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Did you know that National PTA was originally
organized as the National Congress of Mothers in 1897 and was the
dream of Marietta, Georgia native Alice McLellan Birney? She was
extremely sensitive to the needs of the less fortunate and aspired
to build a better world for children.
In 1897, Mrs. Birney met Phoebe Apperson
Hearst, who helped her transform her dream into reality. The two
planned the first "convention", that was held on February 17, 1897,
in Washington D.C. They had hoped for an assembly of 200 mothers
to discuss the plight of children. Imagine their surprise when over
2,000 showed up! And it wasn't just mothers, but fathers, doctors,
lawyers and legislators who came to express their concerns for children.
One of the first resolutions
passed at the convention called for kindergarten in all public schools.
Mrs. Hearst's concern was for education of the very young; she realized
early education could determine a child's entire future. Mrs. Hearst
had founded the first free kindergarten in 1883.
Selena Sloan Butler, also
a Georgia native, founded and became the first president of The
Georgia Colored Congress of Parents and Teachers (NCCPT). The NCCPT
was formed to function in states that legally mandated segregation.
The mission of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers was
to protect the rights of all children irrespective of color...Mrs.
Butler believed more needed to be done. She dedicated her life to
forming an organization with the primary purpose of uniting home
and school into a planned program for child welfare. The two organizations,
National Congress of Mothers and NCCPT ultimately united as one
in the National PTA.
Throughout the its history
of over 100 years, PTA has advocated for numerous issues ranging from
sex education (1897), child labor laws (1900s), automobile and school
bus safety (1930s), founding the school lunch program (1940s), field
testing the polio vaccine (1950s), toy safety (1960s), opposing
violence on television (1970s), HIV/AIDS education (1980s) to developing
National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement programs (1990s).
These issues represent only a small sampling of the advocacy efforts
of the PTA.
The reason PTA was founded
is still the same reason it exists today...children need us.
We urge you to join other PTA members throughout the state of Georgia
as we continue the work begun by our founders over one hundred years
ago. Lend your voice to our voice - collectively we can make an
immeasurable difference for all children.
Georgia
PTA - A Century of Commitment for Children (1906-2006)
"It started with
a few brave women who shared a vision of a world that was better
for children. This history belongs to 100 years of PTA leaders and
volunteers throughout Georgia across two closely-linked congresses,
who donated their time, energy, resources and passion to make things
better for children."
Order your personal copy
of the 52 page limited, commemorative edition about the first
100 years of PTA in Georgia.
$15.00, includes shipping and handling. Download
Order Form.
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