On February 17, 1897 about 200 people gathered in Washington D.C., to discuss questions vital to the welfare of children and the interests of the homes. As a result a national Parent-Teachers organization came into being, dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, homes, schools, churches and communities.
This year’s Founders Day Theme: Volunteer Now for Quality Living. The observance of Founders Day has three main objectives, (1) to honor founders and past leaders; (2) to increase understanding of the purpose and scope of P.T.A. work; (3) to raise funds for expanding and strengthening the P.T.A. Many persons, including members, have only limited knowledge of its goals and accomplishments.
We cannot afford the luxury of a Founders Day celebration which faces the past. Even before the founding of the PTA, President Lincoln at Gettysburg said something which keeps thundering in my ears. “Now we are engaged in a civil war testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.” These words seem somehow appropriate for us. We are engaged in conflict both tactical and with words, within and without our country.
At our Founders Day meeting members and guests were invited to make a birthday contribution, actually a gift to America’s children, for it is used to expand and strengthen the capacity of the P.T.A. Our gift was forwarded to the state P.T.A. office in Columbia, Missouri to join others from this state. I would like to thank the people who helped make our Founders Day gift possible, Mrs. Wimbley, Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Hayes and all the others. Thank you.
Mrs. Marie Rowell, president.
Originally published in The Paper, April 1971.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1971_04.pdf, printed page 5.
