PTA

When we first came to Georgia and signed the kids up for school, we also got ourselves involved in the PTA program. The first meeting was a few weeks ago. I was a little bit stunned as to how it played out.

I'm curious as to what the purpose of the PTA is - really, I haven't a clue. I suppose that a PTA is there to support the school and the kids that go to the school. From the budget that this PTA put out, it looks like the kids in the school earn money for the PTA through the sales of stuff (chocolates and wrapping paper, etc) and through collecting box-tops and all that. I thought that the box-top money went to the school itself, but apparently, it goes to the PTA. So, what does the PTA DO exactly? Good question. From their budget it appears as though they send volunteers to Atlanta for training and buy parting gifts for teachers and administrators. Also, I don't know what the difference is between this year and last years budget, but last year they had a $2700 surplus - THIS year they are under by $2000. I wonder what happened?

Personally, I think they should cut out the teacher gifts until they are back within their budget and even then, maybe they should be looking to improve the school and educational pieces rather than spending over $1000 on gifts.

If I were going to be here longer, I would worry more about it. But, I'm not sure how much I could do then anyway. It seems like the people here are just content with how things are and are not at all interested in making things better.

Funny thing about moving around more than the average person - you see what is good and what is bad about numerous aspects of society in different parts of the country. In Colorado, the teachers cared about the kids and liked their jobs. The school was clean and orderly and the kids liked going. Here, the school is more like a prison. At the end of the day, a woman tell which kids to go where over a PA system. Kids are subjected to random searches as they get off the bus. My kids, who usually love school, don't want to go!

I digress. At the next PTA meeting, I think they will here more about what they are doing wrong.