To PTA or Not PTA?

thank you for a wonderful article. I'm the PTA president of my daughters' small school and though the parents are very active and involved, only 1/3 were PTA members. My goals this year are to enhance communications and create a dynamic forum for parents and (teachers)so that everyone feels apart of the process - and welcome to share and contribute. I hope more parents read your blog and make the right choice regarding their PTA membership.

I have been part of 4 PTA's. I thought like Alexandra did about the first one, until I got to know the people involved - they were doing the best they could. Since it's all volunteer and we all know that 10% of the people do 90% of the work in EVERY organization, I realized that they were the 10% willing to give of their time and energy to give enormous amounts of EVERYTHING to the school. I got involved and welcome ANYONE willing to get in there and help with anything. If the PTA that you feel is elitist, go to the meetings, volunteer to help and I'm sure you'll change your mind. Who cares if someone happens to be power hungery - does it effect what they're accomplishing? If they're not accomplishing much YOU can be the difference - you can make a change. All 4 PTA's have given not only extrodinary amounts of money to the schools to help with things the district can't and the man hours and programs they put in are invaluable to the school and the children. PTA's are never compensated in anyway for what they do (other than a thank you luncheon at the end of the year from the teachers and staff who appreciate their committment and tireless work) and the countless thank yous throughout the year. PTA's do make an HUGE difference in the school and I think it's appalling that there isn't a 100% participation from everything parent - IT'S YOUR way of keeping track of what's going on at your child's school - what's bad about that????

I am a School Director and I can't tell you the difference that PTA makes at our school. Even though we struggle sometimes with some of the issues mentioned in the article, every meeting is productive and outcomes have a positive impact in the school and children's education. Don't ever hesitate to be involved in your child's PTA...
Maria Laura Mas. The Goddard School

I personally abhor anything that smells of fund raiser. I think it is a waste of important educational time to brainwash my children into selling things that are totally superfluous. I have asked that my son be excluded from any seminar/assembly that is related to fundraising especially since the vision of how this money will be spent is at best unclear.

The idea of peddling wares that most of the population in our school district can't afford makes me sick. Not only that, but for a child who does not understand why he can't win the walkie-talkie because we simply don't know anyone who needs the $12 colander and don't have a large extended family.

In addition, a lot of it revolves around Christian holidays that I do not celebrate (I think of Christmas wrapping paper, Easter chocolate sales)

Personally my time is much better spent at the school board meetings where you really get the nitty gritty on what's going on within the district.

Of course there were some crass comments made by the current PTA president who demanded more parents from the special ed sector participate. Sure sounds nice in theory, but if they only knew what sort of private hell we parents with special needs kids live through they would realize that it is extremely difficult to commit time to an organization that does not address issues that are particularly of interest to us.

I am very actively involved in both of my children's education and have a good relationship with my children's teachers. But the PTA has become very cliquish, has its own agenda on how things should be done. It is the quintessential good ol' gals' club where one person can effect very little change.

At the Elementary school, we have a PTO, and I have been very involved with different positions over the last few years. Although all parents/guardians are considered members, it was typically the same 15 parents that came to every meeting. Thankfully, we almost always have enough folks volunteer for our activities, even if they don't attend the meetings.

At the Middle school my oldest son attended, I was a member for all three years. The PTA posted their executive meeting schedule, but I never knew when their general meetings were. I just happened to come to a couple of them because the meetings were held prior to my son's band concerts. So, there is a big lack of communication at the school as far as the PTA goes. I always felt disconnected with the PTA at this school.

At the Middle school my second son is now attending, because of my previous PTO experience, they sought me out to be involved in the executive board. I have been there for a couple of months now, and so far I have received communication from the school about when the general meetings are, so I think that communication is not issue here. But it still appears to be the same folks who are volunteering each time for the activities. It sure would be nice if more parents took the time to get involved.

Unfortunately, I think that the Elitism can be seen at any school, and part of that depends upon the PTA/PTO president and their attitudes. My understanding is that the previous PTA president at my son's current Middle school was not very interested in getting parents involved from the Elementary school that was moved into the Middle School district. However, the current PTA president wants very much to have parents from the new Elementary school involved. So, I think it takes a President to make an effort to ensure that all are welcome to get involved as well as the parents making an effort to get involved.

I have been involved in the PTA for several years in different roles and at 3 different schools that my kids have attended. It can be a struggle, depending on the personalities who are on the board of directors - BUT the reason we are all there is for the kids - PTA is so much more than fundraising and baking cookies - it is the largest child advocacy organization in my state and when combined with National PTA we are a powerful voice for the health, safety, welfare and education of our kids. PTA has been instrumental in getting legislation passed nationally (child labor laws, hot lunch program etc) and state wide (graduated drivers licenses, anti-bullying, simple majority for passing levies). That's why I've stayed involved even if it is with the occasional difficult person in the lead. It's always for the kids.

