why are schools always asking for money!

Mips

If all parents participated in fundraising (time permitting, of course) it is a real sense of community spirit, for both the children and the parent.

I know how expensive schools can be, from my friends.. who are horrified.. but then there is something all parents can do .. should they understand the reasoning behind these extra curicular activities.. and are actually interested in their childs wellbeing.

pipkin71

Dippychick wrote: »

If all parents participated in fundraising (time permitting, of course) it is a real sense of community spirit, for both the children and the parent.

I know how expensive schools can be, from my friends.. who are horrified.. but then there is something all parents can do .. should they understand the reasoning behind these extra curicular activities.. and are actually interested in their childs wellbeing.

I don't think it's always a case of if the parents are actually interested in their child's well-being Dippychick.

Parents living to a budget can find it an extra burden to have to find different bits of money for different things, which often all come round together, and then they are faced with pressure from both school and child.

Some schools seem to constantly be asking for money for various things, yet others don't and however interested a parent is in their child's school life, if finances are tight it makes things difficult.

mum26

Perhaps instead of draining parents dry schools and their ptas could get together and lobby the government for proper funding in the first place?

Speaking as somone who has been on commitees etc.

Also speaking as a parent who has 4 children at one school, I recieved 20 books of raffle tickets to sell!

I hate this term at school, they seem to try and pack in as much stuff as possible - same with christmas term. Just when there is plenty of pressure on the average family anyway with uniform costs looming, holiday expenditure etc they add to it, lol.

I do really appreciate our schools, they are wonderful places I am however heartily sick of the constant demands for money.

So far this term:

£27 dd1 trip
£17 dd2 trip
£10 ds1 trip
(the little three were away when their trip was held or that would have been a further £30)
school photo dd1 - £15
dd2 didn't want hers
school photo ds1 - £12
school photo 3 littlies - £12 (won't be able to get away with that next year, they won't be in same class )
sponsored activity - £20 between the 4 at that school
drama show - £2.50 per adult £1.50 per child - £8
entry to school fete 50p per adult 20p per child = £2.20
spent at fete - £40 (no face painting this year as they have brought in a company to do it - £3 each! I'm not paying £12 for something i'm going to have to wash off in a couple of hours!)
made lots and lots of cakes - £4 ingredients

That is just what I can remember off the top of my head! Plus 3 have needed new shoes, weird clothes for play performances etc..

Of course I am actually interested in my childrens wellbeing, what a ridiculous notion that simply because I resent paying out huge sums of money (remembering the christmas where we were invited to buy cards designed by our children for £7.50 a pack of 5) that I am not interested in my children's wellbeing or understand the benefits of trips etc (although the costs above are for theme park visits actually).

Our PTA virtually ignore everyone in the playground until it is panhandling time then they like to stand at the gate pressganging. Well no thanks, I take my children lots of places, do lots with them, I fail to see how being overcharged for disco sweets is community sprited?

Again, it is government legislation that makes things so expensive for schools - extra equipment, large coach hire ees etc- so seriously lobby the government instead, use the expenses scandal to offset what the MP priorities are against what they spend on schools, instead of making things tougher for families!

OrkneyStar

Bettyboop wrote: »

Well you can be glad you don't have school fees to pay. That on top of buying your books, stationery and your uniforms is very expensive. A lot of children in disadvantaged countries cannot afford to go to school.

My understanding is that one's council tax is meant to help pay the teachers. You have quite a few kids and considering what you are being asked to pay it's not a lot when they are literally taught for free anyway!!!

Noone is forced to pay school fees as a private education is normally by choice. The costs that other posters mention here will be incurred at normal non-fee paying schools and as such are extreme imho.
Makes me relieved that we have opted to only have 1 child!

Janepig

mum26 wrote: »

Perhaps instead of draining parents dry schools and their ptas could get together and lobby the government for proper funding in the first place?

Speaking as somone who has been on commitees etc.

Also speaking as a parent who has 4 children at one school, I recieved 20 books of raffle tickets to sell!

I hate this term at school, they seem to try and pack in as much stuff as possible - same with christmas term. Just when there is plenty of pressure on the average family anyway with uniform costs looming, holiday expenditure etc they add to it, lol.

