hi lurking in Texas you asked
Of course, at a quick skim of the PTA web site – I found nothing negative in regards to PTO groups. But there again, I do not expect to find information that would assist the PTO at my child’s school. Not to say it is not there – but we are not a PTA.
Most of the information at the PTA website is for parents, not PTA. Like PALS said, there is valuable information there for example in Parent Involvement, not just Schools of Excellence but the standards for Parent Involvement (NCLB used this for it's standards), PTA community touches on education and child related legislation that whether you are PTA and working with the org to address or just a parent, is consolidated information about education issues in Washington, things like Teacher Appreciation, which started as a PTA program and has since become a nationwide program, After school programs, (you get the picture) Much of the information here is similiar to the information found at the PTA website (not necessarily because they are copying it, but because as parents and educators, this is information that is important to us)
While Tim has invited everyone to join in and participate – bottom line is that it is his web site (and commercial endeavor) and he may run it how he chooses.
I don't disagree with that, but as any business goes, when your customers start to ask for something, you pay attention and do what you can to provide it. This leads to the growth of your business and a better bottom line. And in any business, the people who frequent it, have every right to express concern or anger, if this business does something that they find objectionable. He may run it how he chooses but as more and more PTA people come here, he is being asked to take it in another direction or to make it very clear that this isn't a business for them.
IMHO is comparing apples to oranges – this is ptotoday.com not ptostoday.com (parent-teacher organizations.com).
It is not the name of the company but the claims that it makes, a site for all groups. It is a very relative analogy.
Another analogy (perhaps more explanatory)- If a business claims that they provide all carpeting at a low cost and when you enter the building, they only sell hardwood floors, and a couple of throw rugs in the back, it's misleading.
Now, you ask the question
Someone educate me – is not the birth of most PTO groups basically disgruntled, former PTA groups? I am sincerely asking this.
The actual origins of PTO
(and I am NOT saying this is the way it is now) was in response to desegregation. From the book "Taming the Storm, the Life and Times of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. and the South's Fight over Civil Rights",
when discussing the change from PTA to PTO, a new idea at the time, ""'The official reason was that all of our money would go to the local school', Ruth said, 'but EVERYBODY understood it was in reaction to the PTA's support of desegregation.' Only two people voted against the motion, one of them Ruth Johnson."
Those that have been PTA now, leave for various reasons, such as paying dues, or positions or supposed positions that PTA holds (vouchers, gay agenda, support/oppose abortion, being politically involved at all) there is in some schools- where the principal or administration does not want a seperate group from the school or parents have come from the background of having a PTO (any group that is not a PTA), some schools have never had a PTA and start up with a PTO- never having any experience or knowledge of PTA. There are hundreds of reasons why there are PTOs and not all of them are because they are disgruntled PTAs.
I'll be perfectly honest, I had no clue there was such a thing as PTO when I got into this. My only son's first school was PTA and all of the schools I grew up in were PTA. When I did hear PTO, I just assumed it was a mistake in pronunciation or the name. I am the type to jump into information both feet first, until I am drowning in it. When I first became aware of PTO, I went searching. This was the first site I found. (I've found a lot of information and with computers, my digging for info has become easier now that I'm older)
I understand it much better now. I am not an anti-PTO person either as a result of it. I like what PTA has to offer me as a parent, as a political constituent, as an active volunteer. In fact, I am now at a non-PTA school and as such, have joined our state chapter and am a member of our PFA. (not as active yet, still getting my bearings) I'm still a PTA member, even though I can't be in a PTA at our school. It is because I see a value in it. I see that our PFA does much for our school and I like that it gets parents involved. Our PFA is pretty much a fundraising arm (no real activities or involvement beyond that) and I want to do more but it doesn't make it bad, just different. I have had discussions with PTA people and for those that don't look beyond PTA, I tell them about PTO and how it's not bad. But that is the result of gathering information. I'm not necessarily a fan of joining NPN (I will not get into that here) but that does not in any way relate to my feelings towards PTOs.
Bottom line, I know ONLY because I have been on these boards for quite some time, that this is not a Pro-PTA website. But my reason for coming here wasn't for involvement information (not at first) Other PTA people come here either led by the fact they are looking to dissolve or as the site touts, for parent involvement information etc. The latter are surprised by the anti-PTA sentiment based on the marketing that led them here and express their concern. For those people, their concern is valid. They have a legitimate complaint especially since PTO does stand for all groups. The name itself is not explanatory. It's the definition that follows that needs to be honest.
IMHO, my perfect world has both organizations at all schools. It is not a popular opinion on either side but it's my ideal and is the result of my digging. I like options.
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