Janney PTA Guerrilla Tactics!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a reality check - don't hold back. Below is the intro to an email from the Janney PTA - I think there have been two similar emails earlier in the school year. This aggressive badgering of parents started last year and I decided that I was not going to give a dime because I hate this approach and do not want to encourage it. At this point I am prepared to send an email to the PTA Presidents and the Principal (I love her) voicing my displeasure at being harassed and shamed into making what is a VOLUNTARY donation. What am I missing? Am I wrong here? Just the fact that they track families is disturbing to me!


"Hi friends!
We have just 145 families who have not yet made a tax-deductible donation to Janney’s Student Support Fund (yep- that’s you guys!). Please know that we appreciate & recognize the many contributions you all make to our school on a daily basis, but please also know that our DCPS-allocated budget is not enough to cover the basic needs of our school."

This isn't a guerilla tactic, it's just the truth and you don't like it. They aren't shaming anyone -- they are sharing the reality. There are still 145 families who haven't given, you are one of them, and they are hoping that you will join with the rest of community and contribute something to help cover the shortfall between what it costs to provide everything Janney offers to students and what is allotted in the DCPS budget. Nowhere do they belittle you or shame you -- they just state the facts. You can choose to give or to not give, but own your choice and don't blame it on a "guerilla" email.

It's a pretty obnoxious way to coerce compliance. It ignores the possibility that some families may not be able to donate (or just do not wish to do so). It sets an unfair standard that everyone is expected to donate and those who do not are viewed suspiciously. This is awfully presumptuous, even in well heeled Janney community. I agree with PP that the best approach is to thank those who have participated and encourage everyone help reach a participation goal, knowing that 100% participation is not a reasonable expectation.

It’s also very short-sighted. I work in educational philanthropy, and this sort of tactic can get immediate results, but it changes people’s perceptions long-term and makes them less likely to contribute their time or money in the future.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a reality check - don't hold back. Below is the intro to an email from the Janney PTA - I think there have been two similar emails earlier in the school year. This aggressive badgering of parents started last year and I decided that I was not going to give a dime because I hate this approach and do not want to encourage it. At this point I am prepared to send an email to the PTA Presidents and the Principal (I love her) voicing my displeasure at being harassed and shamed into making what is a VOLUNTARY donation. What am I missing? Am I wrong here? Just the fact that they track families is disturbing to me!


"Hi friends!
We have just 145 families who have not yet made a tax-deductible donation to Janney’s Student Support Fund (yep- that’s you guys!). Please know that we appreciate & recognize the many contributions you all make to our school on a daily basis, but please also know that our DCPS-allocated budget is not enough to cover the basic needs of our school."

This isn't a guerilla tactic, it's just the truth and you don't like it. They aren't shaming anyone -- they are sharing the reality. There are still 145 families who haven't given, you are one of them, and they are hoping that you will join with the rest of community and contribute something to help cover the shortfall between what it costs to provide everything Janney offers to students and what is allotted in the DCPS budget. Nowhere do they belittle you or shame you -- they just state the facts. You can choose to give or to not give, but own your choice and don't blame it on a "guerilla" email.

It's a pretty obnoxious way to coerce compliance. It ignores the possibility that some families may not be able to donate (or just do not wish to do so). It sets an unfair standard that everyone is expected to donate and those who do not are viewed suspiciously. This is awfully presumptuous, even in well heeled Janney community. I agree with PP that the best approach is to thank those who have participated and encourage everyone help reach a participation goal, knowing that 100% participation is not a reasonable expectation.

It’s also very short-sighted. I work in educational philanthropy, and this sort of tactic can get immediate results, but it changes people’s perceptions long-term and makes them less likely to contribute their time or money in the future.

+1

Ditto this.
This is the 3rd year Janney has tracked down the non-donaters with personal correspondence and the school's over-all donation rate is falling like a rock as is volunteering.
You can't guilt or shame people into giving.

[Anonymous]

Ugh, seems like a horrible school community. I'm sure there are many normal parents there, but it looks like they are not represented among the PTA decision-makers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a reality check - don't hold back. Below is the intro to an email from the Janney PTA - I think there have been two similar emails earlier in the school year. This aggressive badgering of parents started last year and I decided that I was not going to give a dime because I hate this approach and do not want to encourage it. At this point I am prepared to send an email to the PTA Presidents and the Principal (I love her) voicing my displeasure at being harassed and shamed into making what is a VOLUNTARY donation. What am I missing? Am I wrong here? Just the fact that they track families is disturbing to me!


