Well, tonight was the "forum" at my daughter's new elementary school as to whether we form our parent/teacher group as a PTA or PTO. Since both organizations were represented in "feeder" schools, so to speak, to this new one, I felt it only fair that a decision be made by the new school body of parents. In our county, usually the County Council of PTA's just walks right in and gets started.
There were four PTA reps there to speak: the County Council President, two long-time PTA workers in the County in various capacities, and a leader in the PTA at the other major feeder school to our new school (they were PTA, we were PTO)
Other than taking up more than their alloted 15 minutes of time (we started at 6 and was supposed to vacate the cafeteria by 7 for a Cub Scouts recruitment meeting), and admitting they knew little about PTO, which I found very curious, they were fine, discussing mostly the benefits of PTA membership, and only "knocking" the PTO on a few occasions.
In hindsight I was, in my presentation (I was the lone "PTO" representative, since I was PTO President last year at our former school), a little more negative towards PTA than I wanted to be, but I found it to be challenging to help people understand the concept of PTO, when some of them honestly had never heard of it before.
75 percent of groups in the US aren't PTA; in our state, 51 percent are not. Now the challenge is explaining why.
I did okay, could have done better, and I'm sure I ruffled some feathers. Let's just say I went and spoke to each of the PTA reps afterwards, but none were readily coming in my direction. You know what, that's a shame.
But the REAL news: I wanted to use my friend and sparring partner, Michelle as an example, and forgot!!! I plugged this website multiple times, emphasizing we "all" get together here, PTA'ers, PTO'ers, even some EIEIO'ers....and through our conversations, though spirited they may be sometimes, we all come out winners because we share, we listen, and we all want, most importantly, what's best for our kids. That's what any parent/teacher group should be about. [img]smile.gif[/img]
The votes were cast; the ballots are to be counted in the morning at the office. The PTA insists on having someone oversee it, which I think it's shady (did Al Gore get to watch the hanging chads in Florida??), so I get to watch, too, just to make sure (sorry to say), there isn't any undue pressure or hanky-panky put on our principal.
It upsets me, because sometimes I wonder if good-hearted people have gotten so wrapped up in an "organization", that they've forgotten their first love, because if the vote goes pro-PTO, there will be those who'll want to hang me in effigy. Doesn't make sense....because together, with that spirit and energy, we'd make an incredible parent/teacher group.
Michelle, wherever you are, I love you!!
