School fundraisers??

[teach1rusl]

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Ohhh...so much to comment on and so little time...lol.

Bare in mind that the 4000 a year per student (very high...much lower here) amount that is quoted pays for each schools' staff, text books, educational equipment, possibly desks, computers, busing....basically anything in or attached to that school. The district gets so much money to do it all, then divides it by how many students are enrolled total in the district to get the "per student spending", and dispurses among schools based on their enrollment.

Keep in mind, in poor districts many parents/families don't pay taxes. So taxpayers are "making up" for those who don't. Expressing no opinion here or ill intent, but public schools are required to provide education even to illegal aliens...more expense because then you need to hire ESL teachers. Students with special needs often get an assistant to help them...more money...and specialized equipment. So your (and my) tax money is really being spread thin. Sounds like a lot when you hear the number...but isn't really. Most teachers I know spend a LOT out of their own pockets.

The numbers are skewed. When parents get a "school report card" that tells how their childs' schools are doing, notice the teacher to student ratio looks pretty good... maybe 1:17. But you walk into any classroom and see 24 - 30 kids... They include any/all certified teachers, whether they have a classroom or not (art or music teachers, spec. ed teachers who only have 8 students, librarian, principal, etc.) in that ratio to make it sound good...at least in our area.

Lottery comment from earlier: TONS of the lottery money goes toward college programs, not elem. through high school.

Lastly...I HATED school fundraisers, both as a parent (pressure to buy) and as a teacher (always felt badly for those kids who had no parenting going on at home, so fundraising wasn't even on the list of priorities). Plus I've always taught in poor areas, so why are we asking our already poor parents to throw their money down on overpriced, cheap merchandise???

Whhheewww....got that out....

 

[teach1rusl]

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I wanted to scream "Can I get an AMEN!!??!!" lol Are there bad teachers out there? Darned tootin!!! Just like there are lousy bankers, construction workers, cops, financial advisors, etc., etc., etc. BUT...most teachers work their BUTTS off and truly try to do the best they can to help kids grow and advance. You great parents out there need to wake up and realize that many school districts, schools, and teachers are dealing with a large number of parents who AREN'T like you. They either are too ignorant (not stupid) to know how to help their kids in a positive way or they just plain don't seem to care. In their eyes it's the schools problem to "deal" with their kid. Where is the child and parent responsibility part of the teamwork of education??? Parents are the child's primary role model...thank you to those parents out there who take pride in being so.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I commented ealier on this thread about how this year I was simply making a donation to my son's class rather then buy this stuff I don't want or need. Well fine, because of that, since he didn't specifically sell a certain number of items he didn't get any of the little prizes most of the kids get. Even though the class gets all of my donation, not a percentage. What really got my goat was that this year a "VIP Pass" was given to the top sellers in each class. This includes things like: "Go to the front of the lunch line for the rest of the school year" and "Get Out of Homework" passes. They actually don't have to do certain assignments!! WHAT!!!!!!!!! You have got to be kidding me!!! It has gotten totally out of hand! I really am fine with donating to and supporting my kids classes, which I did, but this is ridiculous!
Sorry, long rant!

 

[warmfuzzies]

Quote:
Ohhh...so much to comment on and so little time...lol.

Bare in mind that the 4000 a year per student (very high...much lower here) amount that is quoted pays for each schools' staff, text books, educational equipment, possibly desks, computers, busing....basically anything in or attached to that school. The district gets so much money to do it all, then divides it by how many students are enrolled total in the district to get the "per student spending", and dispurses among schools based on their enrollment.

Keep in mind, in poor districts many parents/families don't pay taxes. So taxpayers are "making up" for those who don't. Expressing no opinion here or ill intent, but public schools are required to provide education even to illegal aliens...more expense because then you need to hire ESL teachers. Students with special needs often get an assistant to help them...more money...and specialized equipment. So your (and my) tax money is really being spread thin. Sounds like a lot when you hear the number...but isn't really. Most teachers I know spend a LOT out of their own pockets.

The numbers are skewed. When parents get a "school report card" that tells how their childs' schools are doing, notice the teacher to student ratio looks pretty good... maybe 1:17. But you walk into any classroom and see 24 - 30 kids... They include any/all certified teachers, whether they have a classroom or not (art or music teachers, spec. ed teachers who only have 8 students, librarian, principal, etc.) in that ratio to make it sound good...at least in our area.

