Sue Scheff: Fathers Being Involved (FBI)

At the National PTA Convention last week, there was a strong emphasis on getting fathers involved. Helping them to increase their numbers. Men now make up 12% of the PTA. That number could (and should) grow. And an invitation may be all the incentive they need.

Speakers included the leaders of the Fort Wayne Area Council (FWAC) PTA, galvanized their local units into recruiting dads to join. Julie Klingenberger, President of the FWAC PTA, detailed how constructing and marketing a program called F.B.I. (Fathers Being Involved) helped them to add close to 1,200 dads to their member list -- an impressive 30% increase.

Strong Fathers, Strong Families is part of the new program called F.B.I. Take the time to bring this program into your local schools and community. Visit Florida's PTA website and find out more about how you can get involved.

How do you get fathers to become more engaged with their children's education? All you have to do is ask.

Reference: Parenting.com

Read more.

Sue Scheff: Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) Holds Their National Conference

On June 10th through June 13th the National PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) will have their annual conference.  There will be many workshops, book signings, lectures and learning experiences for all the attendees.  They will bring back to our local areas the vast amount of resources and informational tools to continue to educate and help the children of today and tomorrow.

Forty years ago this month, the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (NCCPT) and the National Congress of Mothers united to form the National PTA, adapting the same mission they had operated under separately: to improve the education and well being of every child? Today, while many great accomplishments have been made there are still obstacles that we must conquer, both inside and outside of the classroom and across ethnic backgrounds. So at this year’s national convention there will be much to tackle:

• The nation’s K-12 public education system is in crisis.
• Our students lag behind compared to children in other countries in math and science – which is not a plus for their futures in a global economy and job market.
• And our schools also face widespread funding shortages, a childhood obesity epidemic and unbalanced academic standards all across the country.

In this LIVE webcast event from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, National PTA President Chuck Saylors will be joined by actress, mother and National PTA Advisory Board member Tichina Arnold, National PTA representatives and Ambassadors; Tomeka Hart, Executive director of Memphis Urban League, University of Memphis student representative; as well as Barbara Andrews, director of Education and Interpretation for National Civil Rights Museum. They will be discussing the challenges of educating the 21st century child in today’s classroom, and what needs to be done to close the achievement gap in education.

Want to learn ways in which you can take a more hands on approach in your child’s education? You’re in luck, as during this webcast event you’ll have the opportunity to email your questions and have them potentially answered live during the event. Your readers can sign up to secure spots today by visiting: www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=69462

For more information visit www.pta.org.  Find your local PTA and join today.  

Be a voice, be a part of your community and most of all, be a part of your child's educational future.

Read more.