Making Children Give Cash (No Checks!) for Field trips???

[Anonymous]

Also look at the amusement park venue, they probably want cash as convenient way of payment.

[Anonymous]

Honest question- do you just sit around and try to think of things to be outraged about? Sounds like you are the kind of person who creates drama when she gets bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question- do you just sit around and try to think of things to be outraged about? Sounds like you are the kind of person who creates drama when she gets bored.

+1

Seriously. This isn't that deep. I personally assume checks are not an option anymore in most scenarios. If you're worried about your kid carrying cash, you could always send them with one of those prepaid Visa cards from CVS. I wouldn't worry about the teacher holding the cash...if she loses it, it's her problem, not yours.

It's really pretty day out. Back away from the computer and go out and enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Well put 10:17

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this strike anyone else as absurd and risky? I understand that they may have gotten stiffed in the past by bounced checks for this end of the year trip to Six Flags--but then set it up where you pay online. Or give each child a receipt after they pay. I can't believe they expect 800 or so parents to hand a teacher or some office admin $60 in cash and say--"have fun at the park!" I really wish that Deal could modernize this permission slip nonsense and get it all online with PDF sign offs and digital pay.

This is such an excellent idea.

[Anonymous]

If you don't have access to a computer, then what? Remember half of our school population is FARM, so the access to a computer is a luxury? Don't give me crap about expensive tennis shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have access to a computer, then what? Remember half of our school population is FARM, so the access to a computer is a luxury? Don't give me crap about expensive tennis shoes.

Cash and paper will always be an option. Those who can do it online could choose that instead. Makes sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your 8th grader can't manage to keep a hold of $60…

It's not the kids "keeping hold of $60"; it's having teachers be the caretakers of thousands of dollars in cash. There is such a thing as the "appearance of impropriety" and teachers with wads of kid's cash should not happen if everything is above board.

So your great concern is that it looks bad for the teachers to have collected the cash? Are you afraid that THEY might lose it? That they are secretly running a meth ring out of the gym? These are the people you trust with your kids 7 hours a day. I am sure they can be counted on not to embezzle $2K.

[Anonymous]

I would be more concerned about my checking account numbers floating around somewhere; cash is safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be more concerned about my checking account numbers floating around somewhere; cash is safer.

Paypal would take care of all of that for you. I would love this option as I can't seem to plan ahead enough to have the right cash on the day it's due.

[Anonymous]

What I believe OP is talking about is that Deal's 6th and 7th graders take all-day field trips on the day of 8th grade graduation. If people signed up for the field trips on time, the school gladly accepted checks (I wrote one myself). This week they informed parents of 7th graders that there are a few spots left for that trip, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and that only cash payments can be accepted at this point. Utterly reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have access to a computer, then what? Remember half of our school population is FARM, so the access to a computer is a luxury? Don't give me crap about expensive tennis shoes.

Half of the school is not FARM. More like 10%. Everyone has a computer.

[Anonymous]

One word: embezzlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't have access to a computer, then what? Remember half of our school population is FARM, so the access to a computer is a luxury? Don't give me crap about expensive tennis shoes.

Half of the school is not FARM. More like 10%. Everyone has a computer.

22% farms to be exact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question- do you just sit around and try to think of things to be outraged about? Sounds like you are the kind of person who creates drama when she gets bored.

+1

Seriously. This isn't that deep. I personally assume checks are not an option anymore in most scenarios. If you're worried about your kid carrying cash, you could always send them with one of those prepaid Visa cards from CVS. I wouldn't worry about the teacher holding the cash...if she loses it, it's her problem, not yours.

It's really pretty day out. Back away from the computer and go out and enjoy it.

+2

Even in suburban areas it's not uncommon for schools to require cash, certified check or money order for payments so close to the end of the year. My DC's school sold left over yearbooks and required cash or money order payments ONLY. They could have been purchased for less earlier in the year using cash, check or credit card.

The only issue I see in this jaded outrage is not receiving receipts. I think the "non-receipt" is just something you threw in there to justify your outrage. Chances are GREAT that teachers ARE handing out receipts. I've ALWAYS received one when paying for things, whether I used cash, check or credit card.

But um yeah, I think you're working too hard to find things to be outraged over.