always question authority comes to mind....recent article reads something to the effect of,,,,,,,,a district fired their legal team because......some thinking parents challenged the district to explain the rationale for a new policiy or ruling..............end result: the district acknowledged they made a mistake, reversed their rule 180degrees, and fired the legal folks who origianlly counseled them on how to draft the rule in the first place....

So far no repsonse from District or Super-- Not expecting one till my lawyer requests one (they havent answered other questions I've sent-- ie Question: Do you have volunteer opportunities (ie District Parent council) 4 parents to be involved on District lvl?? Repsonse: If your looking for a job - check our district employment -- Not question I asked )

So far just a little note from Principal and PTA prez is all I've got-- They're feeling ambushed (never got explanations on why the policies are legal from either- just an 'agree to disagree' statement afterwards) so I asked and emailed others for answers (without telling Principal or Prez)

We're drafting letters to Super and BOE to explain why this cant be done (Right to Free Assmebly and volunteering without being made to join PTA) and requesting answers on why its been allowed without a clear cut policy or understanding by parties involved (I hate being the troublemaker BUT I hate it more when people have NO Valid legal explanation to why they can do it-- Just because its done that way doesnt make it LEGAL)

Chew 'em up and spit 'em out (still waiting for Legal precedence on the Location and access answers, too)

LOCATION of event.......access to public school building (outside of instruciton hours) is open and free to ALL citizens as i understand it.

If the event is on school grounds and after hours, the pta rules/rights *might* be superceded by district policies of building access....in addition, they are on the school grounds ONLY upon approval of their activities by the district.

IF the event is held off grounds, that is a different story all together.

I would think district policies and rules trump any groups rules that operate on the grounds, becuase in order to operate, one must normally agree to adhere to all district rules, and usually free bldg access to public institution is guarenateed.

Food to chew on(IANAL).

I have a newfound respect for Pro Bono lawyers
some answers rcvd so far

1. The public school system as a State entity must not interfere with people's right of association, which is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constituation (the first of the Bill of Rights). Therefore, it may not require membership in a particular organization as a pre-requisite for taking part in a school function. (ie requiring parents to be PTA members to be room parent)

2. It is not clear here whether the school is holding the event or if the PTA is holding the event, but, as you wrote that the PTA is charging an entrance fee, it appears that the funds are going into the PTA account. If that is the case, the PTA can charge different fees for members and its non-members. However, if the school is running the event, then the school can not discriminate as I mentioned in answer to number one above. The relationship between the school and the PTA should be in writing (and this may affect my answer to #1 and #2) and the policy should be published by your local school board, such as the policy by the Memphis School System. You can read the policy of your local school board and forward to me if you need more assistance. The Memphis policy is at:

tinyurl.com/2kkhhs

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2007 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2.You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7 Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward thismessage.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list

AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING at yourself.

A snowless snow day! I'll bet you're having fun. I love it when the shortie gets an unexpected day off.

My BIL called yesterday..... from Hawaii... It was 80+ degrees, breezy, sunny. That was payback for my snotty, "It's 70s and sunny here today..." comment. Ahhh, balance in the universe.

I got this via email today. I've seen it two or three times already but it's always funny.

HAVING MOM OVER FOR DINNER.....
You don't even have to be a mother to enjoy this one...

Brian invited his mother over for dinner. During the course of the meal, Brian's mother couldn't help but keep noticing how beautiful Brian's roommate, Stephanie, was. Brian's Mom had long been suspicious of a relationship between Brian and Stephanie, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two react, she started to wonder if there was more between Brian and Stephanie than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Brian volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you Stephanie and I are just roommates."

About a week later, Stephanie came to Brian saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Brian said, "Well, I doubt it, but I'll send her an e-mail just to be sure. So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mom:
I'm not saying that you "did" take the gravy ladle from the house, I'm not saying that you “did not" take the gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.
Love, Brian

Several days later, Brian received an email back from his mother that read:

Dear Son:
I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Stephanie, I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Stephanie. But the fact remains that if Stephanie was sleeping in her own bed, she would have found the gravy ladle by now.
Love, Mom

LESSON OF THE DAY ... NEVER LIE TO YOUR MOTHER