why are schools always asking for money!

bestpud

This has been an interesting debate, but please lets not turn it into a SAH versus working parent debate as they tend to get nasty and/or deleted very quickly.

There is no right or wrong, just opinion, and it's an emotive subject so can we avoid it, pretty please?

GettingHitched

bestpud wrote: »

This has been an interesting debate, but please lets not turn it into a SAH versus working parent debate as they tend to get nasty and/or deleted very quickly.

There is no right or wrong, just opinion, and it's an emotive subject so can we avoid it, pretty please?

just as I was thinking :beer:

OrkneyStar

bestpud wrote: »

This has been an interesting debate, but please lets not turn it into a SAH versus working parent debate as they tend to get nasty and/or deleted very quickly.

There is no right or wrong, just opinion, and it's an emotive subject so can we avoid it, pretty please?

:T:T:TYes I agree, that was what I was trying to point out too in my last post, especially the bit about what work ethic you choose to promote and respecting others in that choice!
You wrote it better of course (as usual...*sigh*, wishes I was a bit more succinct sometimes).

galvanizersbaby

OrkneyStar wrote: »

:T:T:TYes I agree, that was what I was trying to point out too in my last post, especially the bit about what work ethic you choose to promote and respecting others in that choice!
You wrote it better of course (as usual...*sigh*, wishes I was a bit more succinct sometimes).

I think it's easy to misinterpret what others are trying to say when posting on a forum - when you posted:

"I am a SAHM, dad works hard, this is the correct work ethic I want to put across to my child. "

Assumably what you were trying to get across was that dad going out to work and mum staying at home with baby is the work ethic you choose to promote to your child not necessarily that this is the correct work ethic for everybody or indeed that there is a correct and incorrect work ethic!

Back to the original topic - reading other's posts about contributing and funding raising etc... I realise that the primary school my children attend ask for very little in the way of contribution.
There is a PTA but there doesn't appear to be many fund raising events.
What they do organise is a school uniform sale where a percentage of the uniform sold goes to the school fund and the rest goes back to the parent.
These sales have been popular and they are held regularly.

I have not felt any pressure to contribute/donate as yet (my children and only in reception and year 1 so perhaps this will step up as they progress through the school)

OrkneyStar

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I think it's easy to misinterpret what others are trying to say when posting on a forum - when you posted:

"I am a SAHM, dad works hard, this is the correct work ethic I want to put across to my child. "

Assumably what you were trying to get across was that dad going out to work and mum staying at home with baby is the work ethic you choose to promote to your child not necessarily that this is the correct work ethic for everybody or indeed that there is a correct and incorrect work ethic!

If you had quoted my whole post, or at least the line immediately afte the one you chose to quote, you will see that I did not say everyone needs to adpot this same attitude. No need to assume at all, it is clearly stated! To me my ethic is the correct one for our family, yours (or anybody elses) may be completely different.

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Why is it horrible ?
I agree with KellyWelly, and tbh, think it is horrible to say she is being horrible by standing up for what she believes in.
I am a SAHM, dad works hard, this is the correct work ethic I want to put across to my child.
You put across whatever ethic you chose but don't criticise others for their choices!
SAH or not, we all do what we think it best for our offspring and we will never all agree- we can respect each others choices though!

It only adds to confusion when people quote part of a message (where there was clearly more stated on a particular topic), as it can take the context and meaning away!
Anyway, as already said, we are not wanting to increase the SAHM/working mum divide, indeed we are all parents striving to do our best for our children. It is a shame a negative comment was made about SAHM's/PTA mums/working mums, as people will automatically jump to defend/criticise such an emotive topic!

galvanizersbaby

OrkneyStar wrote: »

If you had quoted my whole post, or at least the line immediately afte the one you chose to quote, you will see that I did not say everyone needs to adpot this same attitude. No need to assume at all, it is clearly stated! To me my ethic is the correct one for our family, yours (or anybody elses) may be completely different.