When my son was in Kindergarten, I didn't really participate in our PTO - however, the President's girls were in the AfterCare program with my son, so I talked with her on an almost daily basis. If the PTO needed help setting things up for an event, I was glad to pitch in. I went to my first meeting in April of that year.....came away with being the Fundraising Chair for the next year. Next meeting, I was moved to VP for the next two years.
Because no one else has stepped up in our school, it would appear to outsiders that our PTO is an elite group....once in, the same people have had to do their jobs until their kids graduate.....this elitism is certainly not the case....it's just that NO ONE ELSE WILL DO IT!
Since I joined the PTO, I have a really strong relationship with the teachers, the maintenance people, and the administrative staff. My child benefits from this academically and socially.
And yes, a great deal of our emphasis is to make money with fundraisers.....we pay for every single field trip our kids take, including the ever-escalating transportation costs. In return, we put on Movie Nights and Fall Festivals and Pancake dinners and Ice Cream Socials to bring the families together for fun as well as to raise money.

Thank you for posting this article. I am highly involved in my children's elementary school, volunteering for at least 10 commitees. I'm not on the board of the PTA and don't have a desire to do the power play, however, I do feel it's important to chair a committee so that you are visable to the teaching staff as a caring parent. They will take your requests with regards to your child more seriously than a parent who doesn't volunteer any time. The other parents will resent those parents, even full-time working parents, who do not volunteer their time. Every parent must contribute if you desire for your school to be successful. Our school is the most desirable school in our district with the highest scores (even with plenty of low income children from spanish speaking homes) because of the parent volunteers. There hard work fundraising provides great programs for our kids..well worth the time!!!! Do your part today and join the PTA!

I have been roped into the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) our version of PTA at my children's school. It is frustrating because we just can't seem to get parents and some teachers interested at all. There is a very small group of people who are overwhelmed and do everything.

That being said I have found my nitch. I have the internet at home so I can hunt for cheaper prices and resources for the school. I still have a little one at home all day so I can't help at the school very often, however I have discovered (with the help of the school secretary) that there is ALOT of things that I can take home and do for the teachers (cutting, contact papering, stapling, ect).

The biggest benefit to all of this is for my children. I have been able to meet more of their friends, gotten to know more of the teachers (not just theirs), meet some more parents, always know when important school events are coming up (not just rely on notes to make it home), and I have much better and more incitfull communication with thier teachers (how my kids are doing, ect.) They all know me now to and that also brings more attention to my kids. The more staff that knows me knows my kids as well.

Wether your PTO is organizied or not, elitist or not, many or few I have found that there is still plenty that you can do. ASK!!!!! The more involved you are the better off your kids are. Just ask what you can do.

I want to thank you all for reading and for your comments. My reason for writing this was to let people know who believe that all PTA is is a bunch of fundraising moms that this is not actually the case. There is a reason for the fundraising. I can't speak for what other PTA's or PTO's do with the money, but in our school a large portion of our raised funds goes towards field trips for the kids at the end of the year to make it possible for all children to go. We also provide enrichment for the students in the form of one or two assembly programs a year. These programs usually cost over $1000 each depending on the program. It's not cheap, but it's a great learning experience for the children. We try to keep our fundraisers affordable so there's something that everyone can purchase. I think we've done a pretty good job of that. Schools can't run without funds. And the only way to make those funds are to do fundraising.

My daughter was just telling me today that the BOE doesn't want to pay for the drama program which has been a part of the school for years. So they are writing letters asking them to reconsider. If they do not reconsider there's a good chance that the PTA will be stepping in to help fund this program for these children. Can't do that without raising funds.

If you don't like what's going on in your PTA then get involved and change it. That's what I did and I'm glad that I did. It has opened a lot of doors for me and really gotten me known in the school. My children love knowing that I'm close by most days and I love being able to keep up with what's going on in the school.

I don't find the people involved in PTAs to be any different than the people I run into anywhere else. Funding for public schools throughout the U.S. has been taking a beating for years, and it's been particularly difficult in my fine state of California. I particularly love how state and federal government is all for mandating testing (which ultimately call for 100% of all students to be proficient) with zero additional monies. Were it not for our PTA and, yes, its pain-in-the-butt fundraising, we'd have no computers nor a music program nor PE with a "real" PE teacher. Nor would we have a copier or supplies or classroom supplies or workbooks for our kids.

You're right I'm a member. A card-carrying member.

I was active in our PTA for 4 years, but grew increasingly frustrated with the "high school" drama and politics. My youngest son spent a lot of time sitting there watching me do projects up at the school, which now I wish I had spent some of that time taking him to the zoo, etc. This is his last year before he starts going to school all day, and I vowed not to spend all my time doing PTA activities.Yes, there was guilt at first, but now I'm so glad to have my priorities straight. I volunteer in both my older kids' classrooms one morning per week(when my youngest is in school). I have more direct impact on the students', continue to build relationships with the principal/teachers/staff, and LOVE what I do. I'll still cook food for teacher appreciation week and do small tasks here and there, but really feel my impact is more direct and life changing in the classroom than endlessly debating in committee and trying to figure out how I'm going to make it to a PTA meeting and get dinner cooked/kids to sports/get homework done.......