do you think this is fair or acceptable?

barbarawright

Money_maker wrote: »

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

My nephews' school does this or calendars every year so I've had quite a few as presents - they're a lovely idea but I'm sure it's not compulsory to buy them if you don't want to. I wish they'd been around when I was at school though as they would make a great memento.

Churchmouse

missmontana wrote: »

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

!

My Church did this when we were fundraising some years ago. We had all the Junior Church kids, the Boys Brigade and the Guides,Brownies and Rainbows do it and it looked great. The babies either had someone else draw their face or we traced round their hands and labelled them.

Money_maker wrote: »

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

Yes, we sold loads I think every mother and Grandmother got one for Christmas. I still have a couple in the cupboard, bit see-through now :rotfl:

missmontana

If it had been just his face, then yes, I would have bought some, but it was the whole years faces and they were tiny... I was quite disappointed.

Savvy_Sue

barbarawright wrote: »

My nephews' school does this or calendars every year so I've had quite a few as presents - they're a lovely idea but I'm sure it's not compulsory to buy them if you don't want to.

It's certainly not compulsory, we had LOADS left over when we tried this. Turned them into bag holders for carrier bags in the end, they sold a bit better then.

Some of my siblings were distinctly underwhelmed to get a tea towel for Christmas.

fudgecat

In reply to Man of Faith`s response:
Well, as a teacher I now see where I have gone wrong all these years. Instead of saving for a holiday (three taken over the last 15 years), I should have gone on all of those residential trip "freebies for teachers". After all, the fact that our Union advises against it; that we are on call and on duty 24 hours a day for several days (which can involve being up all night with a sick or distressed child); that we have to pay or make arrangements for the care of our own children while looking after someone else`s; that all this is expected for no overtime pay or in our own holiday period; that whole weekends are taken up with the paperwork required in risk assessments, budgeting, etc in preparation; that we have to plan and prepare cover work in our absence and pick up the backlog on our return should make this free holiday all worthwhile. Oh, and I forgot having absolutely no desire to go on the trip destination...
Out of my way as I rush to pick up my freebie. A rumour is circulating that we get a free tatoo of MUG on our forehead.

LittleMissAspie

meritaten wrote: »

schools have changed a lot since my schooldays in the sixties

I went to school in the 80s and 90s and don't remember ever bringing letters home asking my parents for money. There was one whole-year trip in primary school and another in secondary school, the rest were ski trips or foreign exchanges that only a few people went on. We didn't have charity days or anything like that. We had non uniform day once a year but I don't remember having to pay for it. There was a yearly fete in primary school but I only went a few times.

I have to say the idea of having your child's face on a teatowel sounds horribly tacky to me. But if you like that kind of thing there are plenty of websites that print personalised teatowels/tshirts/bags/mugs/mousemats etc etc. You don't need to rely on a school to do it for you.

pulliptears

My DS and DD went to the same high school, DS left last year and DD is in year 7.

When DS was in year 7 they went to France, 3 days and a cost of £140. Reasonable I thought and he enjoyed it. DD has presented us with a letter saying they are going to Italy instead this year, the cost.....£750. With the best will in the world I can't afford that, I could probably take all of us away for a week on that let alone just DD for four, yes FOUR days. Now of course, OH and I are the baddies because she can't go.

I do wonder what planet the school is on sometimes to even consider that any of its parents can afford that. Its not an especially affluent area so I'm imagining the acceptance list is somewhere around zero.

DaisyFlower

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)!
as for other comments - I do take on board that the PTA fund many activities the children wouldnt otherwise have, and I am sure the kids and parents appreciate these!

those people who would be quite happy to see a child excluded from an activity because their parents cant or wont pay make my blood boil!!!! school is not supposed to be an elitist organisation and activities should be open to ALL!!!! to announce the whole school is having a PJ day or somesuch and then say the child has to pay Xamount or come in uniform is to my mind disgusting! and all the kid learns from that is that money is more important than their happiness or feelings.
Schools are also not there to fundraise for charity either!!! the children are there to learn! yes if they pick one charity and there are set events out of school hours to fundraise for it on a voluntary basis. but there are so MANY charities they seem to support!

schools have changed a lot since my schooldays in the sixties - I dont ever remember being asked for money for charity although the school choir did take part in charity events, but that was in our free time. we didnt have non-uniform days or even a school fete! our one major event was sports day! and the parents didnt even have to buy a raffle ticket. mine wouldnt have anyway! I honestly dont think I was deprived in any way either - school wasnt fun wasnt meant to be and i think its great that the teachers try so much harder these days to MAKE learning fun. but i dont think all the frills and trips and jungle gyms etc add much value to the school experience. quite the opposite! just hope that this round of school leavers dont expect the workplace to such a fun experience as school!

Lots of things are not compulsory, they are offered so that those who want them can - like school photos, book fairs, trips abroad.

School day trips and charity days should be encouraged, lots of parents dont teach their children about charity and many dont do daytrips. The fairs are a fun day, nobody has to go.

I'm very glad schools have changed, children spend a great deal of their childhood at school so it should have fun things as well as formal learning - after all they are children not adults in a workplace.

I find its usually the same people who do the PTA, I am always surprised to see such little involvement by parents - many, like this post shows, moan about the fundraising but dont mind little Johnny playing with the new playground toys or enjoying the easter egg hunt.

jinglebelle_2

If you think it's unfair then don't send anything. What the worst that would happen if a child didn't bring money or an item? They could hardly send the child home or punish him.

Gingham_Ribbon

missmontana wrote: »

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

That's the best way to get your opinion heard. Decisions are made by people who show up.