Yes, the PTA
When I was 10 years old and in 5th grade, my family moved from a small rural mountain town in SW Pennsylvania to a growing suburb of Columbus, Ohio.
Moving from a rural parochial school to a suburban public one brought notable changes, among them:
- Lunches at home (my new house was just a block from school)
- The end of school uniforms (I could select anything to wear to my new school), and
- An introduction to the PTA
From daily school announcements to parents assisting in classrooms it was clear PTA was an active, vital presence in my school. Kids and teachers both referred to PTA with a kind of mystical reverence.
When PTA launched its membership drive, kids were asked to talk to their parents about it, encouraging them to join and support school-based opportunities. Dutifully, I engaged my parents in a conversation: “Mom, Dad, will you join the PTA?” I’ll never forget the look on Mom’s face as she replied, incredulous, “The PTA?!? No way!”
I told her it seemed like the stuff PTA was doing at my school was important. She told me she thought her job as my mom was more important than anything the PTA was doing.
She was right, of course. And over the years, I have come to appreciate all that Mom and Dad did do for me and my siblings. I also know that the mission of the PTA was never really in conflict with her understanding of her parental responsibilities.
As Massachusetts PTA celebrates its centennial, we should all feel proud to be standing on the shoulders of all the great men and women that have lead this association - - from local communities, or on the state board, or in national committees. I am honored and proud to lead this association in Massachusetts at this particular point in time: as we celebrate the work of our first hundred years and as we rededicate ourselves to advocacy and the mission of PTA for the next hundred. That mission is threefold:
- To be a powerful voice for all children,
- A relevant resource for families and communities, and
- A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child
I am grateful to all of you for your shared commitment as we pursue this mission together and continue our journey to engage schools, families, and communities in the educational, health, and well-being of children. Thank you.