"Hi friends!
We have just 145 families who have not yet made a tax-deductible donation to Janney’s Student Support Fund (yep- that’s you guys!). Please know that we appreciate & recognize the many contributions you all make to our school on a daily basis, but please also know that our DCPS-allocated budget is not enough to cover the basic needs of our school."

This isn't a guerilla tactic, it's just the truth and you don't like it. They aren't shaming anyone -- they are sharing the reality. There are still 145 families who haven't given, you are one of them, and they are hoping that you will join with the rest of community and contribute something to help cover the shortfall between what it costs to provide everything Janney offers to students and what is allotted in the DCPS budget. Nowhere do they belittle you or shame you -- they just state the facts. You can choose to give or to not give, but own your choice and don't blame it on a "guerilla" email.

It's a pretty obnoxious way to coerce compliance. It ignores the possibility that some families may not be able to donate (or just do not wish to do so). It sets an unfair standard that everyone is expected to donate and those who do not are viewed suspiciously. This is awfully presumptuous, even in well heeled Janney community. I agree with PP that the best approach is to thank those who have participated and encourage everyone help reach a participation goal, knowing that 100% participation is not a reasonable expectation.

It’s also very short-sighted. I work in educational philanthropy, and this sort of tactic can get immediate results, but it changes people’s perceptions long-term and makes them less likely to contribute their time or money in the future.

+1

Ditto this.
This is the 3rd year Janney has tracked down the non-donaters with personal correspondence and the school's over-all donation rate is falling like a rock as is volunteering.
You can't guilt or shame people into giving.

I’m not surprised. A blanket email to all families encouraging participation is one thing. Receiving an email like this would make me NOT donate out of spite. Who cares if people can afford it? Maybe they hate the PTO leadership or don’t agree with how the money is spent. Maybe they know they’re moving away. Whatever.

This tactic is tacky AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, seems like a horrible school community. I'm sure there are many normal parents there, but it looks like they are not represented among the PTA decision-makers.

how is the air up there on your high horse, judgy Julie?

[Anonymous]

Man at our kids’ school about 25% of the families HAVE email.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been so happy to go to a Title I school.

[Anonymous]

Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

Amen. There is a good reason why this is not allowed in any other public school district in the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

DC spends more per pupil than almost any other state or district ... where is the money going that a PTA in the most affluent part of the city needs to send out that kind of message. (Coming from a title I charter ... it's really shocking, though I acknowledge we live in two different worlds.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

DC spends more per pupil than almost any other state or district ... where is the money going that a PTA in the most affluent part of the city needs to send out that kind of message. (Coming from a title I charter ... it's really shocking, though I acknowledge we live in two different worlds.)

Janney thinks it needs classroom staff and aides that no one else in the city gets.

That’s where most of the money goes; to pay salaries to extra employees. If they were prevented from doing that then the PTA could ask for less and still fund some extras for their kids and things the principal asks for.

[Anonymous]

Is it bcc or do they cc all the freeloaders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, seems like a horrible school community. I'm sure there are many normal parents there, but it looks like they are not represented among the PTA decision-makers.

People put up with it to send their kids to the best elementary school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

DC spends more per pupil than almost any other state or district ... where is the money going that a PTA in the most affluent part of the city needs to send out that kind of message. (Coming from a title I charter ... it's really shocking, though I acknowledge we live in two different worlds.)

The money flows and flows to SE, not to NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best way to end all of this is for dcps to fully fund in the needs of their schools. And band PTAs from paying for teaching positions etc. PTA should be raining money for extras like class trips, clubs, special events not tens of thousands for major staffing and program.

DC spends more per pupil than almost any other state or district ... where is the money going that a PTA in the most affluent part of the city needs to send out that kind of message. (Coming from a title I charter ... it's really shocking, though I acknowledge we live in two different worlds.)

DCPS tends to siphon off a lot of the money from classroom and enrichment needs. Instead DCPS wastes funds on sole-source crony consultants, diversity directors and “esteem specialists” - whatever that fluff is.