PTO Today

I was wondering how PTO's legislate for the children in the U.S. Do they go to Washington D.C. and have a voice for issues that concern our children?

our bylaws state we must remain apolitical, therefore zero lobbying etc. is possible in this example. maybe others are run differnetly.

So there is no voice for our children under PTO? I do know that the PTA lobbies on behalf of the children.

You are not be political by being a voice for the children. In the bylaws you can not back any candidates.

it depends on how the bylaws are worded, that is true.

and i agree, all kids voices should be heard via parent groups.

So, does PTO have a voice and who is it? That is my question. That is what I would like to know.

I was reading some of the other posts and I saw a post between two people about PTA and PTO. One thing was said about it's free for PTOs. I agree there is no difference between the fact that we (meaning PTOs and PTAs) are both Volunteer Parent groups. We are there to volunteer our time in our schools for our children. The difference I feel between PTO and PTA is that PTA is a voice for ALL children. PTA members do pay a dues. I would rather pay dues and have a voice for all children in the state then to having no voice at all.

Hi Megley -

To clarify for you, there is no organized political lobbying organization specifically for PTOs. That is one clear difference between PTOs and PTAs.

For many PTOs, that's actually a good thing. While you obviously (and it's a perfectly fair opinion) feel that an important role for school parent-teacher groups is lobbying, other folks believe that the political/lobbying function is best left out of the parent-teacher group, that goals like building community and building broad parent involvement and making the school a great place for teachers to teach and kids to learn can be harmed by mixing in the political.

Tim

I am one of those parents. I don't assume that [I]my $5 dues[/I] would make [I]my voice[/I] heard but would rather pay for lobbyists to be heard. These lobbyists speak on behalf of the organization who pays them, not on behalf of each and every member of the organization. There is likely not a 100% consesus among the members so it's reasonable to believe that the lobbyists are actually speaking counter to some members' beliefs. Why pay for someone to work against you?

So it is, in my opinion, extremely arrogant for the PTA to boast about being a voice for ALL children when it really is impossible to claim such a thing. Perhaps they can find a better word for the A in their acronym?

__________________
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

Me, too

MY WIFE, Family and I plus our children are their [b]Voices[/b] not some lobbying org masquerading as a relevant parenting group

I dont remember them asking to be my childs voice???

[b]Every US Citizen[/b] has a voice most just dont know how to use it?

Plenty of groups (PTA's, PTO's, Boy Scouts, non profits) and communities get laws, education, etc changed for the greater good of children


To claim to be the [b]Be ALL, Know- ALL, Only voice 4 ALL, Only good parent group (ie PTA)[/b] IS COMPLETE and Utter [b][i]BS[/b][/i]


(What's the last piece of legislation passed due to PTA??)

__________________
[B]Liberalism is not an affilation its a curable disease. [/B]
[I][B]~Wisdom of Shawnshuefus[/B][/I]
[B]The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of worse men."[/B]
[B][I]~Wisdom of Plato[/I][/B]