school culture is set by principal.
principal is hired by superint.
parents displeased w school culture and/ or (non) handling of parents issues brought to attn of principal, should address their concerns with the supt. in person and in large peaceful group.

Its totally OK - no need to apologize - your issue has facts to back it up and you beleive in it

I just wanted make sure to separate into 2 issues when I replied- just to make sure they werent letting you meet because of one issue
which stiil could be their reason (ie wont let PTO meet togehter becuase lots agree with your point)

Both issues need to be addressed separately (even though they're both parent/ student issue and valid issues) I can attest to letting posts cross over to another thread

Hopefully more can weigh in on helpful ways to resolve both other than me the village debater

[ 09-16-2006, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Let me explain a bit more about our school culture, which is why I brought up the corporal punishment piece on this part of the forum. {I brought it up as a specific topic on another thread, but here more for an example of the culture,} and no, we don't bring it up at PTO meetings, though one parent at another school wished to.
Our school culture at this school is so different from other places that I have been. The principal is very authoritative, and the only parents who do well with her are those who do not question her authority. I am no such parent.
I will check on the fire code thing, good idea there.
Sorry to let my anti corporal punishment advocacy bleed onto both threads, hard to separate. So much of what I suggest that needs to be addressed in our school culture does stem from the poor choices from the top.

The strangest thing I've heard...

The way of mtg in separate rooms via .. intercom.
the principal doesnt have to let any group meet at school but what keeps the group from moving to another location? How long has this gone on? Meeting at someone house, etc is that a posibility

Are they actual PTO mtg or are they corporal punishment assemblies?

Both your posts talk about beating of children and corporal punishment is why I'm wondering...

which would be different from trying to run a PTO mtg (ie school invovlemnt, education, fundraisng, parent education...now if the membership agrees then its would be a part of the PTO mission but not its main reason for being-activism, political and lobbying may be only as small pertentage of PTA/PTO as stated by law... no child should be beaten.. agreed, spanked not agree )

I'd check on the fire code (sounds bogus to me) and move up the school chain of command

[ 09-16-2006, 02:56 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Google "constitutional right to assemble" and you'll get all kinds of information to back up your demand for the parent group to assemble as a whole in one location.

I can't believe, in the year 2006, that these types of activities still go on.

Soldier on, Peg. These kids need you!

why not call the fire dept directly and inquire about the fire code rules. they may need to visit the school or see a school plan, usually available to the public.