School Non Uniform Days - Whatever next?

mpython

How many non Uniform days do your kids have at school in a year? With 3 kids these compulsory 'donation' days mount up. I didn't mind too much when they were at primary school as the occasional day was 'cakes for the summer fare' or 'a bottle for the tombola'.

However, things have changed now my eldest two are at Secondary School. In the newletter there's another non-uniform day next week but this time its 'old mobiles', no ifs, no buts, no cash alternative, if my kids want to go to school dressed like their mates they have to bring in an old mobile phone.

It wouldn't be so bad except I've already given my old mobile to other charities before Christmas.

I wonder what they'll ask for next non-uniform day?

Gosh, that feels good to get that off my chest!

woohoo_postingid

Not many kids will do that I wouldn't have thought.
You could always buy a tesco value normal landline, unplug the cables and just take the handset in - say it is an 80's model and is really old.

Idiophreak

that's the lamest thing I've ever heard.

I don't have an old mobile and I'm 23! Hows an 11 yo sposed to have one?

On the other hand, I can remember what it was like going to non uni day in uniform. It sucked.

superscaper

That's ridiculous. I don't even have an old mobile. Had my current mobile years. I hate the whole compulsory charity thing. I'd basically tell the school to get lost.

pboae

Have a look on ebay, you can often pick up broken phones for a few quid. Sometimes you can get a job lot of 5 or more phones, and then they can sell the extras to their friends and make the money back.

ckerrd

Seems a daft idea, presumably well meant.

I think my son has 1 non-uniform day a year.

pboae

Just found this auction could be perfect!


EDIT: this seller has a couple of job lots as well.

Darksun

That's ridiculous. £1 for Children in Need or whatever is fair enough, but how can a family be expected to have 3 old mobile phones lying around?

superscaper

Darksun wrote:

That's ridiculous. £1 for Children in Need or whatever is fair enough, but how can a family be expected to have 3 old mobile phones lying around?

And depending on the phones that can be a couple hundred quids worth at least. All the suggestions of buying an old phone to donate may keep the status quo but to me seems like it defeats the whole point of a charity donation and why put yourself through the effort of something that's supposed to be voluntary anyway.

Bit like Idiophreak, I'm nearly 27 and I've only had two mobiles in my entire life, so "expecting" kids to have old mobiles is very unreasonable.

Kizzy001

Call the local LEA and ask them what the school is trying to acheive by this ?

You can also phone the school before hand tell them that you do not have an old mobile phone to "donate" and that your child will still be taking part in the non uniform day as you do not want him to feel any different on the day.

I remeber whaen i was at school and it was non uniform day, the teachers forced you to pay in the mornings. I thought even then that it was unfair.

eyelinerprincess

That's stupid. How can you be expected to conjure mobiles from thin air?