Debbie Jones-Hunter has two children in high school and has been involved in Parent Teacher Associations from the time her children began primary school.

The former Olympics track star says the benefits are enormous ? not only does it help the school, it creates an environment in which her children can succeed. Mrs. Jones Hunter, who was president of the Whitney Institute PTA for two years and is now a trustee of the middle school, said: ?It gives me direct contact with their teachers and to their learning.

?Joining the PTA gives parents a chance to develop a rapport with teachers and more support from them. You also give them your support and when you give teachers support they give more than 100 percent back to the school and to the students.

?I?ve always tried to encourage activities where we give back and show our appreciation to the teachers. At Whitney we had special thanksgiving lunches at least once a year.?

Mrs. Jones-Hunter said her PTA work has also led to her children doing better in school. ?When children know their parents are involved, they participate more fully and try to enhance their learning. They do more community service,? she said. ?I?m a pro-PTA mom.?

Communication is perhaps the catch phrase of the 21st century. In education, the PTA is the mechanism that fosters dialogue between parents and teachers.

It is how parents get to know what is going on in the schools in the widest sense ? not only what subjects are being taught but also that vagrants have been sleeping in the school at night, or that there?s an opportunity to practise with a great jazz musician who will be visiting.

?Being part of a PTA is important to keep the line of communication open between parents and faculty,? said mother and St. George?s Prep PTA member Cathy Duffy.

?It?s important that you are not anonymous to the faculty, that you don?t just drop your children off at school. If there are any problems you should be known to the school.?

By being involved in PTAs, parents also get to learn firsthand how teachers think the school could be better.

What tools or help they need to make learning better, or more enjoyable for the students.

They also gain a better understanding of educational issues as they relate to the entire island. What the addition of middle schools will mean, what accreditation and the addition of certain testing will achieve.

Not only do parents learn about such changes in PTA meetings, but they also can discuss it and make their views known publicly.

Michael Charles, general secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, said strong PTAs could prove vital to local schools.

?As public officers, teachers cannot say anything,? he said. ?If a school needs books or anything, it is the parents who can speak out. They certainly have a vital role.?

The media complaints from PTAs very seriously, because they have more credibility than hearing from just one parent.

In Bermuda, strong PTAs have seen the Education Ministry alter its plans to downsize St. George?s Prep, forced a school principal to resign and even caused a delay in a school privatising.

Mr. Charles said it is unfortunate that today many local PTAs restrict their role to fundraising.

?It shouldn?t be limited to that. They can do so much more. They can have a say in everything from curriculum development to indigent kids. They could be the voice of the school,? he said.

Of course, being on a PTA allows parents to vote on how PTA-raised funds will be allocated. Mrs. Duffy said parents in Bermuda are more involved in school activities now than ever before. ?They are always in the school, helping with reading programmes, homework programmes, playground and lunchtime duties,? she said.

PTAs also afford parents the opportunity to get advice from other parents.

Parents can learn where the best deal for school clothes and supplies are, recommendations on after school programmes, camps and child-friendly restaurants.

By being involved in your child?s PTA, you can also improve the school for all its students. Research done in the US shows that when a community gets involved in its schools, the schools get better.