It only adds to confusion when people quote part of a message (where there was clearly more stated on a particular topic), as it can take the context and meaning away!
Anyway, as already said, we are not wanting to increase the SAHM/working mum divide, indeed we are all parents striving to do our best for our children. It is a shame a negative comment was made about SAHM's/PTA mums/working mums, as people will automatically jump to defend/criticise such an emotive topic!

I agree with your post - I didn't intend to misquote you - I thought I was backing up what you were saying but nevermind

OrkneyStar

galvanizersbaby wrote: »

I agree with your post - I didn't intend to misquote you - I thought I was backing up what you were saying but nevermind

Sorry, me over-reacting then :o:o.
I realise you were agreeing with me in a way but not in a way too iyswim.
Anyway.....:o:confused::o.

ebony90

My school charges parents only once a year for the children's Summer trip. We spend ages researching places to visit to keep costs low. No sponsored events etc and the discos are free, with a volunteer DJ. I wouldn't dream of selling kids work!

Lunar_Eclipse

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Although I totally understand the reason behing not having a regular "levy" for education, these figures show how much better it would be (and how much teachers' time would be saved) if parents were simply asked to pay a regular £2 per week per child to subsidise the school's budget.

We're asked to do this at both my kids' schools, as well as all the other things mentioned. They request a minimum of £20/term, plus a monthly payment by direct debit if we can afford it; they are quite heavy at the requests! My children are 7 & 9.

Additionally we get a letter home every term for eldest asking for a voluntary payment for 2/3 additional educational activities such as a visiting Science bus, drumming workshop etc. This is typically £18/term, not insignificant but I am thrilled with the opportunities and experiences she is getting.

Our school trips are £11-18 for a day trip (it's for the insurance and coach mainly), DD1 just had her first 2 night residential (she's 9 in Y4) which cost £140.

I would kill for the odd £1/2 discos and 20p packet of sweet contributions! :rolleyes:

Personally, I really wish there was no such thing as voluntary contributions. I am very happy to pay towards a child whose parents genuinely cannot afford school trips etc (there are very few in our schools), but it irks me to think I'm paying and forgoing a family meal out for instance just because other parents disagree in principle and simply choose not to pay for their own child to participate.

But I completely understand that school budgets are stretched and think that an inspiring, first rate education takes a lot more than a few well taught Maths & English lessons in the classroom, so I always contribute in the hope & knowledge that my children benefit.:)

msb5262

As a teacher and a parent, I'm shocked to the core by what's happening in some schools.
Lunar Eclipse writes:
We're asked to do this at both my kids' schools, as well as all the other things mentioned. They request a minimum of £20/term, plus a monthly payment by direct debit if we can afford it; they are quite heavy at the requests!

Why are the schools asking for money unless they are private schools?

My daughter attends a local (state) girls' grammar school and each year brings home a request for a £30 contribution to school funds. I am strongly opposed to this as it's just one of the factors which puts poorer families off sending their girls there and I refuse to pay it on principle. Luckily I'm not the kind of person to feel intimidated into paying it, but not everyone feels the same.

I've also been told that the boys' grammar school asks for £30 each September AND £30 per month on a standing order - the mother who told me this works as a primary school teaching assistant and no way has that sort of money to spare...but she feels pressured to pay it. It's totally wrong! If families are rolling in cash, there's nothing stopping them making regular gifts to their children's school but for most people, it's not possible.

As a teacher, I plan one trip per school year with a cost of £12 maximum, with plenty of notice and the opportunity to pay weekly beforehand. The children at my school come from deprived homes but their behaviour on trips is always amazing and they get the maximum educational benefit from any trip we arrange.

By the way, teachers planning school trips are obliged to charge each family ONLY the amount it would cost to take their child on the trip - it's not allowed to factor in any family not paying. The school has to bear the cost or the trip must be cancelled. Posters upthread believe they have paid over the odds for trips to cover the cost of non-paying pupils...this needs to be investigated as it isn't officially allowed.

I'm still spitting with rage on behalf of parents being pressured to pay up - not least the dreadful after-school science club, mentioned earlier on this thread, which is just a money making exercise by a private company. I really object to this being promoted during school time when it is so prohibitively expensive!