Earlier today, Donna said:
"I am a local unit PTA President. All parent groups are wonderful...for involvment, doing for their schools and for the children in them. I wouldn't attempt to say if your group should or should not be PTA, however I would like to point out the greatest difference. A PTO will not have the ripple effect for betterment that a PTA unit has because local units and each member BELONG to an established, encompassing entity. PTOs are, I believe, regarded by administration as seperate groups in which parents move into and out of. Our school district is affected by the fact that all of our schools are PTA...parents remain part of the PTA for years on end and have more influence on school issue. A PTA advocates for children in its local units by what it does, rather than merely funding perks on a limited scope. I think PTOs are a product of the "ME" attitude of our society...not supporting a greater interest, just the tangible "what does my child get today?" attitude. Maybe a PTO can affect its individual school, but its influence, if any, is very limited. It's a shame many don't look beyond their own backyard. PTA leaders at all levels are UNPAID...VOLUNTEERS...they receive no salary for the work they do on behalf of America's children. Membership in National is less than a soda at the movies! It is a BARGAIN for the great impact it has had and continues to achieve. "
I'm trying hard not to get real mad here....
First, the "me-attitude/only worried about my school" is the biggest MIS-conception about PTO. I know, in my county system, once leading the only PTO in the county, I found the PTA's to be completely uninterested in working with us (even the school system in their writings and releases kept referring to just PTA's, never acknowledging a PTO existed in their county), when we continued contributing to other PTA's Scholarship Funds, and participated in the annual County Scholarship Fun Program, just like we did when we were a PTA.
The "PTA helps all children" theory sounds great, but just isn't true. PTA's are only in 1/4 of the nation's schools, and their national decisions only "affect" some children, simply because they choose to act with a political agenda, rather than stay non-partisan and truly work for all children.
Oh, and by the way, in my tenure as PTO President I worked many hours, and received NO compensation either. ??!!??
