Prepare Yourselves--This Will Take a While

I decided what I wanted to write about this morning as I sat in a Regional PTA meeting yesterday morning. I do try to avoid most political items of late, my dear readers, as I know it is not everyone's cup of tea. But this issue is so asinine I must write about it, just to vent my own frustrations.

On Wednesday this week, a little bill called Senate Bill (SB) 199 made it's way out of the little committee that reviewed it (and passed it by a 5-1 vote, by the way) and now becomes a measure to which the entire senate must attend before a vote.

SB 199, at the onset, was announced to be a bill for equality of access for parent groups in our public schools. That is funny, as I have never seen anyone "carded" at the door of any school I have visited. If anything, all parent groups seem to be pleading with parents to be more involved. But apparently, Senator Curt Bramble of Provo seemed to think that wasn't enough.

The final three lines of this bill are the pointed, upsetting bits. In essence, it says that no Utah public school shall have any association with any parent group that charges dues. (Is it any wonder that this guy was one of the proponents of school vouchers a few years ago when I was pulling my hair out about that stupidity?) Now, he is coming about to attack the PTA--specifically this time-- from the back door too. Dues, seemingly, would be the problem.

Paul Rolly, a reporter and columnist from the SL Tribune wrote a great blog point on this. I'd like to share it with you:

Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Utah: 'We're Number One'
"Utah already is on the weird-state map for its unusual liquor law, and state Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, won distinction a couple of months ago as Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" on MSNBC's "Countdown."

"But Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, might single handedly surpass all that.

"If Bramble's SB199 is passed into law this year, Utah will be the only state in the nation that prohibits the PTA from participating in school activities.

"A spokesman for the national PTA office in Chicago said no other state has a provision that comes close to the Utah proposal, and to his knowledge, there has never been such a law targeting the PTA in that manner.

"Bramble's bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. It would ban schools from allowing organizations that collect dues to participate in activities at the school. The PTA, because of its national affiliation, requires $5 a year in dues from members.

"The proposed legislation appears to be an act of vindictiveness on Bramble's part. His Democratic opponent for the Senate last year is the president of the Provo District PTA. And the organization helped get the voucher bill passed by the 2007 Legislature repealed in a referendum vote.

"Plus, most of those who testified in favor of the bill at the committee hearing were members of the coalition that pushed vouchers through the Legislature in the first place. Representatives of Parents for Choice in Education, the Sutherland Institute, the Eagle Forum and the Charter Schools Association all spoke in favor of the bill.

"And the committee itself is stacked with the most vehement supporters of vouchers in the Senate, including Bramble, Howard Stephenson, R-Draper and Margaret Dayton, R-Orem.

"I just can't wait to see what award awaits Utah after word of this legislation gets around.

"Cheers,
"Paul Rolly"

Now, at the moment I don't really care what we "look" like to other states--we pretty much have to get over ourselves on that one--but this was the most ridiculous waste of time I think I have seen at the legislature since the pointless discussion a few years ago over the State's official junk food.

I wrote to my senator, Senator John Valentine, the first time while this bill was in committee. I wrote again yesterday when I heard it had passed from committee and was awaiting a senate-wide vote. Would you like to see my letter? Thanks, you guys are so gracious...

February 19, 2009
Senator Valentine—

I understand that SB199 has passed out of committee and is on its way to a senate vote.

PLEASE, I urge you to oppose this legislation as it is going to do exactly opposite of what it appears to encourage if it passes. The way the bill is written does not grant equal access. Indeed it will exclude a large group of interested and concerned parents, simply because they are members of a national organization that requires payment of dues.

70 % of Utah schools currently have an established local PTA organization working within them. Parents wishing to volunteer and work within a given school need not be members of PTA at these schools to participate.

PTA Membership does require a membership dues payment, but volunteers at a school have no requirement for membership to participate.

As a long time PTA member, I am grateful for the benefits that come to my family and my local schools because of my paid membership each year. There are programs my children love and enjoy participating in that are direct PTA programs. They are not accessible if we do not have PTA in our schools. As a member, I know my voice counts in what the entire organization does to fulfill its mission to advocate for all children.

As a PTA volunteer, I am grateful for the leadership and localized training that comes with my PTA membership. I have learned much as far as the organization and administration of our city, local schools, local districts and the reach the legislature has over our schools statewide. PTA is a source of information and a resource I do not receive any other place. And I know the information I receive through PTA is always structured to benefit children.

Please do not allow the Senate, or Utah legislature in general, to set policy for an independent organization. If this bill passes, it would seem likely that it will also affect not only PTAs across the state, but also athletic and parent booster clubs for all sorts of groups in our schools. There will be many, many unintended consequences if this bill passes. That would be more than just unfortunate. It would be devastating.

Again, please vote NO on SB 199 when it comes to a vote. Equal Access is already established by Federal mandates. Please let’s keep ALL interested parent groups welcome in our Utah schools; that should include the very active PTAs in our schools too.

Yesterday I received an email response (It was certainly generically generated, but I don't care. At least I know he heard from me) that gently affirmed his stand with me on this one.

WHY, with everything else this part-time, lay-legislature has to do in this session, under these economic stresses, WHY would this even be worth their time or paper to write it on? It is called personal agenda, my friends. The government is crawling--not with the RIGHT people to represent us, but with persuasive people who got where they are because they convinced the people who voted for them that they were right and now they are out to forward their personal agendas.

Remember when 'AGENDA' meant a plan to follow for a structured meeting? It certainly has other definitions now, doesn't it?

I'm not quite ready to say rigth her and now that Sen. Bramble is the Grand PoohBah of a conspiracy group out to end the PTA in Utah. But the thought has crossed my mind.

If you see the stupidity of this bill, please write an email and shoot it off to your state senator today. Let them know what a waste of their time this bill is, and how damaging it's effects will be to our schools and our kids. Go to www.utahsenate.org to find your district and your senator. The appropriate email address should be listed there too.

So much for the promise Lincoln gave us of a 'government for the people and by the people', huh? Stayed tuned! I'll be sure to report back what I hear about SB 199 as it comes along. And THANKS, as always, for letting me vent. Good thing I slept on this one, or my blog would suddenly be rated "M" for strong language.