Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Auctioning teacher experiences is a bad practice.

Remember the Oyster teacher who molested a student? The movie night he hosted for students was one of the most popular items.

It also puts teachers in a bad position, pressuring them to spend personal time basically babysitting your kids. They won't tell you this, but it is an imposition.

We know it's an imposition, but it brings in tons of money. And also, the PTA raises this money so 100% of the budget goes to their *just* under 6-figure salaries. They earn it, for sure, but that's pretty nice compensation for a teacher given our society undervalues them so much.

You think PTA funds have anything to do with teacher salaries? It's a pay scale across all of DCPS. This isn't private school! What snobby comment.

What they are saying is that since the PTA raises so much money, the PTA pays for non-staff expenditures that DCPS would otherwise provide. They are not paying the teacher's salary but by agreeing to pay for items normally paid for in the budget the principal can usually hire additional staff. But you are still right, it's a snobby comment. It reminds me of the kids in college who would steal things "because our tuition paid for it."

By paying for things that DCPS should be paying for, Janney parents are masking the deficiency of the DCPS school budget and actually exacerbate the problem. Taking of your own to "keep Janney one of the best schools in the city" is selfish, smacks of privilege and does nothing to change the institutional problems.

Rather than paying for things to make up for what you think should be available at public school, or at least in addition to, why don't the wealthy kids go en masse to LOBBY the Council, sponsor a call/write your council member and work get the per-pupil allocation raised which would help ALL students in the District and perhaps reduce the OOB demand for your schools.

And before you bring up "extra funding" for Title 1 schools, those funds are earmarked for specific supports for students who are homeless, poor, and foster kids. It isn't spent on general school support for the modest number of working to middle class kids in the Title 1 schools.

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't she just live in montgomery county for way less money and a school that is as good or better?

I don't get why she is spending her money like that

Seriously??? You are one of the most condescending and clueless posters I've seen in awhile. Not very high up on the IQ or EQ scale are you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Janney parent who doesn’t attend the auction. I think the majority of parents don’t attend. I pay the full SFF for my kids, contributed a small item for the classroom auction item, so I’m doing my part.

What is the handwringing over this? Nearly every other school event is free. I went one year, didn’t buy anything and it was just a lot of drinking in your kids’ school hallways. Really, you aren’t missing anything.

One reason the price may have been raised (I have no inside info) may be that fewer parents are paying the SFF, so they need to raise funds in other ways or cut services or extra staff that families have come to rely on.

.

Auction is fun. There are several Drunken Janney Moms that typically grab the mike and sing disco songs. The open air block party (sponsored by WaWa this year) on Yuma St. is a great addition and should allow parents to metabolize the alcohol in a less sex-fueled environment than the typical event at a wealth donor’s house.

Is this a joke? I’ve heard rumors about auction night hookups but this is over the top.

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Janney parent who doesn’t attend the auction. I think the majority of parents don’t attend. I pay the full SFF for my kids, contributed a small item for the classroom auction item, so I’m doing my part.

What is the handwringing over this? Nearly every other school event is free. I went one year, didn’t buy anything and it was just a lot of drinking in your kids’ school hallways. Really, you aren’t missing anything.

One reason the price may have been raised (I have no inside info) may be that fewer parents are paying the SFF, so they need to raise funds in other ways or cut services or extra staff that families have come to rely on.

.

Auction is fun. There are several Drunken Janney Moms that typically grab the mike and sing disco songs. The open air block party (sponsored by WaWa this year) on Yuma St. is a great addition and should allow parents to metabolize the alcohol in a less sex-fueled environment than the typical event at a wealth donor’s house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on our elementary's PTA Board and disapprove of school auctions. I understand it brings in money for the school, so I keep my mouth shut, but I do not condone the message that a public school can encourage inequalities, that if you have money, you get more school-related stuff. At our school, shadowing the Principal is auctioned off, or a lunch with the assistant Principal, etc. Tying a relationship with a special teacher or administrator with money is just wrong.

