The Key West citizen., 1952-10-23
P.T.A. Is Guiding
Force In Key West
School Activities
RY MARCO


sorted apparitions scurrying along
toward Harris school, you'll know
that the Halloween season is Of
ficially underway in Key West.
That's the day of the Harris
School p. T. A. Halloween Car
niyal, and it will be only the first
Of q series Of similar festivities
which the p. T. A. groups Of the
various elementary schools are pre-
senting.
Truman School and Poinciana
School win both do their Hallowe-
zen celebrating on October 30.
These events, like the one at Har-
rjs School, will be high-lighted by
the costume parades, when all the
gaily bedecked youngsters pass in
review, and judges are hard put
to select the most original costume
and the prettiest costume and the
best in several other classificatiOns.
To the old and jaded citizens of
the community, all this sometimes
seems like a lot of ado about
nothing. But 70 the kids, it is one
of the gala times of the year, just
as it was to those old, jaded peo-
pie when they were in the bubble
gum and cap gun stage.
The moving force behind all
these Halloween "doin's" is the
sometimes appreciated, sometimes
maligned, but always busy Par
ent.Teachers Association.
PIT. A. is something you hear Of
a lot, but unless you have a youngs.
ter in school, It's also something
you don't understand much about,
A nationwide aggregation, the
actual activity Of P. T. A. is left
up TO each local group, and Il
varies widely in different commu-
mites. In some places the teachers
have the feeling that the parents
are just trying to horn In and run
the school. In other places, the
parents are sure they are not giv-
en- fair shake in helping carry
out school policies.
Key West II fortunate in having
p. T. A. organizations in which
the parents and teachers work
amicabIy and endlessly to try to
promote better relationships in
the home hool.community tie-up.
The activities carried on by the
P.T.A. such as the Halloween
festivals, which all our local school
count as the main money-making
project Of fan term, are UNUSUAL
" under the guidance Of those
tlreless individuals whose title has
been recently changed from Room
Mothers to Room Representatives.
Lots Of new p. T. A. members
have been scared off when they
were asked to be Room Represen-
tatives because they had no clear
idea Of what the job entailed.
Actually, there is a lot of work
to it, but there is also a lot Of
pleasure.
The Room Representatives can
work with their teacher 10 plan
any parties or treats for the chill
dren In the room. Always they are
the ones who prepare the Christ
mas treats for the youngsters. They
help with any problems that arise
concerning any needy children.
They help get other parents 10 join
The p. T. A. They 90 TO the regular
p. 7. A. meetings held monthly,
and they also attend the meetings
Of the Room Representatives group.
They help plan programs. They
operate the booths and sales tables
nt the Halloween Carnlvals. They
give parties for the teachers
around Christmas time. In short,
they plan and work to make the
parent.teacher.c child relationships
pleasant and worthwhile.
There's a story that made the
rounds some time ago about wo-
man who was told by her doctor,
when her two children had already
finished high school. that she was
10 have another blessed event. The
woman walled, "oh, no, | cant
90 through II again
When the doctor sought 20 reaS-
sure her, telling her that she was
perfectly well aud stlll young
enough 10 be q fine mother 10 a
young child, she replied, "oh, you
don't understand. I don't mind hav-
ing another child. But just can't
bear the thought of going through
p T. A. sil over again"
She lnay have been one Of the
s'wak horses" Of The organization.
AS "a any group. there are always
scne r. II A. members who are
81 g to help in any way they
car. and often they set stuck with
lhe hrunt ef the burden. But Mrs.
Marma nopp. one Of the main
STAYS az the local r. n. A and
also state preSehool Service Chair.
man, SAYS that she has always felt
that her work Ia the group was
something she owed 10 her ehsld.
ren. their school, and 10 herself
as mother and member az the
community.
Mrs. nopp IS The president cf
the Key West High sehcol p 7. A.
The High Sehool grcups Hallcwe.
Zen activity was q Seek Hop held
last night III the school gymna slurs