Lottery comment from earlier: TONS of the lottery money goes toward college programs, not elem. through high school.

Lastly...I HATED school fundraisers, both as a parent (pressure to buy) and as a teacher (always felt badly for those kids who had no parenting going on at home, so fundraising wasn't even on the list of priorities). Plus I've always taught in poor areas, so why are we asking our already poor parents to throw their money down on overpriced, cheap merchandise???

Whhheewww....got that out....

I agree with you, I just know there is a huge amount of money going to things that dont really enhance education. Our country used to have a 99-100% literacy rate, when they were mostly self taught with a small amount of help. And that was also at a time when the 'literact rate' was judged at a standard so high few of us could reach it now.

I never blame the teachers, they are as much victims as the pupils. We are all trying to fix a system that cannot work, simply by virtue of it being a one-size-fits-all system.

 

[Boyd]

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My biggest thing with no child left behind is I have two kids from different districts who before this law happened, would have been held back.... but since they are in high school, no.....

Here's on example
my junior, Kiddo only earned 2 credits in high school before they were placed at my house. They can't repeat the 10th grade for credit, they don't hold kids back anymore. The kiddo was placed with me because of bad parenting.

Now the kiddo has to go to school from 6:30am till 5:30pm...... regular school, computer lab after school for 3 hours, then another 3 hours at home on online school. Just so he can graduate with credit.

I agree, the parents should be held responsible, and in this case they were!!! they lost their kids, but there should be ABSOLUTELY NO SANE REASON to allow a kid with an 8th grade education who's earned almost NO credit to go on to the next grade. The kid isn't ready.

There are a million factors here, but the districts do fail. And yes, I do go to meetings, I've been face to face with many a teacher trying to figure out what I need to do to get these kids cought up.

If the teacher is just allowing the students to wallow in the classroom, they need to alert the parents, that doesnt work, alert the counselor, if that doesnt work, CPS.

I am also a mandatory reporter just like any other public servant and I will not shirk my duty. that's how it is supposed to work.. in michigan.

 

[Boyd]

Ok teachers, yes or no..... if you thought there was any abuse or neglect going on would you report it?

 

[warmfuzzies]

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29%!!! Wow. And I just read that 80% of people in prison cant read well enough to fill out basic employment forms. Sounds like our schools are filling our prisons.

I think school fund raisers teach children that you dont have to take responsibility for yourself of our projects, but you should just get someone else to do it for you. What an example to be put out by 'educators'.

In defense of educators, some of this is the fault of parents also. I think that there is enough blame to go around.

I dont blame the teachers OR the parents, they were schooled by the same system the kids are in now. The creativity, individual thinking and the ability to teach ones self are all crippled in a system that segregates children into age groups, and labels them as 'average', 'gifted' or 'learning impared'.

OK off my soap box. Just know I think teachers are awesome, and they deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. They are working hard to make the best out of a unworkable situation.

 

[erthymom2]

I had a bumper sticker on my older truck :
"Someday I hope the military has to hold a bake sale for bombs - just like my kid's school has to do for books."
I was flipped off and honked at when I had that on my bumper!

 

[chickeypoo]

i hate fundraisers lol. I rarely do it. I did buy from a friend.. but only a couple mags that i wanted. so.. i guess i just dont like feeling pressured to do it. i normally let my oldest do it but only then to get the first thing that we can ya know? the crap in them is normally junk and high priced or the pics make them look nicer than they really are. i had that happen to a friend who ordered from me. ugh. said votives. weren't votives but tea lights. tiny little candles. from then on i didn't bring them to work really. I think it's BS making the kids have to work to get books or anything like that. I feel really strongly against these fundraisers. the ones in my school were really cheesey(for my DD ) but my friends DD was able to get a trip to WI dells last year. maybe if my kids were able to win something like that id be more willing to do it.. but not when it's a cheesey toy or something.
Sue

 

[Whispering Winds]

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Same here. Almost $50 for a big pack. I bought the class picture and told DS that we would do the small package in the Spring. It's cheaper to go to WM or K-Mart and do their special package anyway.