PTA Founders DayCelebrating over 100 years

of child advocacy

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PTA Mission

The mission of the PTA is threefold:

• To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;

• To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and

• To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.

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In 1897 America:

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“Each day that you fail to advocate,

Each day that you ignore an act of discrimination,

Each day you accept another injustice,

You accept a society that is going to kill your children.”

- William L.E. Dussault

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National Congress of Mothers Founded 1897

Alice McLellan Birney

Phoebe Apperson Hearst

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National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers

Founded 1926

Selena Sloan Butler

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THEN - PTA was a driving force in:

• Child labor laws

• Kindergarten

• Public health service

• Hot lunch programs

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AND NOW – PTA is still a driving force

• Juvenile justice system

• Mandatory immunizations

• Seat belts

• Bicycle helmets

• And so much more…

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Our PTA Founders’ Vision Lives On

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Information Sources

• Your PTA meetings, newsletters, email communications and website

• PTA Council or Region newsletter, website• Florida PTA Bulletin, website at www.floridapta.org,

legislative alerts and state office at (800) 373-5782• National PTA Our Children magazine, website at

www.pta.org, This Week in Washington and national office at (800) 307-4PTA

• School district administration office, School Board and Superintendent, school board meetings, school district web site

• Your Legislators’ offices• Florida Legislature website - Online Sunshine with links

to House and Senate• The media – newspapers, television, and online

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Share what you know!

Be a Voice for Children!

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The Advocate's Credo.....

Thou art my child, my parent, and my elder,I love thee best;

But could not love thee half as much,Loved I not all the rest.

Source - Jack Levine, Founder4Generations Institute

www.4GenerationsInstitute.org 

PTA members are proud to be

Powerful, Tenacious

Advocates!

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Celebrate Founder’s Day!• Display pictures and memorabilia describing PTA’s more than 100-

year history • Research and draw up your PTA’s historic milestones • Observe the inclusiveness of PTA’s founding by organizing a culture

festival celebrating your community’s various ethnic and cultural groups.

• Present Honorary Life Memberships to past PTA presidents and other volunteers who have made a tremendous impact in their communities.

• Invite all past living PTA presidents to attend a special meeting. • Recite the mission of the National PTA at a special meeting. • Send a Founders Day gift to National PTA, such as $1 for each year of

membership or $1 for every unit chartered. • Locate and highlight any resolutions that your PTA sent forward to

the state or National PTA. • Share information from the National PTA through mailings to

members. • Celebrate each year of National PTA with a scoop of ice cream to be

shared with students at a special party. • Challenge students to research PTA and create a school display or

mural. • Ask local grocers and vendors to print PTA anniversary messages on

their bags. Ref: National PTA Annual Guide for PTAs, Programs Section, Founders Day www.pta.org

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“There is only one child in all the world, and his name is All Children.”

– Carl Sandburg