Dear Editor:
The Robert Fulton PTA is calling on all parents and teachers to get involved and make a difference.
As president of the Parent & Teacher Association (PTA) at Robert Fulton Elementary in North Bergen, I believe that there has been a severe lack of involvement by the staff and parents. It seems that you do not care about what happens at the school. Case in point, during a recent PTA meeting held at the school, only 16 parents and one teacher attended. This is a shameful turnout for a school where there are over 1149 students enrolled.
Recently, a parent/PTA board member wrote to me expressing this same concern. She wrote: “…I am so disappointed by the lack of participation that it is really getting to me. I’m quite disgusted with the town, the school, the teachers, and the parents. I love helping and giving my ideas and time to make things better for our kids; but I don’t have the time to ‘move mountains.’ We’re seriously thinking of putting our kids into a private school or moving to a town where at least half the parents are involved and most of the teachers care. I don’t have the time and energy to change the NB school system, especially when it’s just 3-4 of us in the ‘fight’.”
For those of you who don’t think we need a PTA, I say you’re wrong. The PTA is a way for parents and teachers to communicate and advocate on behalf of children to bring about positive changes. It’s also a vehicle that enables us to work together to bring our children programs and incentives that they would otherwise not have due to lack of federal funding. Unfortunately, F-O-U-R active members alone cannot make this happen.
Therefore, I am challenging educators, parents and administrators to rededicate yourself by getting involved and preventing the Robert Fulton PTA from disbanding due to lack of involvement. Our children are depending on us. Please don’t give up on them — they are our future.
Rebecca Miller, President
Robert Fulton Elementary PTA