Did you know that PTA has a 124-year legacy of positively impacting the lives of children and families?
February 17th is an important anniversary for PTA. On this day in 1897, Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst founded the National Congress of Parents and Teachers with a mission to better the lives of children in education, health and safety. In 1926, Selena Sloan Butler formed the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers to advocate for children, especially African American children in segregated communities. After decades of work in parallel and in partnership, the two organizations unified in 1970.
Ever since its inception, PTA has been a leader in supporting legislation and programs that benefit children and families. Through the years PTA leaders have advocated for many of the things we take for granted today, such as child labor laws, school lunches, school safety, and kindergarten. Though some of the issues may have changed between 1897 and 2021, PTA’s mission to advocate on behalf of all children remains the same.
You can find out more about the history of the PTA here.
Become part of the legacy. If you’re not yet a member, you can join Lincoln PTSA here.