Children coerced into fundraisers

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AlanFromWichita

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Years ago the parents of our school were asked by vote, if they would like their children to continue having fundraisers, or if they would prefer paying a $50/year fee to the school and get rid of all that nonsense. The vote was for the fee.

Of course, that migrated into now we have the fee and fundraisers are still creeping back into vogue. Now there is even a major annual fundraiser, and families get to pay a $20 fee to provide supplies for that fundraiser!

This is the same thing that happens when the government is going to “eliminate” or “reduce” one tax on lieue of another; they both end up going up.

Recently, though, it has reached a new level. The kids often get these deals where they are supposed to send 10 solicitations for magazines to 10 people, not all school friends etc. and my eighth grader came home with such a package to send out and if she did NOT cough up 10 “convincing” names and mail them, she would get a DEMERIT.

I think that fundraisers are an insult to God and His plan for stewardship. I think it is horrible that children as asked, under threat of disciplinary action, to be little annoying salespeople. If they want to raise money for a field trip and replace their own funds or something, I could almost put up with it. For various reasons, I will not be bringing this issue to light at our home parish any time soon so I thought I’d see what’s up elsewhere in the world of “coerced stewardship” by a captive (read that: child slaves) populace.

We had to call our relatives and explain it’s OK for them not to take a magazine because it makes it sound like they have to buy magazines or they will fail to help out the children. They had admitted they wanted to “support” the children but really didn’t want any of the products. The WHOLE THING is based on GUILT.

Alan
 
1.) I would be in the principal’s office, asking questions in as polite a manner as I could muster.
2.) I would volunteer to run on any and every committee that promotes this kind of stuff. Once on such committee(s), I would squash such action as quickly as it sprang up.
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
1.) I would be in the principal’s office, asking questions in as polite a manner as I could muster.
2.) I would volunteer to run on any and every committee that promotes this kind of stuff. Once on such committee(s), I would squash such action as quickly as it sprang up.
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I’m glad you agree.

For eight years I used to be the chair of the committee that does these things and we did squash them. Now due to the political situation I have much less credibility.

We did not mind a fundraiser that was also a fun event. For example, on early dismissal days there are skating parties at Skate East that the kids have a lot of fun and it brings in a couple hundred dollars over several parties – but fundraising is a side-effect. Now it’s become just plain gratuitous.

Also I was VP of parish council, and active member of the “real” stewardship committee and I was known among the members as one of the greatest “tithers.” Five years ago I lost my job and took on a rather nasty bout with mental illness, so I’ve been paying a small amount which unfortunately makes me speak now with zero credibility because if I say anything now they can “get back” at my kids too easily because according to them, they are doing me a favor because High School tuition and grade school costs are much more than what I pay. These “they” people are the power-mongers in the parish who have arguably more say-so than even the pastor, who himself is lukewarm in understanding of the diocesan stewardship policy, which the parish once paid me to learn and bring back to them but then when it involved changes all I got was mocking and scorn except by the council president, who unfortunately moved out of the parish at a critical time. Yes, they are paying High School tuition for our children and we are playing it exactly as we are “supposed” to – including groveling and sucking up and patiently listening to threats and hand-wringing. If my kids didn’t win all the scholastic awards they do, then they would have quit paying for them as they made it clear, but not because of breach of contract on our part! This is 20 years after we’ve “officially” gone to stewardship.

If anybody from my home parish sees this and takes exception to or is surprised by it, then please, please, call me and I will discuss the details of what the diocese stewardship plan really is and how we as a parish can implement it. I am not bitter any more, but very frustrated and now since I don’t talk with enough money my very idea$ which I was taught by the stewardship expert Monsignor McGread at St. Francis have been silenced.

Alan
 
Alan is right this comes down to the core issue of stewardship. the mentality that Catholic schools are a given and essential part of parish life has vanished, no wonder Catholic culture is disappearing and most parishes are Sunday-Mass-weddings-funerals-sacraments only places. Former bishop forbade all fundraising, bingo, vegas nights, fall festivals etc. which had fundraising as their primary purpose. They are permitted as community building events but parishes must implement stewardship programs to fund their operations. The parishes most committed to tithing have schools which are free to all parishioners. It can be done but it must come from the leadership.
 
