1906

The beloved founder of the National Congress of Mothers, Mrs. Theodore W. Birney, organized the Georgia Mothers' Congress in May. Mrs. Robert Zahner of Atlanta was the first president.

The Congress took an active part in securing the Child Labor Law in Georgia, and will interest itself in the improvement of opportunities for the children and the homes of Georgia.

1907

1913

Began working for Free Kindergarten Bill, Birth Registration Bill and establishment of a school for special needs children in Georgia

Supported Child Labor Law, health inspection of public schools.

Alice McLellan Birney Endowment Fund was created by the Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers. Early leaders felt a need to prepare a solid foundation for PTA and to be ready for whatever future financial needs might arise.

Endorsed state-funded training schools for girls and boys. Advocated for creating a department of physical education in the State Department of Education. Endorsed the Child Welfare Code to improve state laws affecting delinquent, dependent, defective and neglected children. Insisted on the rights of the rural child to receive as adequate educational provision as the city child receives. Established a permanent PTA committee to create parenthood education programs that could be delivered to the parents in the home.

Endorsed narcotic education to combat drug menace; urged enforcement of "Fire or Stampede Hazard in Public Schools"; urged the lifting bans against Jewish boys entering college; recommended school bus drivers be of mature age and reliable nature and required to come to a full stop at crossings; recommended the study of music.

Recommended the Legislative Chairman work for the adoption, by all women's organizations, of a uniform plan for presenting legislation.   Recommended engaging someone to be at the Capitol to give out information as to progress of the bills in order that pressure may be brought to bear from local communities and thus "discourage lobbying at the Capitol."

GPTA and the State Medical Association administered free diphtheria vaccines to preschool children. Better films committee members rate movies for appropriate material.

"Today, when the public is so concerned about what comes out of the public school, it behooves parent-teacher associations to concern themselves with what goes into the school. Child training is the biggest business in the world, and parents cannot expect teachers who have the children for only five hours of the twenty-four, five days a week, to do all the bringing up... Health is the duty of the parents... Sixty-eight percent of first graders, who are "repeaters" are so because of physical defects which might have been remedied in the preschool age-if they had been found. When parents wait until children are six years of age to check on their physical condition they are putting a burden upon the school which does not rightfully belong there. Such children are being denied of their fundamental right - the right to health. The National Congress of Parents and Teachers in 1925 began a Summer Round Up of children to identify early and correct any defects before children enter school. It is hoped every association in Georgia will again participate in order to ensure children entering school in September may be 100 percent perfect and every school a 'blue ribbon school'."

Worked to raise the compulsory school age to 16; assist in the fight against venereal diseases; protect children from sale of salacious literature; build closer relations between rural and urban citizens.

Paul Munro, Columbus Superintendent of Schools, asserted that our society would never achieve culturally or educationally if the Negros were left out of the equation.

Hattie Reese, President of the Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, a daily visitor in the balcony throughout the GPTA convention, expressed appreciation for the privilege of attending the convention.

GCCPT called for adequate facilities for recreation, playgrounds, gymnasiums, community centers, public libraries, desirable movie theaters and effective schools for African-American children and families. GCCPT stressed importance of voter registration at every meeting. GCCPT insisted that rural students should be exposed to good books, magazines, music, art, and recreational facilities. The rural youth faced health hazards because in many counties there were inadequate facilities for the negro population.

Each local unit was urged to make a special study of the Minimum Foundation Program for Education (MFPE). Georgia activated for the MFPE and began facing the issue of equitable resources for education. GCCPT demanded that all schools have proper ventilation, be well lighted, and include basic adequate facilities.

A groundbreaking was held for a school in Marietta and it was named for our founder, Alice McLellan Birney.

Successfully advocated for state funded kindergarten.

Rededication Ceremony was held February 17 at the Birney Memorial Garden in Marietta celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the National PTA.

A rededication of the courtyard and a dedication of a commemorative marker honoring our founders was held at our state office building on February 24th.