Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Overview The National Congress of Mothers was founded on February 17, 1897 in Washington, D.C. by Alice McLellan White Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst.  It later became known as the National Congress of Parents and Teachers or the National PTA.  With the help of the National PTA, Selena Sloan Butler founded the National Congress of  Colored Parents and Teachers in 1926

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Chapter 1. An Idea and a Dream The year was 1895.  Grover Cleveland was President of the United States.  Only three percent (3%) of all Americans attended  college.  The average annual income for an American family was $411.  The average annual public school teacher’s salary was $298.  The Jungle Book and the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes made the list of popular

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Chapter 2. Shopping Around the Dream Shopping.  Shopping.  Shopping… Now that we may have gained the undivided attention of seasoned shoppers, reflecting on shopping in 1895 might be interesting.  With the Industrial Revolution responsible for many goods now manufactured in large quantities, retail chain stores popped up across the United States in the 1800’s.  Earliest stores included Brooks Brothers, Lord &

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Chapter 3. Build It and They Will Come Many new products and initiatives were developed by entrepreneurs in the 1890’s.  It was full speed ahead – a time filled with great prospects for innovation.  Many seized the opportunity to market ideas, but the concept of, “Build It and They Will Come,” only worked when ideas were perceived to fill a critical

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Chapter 4. Pennsylvania: A True Keystone for Kids A “keystone” typically refers to a central supporting element of a larger structure, such as a building or an organization without which the whole structure would collapse.  Most of you in PA are quite familiar with the keystone symbol as depicted on license plates, agencies, road signs, and even the state lottery.   Pennsylvania

Reflecting on the PTA Legacy: A Challenge for 21st Century Leaders Sandra L. Zelno, Consultant to the Pennsylvania PTA.  Chapter 5. Juvenile Justice, The Journey Begins Violence?  Not in my schools.  What PTA leader could say that honestly today?  Since the inception of the National Congress of Mothers in 1897, the association has embraced a strong agenda of public education, child health and safety, child nutrition, parent education and involvement, and juvenile justice, to name a few major areas.  The previous