School Fundraisers: Are They Getting Out of Control?
We all know that everything costs money. Our schools need a good financial backing to continuously provide a high level of education to our children. The financial support from families and the community is imperative for all school districts.
I do support some of the fundraisers at my children’s school. In fact, I even have enjoyed participating together with my kids on a worthwhile project. I simply am concerned with the frequency of such fundraisers within my local district.
My three school aged children, attend classes in the Eaton Community School District, in Ohio. Within the first nine days of the school year, they brought home two fundraising packages to sell to family and friends. This really alarmed me. The district was just completing school bus safety when they sent out fundraising opportunity number two.
One of my daughter’s are in the third grade this year. Her second week of class, she still has not received a list of spelling words. On the other hand, she had brought home a list of foods to purchase through her school, and entertainment books to sell to family and friends.
It is the beginning of the school year. We all have just spent a good deal of money for school supplies, clothes, and student fees. Is this really the best time to present a fundraiser?
Of course the chosen item to sell first was a $25 entertainment book. This coupon filled book will save us bundles of cash at our local restaurants, video rental stores, etc. I am sure that for many families this is a wonderful opportunity, but I saw it as a quick $25 spent, to go spend more money somewhere else.
If books are what Eaton Community Schools wants to sell, then maybe they should have considered children’s books. Start the year off right by encouraging reading with a new book for the kids, not an entertainment book with coupons to King’s Island amusement park.
My kids are raised to help others whenever possible, so certainly they all intend to support the school. I was very pleased to see their interest, yet I would have hoped that interest would have been redirected, with the support of the district, towards their studies.
The three R’s must now include Reading, Writing, and Retail. The children of today are given every opportunity to fine tune their skills as a sales rep. Of course, with their budding sales experience, they are certainly disappointed not to get the sale. Or even worse, parents tell the kids that they are not permitted to participate in the particular event. At that time, the child feels torn between parents’ and teacher authority.
My six year old came home from school with his fundraiser packet. I explained that we will not be selling at this time, and he tells me that his teacher told him to. I know parents make the final call whether or not to participate, but I would have preferred to begin the school year as a united front with his teacher.
The encouragement of responsibility from the school is remarkable. I love to see that the children are learning to take care of their property and be respectful to others, but I an concerned about the parents’ financial responsibilities for the money making project. Each child was given an entertainment book to show to customers. They were instructed to give it to their last customer and collect the $25.
Kids will be kids. Things get lost or torn up. What happens if an entertainment book becomes ruined during the bus trip home from school? Is the parents’ responsible for the item even though it was not requested or necessary? For me, I chose not to have my children involved this year. I theoretically could have been responsible for $75 worth of entertainment books between my three school aged children. I did not even know, or want them, coming home with my kids.
Let’s get back to basics. Minimizing the fundraisers will keep kids on track, allowing more time and attention to studies. Children have many responsibilities involved with their education these days. Let us not add to them by expecting the youngsters to fund their education.