So I don't go. Don't want to see that happening live.

I love you.
I work at a school that auctions this type of garbage. They try to pressure teachers into putting together ‘experiences’ for the auction. It is incredibly sad.

If the experiences were more accessible to all kids (maybe a raffle) would that make a difference?

Yes & no. I am an older teacher and tend to be less into pretending that my students are my kids. I love my job & school. However, I don’t think that mixing the professional lines is a good move. I’d never think to have my kid go see a movie with his teacher, go hiking, paint me pottery ect. It’s just not necessary or appropriate. So, no on the sense that hanging out with teachers is an odd thing to push on your kids & staff. But yes, because then more folks could hang out with teachers, assuming that everyone was comfortable.

What if the experiences were at the school? Movie for a few students in the art room at school?

My kids love them but I can see how it'd be weird for teachers.

Auction catalog looks great this year. Toe shoes (unworn) and ticker stubs from last year are featured items, along with a signed photo of Karen Pence in front of bee mural.

Anonymous wrote:
Just glad not to be at Janney after reading this thread.

And we are glad as well that you aren’t here. Janney is crowded enough without having to endure a naysayer who pretends to be some kind of a social justice warrior, while still squeezing her kids into the school. Janney is a tight-knit community that is laser focused on getting our kids the best possible education. Keep your Debbie Downer act somewhere else...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just glad not to be at Janney after reading this thread.

(And happy to see there are other schools who do prioritize making all families welcome. No Jaguar has insinuated that about their school, just stated it’s cost of admission.)

I find this sentiment silly. We’re not at Janney, but no doubt Janney has events throughout the year that prioritize community-building. So one *fundraiser* each year has a big price tag. It’s one evening, not a mission.

+1.

The freeriders should just give a big Thank You to the parents organizing and attending the auction.

Exactly.

DH and I feel fortunate to have moved to the Janney District before our first one was born. We gladly contribute so that Janney can continue to be the best elementary school in the Nation’s Capital!

We’re at a different WOTP school but has the same setup as Janney. Yes, it’s a fundraiser. Yes, it raises big money. But, a lot of that gets pissed away because the parents insist on throwing themselves a big expensive party that they don’t necessarily need to do. When you factor in the tickets and the babysitter it gets to be an expensive evening. And yes, the organizers don’t know or care that there are people who can’t afford to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on our elementary's PTA Board and disapprove of school auctions. I understand it brings in money for the school, so I keep my mouth shut, but I do not condone the message that a public school can encourage inequalities, that if you have money, you get more school-related stuff. At our school, shadowing the Principal is auctioned off, or a lunch with the assistant Principal, etc. Tying a relationship with a special teacher or administrator with money is just wrong.

So I don't go. Don't want to see that happening live.

I love you.
I work at a school that auctions this type of garbage. They try to pressure teachers into putting together ‘experiences’ for the auction. It is incredibly sad.

If the experiences were more accessible to all kids (maybe a raffle) would that make a difference?

Yes & no. I am an older teacher and tend to be less into pretending that my students are my kids. I love my job & school. However, I don’t think that mixing the professional lines is a good move. I’d never think to have my kid go see a movie with his teacher, go hiking, paint me pottery ect. It’s just not necessary or appropriate. So, no on the sense that hanging out with teachers is an odd thing to push on your kids & staff. But yes, because then more folks could hang out with teachers, assuming that everyone was comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just glad not to be at Janney after reading this thread.

(And happy to see there are other schools who do prioritize making all families welcome. No Jaguar has insinuated that about their school, just stated it’s cost of admission.)

I find this sentiment silly. We’re not at Janney, but no doubt Janney has events throughout the year that prioritize community-building. So one *fundraiser* each year has a big price tag. It’s one evening, not a mission.

+1.

