This year’s National PTA Reflections Arts Program theme is “I Belong.” It encourages students to express what belonging means to them — through art, music, or writing. It sounds noble, right up until the fine print:
you can’t “belong” unless your parents pay PTA membership dues.

The same organization preaching inclusion is literally excluding children whose families don’t pay to join. The entry requirement isn’t creativity or effort — it’s a receipt.

What’s worse is that this isn’t just coming from the PTA’s mailing list. Principals and administrators are flooding inboxes through official district channels, repeatedly promoting this pay-to-play contest as if it’s a school-sponsored event. That’s not community outreach — that’s free advertising for a membership drive dressed up as student opportunity.

And the flyer says it all: “All participants will have a pizza lunch.” Because nothing says belonging like buying your way into a slice of inclusion.

Public schools shouldn’t be complicit in a private organization’s paywall for creativity. The irony is complete: a program themed “I Belong” that teaches kids they only belong if someone else pays for it.

Maybe next year’s theme should skip the pretense and say what it really means:
“I Belong — Once the Membership Check Clears.”