I swear I just don't see how this ultimately matters at all. If your roll in the PTO/PTA/PTS/PTWHATEVER world is a form of 'maintence' then I can see how this stuff matters I'm pretty sure everyone here just volunteers at their childs school. I just don't get why this has to go so deep

Generalizations are the stupidest thing in the world and I have yet to see one be correct.


Just to add..my school's PTO has been around since 1962 and yes thats right I said PTO. There are people on the pto that have been on the pto for 10 YEARS. We do influence the school to a certain degree, just like PTA's do. We do impact the students to a certain degree, just like PTA's do.

PTA's are no better then PTO's
PTO's are no better then PTA's

Get over the holier then thou attitude and go be a postive roll model for the children.


The other day on Oprah it was about 'stay at home moms vs working moms' and how women sit there and insult, generalize, and basically yap their pieholes about how they were better then the other.....first thought was-how stupid can these people be.

This thread is way to close to the show.


If this is just to proove who's right and who's wrong...frankly its a waste of time to those of us who are in it because we love our kids.

[ 09-06-2004, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: melloweer ]

Originally posted by <Donna>:
I think PTOs are a product of the "ME" attitude of our society...not supporting a greater interest .

This is my favorite of all the old PTA standards.

I've been quoted this way in many papers across the country (in response to this very remark or ones near-exactly like it) and it needs re-mentioning here:

Of all the ludicrous accusations (PTOs are puppets of administration; PTOs only care about fundraising; yadda, yadda) that we hear, this is the best one. So there are these 60,000 groups of parent volunteers out there who've decided to give of their own time (tons of it) to volunteer for a school. These 500,000 or so (let's call it 9 top-level volunteers per PTO school) choose to do this often thankless job instead of: a) sitting home on the coach; b) playing with their kids; c) joining a gym; d) taking a paid job; e) going on dates with their long-lost husbands; f) seeing movies with friends; g) etc., etc.

And you're calling these folks the me generation? Give me a break.

There are tons of examples of the "me generation" in society. Parent volunteers (of all stripes) are the opposite. Completely.

Tim

Originally posted by SFilak:
I love the idea sharing on this site. Tim has posted positive PTA links that I have sent him and rather than just deleting a thread such as this, lets the debate continue. (could be that he's too busy counting his millions-but I doubt it)

Well, it's a holiday. I can't count everyday.

Tim

I have belonged to the PTA for many years now and made a few obsevations. I have attended state and national conferences, and realized that some PTA-holics have definitley drank the kool-aid!

I like the PTA, I lobby on the state level for equitable funding for education, and I bake cupcakes for my childs class. The sad part is, this forum is great until a couple of the "believers" come here and bitch that PTO's are selfish and and uncaring. The number one priority of the National PTA is parent involvement in education. Everyone here is living up to that no matter what letters they choose to define their group. If you feel that this website is not to your liking, there is a x in the corner of this window, click on it now and go on with your life.

As I stated, I like being part of the PTA, and I love the idea sharing on this site. Tim has posted positive PTA links that I have sent him and rather than just deleting a thread such as this, lets the debate continue. (could be that he's too busy counting his millions-but I doubt it)

I usually try to stay out of the A vs O battle, but come on......let's get back to sharing thoughts and ideas, and not debating whose right/wrong. If you are at all involved in your childs education you are in the right!

Fire away!

Suzi-not drinking the kool-aid

Donna...I guess according to you I am part of the"me attitude " group. Having all of your schools in the district PTA doesnt mean that you are the only ones that can influence school decisions. Our PTO is starting it's fourth year and we have already influenced our district(six schools)enough to work with all of the groups in the city to rewrite the district's parent involvement compact as well as updating the districts policy. Geesh how did that happen since all of our groups are diffenent (yes there is a pta involved). Because of our school's PTO we are starting a new volunteer program that the district would like to use district wide. whether you are PTA or PTO you can make a diffence out side of your school. We have schools around us that are looking at us as a role model and are asking us what they can do to get more involvement.One of our moms went to a school 35 minutes away and our flyer was in their lounge because they want to use us as an example. So I guess here the "me attitude" of our PTO really isnt making a difference anywhere ...right? If we were PTA then we could say we are...right?

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.