Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

If funds allow, say yes. If not, politely decline and say you can bring snacks to supplement the lunch the kids are already bringing/buying. This is not rocket science.

+1. The answer isn't browbeating or shaming parents into providing the funds. If it is that important to you not to tell the teacher you don't have money for this, then you should pay for it.

-1 The majority of parents can afford the class funds requested each year. We all know this. We know where they vacation. We know what they drive and where they live. We know what shoes their kids wear and what sunglasses they have. The point is it is frustrating when they don't contribute to the class fund. Yep, it's voluntary but it helps their kid as much as the rest of the class. No one can make them. It doesn't bother me that much but it is annoying. I agree no one should be shamed or browbeaten, but I also agree that it isn't right that a family who can easily afford to contribute $35 a year to the class fund just doesn't because they don't.

You ostensibly recognized the contribution is voluntary, but the rest of the post makes clear you really don't treat it as such.

That, and itnis none of your business how else they spend THEIR money.

It is voluntary but the party is not. The fact the our class parties must take place over lunch time is not voluntary. The fact that I have to contribute to the pta to teacher appreciation week, get our teacher a gift for teacher appreciation week, get her an Xmas and an end of year gift aren’t really optional either. So I absolutely get that no one has to contribute, plenty don’t, almost all can afford to, all the kids and teacher reap the benefit and it’s annoying. My day goes on as does yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

"There aren't enough contributions to allow for that. I see two options. 1. Use sign up genius and ask parents to supply some treats.
2. Cancel parties due to lack of interest. Which one should I do?"

Another option is to step down as room mom and let the teacher handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

"There aren't enough contributions to allow for that. I see two options. 1. Use sign up genius and ask parents to supply some treats.
2. Cancel parties due to lack of interest. Which one should I do?"

Another option is to step down as room mom and let the teacher handle it.

I would include that you are NOT covering the shortfall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

"There aren't enough contributions to allow for that. I see two options. 1. Use sign up genius and ask parents to supply some treats.
2. Cancel parties due to lack of interest. Which one should I do?"

Another option is to step down as room mom and let the teacher handle it.

Not being a martyr but I’d pay myself before doing this. Teachers are appreciated little enough. I’m not signing up for a job and then Bowing out nor am I signing up for a job to help the teacher and disregarding her requests for what She wants.

[Anonymous]

$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

If funds allow, say yes. If not, politely decline and say you can bring snacks to supplement the lunch the kids are already bringing/buying. This is not rocket science.

+1. The answer isn't browbeating or shaming parents into providing the funds. If it is that important to you not to tell the teacher you don't have money for this, then you should pay for it.

-1 The majority of parents can afford the class funds requested each year. We all know this. We know where they vacation. We know what they drive and where they live. We know what shoes their kids wear and what sunglasses they have. The point is it is frustrating when they don't contribute to the class fund. Yep, it's voluntary but it helps their kid as much as the rest of the class. No one can make them. It doesn't bother me that much but it is annoying. I agree no one should be shamed or browbeaten, but I also agree that it isn't right that a family who can easily afford to contribute $35 a year to the class fund just doesn't because they don't.

You ostensibly recognized the contribution is voluntary, but the rest of the post makes clear you really don't treat it as such.

That, and itnis none of your business how else they spend THEIR money.

It is voluntary but the party is not. The fact the our class parties must take place over lunch time is not voluntary. The fact that I have to contribute to the pta to teacher appreciation week, get our teacher a gift for teacher appreciation week, get her an Xmas and an end of year gift aren’t really optional either. So I absolutely get that no one has to contribute, plenty don’t, almost all can afford to, all the kids and teacher reap the benefit and it’s annoying. My day goes on as does yours.

You don’t have to do all that. These people would probably appreciate $20 in an envelope more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

If funds allow, say yes. If not, politely decline and say you can bring snacks to supplement the lunch the kids are already bringing/buying. This is not rocket science.

+1. The answer isn't browbeating or shaming parents into providing the funds. If it is that important to you not to tell the teacher you don't have money for this, then you should pay for it.

-1 The majority of parents can afford the class funds requested each year. We all know this. We know where they vacation. We know what they drive and where they live. We know what shoes their kids wear and what sunglasses they have. The point is it is frustrating when they don't contribute to the class fund. Yep, it's voluntary but it helps their kid as much as the rest of the class. No one can make them. It doesn't bother me that much but it is annoying. I agree no one should be shamed or browbeaten, but I also agree that it isn't right that a family who can easily afford to contribute $35 a year to the class fund just doesn't because they don't.

You ostensibly recognized the contribution is voluntary, but the rest of the post makes clear you really don't treat it as such.

That, and itnis none of your business how else they spend THEIR money.

It is voluntary but the party is not. The fact the our class parties must take place over lunch time is not voluntary. The fact that I have to contribute to the pta to teacher appreciation week, get our teacher a gift for teacher appreciation week, get her an Xmas and an end of year gift aren’t really optional either. So I absolutely get that no one has to contribute, plenty don’t, almost all can afford to, all the kids and teacher reap the benefit and it’s annoying. My day goes on as does yours.

You don’t have to do all that. These people would probably appreciate $20 in an envelope more.

Um, on behalf of the whole class you expect a room parent to give $20?

[Anonymous]

Why do you have to give the teacher a gift out of that pot of money? Aren't most people individually giving teachers a gift/tip for Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Who dictates that you MUST MUST MUST buy the teacher a birthday present? Also, if it's mandatory to pay the PTA for teacher appreciation week, why do you have a separate expense of $125 for teacher appreciation week? Is there some codified budget that stipulates all the things you list?

[Anonymous]

B/c at the beginning of the year we get an email from the pta that says:

- send your teacher a questionnaire like this (sample attached) asking certain questions so you know what to get her for the holidays (don’t forget to celebrate her birthday or half birthday)

- we require a $100 contribution per class for the specials teachers for teacher appreciation week.

Next questions?

[Anonymous]

I think the problem is the parents who don’t step up to the job have no idea what the behind the scenes requirements and obligations are and you are assuming the worst. Either do the job yourself or allow someone else to do it but contribute monetarily then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Holy crap that's a lot of gifts for the teacher! I have never ever heard of a birthday gift for a teacher ever. For teacher appreciation week, each class spends $225? That's crazy.

[Anonymous]

For all of you suggesting Costco pizza, where do you suggest these get cooked? Our class teacher requests the pizza be served at lunch; we need pizza for 28 kids. That's about 6 pizzas depending on size. Where would one heat up 6 pizzas where they can then be kept warm as the others cook? Not to mention that most parents work so who is cooking, delivering and serving these pizzas? That's why our teacher requested delivery - she can work with her partner teacher to hand them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Holy crap that's a lot of gifts for the teacher! I have never ever heard of a birthday gift for a teacher ever. For teacher appreciation week, each class spends $225? That's crazy.

$125 for teacher appreciation week. The $100 goes for gift cards for the specials teachers (esol teacher, librarian, pe, music, etc).

It is not a lot of gifts. It’s from 20 families. That’s like each family buying her a $6.25 gift for teacher appreciation week. I assume if you did it on your own you’d sped at least $10-$15.