I do really appreciate our schools, they are wonderful places I am however heartily sick of the constant demands for money.

So far this term:

£27 dd1 trip
£17 dd2 trip
£10 ds1 trip
(the little three were away when their trip was held or that would have been a further £30)
school photo dd1 - £15
dd2 didn't want hers
school photo ds1 - £12
school photo 3 littlies - £12 (won't be able to get away with that next year, they won't be in same class )
sponsored activity - £20 between the 4 at that school
drama show - £2.50 per adult £1.50 per child - £8
entry to school fete 50p per adult 20p per child = £2.20
spent at fete - £40 (no face painting this year as they have brought in a company to do it - £3 each! I'm not paying £12 for something i'm going to have to wash off in a couple of hours!)
made lots and lots of cakes - £4 ingredients

That is just what I can remember off the top of my head! Plus 3 have needed new shoes, weird clothes for play performances etc..

Of course I am actually interested in my childrens wellbeing, what a ridiculous notion that simply because I resent paying out huge sums of money (remembering the christmas where we were invited to buy cards designed by our children for £7.50 a pack of 5) that I am not interested in my children's wellbeing or understand the benefits of trips etc (although the costs above are for theme park visits actually).

Our PTA virtually ignore everyone in the playground until it is panhandling time then they like to stand at the gate pressganging. Well no thanks, I take my children lots of places, do lots with them, I fail to see how being overcharged for disco sweets is community sprited?

Again, it is government legislation that makes things so expensive for schools - extra equipment, large coach hire ees etc- so seriously lobby the government instead, use the expenses scandal to offset what the MP priorities are against what they spend on schools, instead of making things tougher for families!

This is why I chose to have 2 children, not 6. Surely you realised when you decided to have a large family that it wouldn't be cheap? Should schools stop asking for parents to pay for trips/discos/bit of fund-raising because it's too expensive for those who choose to have large numbers of children?

Jxx

*Louise*

Janepig wrote: »

This is why I chose to have 2 children, not 6. Surely you realised when you decided to have a large family that it wouldn't be cheap? Should schools stop asking for parents to pay for trips/discos/bit of fund-raising because it's too expensive for those who choose to have large numbers of children?

Jxx

Actually, our school is quite good with regards to this. For school trips, pantos and things, parents are only asked to pay for the first 2 children - any others are subsidised by the school.

the_other_mce

Janepig wrote: »

This is why I chose to have 2 children, not 6. Surely you realised when you decided to have a large family that it wouldn't be cheap? Should schools stop asking for parents to pay for trips/discos/bit of fund-raising because it's too expensive for those who choose to have large numbers of children?

Jxx

I think you are getting the wrong end of the stick - you have already said that your child's school doesn't ask for much in the way of extra cash - there are lots of schools that do - last month I shelled out for
2x bottles of wine (£8)
2x tombola prizes (7.50)
sweets as prizes (3.00)
2x school photos (£27.00)
2x school disco (£12.00)
1 x trip to MASS (£3.50)
money to spend at Fete (£20)
raffle tickets (£20)
Thats £107 :eek: I am even more shocked/annoyed now I have added it up!
This month I have to pay out at least £20 and they aren't at school for the last 2 weeks.
I have also taken 1 1/2 days off of work to accompany them on trips which couldn't go ahead with parents helpers, and spent 4 1/2 hours helping at the school disco. I have 2 children.

Now I know I didn't have to buy the photos but they are given out to the children in class and I didn't want my children upset because they were the only ones who's mum didn't get them a photo. Believe me, I didn't buy the most expensive option!! Again I could have stopped my children going to the fete but that wouldn't have been fair. The school also has a competition between each class to see which class can bring in the most items to raise money for the fete. If this cost was once a year I wouldn't mind - however they are consistently asking for money every single month. On top of this I still have to pay for the buildings fund.
I wouldn't dream of telling anyone that they shouldn't have had so many kids - that is personal choice. I think that certain schools should hold back a bit/rein in the PTA and also work out a better way of collecting the money other than asking the children who haven't contributed yet "have you brought in your money yet?" in front of the whole class at registration time which is what they do at our school.

