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large cities and small towns in each of the 48 states, Hawaii, Alaska and every remote corner of the world where an American flag is raised. Each year, they plan and often succeed in carrying out spirited campcUgns for better and cleaner schools, more playground space, health clinics, child guidance, school lunches, high' way safety and hundreds of other community improvements. Yet, all of these diverse drives have the same underlying goal: to insure the happiness and well'being of America's children.
No problem is too big for these dc termined parents to tackle. But unfortunately, not all P.'T. A.'s have learned to direct their energies into constructive channels. In many schools, parents and teachers complain that their chapters are little more than long-winded debating societies. Other units are wracked by local politics and petty bickering. Still others rush into whirlwind drives to raise money — and then discover that they can't agree on how to use it!
THESE shortcomings were underscored in a recent survey of 101 school superintendents and principals. Although most of the officials had high praise for their local chapters, 14 of them branded the P.-T. A. as "undesirable." One irate superintendent put his dissatisfaction into these blunt terms:
"There are very few P.-T. A.'s worth a plugged nickel. Most of them
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February, 1932
lack leadership, worthy aims or objects. They are really trouble bureaus of the schools, dealing in personalities rather than worthy principles. Theoretically, a P.-T. A. is a wonderful organization. In practice, it just doesn't work."
But there are even more school officials who have nothing but praise for the P.-T. A. Edwin A. Willard, high school principal in Chappaqua, New York, describes the parent-teacher group there as "a vital and effective force." And he adds: "Not merely does the community support the P.-T. A.; the community is the P.-T. A. The members reap rich benefits from sharing in the administration of the school, and the school in turn is enriched by their cooperation."
Such is the sharp disagreement of many educators on the value of P.-T. A. But even the severest critics do not minimize the brilliant record of many chapters throughout the country. And the supporters of P.-T. A. continually hold up the achievements of such units as shining examples for others to follow.
Like parents everywhere, P.-T. A. members want the best of everything for their children. In many chapters, they are willing to roll up their sleeves and work to get it for them.
WHAT are the broad and deep aims of the P.-T. A.? Mrs. Anna H. Hayes, president of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers in Chicago — central headquarters
Robert Stem is Feature Editor of ARGOSY Magazine. His articles have appeared in Collier's, Reader's Digest, Coronet, Better Homes and Gardens. Mr. Stein is at home in Mount Vernon, 'Hew Tor\, suburban to New Yor\ City. A bachelor, his u'ritinj; is nonetheless chiefly concerned with youth problems and education.