It's an interesting debate.

I agree with folks who think that the discussion about next steps re: the "offender" here should have included the offender. Had the result been the same (please leave office) but the offender had been there for the adult discussion, perhaps there wouldn't be this feeling of getting railroaded.

But I don't agree with those same folks who think this should have been a 4-step, trial by jury, ACLU, etc. process. Presumed innocent til convicted by a jury of her peers, etc -- that's true of our courts. People mistakenly believe that those rules apply everywhere else. OJ can't go to jail for murder now, but I wouldn't have to hire him (and I could consider my opinion of his actions if I felt like it) if he applied for a job at PTO Today.

Making this some huge, officious process would help no one. The "offender" hasn't lost a right -- there's no "right" to be a PTO president.

We should all aim to do good by others and for our groups. Sounds to me like the other officers were trying to do that. Could they have been a couple of notches more diplomatic in their removal? Probably (though I wasn't there). But it also doesn't sound like they were out of line.

Tim

This ain't a Utopian society boys. It's a parent group with little or no policy in place. It's a learning experience, and doesn't require ACLU or court intervention. I'm just saying that the person committing the offense isn't necessarily the right one to try to put policy in place.

Get 'constitutional' if you like, but if your future president had a melt down cursing fit in a board meeting...well I think that they've had enough of a 'say' for me to decide my vote. But the apology and open communication from that point is admirable on both sides.

I agree that the person should always have a say or a right to speak in their defense...in a perfect world...and that policy should be in place to direct a parent group on such issues.

but the insenuations of a 'witch hunt' are offensive, as the offending member ADMITS to the bad behavior!

...in what yr was the US constitution drawn up?? Salem happened in 1692...........

Shawn, good guy!

Dignity privacy and respect are the fundamental human rights and they are even in the public school law...I should think the principal would want to guide all his parents to uphold these basic tenets.

If I were a parent there, I would question how other things are handled, do not all parents, students and teacher get treated fairly? It would not surprise me if the actions were subterfuge.......the parent might well have had interactions with staff (and PTO heads) before or was otherwise 'not the favorite parent' of the principal......I wonder if ALL parents would have recieved a similar dismissal, or if there is more to this story than meets the eye (eye E, personal politics comes back to mind). (of course, principals NEVER play favorites and give privildeges to select parents, do they!!??)

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.- John Ciardi

Originally posted by QueenBee:
Originally posted by <a OK>:


"AHA!! wlovelace.....seems you were the object of personal politics, they love ya for being a worker bee, but just dont want you on the board!! It doesnt add up, does it, and theyve shown themselves to be less than honorbale by that action alone."

We're not on a PTO to run fair court trials. Bad behavior just needs to get dealt with swiftly and amicably so that the group can heal and focus on the job at hand.

Absolutely not, as a democaraticly run entity and a citizen of the USA YOU SHOULD GET YOUR DAY IN COURT, so to speak I love u all but any other way and you should tear up bylaws, have no voting right/ memebrs/ dues, RRO and become an autocratic booster club

Wether some one has yelled, acted boorish, bullied, make a mockery of PTA (even if its a criminal act) the Constitution of the United States guarantees that person equality.... IF my group voted somebody out without following the same procedures of Fairness. they would no longer be at my school Everyone has a right 2 a fair and speedy trail, be it PTA/PTO, work, civil or criminal and with dignity (even if they acted without) :cool:

This is the kindo of thing the ACLU (and I hate everything thing they NOW stand for) was setup to stop, they'd be the 1st call.

As a voting memebr bylaws our not u cannot be thrown out without a plea, motion, 2nd and vote by memebers that includes the guilty party.... Think I'm done now... back to your regularly scheduled program

This just in....
As <ok> said above (protocol, simplicity...) its respect if you dont respect the rights of others (even if they did something wrong and disrespectgul) your PTA/PTO wont (shoudlnt) be regarded with respect,

anyone whos not a felon has certain unalienable rights.... (but the felons thing an 3 squares, nice beds, cable TV, better working conditions than some outside prison would be way off topic and a Shawn petpeeve rant 4 another day)

Lets blow this popcycle stand....

[ 07-17-2006, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

QueenBee, its like someone on thees boards recenbtly said, its not what you say or do, its HOW you do it.

One of my main thoughts/posts was (we all reserve the right to change our opionion at any time and I did change mine but I cant find the posting I think it disapperad or was removed):

I dont question the result which probably would have been the same regardless of avenue chosen, but again, it would have been much preferable to have had the principal or pres sit down face to face with the offender, and ask for her to step down giving the rationale, rather than meet in small private session behind her back with the principal and vote her off like a school girl clique (and yes, what we read about the story is in fact hearsay, by definition. further - do you know the author personally, were you present, do you know if no facts were chnaged to protect identies etc???). Surley she would have stepped down had the princiapl asked her to, and done the right thing.

Its that simple, call it diplomacy, manamgement, protocol, whterver you like. It strikes me as cowardly to never have addressed her face to face, but to have met in a closed group and vote her off behind her back. Thats all.

THe kids learn from the adults too, we are their role models. We hsve to remember that, thats what school is about, being examples to the children, and the principal is but one very important one.