bunny999

the_other_mce wrote: »

I think you are getting the wrong end of the stick - you have already said that your child's school doesn't ask for much in the way of extra cash - there are lots of schools that do - last month I shelled out for
2x bottles of wine (£8)
2x tombola prizes (7.50)
sweets as prizes (3.00)
2x school photos (£27.00)
2x school disco (£12.00)
1 x trip to MASS (£3.50)
money to spend at Fete (£20)
raffle tickets (£20)
Thats £107 :eek: I am even more shocked/annoyed now I have added it up!
This month I have to pay out at least £20 and they aren't at school for the last 2 weeks.
I have also taken 1 1/2 days off of work to accompany them on trips which couldn't go ahead with parents helpers, and spent 4 1/2 hours helping at the school disco. I have 2 children.

Now I know I didn't have to buy the photos but they are given out to the children in class and I didn't want my children upset because they were the only ones who's mum didn't get them a photo. Believe me, I didn't buy the most expensive option!! Again I could have stopped my children going to the fete but that wouldn't have been fair. The school also has a competition between each class to see which class can bring in the most items to raise money for the fete. If this cost was once a year I wouldn't mind - however they are consistently asking for money every single month. On top of this I still have to pay for the buildings fund.
I wouldn't dream of telling anyone that they shouldn't have had so many kids - that is personal choice. I think that certain schools should hold back a bit/rein in the PTA and also work out a better way of collecting the money other than asking the children who haven't contributed yet "have you brought in your money yet?" in front of the whole class at registration time which is what they do at our school.

Exactly - so why should the child free have to pay for other peoples kids. If you can't afford them don't have them.

Janepig

the_other_mce wrote: »

I think you are getting the wrong end of the stick - you have already said that your child's school doesn't ask for much in the way of extra cash - there are lots of schools that do - last month I shelled out for
2x bottles of wine (£8)
2x tombola prizes (7.50)
sweets as prizes (3.00)
2x school photos (£27.00)
2x school disco (£12.00)
1 x trip to MASS (£3.50)
money to spend at Fete (£20)
raffle tickets (£20)
Thats £107 :eek: I am even more shocked/annoyed now I have added it up!
This month I have to pay out at least £20 and they aren't at school for the last 2 weeks.
I have also taken 1 1/2 days off of work to accompany them on trips which couldn't go ahead with parents helpers, and spent 4 1/2 hours helping at the school disco. I have 2 children.

Now I know I didn't have to buy the photos but they are given out to the children in class and I didn't want my children upset because they were the only ones who's mum didn't get them a photo. Believe me, I didn't buy the most expensive option!! Again I could have stopped my children going to the fete but that wouldn't have been fair. The school also has a competition between each class to see which class can bring in the most items to raise money for the fete. If this cost was once a year I wouldn't mind - however they are consistently asking for money every single month. On top of this I still have to pay for the buildings fund.
I wouldn't dream of telling anyone that they shouldn't have had so many kids - that is personal choice. I think that certain schools should hold back a bit/rein in the PTA and also work out a better way of collecting the money other than asking the children who haven't contributed yet "have you brought in your money yet?" in front of the whole class at registration time which is what they do at our school.

I'm not telling anyone how many children they should or shouldn't have. My maths is rubbish but even I can add up enough to tell me that paying for six children going to the school disco is going to cost a hell of a lot more than for two. Paying for six lots of school trips is going to be..... crippling!! But is it really cause to criticise the school?

So what's the answer? Do schools stop asking, full stop, to save from discriminating against/marginalising those with larger families. No more extra curricular stuff, trips, discos?

Although it does appear that some schools do go OTT, and expect too much, and it seems that we as parents are perhaps too willing to just blindly hand over money without question so as not to upset or single out our children.

Jxx

missindecisive

oh dear....how silly of me to come onto this forum and have a little moan and now ive opened a whole can of worms so it seems next time, maybe i'l keep my little moans to myself..lol! thankyou to those who made non judgemental ,valued contributions to this thread, i think i better just ignore the rest.