Today I attended my first PTO meeting--ever! PTO, of course, stands for Parent Teacher Organization, and I was invited to attend, observe, and participate by my elementary school mentor principal. I somehow had a vision of 30 to 50 parents crowded into a room, with someone at the front pounding a gavel. With parent volunteerism generally so healthy at the elementary school level, I just assumed this would be the case with the vaunted PTO as well.
Actually there were only about five parents there. But they were very sincere folks, and I very much admired their commitment to be involved in their children's school. There were a small handful of pointed questions directed towards our principal in regards to what academic standards we ought to expect. But for the most part, the atmosphere was cordial and team-oriented. This was a small band of moms (and one pop) doing the best they could do given the low level of involvement among other parents in this important decision-making apparatus.
I was impressed enough that I volunteered my labor in helping them to coordinate the school's annual spring carnival this Saturday.
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