Anonymous wrote:It is horrible. At dd's school, they did daily meetings for each grade where they awarded prizes. I LOATHE Boosterthon.

+1 So of course DCs want me to give more money so they could get the prize. I said no.

Anonymous wrote:Boosterathon is awful. I complained the year my school did it, as did a number of parents and the answer was, we will only do it every other year. Which means, because my son was in kindergarten they year it started, we will get it 3 times. It is just awful. I'd rather write a check to the PTA than deal with this nonsense. And what really makes me mad is my school won't do the PTA school supply boxes because it is "unfair" but they willl do boosterathon.

I was our fall fundraiser chair at my school and we do a no fuss fundraiser where parents write a check. It was awful. Participation rate is pretty low. We ended up doing Boosterthon in the spring and we raised three times as much as we did from the no fuss fundraiser.

The school simply doesn't need all that money. You're going to add 3 swings to the playground? Whoop-de-doo. The playground is great as it is. The only thing it's missing is swings, in fact. But put the whole school through all the because there absolutely HAVD to be swings, dammit.

Anonymous wrote:Instead of complaining, offer to head up your own FunRun at your school and be in charge of the whole thing. There are websites that allow you to collect donations. Research it. Propose it to the PTA and offer to be in charge of it.

When my school did Boosterthon this past fall, many, many parents complained about it. But how many offered to be in charge of hosting a FunRun the following year?

None. Actually, let me correct that. At the beginning, one mom did say she would consider heading a FunRun up next year but at the conclusion of BoosterThon when she saw all that would have to be done to stage a FunRun, she said she wouldn't do it.

If Boosterthon is necessary for raising $X sum of money, I think the school might be better off without the money.

Instead of complaining, offer to head up your own FunRun at your school and be in charge of the whole thing. There are websites that allow you to collect donations. Research it. Propose it to the PTA and offer to be in charge of it.

When my school did Boosterthon this past fall, many, many parents complained about it. But how many offered to be in charge of hosting a FunRun the following year?

None. Actually, let me correct that. At the beginning, one mom did say she would consider heading a FunRun up next year but at the conclusion of BoosterThon when she saw all that would have to be done to stage a FunRun, she said she wouldn't do it.

Anonymous wrote:how are pta supply boxes unfair???

not all kids can afford them.

how are pta supply boxes unfair???

Boosterathon is awful. I complained the year my school did it, as did a number of parents and the answer was, we will only do it every other year. Which means, because my son was in kindergarten they year it started, we will get it 3 times. It is just awful. I'd rather write a check to the PTA than deal with this nonsense. And what really makes me mad is my school won't do the PTA school supply boxes because it is "unfair" but they willl do boosterathon.

Any fundraiser that takes that much profit and that much time from instruction is disgusting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can be active in the PTA next year, with the sole purpose of stopping the PTA from doing Boosterthon?

I don't have any first-hand experience with it, but from what I've heard, it's awful. Awful enough that it would make me consider keeping my child home (or becoming active in the PTA).

Not the PP you're talking to, but it would do nothing. PTAs would charge ahead with it because they only see dollar signs. And when they send put their "should we do the Boosterthon again?" survey, most people either stay quiet to avoid rocking the boat or are foreigners who just don't get it.

I'm a foreigner, and I get it. I've just never seen the survey.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can be active in the PTA next year, with the sole purpose of stopping the PTA from doing Boosterthon?

I don't have any first-hand experience with it, but from what I've heard, it's awful. Awful enough that it would make me consider keeping my child home (or becoming active in the PTA).

OP here again-

PP- I might for this very reason. After last year's Boosterthon I emailed the school's administrators and the PTA chairs with my observations and concerns. They thanked me for my feedback but that's as far as it went.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can be active in the PTA next year, with the sole purpose of stopping the PTA from doing Boosterthon?

I don't have any first-hand experience with it, but from what I've heard, it's awful. Awful enough that it would make me consider keeping my child home (or becoming active in the PTA).

Not the PP you're talking to, but it would do nothing. PTAs would charge ahead with it because they only see dollar signs. And when they send put their "should we do the Boosterthon again?" survey, most people either stay quiet to avoid rocking the boat or are foreigners who just don't get it.

It is horrible. At dd's school, they did daily meetings for each grade where they awarded prizes. I LOATHE Boosterthon.

Maybe you can be active in the PTA next year, with the sole purpose of stopping the PTA from doing Boosterthon?

I don't have any first-hand experience with it, but from what I've heard, it's awful. Awful enough that it would make me consider keeping my child home (or becoming active in the PTA).

I'm tired of how much class time it takes EVERY DAY (morning announcements, prize delivery and hoopla, afternoon announcements)- not to mention the kick-off pep rally. I also don't like how it separates the haves from the have-nots. Last year while I volunteered in DD's class I saw how the haves (including DD) were showered with prizes and made a big deal over because they raised more money. I saw the have-nots sitting at their desks- shoulders slumped and eyes downcast because their families couldn't contribute. During the nine days of boosterthon I feel like I'm sending my child to school to be brainwashed.

Yes, it does raise tons of money for the school- but I would rather write a check and have 100% of it be used by the school. And this year they have an app- which adds another level to how they're trying to infiltrate my home. UGH!!!

Rant over.