When I was in grade school we were expected to go out and sell stuff door-to-door for fundraisers----candy one year, then popcorn, then light bulbs…

I despised it. I finally pitched the mother of all fits and refused to do it any more, and what happened after that was, I sold a few items to my close relatives, and my parents bought the rest until my “quota” was met.

Talk about Sovietization—“You must meet quota, or you will recieve visit from Commissar, da?”
 
Alan, I grew up in a diocese right next to yours. 🙂 The ridiculous “fundraising with threats attached” has been going on since I was a little tyke in school. I’m surprised they still impose magazine sales upon kids when the majority of magazines are online and can be read at least partially for free.

I remember being in seventh grade and my parents refused to let me solicit anymore family members or friends. My class (small school–only 28 kids in one classroom) was full of the PTA parents’ kids and so sales were going really well among my classmates. We won the school-wide competition and were rewarded with a pizza party. However, me and three other students whose parents hadn’t let them participate were asked to come to the front of the classroom and sit on the floor eating peanut butter and jellies while the rest of our classmates devoured Pizza Hut pizzas. I could understand not being ‘rewarded’ for participating, but being singled out and asked to go sit on the floor away from all our friends and practically put on display…it was just such a sad and strange experience. Why couldn’t I have eaten a peanut butter and jelly sitting next to my friends at our desks?? Were they that worried one of us would snag an undeserved piece of pizza??

In high school, the ridiculousness continued, but more people opted out. I remember my school wouldn’t pay for air conditioning throughout the building, but they were so proud of installing auto-flushes (that rarely worked correctly) in every bathroom…I remember a kid on the school newspaper writing a piece about “My Family Will Not Fund Our Toilet Flushing”…funny stuff.
 
Big Pet Peeve of mine, thanks for bringing this topic up!

I’ve hated this ever since Camp Fire Girls, when I had to sell candy. I was very shy and my mother never helped me. This was back in the 60’s and she would just turn me loose in the neighborhood, going door to door. All the other girls sold a lot more than me, I barely was able to do my minimum quota. I found out later that their parents had done most of the selling.

The schoools here do all sorts of stupid, timewasting gimmicks. They sell a bunch of second rate trash at Christmas time from a catalogue. The kid who sells the most (read, their mother cons the most of her co-workers into buying the trash) gets a prize. I tell my kids ‘forget it, I don’t want to even look at that stupid catalogue’. I need to educate them to be wise consumers.

I would rather that the schools would just ask for donations instead of wasting everyone’s valuable time. A lot of these fundraisers, such as bake sales and candy sales, require a lot of investment, and sell unhealthy and fattening foods which no one needs.

Another aspect of it that drives me nuts is when my friends try and get me to buy the stuff. I have a good friend who really gets into fundraising and is always peddling stuff to me. It puts me on the spot and I don’t like it.

Thanks for listening.
 
Our homeschool doesn’t have fundraisers 🙂

I can remember when the local public school kids would come door to door fundraising right after school started. I guess they loved it so much they could hardly wait.

The bribery is nuts. Dd’s friend went on and on once about the great party they would have if her class sold the most stuff. (Public education is not free.)

In the case of private schools, I suppose they have to do something to make ends meet. Not everyone tithes to the parish. I’d rather have the option of an enjoyable family fundraiser (skating night ect) than kids going door to door. —KCT
 
Big pet peeve of mine, too. My kids attend public schools and the fundraising efforts aren’t any better there. I would rather donate a set amount each year rather than have these fundraisers. Our PTSA runs most if not all of the fundraisers at the elementary school, and they choose the same ones over and over, and convince the kids that they will sell hundreds of dollars of stuff, and be “rewarded” according to their sales scale. The “rewards” for the high end of sales are things like stereos or other not-so-bad items, however, the “rewards” on the way up the scale are nothing but junk items. Of course the kids think these are great. I just don’t get into the fundraisers, sad, as I understand where the funds are used. Most times, though, the fundraisers are done for only a week or two, and usually fall between paydays, which for those of us living paycheck to paycheck, is pretty difficult to just drop on a whim because the school decides to do its fundraiser. Another problem with fundraisers for my daughter is that we have no family here, and my friends also have kids doing the same fundraiser.

