Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-11

tween PTAs and principals at
two schools were interpreted
as rejecting a negative attitude
by the school administration to-
ward PTAs in general"
Hansen Calls PTAs Helpful
The two disputes, Supt. Han
sen said, may have been caused
by "a lack Of clear understand
ing Of the respective roles
schools and PTAs should play"
and possibly to some degree by
personal incompatibility.
Asked II he thinks the PTAs
have been helpful to the school
system. he replied. Every def
initely So"
However, he emphasized, Gin
the final analysis the principal
must run the school,"
Not all schools have PTA
units. In a relatively small
number the students parents
are members of Home and
School Associations.
While the various PTA groups
are affiliated with District and
Nationwide organizations, the
Home and School Associations
are independent and concerned
only with the problems at a
particular school. Both groups
perform many similar func-
tons.
No reports of dissension be-
tween the home and school
groups and their respective
schools have come to public
attention recently.
1877 Schools Have PTAs
John B. Gillilland, public re-
lations chairman for the Dis
trict Congress of Parents and
Teachers, said a check last year
showed that 1877 schools had
PTA and 10 had Home and
School Associations.
He said the ratio of schools
having PTA units and Home
and School Associations has
been about the same for many
years.
Membership jim the District
PTAs is 1856 and is growing. |
DR.. Ellis Haworth! president
of the District of Columbia Edu-
cation Association, said he be-
lieveS the PTAs ARE a very
definite asset. I don't think the
schools could get along as well
without them"
Discussing the differences be-
tween the PTAs and the Home
and School Associations, he said
that "PTAs because of their
bonding together are more in
fluential in working for i'm
provement of the schools in the
community.
"In this respect, the Home
and School Associations are less
desirable. But both types of
organizations serve a useful
purpose"
He said that the District |
of Columbia Education ASsoci-
alton is COMPOSED of practically
all professional education peo-
pie in the city and has a mem
berShip of about $3.50.
PTA groups are strongest at .
the elementary school level
where parents are most con-
cerned about the welfare of
their young children. And, as
a result, the occasional points
of friction have arisen pri-
marily at this level rather than
in the junior or senior high
schools.
AnSelm Fisher. president of .
the District High School Teach
erS Association, said high
schools appear to be getting
along with their PTAs very
we'll"
Anxious to Avoid Trouble
Most elementary school prin-
clpals are anxious to avoid trou-
BILE with their respective PTA
units.
The Star conducted an in
formal poll of a large number
OF these principals on their re-
lations with PTA. None criti-
clzed the PTA openly. One ex-
planned that the "PTA is the
power behind the throne"
Here are some of the answers
from principals:
Miss Florence M. Painter.
of the Patterson Ele-
School, South Capitol
street between Danbury and
Elmira streets S.W.:
I'VE think we are getting
along very well. The PTA par
entS are very nice. We have
had no interference"
Mrs. Beverly Burkett, prin-
cipal of Peabody Elementary