why are schools always asking for money!

nelly05

i think maybe this thread is a little off topic now but my 2p’s worth.

I help run a PTA at a primary school. We have maybe 4 events a year for the adults along with a couple of discos for the kids, and a summer fair.

We ask local businesses to donate prizes for raffles etc. We beg on freecycle for donations of gifts.

We struggle with getting parents to help. 85% don’t want to help or cant help. Not for me to say which – that’s their choice. I decided to do it so I work hard to raise the cash.

If people don’t want to attend the events they don’t. we don’t ask why. They just send a slip in no thanks so we know not to ask again.

We recently had a ladies bingo night with some lovely prizes donated by local business. We sold the 100 tickets for it fairly quickly – they all had a great night and raised over £1000 for the school. Incidentally this was loaned to the school to repair one of the boys toilets as the money hadn’t come through from the government!!!

Our school has school councellors – they speak to there class and then meet with the pta and tell us what their wishlists are, and what they would like to spend the money on. Equipment, games, toys, trips………………..

We do as Seomeone special stall for the kids near mothers day or father day. We make maybe 10p on an item which covers the stuff we give away to the kids who haven’t got enough money or no money on them for something.

We don’t get too mithered for money by the school, photos every year but we don’t always have them, the odd school trip but not too bad.

The best thing being on a PTA is when you get hassled off one of the mothers about there being no fruit at the school disco – and yet she made it quite clear she wanted nothing to do with the PTA as she was too busy although she stayed at the disco all night anyways!!!!!

It’s a thankless task but if it helps the kids im happy to do it. If it cuts down what the school asks for then even better as we also pay for yr 6 coach fees for their trip away as well as other things like that.

Dave101t

just because a charity asks for money, doesnt mean you have to give it. i will shun any charity not on my 'list'

mummy_Jay

DaisyFlower wrote: »

Its hardly emotional blackmail to explain a new afterschool club to the children it is aimed at! Some children like afterschool activities, some parents dont drive so after school clubs are great for them as no ferrying to and fro etc. Just because you dont personally do any clubs doesnt mean the school should stop arranging them.

It's not the afterschool activities I have a problem with, I personally think they are a great idea, but I take exception to a hard sell on such an expensive one. The school is not taking into account the upset it courses a 4 year old when you have to say NO we can't afford it.They don't understand and it would be easy anough just to give the kids the letter without all the hard sell.

As for bookclubs, no child at our school is "forced" to spend all their money, all the infants would only ever be at a book sale with a parent anyway. If you thought he was forced to spend it all you should have spoken to the teacher to establish the schools version of events.

Every school runs things differently.
My issue is that a 4 year old was expected to take money in and buy a book when parents were not invited (during school hours not after). He was not forced but made to feel like he had use all his money up by the lady that helped him with his money (my understanding from the school was she was with the book fair not staff). My answer to this is sadly not to let him take part, so he can't be taken advantage of.

I think personnally for me, I get upset that I try your best to give your child everything I can for his education, I put money aside to cover all the extras and out of no where they push all these things not on me but on my child. I get that school need extra funds, I'm up for baking cakes for the school fate or paying for tickets for the plays all that good stuff. I just wish they would drop the hard sell to the kids when it comes to expensive activities.

For me it lacks integraty on this specific schools part. Other than that is actually a very good school.

pipkin71

liney wrote: »

Your other children are paid for my the rest of us because you decided to have more then you could comfortably afford. The school don't subsidise you; they over charge on the tickets because they aren't allowed to leave children behind if their parents don't pay.

That's a rather unnecessary statement really and does nothing for the conversation imo. Why do discussions need to get personal?

*Louise*

Originally Posted by *Louise*
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.

liney wrote: »

Your other children are paid for my the rest of us because you decided to have more then you could comfortably afford. The school don't subsidise you; they over charge on the tickets because they aren't allowed to leave children behind if their parents don't pay.

You shouldn't jump to conclusions - I only have one child at school, I was referring to other families.

I do have 3 children, who won't all be at school at the same time, and I can comfortably afford to pay for them all, thank you very much.

OrkneyStar

pipkin71 wrote: »

That's a rather unnecessary statement really and does nothing for the conversation imo. Why do discussions need to get personal?

Perhaps the person making this statement has come across people who act in similar way as the poster she was replying to seems to act, and has vented her frustration in slightly the wrong way/on the wrong person ? (Notice I say seem as we don't know the full story here, based on a few comments on MSE!).
I understand the broad point she was trying to make but agree that it is not always constructive to criticise one particular poster.
(Sorry this is not worded well, I hope the meaning is not too confused!).

KellyWelly

Flashdaisy wrote: »

I totally agree that no parent should have to go into a school office and explain themselves and their financial situation. How humiliating for someone to have to do that when they are probably feeling rubbish enough in the first place for struggling financially. At my daughters school there are several PTA members that are very frequently sitting in the school office with the staff, no way would I go in and start letting them all know our financial circumstances.

Parents shouldn't be hanging around in the school office. I would be concerned that the school secretary is not being mindful of the data protection act and would be discussing it with the headteacher. Parents are not allowed into the building at my school without an escort, let alone in the office. Even pupils are not allowed to go into the office.

I don't actually understand why some people find it humiliating to say 'I can't afford it' but I recognise it is hard for some people to do so. I don't know what else to say really, there is a cost which the parent needs to pay for their child to have a particular experience and unless there are mitigating circumstances the school will ask for the money until it's paid. If you can't provide a reason why not, they are going to chase after it.

What would everyone feel about their child's school only providing an education within the four walls of the classroom with no trips, no outside visits, no visitors, no special treats, no extra curricular activities, just 9 - 3 in the classroom all day? Because the basic school budget only stretches that far, unfortunately. You would be astounded to see how very little the school buget is for a voluntary aided school is - less than some individuals earn for a school of 200 pupils - no joking.

KellyWelly

GettingHitched wrote: »

I wonder if the schools/PTA's actually ever stop and think about the knock on effect that asking for all these monies has at home ( for the childs family )

I would think it goes without saying since the PTA will be parents of children in the school themselves and the majority of the time they are stay at home mums who don't have an income, so they are very mindful of budgeting.

the_other_mce

KellyWelly wrote: »

I would think it goes without saying since the PTA will be parents of children in the school themselves and the majority of the time they are stay at home mums who don't have an income, so they are very mindful of budgeting.

You cannot be serious!!! This years PTA mums at my DD's school are a very affluent bunch with good jobs and husbands who have good jobs. They can afford cleaners, people to do their ironing, new cars and at least a couple of holidays a year! They have no idea how ordinary people live!!!

bigmomma051204

If they are "stay at home" mums whose children are all at school and they feel they need to "budget" (if their partners aren't earning enough...?) then surely they would be better off going to work part time rather than organising the odd tombola or raffle or charity event.......?