do you think this is fair or acceptable?

meritaten

most of you are missing the point of my posts so I will spell it out for you.
school is about education and the taxpayers are paying for that.
activities in school should include ALL pupils -regardless of their financial circumstances
schools are NOT in the business of raising funds for charity
ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.
That is what I was trying to say in my posts!

Indie_Kid

meritaten wrote: »

most of you are missing the point of my posts so I will spell it out for you.
school is about education and the taxpayers are paying for that.
activities in school should include ALL pupils -regardless of their financial circumstances
schools are NOT in the business of raising funds for charity
ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.
That is what I was trying to say in my posts!

Money doesn't grow on trees.

esmerelda98

meritaten wrote: »

most of you are missing the point of my posts so I will spell it out for you.
school is about education and the taxpayers are paying for that.
activities in school should include ALL pupils -regardless of their financial circumstances
schools are NOT in the business of raising funds for charity
ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.
That is what I was trying to say in my posts!

Unfortunately I think you are the one missing an important point. Taxpayers pay for a basic education. Governments usually decree that the focus of taxpayers' money is primarily academic matters. Most would consider this sensible. Since the pot of available money is limited (or would you like to pay more in tax?) the money should be spent on the most important areas. The additional amounts of money schools are requesting help the pupils have a more rounded education. There can be debate about which activities are most useful and which should be dropped. The place for this is the PTA as many have mentioned.

esmerelda98

meritaten wrote: »

ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.

The options are (1) Schools should stick to the budget given to them by the Government. No additional trips/experiences should be organised. Bear in mind that this will disadvantage the poorest as better-off parents will probably do more of these trips with their children anyway (2) You can campaign for more money from central/local government. Many cannot be bothered with the PTA, let alone petitions/demonstrations. And you can try to convince ministers why it is better for more money for theatre trips etc instead of spending it on quicker hip operations for people in terrible pain or improved cancer drugs (3) higher taxes (4) The present situation - Taxpayers pay for the basics. Parents/PTA pay for extras. To some extent those parents who can pay subsidise those who genuinely cannot. All parents can probably make some contribution, though a small proportion will be unable to pay for the more expensive trips. Those who can't give much in the way of money can usually give their time.

Savvy_Sue

meritaten wrote: »

I can take critisicm as well as the next person - but, I dont think I COULD join the PTA as I am NOT a parent I am a GRANDPARENT (you obviously havent read my posts properly)!

Try it, I bet they'd bite your hand off!

My parents used to come and help at school fairs etc, they'd man the gate then count all the money afterwards, and they used to travel 50 miles to do it! Another family, Grandma and Grandad used to help: all her children had been at the school, and now her grandchildren, so everyone knew them!

kelloggs36 wrote: »

Anybody can join the PTA actually - there are members in my old school whose children left many years ago - without them the school would be in huge trouble financially.

I think the 'umbrella body' is now NAPTFA - Nat Assoc of Parents Teachers and FRIENDS Assocs (which sounds like too many Assocs, but it's a google too many for tonight!) Certainly when I was running ours, it was clear that ANYONE who was friendlily disposed to us was welcome to come and help. The local church used to bake cakes for events, and we'd have been glad to see any of them at our planning meetings. The vicar used to come sometimes, but he was a governor - so did another governor, these things are NOT exclusive!

Fang_3

meritaten wrote: »

most of you are missing the point of my posts so I will spell it out for you.
school is about education and the taxpayers are paying for that.
activities in school should include ALL pupils -regardless of their financial circumstances
schools are NOT in the business of raising funds for charity
ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.
That is what I was trying to say in my posts!

The taxpayer funds a basic state education. The PTA and school then decide on how to supplement this with more enjoyable activities. These have to be paid for. You might be bitter about not being able to afford it, but the fact is it is all about budgeting. Not every pupil can go on a skiing trip, but every pupil could go on a day trip to a museum. These still have to be paid for. Life isn't fair. Get over it.

mishkanorman

meritaten wrote: »

most of you are missing the point of my posts so I will spell it out for you.
school is about education and the taxpayers are paying for that.
education doesnt start and end at books anymore, a young child can gain so much more understanding from doing rather than being told how its done. The tax we pay doesnt even begin to cover the basics for education, a good education at least.
activities in school should include ALL pupils -regardless of their financial circumstances,
There is no way a child would be excluded from attending school because the parent hasnt provided the 'fine' as we call it, the PTA is trying to make the fundraising fun and different for the parents and children so different events throughout the year are planned so if they dont fancy one disco they attend something else.
schools are NOT in the business of raising funds for charity
why not ? it teaches children to care about others and not just themselves, my children raised funds for Haiti and they now have a great concern for people affected by those kind of disasters
ALL children are entitled to an equally high standard of education regardless of their parents financial circumstances.
Which is the whole reason a PTA exists, so the school can provide the whole package for all children.
That is what I was trying to say in my posts!

You have made a lot of very wrong assumptions about PTA's, they are NOT evil, money grabbing, corporate entities they are just people trying to make a change and doing what little they can to improve what they can.


mishka


PS the disco last night was a great success and we raised £150 ish :j

Churchmouse

Newly_retired wrote: »

It is quite common for schools to have a non uniform day in aid of a charity. I presume the tombola / fete is part of a school fundraising campaign? If so, do you have a problem contributing to this is a small way, as a parent? A bottle does not have to be expensive. If you don't let your child go in mufti s/he will feel out of it. Yes I suppose it is a form of blackmail but in a good cause.

Sorry, but I find this attitude thoroughly reprehensible. Blackmail is wrong no matter how right the cause!! How anyone can condone a child being singled out because of a failing of the parent is quite beyond me. Going into school in "mufti" does not involve any cost, therefore if any parent doesn't send a contribution nobody has subsidised this particular activity I can see that foreign trips etc are different.

If it was me I would succumb to the blackmail and try to find an unopened bottle or packet of something, but if I truly didn't have anything in the cupboard I would still send my child in mufti. Surely the school wouldn't be so petty and mean as to send the child home to change into uniform? So in answer to the OP, I do think the notice is too short, and I do think they are being very unfair to the children who may be unable to bring anything.

Oh and edited to add, I was that non-working parent who spent 3 half-days a week in school taking children for reading practice, crafts, trips to the local park etc so I have well and truly supported my children's schools.

missmontana

I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets annoyed by the letters constantly coming home for a donation or buying something to raise money, a few examples are...

They get give a small tube of chocolate eggs at Easter then we're asked to return the tube filled with pennies after the Easter break.
All the kids drew their faces and they got printed on to a tea towel which we could buy for £4.
A painting they'd done and had framed for the Hiati charity £7.50
Sent home with a paper cup asking for it to be filled for the school fete.
School photo's
School Trips
Book week

Some things I don't mind paying for, but it does put pressure on me to spend what I don't have, my son is only 7 and I'm dreading him going up to Juniors in Sept as I know it will probably be more of the same!
We are usually given more than a days notice tho and sometimes it is optional, but alot of the time its just not an extra worry that I need!

I think I may well be joining the PTA when he goes up!

Money_maker

missmontana wrote: »

All the kids drew their faces and they got printed on to a tea towel which we could buy for £4.

That sounds lovely. I'd buy a few then theres a few Christmas presents all sorted.
How lucky you are to have the option.