans.
Again, this is not a big deal to me (the $$ vs. value discussion is bigger to me). But I can understand groups that would rather not be connected to that, especially if the groups have parents who object to the political leanings.
