PTA: A beneficial bridge between parents and staff

Once your child starts school you may start to feel that their education has been taken out of your hands. However, your help and support will continue to be the most important thing in their life. As well as continuing to support them at home, you can also take an active role in school life through various committees or by joining, or even setting up, a Parent Teachers Association.

The Parent Teachers Association is just what it sounds like. It is a partnership between the parents and the teachers which aims to set up and continue better communication between parents, teachers and administrators and therefore improve your child's education. The PTA may be responsibility for fund raising and organizing special events for the school.

All PTAs are different

PTAs vary widely from state to state. Some are highly organized members of national organizations, offering training and guidance and with national influence. Others are responsible only for funding in their local area. You need to investigate your own school's situation and see how you can help. You may feel that you have a particular strength which would be useful.

It is important that you remember that it is the school that is the expert on educating your child. You can help in many ways, and the PTA is one of the most effective ways of doing this. The bottom line is that schools that actively encourage parents to be in the building, on the bus, or in the classroom are schools in which kids learn better and behave better.