Chris

I understand that fundraising is a way necessary to provide extra activities for our children but I disagree on how they are promoted to my children.  My children came home from school yesterday all excited about selling for their fundraiser.  They preceded to go to their neighbors and try to sell the overpriced items.
They were all turned down.  They came back disappointed.  Then my 7 year old angel told me that they would only have to sell 150 items (the lowest priced item is $7.00) to win a TV.  When I told her that  150 was a very lofty goal, she broke down in tears.  They were also told that if they go 10 addresses for a magazine sales list they could get a funky pair of glasses.  Why do this when the booklet they came home with to sell the items already has the magazines listed in it? Since I don't feel comfortable in giving out my friends and families names and addresses I didn't have them or me fill it out. This made both my youngest son and daughter were upset  because they wanted the glasses. I spent the night trying to calm them down, and myself too!  I am so angry at the school.  The money will go to activities like pumpkin decorating night (making cheap decorations) These are very fun activities for the family but not essential to the learning process.  I just feel like they are  setting up the students with unrealistic expectations.

In today's day and age it is the parents that do most of the selling to their friends, neighbors, and families.  Students coming from smaller familes, have parents that do not work in large workplaces, and are on a limited income are at a dissadvantage.  Although the school would make less selling candy bars, lollipops or cookies, the student would be more successful. It they are going to hype up the children to win prizes let's make the goal attainable to the students and not guilt parents into selling the items at their workplace, or to sell overly priced items to family and friends.

So this is what I did.  I wrote a letter to the school's principal and my children's teachers.    I sent a $100.00 check to the PTO and requested that my children not attend anymore events related to this fundraiser.  I am not against any fundraiser but on how they present them to my young and vulnerable children. I am a member of this PTO and my volunteer time.