I won’t even go into the fundraiser issue with my son’s band booster group. That was the most hostile issue ever presented, and the board members took offense, personally, as well as “professionally” to those not participating in the biggest, most depended upon fundraiser. (I was one who REFUSED to help in this one, but actively participated in many many others–but did they see that…NO!)
 
Somehow I didn’t think I was alone.

When I bring these things up to the authorities I feel alone.

Maybe we need grassroots awareness campaign, starting here! We can identify and teach the signs of true stewardship attitudes and practices. When certain few people who get to be the “can-do” people in the parish and whose opinions hold sway over all other ostensible authorities – some who fear neither God nor man – we will be able to recognize, report on, and compile these things. I’m not looking for a target list of parishes, but fodder for our own document on stewardship from a “worm’s eye” view. The religious leaders, by and large, are being fed “sunshine” stories by these people, and anybody who has a problem with it ends up making waves.

Once I heard Ted Nugent on a radio talk show say, “if you ain’t making waves, then you ain’t paddling.”

The problem is the school parents have automatic disadvantage because they are targeted and entire policies are written so that if parents become hassles to the school their kids will be punished or removed from the school. Therefore, unless they are very wealthy or particularly “in favor individuals” they hold little sway. Progress is made only as in a huge bureaucracy, using political techniques. Those who wish to restore the system to the documented policy are seen as troublemakers and promptly dispatched.

Alan
 
I hate, hate , HATE school fundraisers. I would rather give the kid $10 bucks for their school than waste money on some gizmo or gadget so they can make 10% on the dollar (how much will your kid’s school get?)

They are tacky, annoying and the companies use kids, schools and parents for profit. IT is sickening and believe it or not one of the top 20 reasons why we homeschool.

I would complain, possibly even get list of parents who would rather pay a fee to the school, or give up one of the more worthless programs, than sell more junk.

I feel your pain!
 
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AlanFromWichita:
Somehow I didn’t think I was alone.

When I bring these things up to the authorities I feel alone.

Maybe we need grassroots awareness campaign, starting here! We can identify and teach the signs of true stewardship attitudes and practices. When certain few people who get to be the “can-do” people in the parish and whose opinions hold sway over all other ostensible authorities – some who fear neither God nor man – we will be able to recognize, report on, and compile these things. I’m not looking for a target list of parishes, but fodder for our own document on stewardship from a “worm’s eye” view. The religious leaders, by and large, are being fed “sunshine” stories by these people, and anybody who has a problem with it ends up making waves.

Once I heard Ted Nugent on a radio talk show say, “if you ain’t making waves, then you ain’t paddling.”

The problem is the school parents have automatic disadvantage because they are targeted and entire policies are written so that if parents become hassles to the school their kids will be punished or removed from the school. Therefore, unless they are very wealthy or particularly “in favor individuals” they hold little sway. Progress is made only as in a huge bureaucracy, using political techniques. Those who wish to restore the system to the documented policy are seen as troublemakers and promptly dispatched.

Alan
Click to expand...
YOU ARE RIGHT. These companies use parents kids and schools to sell their junk and pay them chump change. No salesman would work for such a meager amount of money. How much does this particular company give to the school? How overpriced are their items to pay for it.
 
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Peace-bwu:
I hate, hate , HATE school fundraisers. I would rather give the kid $10 bucks for their school than waste money on some gizmo or gadget so they can make 10% on the dollar (how much will your kid’s school get?)

They are tacky, annoying and the companies use kids, schools and parents for profit. IT is sickening and believe it or not one of the top 20 reasons why we homeschool.

I would complain, possibly even get list of parents who would rather pay a fee to the school, or give up one of the more worthless programs, than sell more junk.

I feel your pain!
Click to expand...
You preach it, sista!

:amen:
 
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Peace-bwu:
I hate, hate , HATE school fundraisers. I would rather give the kid $10 bucks for their school than waste money on some gizmo or gadget so they can make 10% on the dollar (how much will your kid’s school get?)

They are tacky, annoying and the companies use kids, schools and parents for profit. IT is sickening and believe it or not one of the top 20 reasons why we homeschool.

I would complain, possibly even get list of parents who would rather pay a fee to the school, or give up one of the more worthless programs, than sell more junk.

