Centennial Celebration & Recognition Ceremony
The Louisiana PTA's Centennial Celebration and Recognition Ceremony on March 25, 2023, was epic!
There are so many people and groups to thank for playing a part in the day which we will do privately. In true Louisiana Style, the day ended with an awesome 3-piece brass band and a second line! Check out the very interesting history of Louisiana PTA below.
The photos will be updated as soon as they're available. Check back regularly!
Historical Documents of Louisiana PTA
Scroll through the historical documents below. The first one is "History of the Shreveport Parent Teacher Association for Negroes." Please note that the name of the Shreveport group used words that we do not use in modern times. That is what they called their own group, and we respect their history and contribution to PTA in Louisiana. The second is the History of Louisiana Parent-Teacher Association from its Organization in 1923 to 1943" which was a segregated white group.
Commendation from Governor Edwards
Brief History of LAPTA
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1910: A group of black mothers met at the Peabody Elementary School and organized a Mother's Club. This group was unable to join with National PTA due to existing school segregation laws in the South.
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1918: In response to the Spanish Flu Pandemic, a resolution is drafted by parents for the Orleans Parish School Board to rescind an action to add an hour to the school day and omit the holiday break to make up for instructional time lost. The school board returned the holiday break and compromised with a 30-minute extension of the school day.
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1919: New Orleans Council of Mothers is formed and seeks to become part of the National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Assns.
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1923: Brock Street School organizes the first official PTA for Colored in Shreveport. On February 9, the Louisiana Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers Associations, with 40 local units and over 2,000 members, is welcomed into the National Congress. Mrs. Virgil Brown serves as the first president.
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1929: The Louisiana Colored Parent-Teacher Association is organized and joins the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. Mrs. M. N. Ringgold serves as the first president.
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1929-1970: Both parent groups work separately to improve child literacy, child welfare, juvenile justice system, preventative health care, teachers’ pay, teachers for hospitalized children, distribution of public school funding, and more. They provided students with encyclopedias, drinking fountains, cafeterias, sidewalks, and audio-visual equipment. They supported the community during WWII and after natural disasters.
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1970: On November 24, the black Louisiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. and the white Louisiana Parent-Teacher Association sign a merger agreement in New Orleans during the 41st Annual Session of the Louisiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
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2020-2021: The Covid-19 Pandemic closed brick and mortar schools. PTAs in Louisiana worked with community agencies to provide meal pick-ups sites and deliveries for school age children.
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2022: PTAs across the state work to provide stability and resources to children, families, and educators returning to in-person learning.
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2023: LAPTA celebrates 100 years of service to families and communities in Louisiana and charters the first state-wide unit – Louisiana Lagniappe PTSA!
Unification
In 1970, the two parent groups united their efforts to finally advocate for all children together. The below picture is from that event with the newspaper article printed the next day.
Black, White PTA Groups Create Single State Agency
November 24, 1970
Two Louisiana Parent-teacher organizations joined forces here yesterday in a merger, creating the racially mixed Louisiana Parents and Teachers Association. The action was taken at Carter G. Woodson Junior High School, where the Louisiana Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc, a predominantly black group, is holding its 41st annual session. The previously all-white group also was known as the LPTA. Mrs. Leon Price of Dallas (center in picture), president of the National Parents and Teachers Association, called the event an “important time in history of both organizations.”
Mrs. Price, a native of Alexandria, LA, said the absorption of the black organization into the predominantly while LPTA is not universally popular. “There are those who are not ready and the road ahead may find some bumps, but we have gone too far to turn back. We have had this dream for years; now it is a reality and the future depends upon what we do with it,” she told the new LPTA members. Signing the merger agreement on behalf of the two state groups were Mr. Joe. L. Lewis of Baton Rouge (left in picture), president of the LCPTA, and Mrs. Madelyn Willis of Lake Charles (right in picture), first vice-president of LPTA.
Rev. Gordon H. Stone, associate minister of the Greater Tulane Baptist Church, delivered the keynote address at the LCPTA general assembly. “Separatism is no longer needed,” he declared. “Unity is the challenge if we are to combat the evil forces that confront us in the home, school, church, and community, and in unity lies our strength.” The LCPTA concludes its last session today.