This is not an environment conducive to having a forum for parents to discuss openly how they'd like to improve the quality of life at school and to participate more. With the children waiting in the wings and parents holding video cameras, no one's going to bring up serious issues, which lead to a healthy open discussion between parents and school administrators. My next step will be to propose to the PTA at my school that we establish a series of general PTA meetings for parents only, that are not tied to awards or children's plays - meetings that create an atmosphere where parents may speak openly and even brainstorm about our school. Our children deserve the best. We must set an example of how to maintain an open society, where free speech and assembly are cherished.
Nothing grows in a vacuum.
Joy Cox The Editor's Reply Dear Mrs. Cox, Thank you for taking the time to write to me about your situation. It's gratifying to hear of the school in Atlanta where parents seem to be working effectively through the PTA, and if you decide to follow this route I wish you all the best. If you are concerned that your local PTA and school are unresponsive, however, you might also wish to consider forming a parent-only organization that would meet on a regular and public basis with the school administration. If there is a genuine will in your community to organize activities not approved by your local school or PTA, a separate parent-only organization would go a long way to achieving your goals. If you would like to organize an extra curricular activity for your children, you could do so, and simply withdraw your children from school on the day or days in question so that they could participate.