The freeriders should just give a big Thank You to the parents organizing and attending the auction.

-1

Public school not private. You’ve missed, intentionally, the damaging impact of endorsing haves/have nots. Multiple posters have indicated ways to nuance, but you are missing the point.

We are not as wealthy and contribute in other ways. Still grateful to be included, and for their to be the opportunity for all to enjoy without intentionally being barred.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on our elementary's PTA Board and disapprove of school auctions. I understand it brings in money for the school, so I keep my mouth shut, but I do not condone the message that a public school can encourage inequalities, that if you have money, you get more school-related stuff. At our school, shadowing the Principal is auctioned off, or a lunch with the assistant Principal, etc. Tying a relationship with a special teacher or administrator with money is just wrong.

So I don't go. Don't want to see that happening live.

I love you.
I work at a school that auctions this type of garbage. They try to pressure teachers into putting together ‘experiences’ for the auction. It is incredibly sad.

If the experiences were more accessible to all kids (maybe a raffle) would that make a difference?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just glad not to be at Janney after reading this thread.

(And happy to see there are other schools who do prioritize making all families welcome. No Jaguar has insinuated that about their school, just stated it’s cost of admission.)

I find this sentiment silly. We’re not at Janney, but no doubt Janney has events throughout the year that prioritize community-building. So one *fundraiser* each year has a big price tag. It’s one evening, not a mission.

+1.

The freeriders should just give a big Thank You to the parents organizing and attending the auction.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm on our elementary's PTA Board and disapprove of school auctions. I understand it brings in money for the school, so I keep my mouth shut, but I do not condone the message that a public school can encourage inequalities, that if you have money, you get more school-related stuff. At our school, shadowing the Principal is auctioned off, or a lunch with the assistant Principal, etc. Tying a relationship with a special teacher or administrator with money is just wrong.

So I don't go. Don't want to see that happening live.

I love you.
I work at a school that auctions this type of garbage. They try to pressure teachers into putting together ‘experiences’ for the auction. It is incredibly sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are right. There should be a mechanism for those who truly cannot afford to attend the auction to come. But in reality that is a very small number of families (1% are economically disadvantaged but probably more can't afford a $75 random expenditure). The tickets, however, are not out of line with other schools and at the $75 you can get a ticket for (not the $100 closer to the event) not out of line with what the vast majority can afford. There are the few here (and I think the initial poster falls in this category) that may not want to spend the money on it, but that is a choice. I was more responding to how the initial post read to me - "I want to come but I don't want to spend that much money." Or "I wish this event was cheaper and more casual, but I don't volunteer to help organize it."

+1

The attitude is what is irksome. I understand the pros and cons, but the values against wanting to somehow allow those who cannot, for whatever reason, afford it just because others can, strikes me as out of sync. Why not be inclusive, if you can?


Our school offers a discreet opportunity for those who want to attend to partake. There doesn't seem to be an abuse of this, and the richness of our community is valued in all of it's diverse composition.

One problem I could foresee with doing this in Janney is that there are probably plenty of families who COULD easily afford to go, but might prefer not to pay full price. How do you determine who gets the discount? Plenty of wealthy people are quite happy to pay less than what the rest of the world might think is their fair share.

NP. We have a free ticket option for parents who don’t want to pay the ticket price for whatever reason. It hasn’t been abused. In fact, we also offer a way to pay extra and have far more parents paying more than the handful of parents who choose the free option.

That's dumb, if you can't afford 80 entry how can you afford to buy an auction item

Auction items range from $25-30 for restaurant gift cards to $1000s for vacation homes, unique experiences.

Also, if you factor in two tickets + sitter + $100 auction purchase that could put things out of reach. Making it accessible allows those without the means to participate with dignity. Those who are flush can underwrite discreetly, or splash out by bidding large and flashy. To each his own.

+1

We want parents to come for community, not so everyone can bid everything up. The people who want to bid will do it no matter what.