My kindergartener has been in school about 6 weeks.
In that time, we have gotten repeated solicitations for 3 different school fundraising campaigns and one for a community group.
But the one that really frustrated me was the request for my 5-year old to sell things for the annual school fundraiser. He was sent home with two glossy catalogs full of overpriced wrapping paper, cookie dough, and knickknacks and a sheet of instructions on how and when to collect the money from family and friends.
Now, before I get lots of angry comments from parent groups, let me say this: I know that our schools are grossly underfunded. I know that these fundraisers provide the means for the schools to pay for everything from cultural activities to technology to books.
And I know that there are lessons to be learned in showing a child how to sell things, collect money, and distribute the items.
But these kids are five. Let’s be real. How much of this work will the parents end up doing for this fundraiser? I’m willing to bet most of it.
And I’m not making my 5-year-old guilt my friends and family (many of whom are unemployed or underemployed) into buying overpriced stuff they don’t need (and can’t afford) so that some company can take 60 percent of the sales.
It’s not worth it.
Instead, I will be writing a check to my school – a check that they will be able to use 100 percent on anything they want. And I will continue to volunteer my time and donate other items the school needs as often as I can.
While I won’t be teaching my son sales skills (at least not yet), I will be teaching him to question where the money goes in these fundraisers, to determine what is the best way to help.
Please join me in this quest to end ridiculous school fundraisers in which we sell things no one really wants to buy for ridiculous prices and lackluster results.
Encourage your school’s parent-teacher associations to think of new ways to fundraise that don’t involve selling something.
I hear you! Our school stopped with the wrapping paper/food stuff and now just does a Walk-a-thon. We pledge the kids – the goal is $25 a person, so that is what we (the parents) pledge our kid, and we ask only the Grandparents to pledge and that is because they both said they wanted to. The kids do something (walk) on school time and this year it raised $23,000 for the school. It is still a bit of a pain, but a better solution over all, in my opinion.
MIght as well get use to it.They were doing it 50 yrs ago when I was in school,25 yrs ago when my kids were in school,and now. And most of the time the money is going for extra things the school wants,not for acedemic things. It wouldn’t be so bad if the things werren’t way overpriced.
Sales skill for 5-year-olds. Huh. I’d send a note with those checks saying “my kid will sell when those in charge show a little awareness of donor fatigue and supply/demand economics”. That stuff is 1/4 the price in every supermarket and drug store around.
I recall doing just ONE fundraiser ever – for my 8th grade class trip, 1984. It was a great product at a great price – a small carton of Valencia oranges or grapefruit less than 5 days off their Florida vines. Perhaps not so good for advocates of buying local, but it was cheaper than Harry & David and healthy/tasty.
I got you beat. Just got same said flyer for a PRE-K kid 4 years old. *Child can’t even read.* I never make my kids participate. I just write a check. And then, like you said, volunteer in other ways.
that’s what I do .. send a check instead
I totally agree. I would rather make a monetary contribution that they
get 100% of.
What makes me really angry is how they get the kids all excited about a prize they might win for selling items.
I agree!
A couple of entrepreneurs in our city came up with a NEW way to raise funds for schools that doesn’t involve selling overpriced merchandise or kids traipsing around the neighborhood. It’s like group-buying sites that give 50% or more discounts to local businesses. Anyone can purchase them, no one has to “sell” them, and the schools get a percentage of the proceeds. (The website is http://www.fundsforschools.biz/minisite/wichitaffs if you’re interested. They’re local for now, but I hope the idea gets picked up around the country!)
It’s still very new, but I hope it catches on because I’ve always felt “trapped” by the usual fundraisers: I felt guilty if I said my child couldn’t participate; I felt guiltier still if someone we knew actually *paid* too much for the stuff they were selling!
I’ve been opposed to school fundraisers since 5th grade when I was required to sit out a game of kickball due to my *failure* to sell any wrapping paper. Yup, I was punished for not guilting my parents into buying overpriced crap. And I really don’t think schools are underfunded in most cases. I think they mismanage their $$ and spend it on extras. One room schoolhouses taught subjects like Latin and philosophy to elementary school kids with wooden desks, chalkboards, & books. That’s it. Our kids now have tons more *stuff* but are coming out learning less. More $ for more stuff is NOT the answer to our nation’s educational woes, IMO.
Our last school fundraiser paid for Smart Boards for the classrooms. I know that they are great for the teachers – but what is wrong with the white boards in the classroom. Teachers have the latest technology thanks to all of the $8 a roll gift wrap.
