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The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. From its small beginning in 1897, the PTA has emerged as a powerful voice for children at the national, state, and local levels. This article describes the role of the National PTA and discusses how the organization assists parents and teachers working together at the local level.

Overview

The PTA has been instrumental in the passage of several ground-breaking initiatives for the welfare of children, including child labor laws, the juvenile justice system, hot lunch programs, mandatory immunizations, and kindergarten classes. Its purpose has always been to better the lives of children by:

• Serving as a voice for children before government and other decision-making bodies
• Developing resources for families and communities
• Advancing the education and well-being of every child

Some of the strategies that the PTA uses in accomplishing its purpose are:

• Promoting the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship
• Raising the standards of home life
• Recommending laws for the care and protection of children and youth
• Bringing parents and educators together so that they can work effectively for the education of children and youth

This TEDTalk discusses the importance of a solid parent-teacher relationship.

Promoting Pro-Child Policies

The National PTA speaks out to Congress and the general public about issues affecting children and their education. Subjects currently being addressed at the national level include parental involvement,

The is a nationwide network of parents and teachers working together in national, state, and local organizations to improve the lives of children. Membership at the local level is open to anyone who has an interest in children. There are now close to 6 million members in 23,000 local chapters. Joining the PTA is an excellent way for parents to get involved in their children's education. Local PTAs throughout the country are making a difference in the quality of children's education.

A local PTA chapter is part of a national network of organizations working together for children's interests. Most parents join a local unit, which automatically gives them membership in the state and national PTAs. The local unit can represent a single school or a group of schools. Local units have the autonomy to establish their own priorities, select the national programs in which they will participate, assess the needs of the school, and decide how to raise needed funds.

This video explains reasons for joining the PTA.

Fundraising

Local units frequently hold fundraisers, the proceeds from which go to support school programs, building maintenance or improvements, and educational events. The following are examples of how local PTAs can improve a child's education.

The children at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, California, are enjoying their art classes once again this year, thanks to a $6,000 donation by

Uniforms: The Pros and Cons

The prevalence of uniforms in public schools continues to rise in the United States as parents and school administrators exert efforts to create safe environments in our schools.

• According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 20% of all public schools have adopted uniform mandates.
• Approximately 22% of elementary schools, 19% of all middle schools, and 10% of high schools currently require uniforms, and this trend continues to accelerate.

Although uniforms have been a mainstay of private schools, public schools didn’t jump on the bandwagon until 1994, when the Long Beach California School District integrated school uniforms to address safety issues challenging the district.

• According to the school district data, within one year after the implementation of uniforms, the fights and muggings at school decreased by 50%, while sexual offenses were reduced by 74%.
• Across the country, similar statistics abound; for example, at Ruffner Middle School in Norfolk, VA, the number of discipline referrals decreased by 42% once uniforms were enforced.

Fueled by these statistics, more schools nationwide require uniforms in their public schools, naming school safety as their primary motivation.

• Even with these compelling statistics, other statistics argue that uniforms are not as beneficial as school administrators and parents are encouraged to believe.
• Opponents cite research that shows a lack of individualism and comfort among students, working to decrease student learning and success.
• Thus, the question remains: are public school uniforms good for your child?
  

The high school graduation rate is a "barometer of the health of American society and the skill level of its future workforce," according to Heckman and LaFontaine, the authors of a 2007 study. From a different perspective, graduation from high school can mean the difference between an individual student's future success and a future marred by unemployment, poverty, and even crime. Whether the viewpoint is broad or narrow, the significance of a high school diploma is evident. This article discusses government efforts to improve graduation rates, examines a recent study that attempts to gauge the magnitude of the dropout problem, and suggests steps that parents can take to encourage their children stay in school.

Introduction

In an age of information technology and a global economy, high school graduation is a minimum requirement for higher education and gainful employment. It is surprising, therefore, that there is no national average graduation rate on which all experts can agree. That is because there are numerous methods for calculating graduation rates. Estimates have ranged from 66 to 88 percent as a national average graduation rate, with 70 percent accepted by many authorities as the best estimate. Moreover, an average graduation rate does not tell the whole story. Black and Hispanic students drop out at higher rates than Non-Hispanic white students and Asian/Pacific Islander students. Students in urban environments are much less likely to finish high school than students in suburban areas. In some years, boys drop out at a higher rate than

"Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me…" - English Proverb. Once echoing throughout the halls of the nation’s schools, this simple phrase reminded children that the taunts that had been considered a rite of passage in childhood would one day end.

Fast forward several decades and “sticks and stones” becomes increasingly rare as schoolyard bullying is recognized as a serious problem. School administrators and teachers now know that, not only do words hurt, they often escalate into a physical conflict that envelops the bully and his victim as well as those around them, including adults and other children who may get caught in the crossfire.

All too often, what begins as minor name-calling or teasing, ends up with those involved coming to blows at the victim attempts to defend himself. This type of escalation is what experts insist creates even more violence. Violence does not begin with a physical attack, but rather a psychological one. What begins as words, perhaps a taunt or name-calling, escalates into pushing and shoving, which then may lead to a bloody nose, a black eye, or even a broken bone.

This television news video reports on death from bullying.

Experts insist that today’s lifestyles put so much pressure on children that they often bring that added stress into the classroom making what would normally be a minor incident just the straw that breaks