I feel your pain!
Click to expand...
I agree too!!! Heck I’ll give them $20.00 not to send it home:D
 
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Peace-bwu:
I hate, hate , HATE school fundraisers. I would rather give the kid $10 bucks for their school than waste money on some gizmo or gadget so they can make 10% on the dollar (how much will your kid’s school get?)

They are tacky, annoying and the companies use kids, schools and parents for profit. IT is sickening and believe it or not one of the top 20 reasons why we homeschool.

I would complain, possibly even get list of parents who would rather pay a fee to the school, or give up one of the more worthless programs, than sell more junk.

I feel your pain!
Click to expand...
At the elementary school (even band boosters) it was asked of the parents if one wanted to pay an annual amount or have the fundraisers. Believe it or now, the fundraisers won out.
 
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auppie:
At the elementary school (even band boosters) it was asked of the parents if one wanted to pay an annual amount or have the fundraisers. Believe it or now, the fundraisers won out.
Click to expand...
Oh no. That means the brainwashing is gaining a generation. Once the parents become lemmings, there will be nobody left in the schools’ allowing industry to exploit its children.

What about a big class action against child labor? 😃 Makes me all-of-a-sudden appreciate liberals! Do you think we could get the ACLU activated for this one? :hmmm:

Alan
 
At my daughter’s hideously expensive private (Episcopal) grammar school, I always said that the exorbitant tuition was more than justified by the fact that they never once asked me (or DD) to sell a single candy bar.

Now the annual auction – that was different. A riot of good will with donated catering for the dinner, high priced admission tickets, and nifty auction items from box seats at a Rangers game to furniture painted and decorated by the kids . . . COOL!
But NO candy bars, magazines or chotschkis!
 
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AlanFromWichita:
Years ago the parents of our school were asked by vote, if they would like their children to continue having fundraisers, or if they would prefer paying a $50/year fee to the school and get rid of all that nonsense. The vote was for the fee.

Of course, that migrated into now we have the fee and fundraisers are still creeping back into vogue. Now there is even a major annual fundraiser, and families get to pay a $20 fee to provide supplies for that fundraiser!

This is the same thing that happens when the government is going to “eliminate” or “reduce” one tax on lieue of another; they both end up going up.

Recently, though, it has reached a new level. The kids often get these deals where they are supposed to send 10 solicitations for magazines to 10 people, not all school friends etc. and my eighth grader came home with such a package to send out and if she did NOT cough up 10 “convincing” names and mail them, she would get a DEMERIT.

I think that fundraisers are an insult to God and His plan for stewardship. I think it is horrible that children as asked, under threat of disciplinary action, to be little annoying salespeople. If they want to raise money for a field trip and replace their own funds or something, I could almost put up with it. For various reasons, I will not be bringing this issue to light at our home parish any time soon so I thought I’d see what’s up elsewhere in the world of “coerced stewardship” by a captive (read that: child slaves) populace.

We had to call our relatives and explain it’s OK for them not to take a magazine because it makes it sound like they have to buy magazines or they will fail to help out the children. They had admitted they wanted to “support” the children but really didn’t want any of the products. The WHOLE THING is based on GUILT.

Alan
Click to expand...
I couldn’t agree with you more… I have a couple other problems with the practice. First, there is the safety issue. I remember talking to a police officer about it, and he made it clear that no child of his was going to go door to door for donations–not in this age. My other problem is that it makes the children from poorer families feel frequently isolated. When we couldn’t afford Christmas goodies from my daughter’s school a number of years ago, she was the only one in the class not to “earn” the silly prizes they handed out. We see it for what it is, but kids just experience hurt feelings over that kind of thing.

Hint… Someone should tell the children to start applying for unemployment benefits once the fundraiser ends. It might have an interesting result!
 
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auppie:
At the elementary school (even band boosters) it was asked of the parents if one wanted to pay an annual amount or have the fundraisers. Believe it or now, the fundraisers won out.
Click to expand...
If this is a public school, it just goes to show that public education is not free. —KCT
 
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kaymart:
I agree too!!! Heck I’ll give them $20.00 not to send it home:D
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I have done this with chocolate and frozen pizzas. Told the principal she can do what she wants with the excess, even resell it or give it away as a prize, but PLEASE don’t send it to my house- and here’s what we would have sold minimum. Thanks.

I like stewardship better, though.
 
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