School Fundraisers: Just Say No to the Sales Push

I agree whole heartedly!! I also would rather donate directly to the school and intend to talk to the administration about this. I am concerned about the kids who's parents will not or cannot afford to donate. Perhaps rewards need to be based on a points system and the kids who do not contribute can earn rewards by helping organize the distribution. Federal and state funding used to be sufficient to fund the schools but like everything in goverment, most school districts have become top heavy and wasteful. I think it behoves us all to find some means of helping schools, whether it be volunteering, direct donating or serving on the school board.

Would you believe my grandchildrens school is actually giving out demerits if they dont sell at least one item. I have 4 grandchildren in that school....The cookie dough is $15 each. I don't believe is punishing the kids for not selling. My son said he is asking someone to buy one item each from each child just so they don't get the demerit

Even worse than all of the fundraisers, to me the biggest rip off is school pictures! Yes, we can opt for a small lower priced package, but to get enough pictures for the whole family and for the kids to share with their friends means a $50 or higher package. When those lousy (always after PE) pictures come back, more often than not, the kids are horrified and dont want anyone to see them. I have a whole drawer full of unused, unwanted, and poorly taken school pictures of my kids. If the PTA really wants to make some money, have the kids create a backdrop as an art project, and have a parent with a digital camera take the pictures, buy some photo paper and ink and print them up.

Our PTA did a "bakeless bake sale" annually at the time we paid our membership. It required no selling worthless junk to relatives or neighbors and worked very well.

Please say NO, as a former teacher we were made to feel the guilt. Teachers do not like the trouble that comes with no sales, kids feeling bad becase mom and dad cannot buy the items. Lets let Obama spend more money and we will do away with these sale for education pressure. Now as grandparents we start all over.

I agree with the issues you present with the many fundraisers promoted by schools. However, I agree even more so with the fact that many schools are scrambling for funds to support programs that would be cut without them. If a family has the personal funds to "write a check" to the school in lieu of fundraising, great! But what about options for families that are struggling themselves and need other opportunities to help support their school? Ideas??

My son's elementary has been doing this for years - no fundraisers - just donations. We raise more this way than doing 3-4 fundraisers a year, and countless hours are put to better use.

I like the check to the school idea. I, too, hated asking my family, friends, and co-workers to buy junk on behalf of my son over and over again so I would purchase the required amount for my son to reach his goal and put down the names of my friends so it would look as if we had lots of sales. Giving the same amount directly to the school who would keep 100% of it makes a lot more sense.

Although having your children sell things may seem distasteful, they are necessary to fund the extras they receive at the school. Can you imagine the uproar that would ensue if we were to ask for cash donations versus having a sale? Plus we would only end up with about $50. Though it it your choice - and certainly a very good idea if you don't want your kids hitting up the relatives, I think knocking fundraisers in general is a bad idea. I can tell from reading the posts that you have just given some parents a free pass to not support their schools. And these are the same parents that will complain when things get cut because of lack of funding.

We did this for our kids all the way through school. I refused to participate in something that viewed presisely as you describe it here. If my kids asked, we would send money for whatever was reasonable (reasonable defined by their mother and me) and sent the order forms for all the crap back blank.