Even better is the constant bombarding of “Scholastic Book” sales….2 book fairs/year, and so far (in 6 wks), 2 booklets filled with books to order to benefit each child’s classroom in some way. Each classroom gets taken down to the book fair during school hours, and the kids come home with a list of books they would “like” to purchase. My boys LOVE to read, and it’s a quality my husband and I want to support/encourage in every way…making it very difficult to explain to our children why we just can’t buy every book that looks good. I think appealing to the kids is an even worse tactic….puts the parents in a very difficult position!!!
My son’s school does one major fundraiser for the whole year. They have the students
get pledges for reading. You don’t have to go around selling stuff to your neighbors. We just asked the grandparents for a small pledge, and my sister wanted to pledge. That’s it. The prizes are passes for the book fair, reading t-shirts, and pencils. Good way to get the kids into the habit of reading right at the beginning of the school year, and it makes a little extra money for the school.
The school also does things like boxtops, school night at the local fast food place, and gift card sales. All these are optional.
I’ve got this on my list of things to ask about when I visit/tour the school where my daughter will start kindergarten next year. Along with “how many extra fees should I expect throughout the year for field trips, etc.”? I don’t like the overpriced fundraisers, and I don’t like getting hit it up with surprise fees.
I agree about getting the kids hyped about the prizes. Grrr! And what about the instruction time lost for the assemblies to get them hyped. The karate school was bad about this too. Getting the kids all excited about the special program that cost an extra $25/kid. We constantly had to be the bad guys.
I am a teacher and I love this post. Great perspective and excellent solution!
Great post! And I’m sad to say it’s not just in the USA. Our (then 4-year-old) son was enrolled in a private expat school in Dubai last year (no public schools provided for expats). Despite the outrageously high tuition fees we also had a hefty medical fee, uniform fees ($50 for a pair of shorts?!) and then there were the “fundraising” fees. . . wear-your-own-clothes to school day, but by the way, that will be $10 or you have to wear your uniform! I was so angry I nearly kept him home from school that day. Despite parent protests, this same scenario occurred nearly a dozen times throughout the year! Needless to say, he doesn’t attend that school anymore. One local expat school does something I like–they have a yearly craft/flee market/fair. It’s optional to participate or attend; participants pay a small fee to have a table to sell their crafts or goodies (or used toys/books/etc.) while attendees pay a small fee to enter and browse. The fees go to the school, while the craftspeople get to earn a little money and local families get to buy a wonderful assortment of international crafts and goodies! It’s a win win win. The fees are small, but they sure add up as this has become a popular local venue–especially since it is so hard to find things like cards and books over here.
I agree with the person that said our schools mismanage the money they are given.Our school also installed smart boards in every room this year.I wondered why we didn’t have to buy dry erase markers then I found out when they held open house.New books for the children would have been more practical but now the fundraisers have started to supply those.
I agree, that stuff in those catalogs are crap. Writing a check straight out is a much better idea, grandparents might even be willing to chip in a bit instead of buying from the catalog. Good post, good idea, makes sense.
I teach band, and for the past two years we have tried to not do the traditional fundraisers because we know how fundraiser-ed out everyone gets. We explained this to the parents and asked for donations, however only a couple people donated. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to go back to regular fundraisers even though we don’t want to :(
Isn’t it terrible? My kindergarten son just joined Cub Scouts and they are making everyone participate in a popcorn sale..they are selling $18 bags of caramel corn. Seriously. The worst part is that in addition to asking us to hawk it to our friends and family they made each boy sign up for at least one 2 hour slot selling outside of a convenient store. My son is super-shy and felt so uncomfortable talking to strangers asking for their money. Awkward! They also suggested we go door to door which I did say no to because I cannot advocate such an unsafe practice.
There are a lot of parents who really count on the fundraisers because they can’t just write a check. They like the ability to sell to others to lessen the burden on themselves.
Regarding your comment TopazTood, most schools offer fundraising drives of some sort as well as Scholastic book fairs and student photos. These books and services are also sold at inflated prices to pay money back to the schools. Often times, these fundraisers are meant to lessen the fees charged to you. There are limits to what schools can require of parents financially so often times these activities cover the cost of fees that would otherwise be passed on if that makes sense.
Here’s a different ‘wrinkle’ from a Tax Professional. If you buy a Widget for $20-, but only $10- goes to the school then you can only legally claim a $10- donation. HOWEVER, if you simply write a $20- check to the school you can take THE WHOLE TWENTY BUCKS!
Do the math for yourself.
Mike Womack, Sr. Partner
Zero Degrees Tax LLP
Moore, OK