Comments on: Public not welcome at PA meetings, per Chancellor

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:04:56 +0000

To my best understanding, Jonathan, yes,the reg bars teachers unless they’ve received prior permission to attend (assuming the PA enforces the reg, which is debatable). Jim, the issue you raise re: the press is real and wholly pertinent - the regulation could be used to exclude press from PA meetings. Both you and Patrick (Sullivan) make legitimate points about top-down PR spin that seems, sadly, a DOE reflex — and as “Dad” says, a precarious step onto a very slippery slope.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:44:55 +0000

Does the reg bar teachers from that school without express permission of the PA?

By: Jim Devor

Jim Devor — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:14:52 +0000

While precluding the appearance of local politicians (and even CEC members) may be a “fringe benefit”, the real point of the “model bylaw” is the exclusion of the press from PTA meetings - especially where parents might be critical of Tweed.

This is not merely hypothetical. I know of one instance where a reporter from the Courier-Life publications was barred by New York City Police from attending a PTA meeting in Red Hook a few years ago which was called to discuss the possible arrival of a charter school in the school building.

All of this is part of Tweed’s comprehensive campaign to control the message coming out of our public schools. It is fundamentally undemocratic and inimical to all principles of transparency. To paraphrase Ronald Regan, “Mr. Klein, tear down this wall!”

By: Patrick J. Sullivan

Patrick J. Sullivan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:20:31 +0000

The new Chancellor’s regulation A 660 governing PA and PTAs is typical of the Bloomberg administration’s attempt to marginalize parents and tightly script our role in the education of our children. The reg follows the heavily top-down approach typical of the administration with many ridiculous rules and unfunded mandates forced upon PTAs. This regulation should lay out a basic framework for how PTAs should function and how the principal and district superintendent should interact with PTAs. Instead we are provided and enless set of patronizing rules with OFEA (Office of Family Engagement and Advocacy) doing little advocacy and much policing.

By: Dad

Dad — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:11:58 +0000

This is a step down a slippery slope and no way of getting up.

This would mean that even CEC members cannot attend PTA meetings w/o prior approval.

By: a parent

a parent — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:56:54 +0000

I think it is a good idea to have the flexibility of allowing guests and speakers at PA meetings without having to obtain special invitation or approval. Having special guest speakers on topics which are pertinent to a school’s community may motivate a greater number of parents to attend the PA meetings and become more informed and involved in their school matters. On another note, it is also important to have a better control system for PAs, where the PA Exec board should not have the liberty to infringe upon the rights of certain students and their parents in the school community without facing the consequences. A PA Exec board with the mindset that they are powerful enough to dictate the demographics and curriculum in their school serves to highlight their view of self importance, and this only creates a lot of division among the parents in the school and a poor social environment.