Since the Eagle Forum was founded to combat the Equal Rights Amendment, by Phyllis Schlafly, I think it is safe to say where they are coming from. Venzmama said it best. You can't believe everything you read. (did you hear the one about the spider under the toilet seat? [img]smile.gif[/img]
There are so many wonderful topics in here and much to learn from everyone.
Welcome to the forum from one of the PTAers!
You can't believe everything you read either. Remember that the internet has made it possible for anyone...genius to loser...to create websites supporting or bashing their latest cause. But the information will usually be slanted towards the writer's own leanings. I've read several articles about the PTA. I've read one newsletter put out by pro-lifers who bashed the PTA for their "stance" on the abortion issue and I've read one written by gay parents lauding the PTA for their stance on "tolerance in the classroom." If you follow this website you will find that there are bad PTA's AND bad PTO's mixed in with the good...hopefully yours can be one of the good ones. I would genuinely hope that the PTA bashing will stay off this site! :cool:
PS: It looked like most of the PTA articles on that particle website were written by the same person. After reading other things on the site their agenda was clearly "right wing". The PTA does support many issues that are considered "liberal politics", but we need to remember that they also have many wonderful programs in schools throughout the U.S.
If I understand the positions of the persons involved in "eagleforum.org" (more of a soap box, it appears), they may be a little closer to the far to radical right than most people's posts in this forum.
I have been posting here for a while now, and really feel that nearly all the posts I have read provide a great deal of insight into what we as volunteers and parents encounter in our positions on a daily basis, and provide solutions and growth to the readership (even the lurkers!)
As far as PTA bashing is concerned, PTA is not by any means perfect, but outside of a few basic rules and obligations, it is what you make of it. At our school, I've seen the cloistered, hoity-toity PTA of 3 years ago move into a more open, relaxed group that is more racially and economically reflective of our school as a whole.
To do this, it appears that you just have to leave your agendas, imperial aspirations, and biases at the door and just do it for the kids.
Has anyone read the articles concerning the PTA on eagleforum.org and the Education Policy Institute's websites? I'm somewhat new to the PTA/PTO forum, and am curious as to what everyone's take is on this.
