17-year-old barred from PTA position

WESTMONT, N.J., July 9 (UPI) -- A 17-year-old New Jersey youth has been barred because of his age by the state PTA from taking a PTA position to which he was elected.

James Lynch, who will be a senior at Haddon Township High School this fall, was elected May 3 to be recording secretary of the PTA of T.A. Edison Elementary School where his sisters attend. Lynch sought the position after volunteering at the school for two years and helped lead a drive to improve the school's library, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

But the state PTA, which Lynch said originally approved his run for office, says that because he is a minor, Lynch cannot perform some of the duties needed of a recording secretary. The Edison PTA didn't allow Lynch to attend a meeting Thursday in which a new recording secretary was chosen.

Lynch is undeterred, telling the Inquirer: "I'm in this for the school. I love Edison. No matter what the outcome is, I volunteer for the goodwill of the children and I will carry that out."