"I think if you aren't involved in the fundraising, that you just shouldn't complain. I have never been involved in the fundraising. Have I donated? Yes! Have I always liked how they fundraised? No. But I'm not the one fundraising, so I'm just happy that someone else has taken this on, and that they are getting it done for the school."

Yup. If you do not like something then you volunteer to help work on it next time. If you put in the time you get more of a day in conplaining. If you are just upset other people are not doing more work well then good luck with that!

Our school has the "huddles" daily for a week. Today I went and now feel even dirtier than I did before. Start to finish it was 15 minutes outside of class plus the 5 minutes it takes to walk to/from the guy. 27 seconds of the 15 minutes was "character education" and the rest was pep rally. 9 whole minutes was recognizing the kids one by one who got prizes. (Yes, I filmed it and timed it after.)

My child said that their entire grade is being dragged to the gym several times a week to hear Boosterthon employees fundraising spiels and it's massively turning off some of the kids. I was going to explain today why we won't be pledging and she smiled and said "I would hope you're not. They keep half the money anyway" and then launched into a rant about how much she and her friends dislike the whole idea.

I received an e-mail from Teacher 1 that included this:

The students are having a blast learning about COMMUNITY through the Rock’n Town Live theme! So far this week, we learned about how as a community we must Plug In To Serve by putting other’s needs in front of our own, and we learned how important it is to AMPLIFY OTHERS, because we have the power to make others stronger with our words.

Please remember to register your student on funrun.com, so you can log on pledges. If you register your child, they will receive a FREE GIFT the next school day! Funrun.com also has all the music and character videos from each Community Challenge. Be sure to check them out. They’re really good!

This weekend is a special challenge—the “Weekend Challenge.” Any student who gets $2 per lap OR $60 flat donation over the weekend will receive the bonus reward of All-Day Flex Frames on Monday. The students are super excited to rise to the challenge!

Received e-mail from other child's teacher a few hours later ... yup, same wording. BOTH included phrases like

"the students are having a blast ...." Apparently each child in both classes is having a blast.
"Be sure to check [Boosterthon videos] out. They're really good!" Apparently both teachers had the same review.
"The students are super excited to rise to the challenge." Again, each child in both classes is super excited.

The teachers are puppets. The children are puppets. The donors are ill-informed at best.

Sleazy indeed.

I'm a PTA board member, and I got emails about a free lunch at McCormick and Schmick's (for me and up to 2 guests) if I'd come hear their spiel. Another time, I was offered a $10 Starbucks gift card for filling out a 5-minute survey. I was happy to be able to turn them down, based on what I had previously read here on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA just announced at the first meeting that they were doing Boosterthon, but nothing about the 48% that the company was charging. The PTA officers said they'd do programs with the kids on anti-bullying, but nothing about the push-ins to the classrooms every day. We did a Track-a-Thon for several years, but for whatever reason the board decided to ditch that and start up with Boosterthon. It's liek they saw stars in their eyes. Not sure how/where to object to this though - anyone get anywhere once the board sets their agendas for the year?

I would certainly object, and I would make clear that your child will not be participating. If you can get other parents to do this, too, I bet the Board listens. Frankly, I might see if a local paper will write a story on the issue.

Anonymous wrote:I think if you aren't involved in the fundraising, that you just shouldn't complain. I have never been involved in the fundraising. Have I donated? Yes! Have I always liked how they fundraised? No. But I'm not the one fundraising, so I'm just happy that someone else has taken this on, and that they are getting it done for the school.

Well, since my kid is being subjected to this and it's during school time, I think I have the right to complain, and certainly I have the right not to donate to a particular fundraising campaign.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My PTA wants $150 from each family. I think that is too much. I already paid $20 to be a PTA member. I can't afford $150.

DO they really state that they WANT it? Or is is just a suggested donation amount and they welcome any donation? The latter it the standard in our school. Its not like they put you on a list of who donates 150+

Don't move to D.C. then. As an example Janney School's suggested donation is $650.
https://janneyschool.org/fundraising/donate-to-the-pta/

"Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated", says the website.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My PTA wants $150 from each family. I think that is too much. I already paid $20 to be a PTA member. I can't afford $150.

DO they really state that they WANT it? Or is is just a suggested donation amount and they welcome any donation? The latter it the standard in our school. Its not like they put you on a list of who donates 150+

Don't move to D.C. then. As an example Janney School's suggested donation is $650.
https://janneyschool.org/fundraising/donate-to-the-pta/

"It's sleazy."

PP nailed it with this one. We refuse to participate. Too bad.

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA just announced at the first meeting that they were doing Boosterthon, but nothing about the 48% that the company was charging. The PTA officers said they'd do programs with the kids on anti-bullying, but nothing about the push-ins to the classrooms every day. We did a Track-a-Thon for several years, but for whatever reason the board decided to ditch that and start up with Boosterthon. It's liek they saw stars in their eyes. Not sure how/where to object to this though - anyone get anywhere once the board sets their agendas for the year?

If I were you, I would try to get every parent I know to e-mail the PTA president, asking the PTA to drop their plans for Boosterthon. Then, when is the next meeting? Try to get every parent you know to show up at the meeting and insist that the PTA drop their plans for Boosterthon. You could also get a group of parents together and ask for a meeting with the principal, to ask the principal not to allow school time for Boosterthon.

Our PTA just announced at the first meeting that they were doing Boosterthon, but nothing about the 48% that the company was charging. The PTA officers said they'd do programs with the kids on anti-bullying, but nothing about the push-ins to the classrooms every day. We did a Track-a-Thon for several years, but for whatever reason the board decided to ditch that and start up with Boosterthon. It's liek they saw stars in their eyes. Not sure how/where to object to this though - anyone get anywhere once the board sets their agendas for the year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you aren't involved in the fundraising, that you just shouldn't complain. I have never been involved in the fundraising. Have I donated? Yes! Have I always liked how they fundraised? No. But I'm not the one fundraising, so I'm just happy that someone else has taken this on, and that they are getting it done for the school.

I guess if you don't mind giving half the money to Boosterthon, keep writing the checks. But I have no intention of doing so and think all parents should know where the money is going before they decide whether to participate.

How many kids are saying, "OK, Mr. Thompson, I should let you know that if you pledge to write a check for $60 for my laps that a full $30 of that donation does not stay at my school but will go to a private business."

Scholastic books promotes reading and you get discounted prices. That is nothing like Boosterthon. I hate it too. It actually made me give less money directly to the PTA because of Boosterthon. I didn't want my kids to be left out and we are not asking relatives or friends to donate so I needed to save part of the donation for Boosterthon.

The only thing I don't hate about Boosterthon is the money it makes for the school. The thing is, what lessons are we teaching our kids? It's sleazy.

Anonymous wrote:I think if you aren't involved in the fundraising, that you just shouldn't complain. I have never been involved in the fundraising. Have I donated? Yes! Have I always liked how they fundraised? No. But I'm not the one fundraising, so I'm just happy that someone else has taken this on, and that they are getting it done for the school.

I guess if you don't mind giving half the money to Boosterthon, keep writing the checks. But I have no intention of doing so and think all parents should know where the money is going before they decide whether to participate.