What do you think? Car line-cutting auction?

[Anonymous]

I disagree; it's more than a car. It's a symbol. And there are big differences between schools that sell parking spots, cut-in privileges, or "naming" rights to a particular street on the school campus and those that don't. The schools that don't sell such things believe that children are quite observant and that they will sense a school's values (i.e., money is something that makes you somehow "better" than those without) through such practices.

[Anonymous]

Find me a school that has never sold naming rights!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree; it's more than a car. It's a symbol. And there are big differences between schools that sell parking spots, cut-in privileges, or "naming" rights to a particular street on the school campus and those that don't. The schools that don't sell such things believe that children are quite observant and that they will sense a school's values (i.e., money is something that makes you somehow "better" than those without) through such practices.

This doesn't make sense. This philosophy is what all private schools are based on. People spend large sums of money on private school because they want something "better".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This doesn't make sense. This philosophy is what all private schools are based on. People spend large sums of money on private school because they want something "better".

"Better" doesn't mean reinforcing negative behavior. See earlier "douche" post...

[Anonymous]

I bought the morning carpool spot at our school 2 years ago. I did not bid on it this year because my husband likes to go through the line every morning with our cherub. I don't bid on the afternoon carpool spot because I don't pick up in the afternoon, but if I did, I would. We also bought naming rights at an auction one year. I work hard. My husband works hard. And we can pay for special privileges like a morning carpool spot, nice vacations that other families in the class can't afford, art that we enjoy looking at every day, good seats to sporting events and concerts, dinners out, and the like. Everything in life is not always fair or nice. Society happens to value and pay me more for my work than other professions whose work is far more meaningful i.e. teaching. Best for children to learn early that despite our best efforts life is not fair and bad things will happen and how to manage disappointment, frustration, anger, etc and live one's own fulfilled life despite not having paid for a morning carpool spot.

[Anonymous]

If people do not like money buying them better (schools, parking, etc) they had better LEAVE this city.

This is called capitalism. THIS is the American way.

Thank God.

Now, pass me the Dom.

[Anonymous]

Will your kids ever learn those lessons, however?

[Anonymous]

That comment was directed at 14:41, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought the morning carpool spot at our school 2 years ago. I did not bid on it this year because my husband likes to go through the line every morning with our cherub. I don't bid on the afternoon carpool spot because I don't pick up in the afternoon, but if I did, I would. We also bought naming rights at an auction one year. I work hard. My husband works hard. And we can pay for special privileges like a morning carpool spot, nice vacations that other families in the class can't afford, art that we enjoy looking at every day, good seats to sporting events and concerts, dinners out, and the like. Everything in life is not always fair or nice. Society happens to value and pay me more for my work than other professions whose work is far more meaningful i.e. teaching. Best for children to learn early that despite our best efforts life is not fair and bad things will happen and how to manage disappointment, frustration, anger, etc and live one's own fulfilled life despite not having paid for a morning carpool spot.

That's right, I really need to start teaching my kids that the golden rule is "he who has the gold makes the rules." I can't believe that my 6 year old might not understand that- I'm so glad he has the chance to get this "education" at school even if I neglect him at home.

[Anonymous]

The issue is what kind of message this type of thing sends to kids who are in a grade school environment. Simply because "life is not fair," that does not mean that in an educational environment, a school should enable super-rich parents to throw their weight around and obtain special privileges just because they have more money (or because they are simply willing to spend what they do have on nonsense such as this).

And if you are super-rich, whether it is a good message for you to send to your own kids is an additional question. Not all things can--or should--be bought. And as an alum of one of New York's most elite private schools, I will say that I had several super-rich friends who were embarrassed about how their parents threw money around at school. Special treatment of a handful of kids caused real problems for everyone, including the beneficiaries.

[Anonymous]

I guess we're what you could call affluent, but I find this practice distasteful. On one hand, I'm in favor of anything that helps the school raise funds (which will presumably be used for financial aid and other worthy causes). BUT, it just strikes me as pretty crass and showy and it's not how I would ever spend my money or something I'd like my kids to see me doing. I wasn't aware of this practice before; I hope my kids' school doesn't do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought the morning carpool spot at our school 2 years ago. I did not bid on it this year because my husband likes to go through the line every morning with our cherub. I don't bid on the afternoon carpool spot because I don't pick up in the afternoon, but if I did, I would. We also bought naming rights at an auction one year. I work hard. My husband works hard. And we can pay for special privileges like a morning carpool spot, nice vacations that other families in the class can't afford, art that we enjoy looking at every day, good seats to sporting events and concerts, dinners out, and the like. Everything in life is not always fair or nice. Society happens to value and pay me more for my work than other professions whose work is far more meaningful i.e. teaching. Best for children to learn early that despite our best efforts life is not fair and bad things will happen and how to manage disappointment, frustration, anger, etc and live one's own fulfilled life despite not having paid for a morning carpool spot.

Fascinating window into your kid's future therapy sessions: "Well, I wanted to be a teacher, but the lesson I learned from my parents is that society doesn't value it. I started drinking during college when I couldn't hack the pressure from the business classes. It spiked after college when I started working in finance...."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought the morning carpool spot at our school 2 years ago. I did not bid on it this year because my husband likes to go through the line every morning with our cherub. I don't bid on the afternoon carpool spot because I don't pick up in the afternoon, but if I did, I would. We also bought naming rights at an auction one year. I work hard. My husband works hard. And we can pay for special privileges like a morning carpool spot, nice vacations that other families in the class can't afford, art that we enjoy looking at every day, good seats to sporting events and concerts, dinners out, and the like. Everything in life is not always fair or nice. Society happens to value and pay me more for my work than other professions whose work is far more meaningful i.e. teaching. Best for children to learn early that despite our best efforts life is not fair and bad things will happen and how to manage disappointment, frustration, anger, etc and live one's own fulfilled life despite not having paid for a morning carpool spot.

Well, why stop there?

If the lesson is that life is unfair, why not have the kid with the biggest and strongest dad cut right to the front of the line, flip you the bird, drop off his kiddies, and drive off each morning?

That scenario fits precisely with your rationalization... and it teaches kids about bullying too! And managing disappointment! Everyone wins..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess we're what you could call affluent, but I find this practice distasteful. On one hand, I'm in favor of anything that helps the school raise funds (which will presumably be used for financial aid and other worthy causes). BUT, it just strikes me as pretty crass and showy and it's not how I would ever spend my money or something I'd like my kids to see me doing. I wasn't aware of this practice before; I hope my kids' school doesn't do this.

Hopefully parents like you are in the majority at your school... I'm with you on this..

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Our children are surrounded by enough wealth and privilege without this sort of thing going on.