What happened to candy and magazines?!

[Prudence]

My parents wouldn't let us sell things when we were in school. Something about no kids of theirs going door-to-door like beggars, bothering the neighbors. Whenever this came up, they just wrote the school a big fat check and called it a day.

What still bugs me is that the money my parents gave was outright gain for the school. And if you sorted out how many subscriptions/candy bars it was equal to, we'd have been top sellers. But it didn't count worth a hoot because we weren't "team players."

I am still against schools pimping out their kids like this. I hate that they make it a damn competition. How much money do they waste on "prizes"? And goodness knows what school needs is more ways to ostracize groups of people. And everyone knew the rich kids' parents just took the forms into work and the kids didn't "do" anything.

Now, I do consider student organizations to be a separate case. If student groups (band, choir, lacrosse team, underwater basket weavers) want to hold fundraisers for group specific items (send us to band camp, national underwater basket weaving convention, to the moon, Alice), I'm all for that.

I don't mind groups of people deciding they have a fundraising goal and pursuing it. I *do* mind public schools informing students that they are expected to sell a certain number of whatever or they get punished. I get detention because your levy failed? Wow. Yay public schools.

(and I'm going to quit now before this turns into a full-on "what's wrong with public schools" rant.)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I *do* mind public schools informing students that they are expected to sell a certain number of whatever or they get punished. I get detention because your levy failed?

Huh? I've never heard of being punished because you didn't sell anything.

I'm bummed that my old high school has moved from World's Finest to See's. Yeah, they're better bars, but at $1.50 a pop they're a bit too pricey. World's Finest wasn't a super deal at $1.00 but it was more affordable. And I just loved the cardboard box smell that affected how the candy tasted.

I just bought a bunch from my youngest brother so I'm absolved of donation duties for the time being. Oh, and I don't read magazines

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Huh? I've never heard of being punished because you didn't sell anything.

Absolutely. Each student was set a minimum quota. We did magazines, and it was 10 subscriptions. Punishment varied, from being banned from the end of year assembly to being assigned extra school work to flat out after-school detention.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Absolutely. Each student was set a minimum quota. We did magazines, and it was 10 subscriptions. Punishment varied, from being banned from the end of year assembly to being assigned extra school work to flat out after-school detention.

Sounds like lawsuit material to me. Ain't no one in a public school, where children are REQUIRED to be (unless they happen to go to a private school), gonna tell my kids they have to sell magazines for a grade.

I was successful just threatening legal action against a professor in college that was going to require me to pay for something that had an effect on my grade. I told him he better get it approved as a fee for the course rather than telling me after I'm in it that I've gotta come up with some money for a class project. There were fundraising options available, but I had 21 hours and was dirt poor. There was no way he was getting a dime from me or one second of my time raising funds.

[BarTopDancer]

We've got a box of Helen Grace bars sitting in our break area with the cash envelope. Mighty brave of the dad who put it in there (we have several food theives).

I won't buy junk I don't need which eliminates most of the stuff sold by kids now. It's sad since so many supported me. I will buy Girl Scout cookies though. Is it cookie season yet?

[scaeagles]

My kids go to private school. It is not a required activity to participate in the fund raisers, but everyone knows that the more money that is raised through fund raisers the less the tuition increases the following year.

The company the school goes through actually has a website with a school code. So they just go on the web, fill it out with the appropriate school code and student you are "buying from", and the school is notified. Makes it much easier.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, required sales quotas is crossing a line big time. We never had those, only rewards. And the rewards started at sale #1. Boy how we all craved those weeble people.

[Morrigoon]

Prudence: that's HORRIBLE! Forcing schoolkids to pawn of candy bars which, while it does raise money for the school, also makes money for some commercial interest. That smacks of slavery to me.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Prudence: that's HORRIBLE! Forcing schoolkids to pawn of candy bars which, while it does raise money for the school, also makes money for some commercial interest. That smacks of slavery to me.

Yes, but the school's position was that it was a homework assignment like any other.

Reason # 47 why I plan to home school.

Our church youth group sold wrapping paper. It was GOOD wrapping paper. Enormous rolls of nice, thick paper. And remember, I have no problem with individual groups choosing a fundraiser. Plus, our fundraising consisted of setting up a table in the foyer and selling to church members who approached us with the intent to purchase.

Damn I miss that paper. Now I just have cheap Target crap.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Reason # 47 why I plan to home school.

Sounds like your school was the exception to the rule. Don't judge all public schools by that insanity.