Boosterthon at E.P. Rayzor

[GoNavy]

Is anyone else hating this fundraising propaganda that's being shoved down our kids' throats during school time??? I hope the school never does this program again. I just read this company takes 48% of the money. Disgusting...

[love Lantana]

fortunately our son saw through them and came home and told me not to give them any money that they were trying to take everyones money. He went on to say they even want us to call relatives and get money. I think all the talking I do about careful money management has paid off.

[momof2]

This is the 5th year they have done this. It originally was supposed to be a one time thing to help raise money for Blanton and Harpool's PTA's before they opened, but they made so much money they decided to keep doing it. I hate it. They take time out of school for a big pep rally to sych the kids up for the crappy prizes. then we get continuous emails all week to remind us. I give me kids $5 each and call it a day. Especially since the PTA hasn't even spent the money from last year. I'm hoping it's the last year and will not miss it when my kids are no longer there. Blanton does one that they run themselves, don't use the Boosterthon people who take so much of the money. Everything they raise goes straight to the school. So over the all the fundraisers throughout the year.

[GoNavy]

Unfortunately, my son is in Kindergarten and has been completely taken in by the propaganda. He's driving us crazy! Apparently, these guys go into the classrooms every day and pass out prizes to the kids who have gotten donations. Kids who don't get prizes then feel left out. I can't believe the school is actually sponsoring this. They talk about "teamwork" and how the kids have to do their "part" to get a class party. This isn't about teamwork; it's about a company making money.

Blanton is so much smarter to do it themselves...

[GoNavy]

I also keep thinking about poor kids who won't be able to get any donations-- they have to sit there day after day watching their classmates get prizes. Oh, and it takes a donation of 35 dollars to earn the smallest prize-- a rubber wristband. This should not be happening in public school.

[JKTex]

I hate that stuff. I've been happy that towards the end of Elem. and now in Middle School, our school tested with parents just writing an extra check at the first of school. Apparently a lot of people liked it over the fundraising garbage and it's successful.

But what y'all are describing sounds worse than the garbage most do, but neither is very effective in raising money for the school.

Another related thing, in Elementary they used to really push the box top things. They'd throw pizza parties for the lasses that collected the most and all kinds of things. It wasn't until the last year that that I paid attention to the actual amount of money the school got from it. $220 Ya, for a whole year of k-5 collecting the stupid things. There's a racket for the companies that put them on their products.

[txbonfire]

My son is in kinder at EP Rayzor. He has been going insane about pledges and prizes (in a negative way). He has had meltdowns before going to school because he knows that if he did not receive a pledge then he will not get a prize. I gave a flat pledge on the first day, but that almost did more harm than good...he then would get extremely upset when I let him know that there would be no more pledges. Because of this thread, I talked to him more about it yesterday and today. I asked him to ask his teacher "How much money from our pledges goes to the school and how much goes to the Boosterthon company?"

My son also told me that one of his classmates cried (we are talking 5 and 6 year olds......so they do not understand) when he did not receive a prize because he had not submitted a pledge. This is so sad.

[Common Sense Al]

My 5 year old son saw a commercial for a "cool" remote controlled motorcycle. We got one and it wasn't nearly as "cool" as it was in the commercials. He was disappointed. I explained to him that they "lie" and make things look better than they really are because they want his money. He seemed to understand... and no big deal. A valuable lesson.

Maybe you should tell your kid they are just trying to get money by offering crappy prizes and it's best to say "no" (in an "age appropriate" way of course). I think a 5 year old could understand that... mine would.

[GoNavy]

Al, of course we've explained over and over how this type of propaganda works, but it's really hard when it's SCHOOL sponsored propaganda! These guys are actually giving the kids "lessons"on how their teamwork (aka getting pledges) will "change the world!" I can't believe a public school would stoop to this level to get money they don't even need.

Angela, I think your post along with mine show that kindergartners REALLY shouldn't be subjected to these people.

[Common Sense Al]

Al, of course we've explained over and over how this type of propaganda works, but it's really hard when it's SCHOOL sponsored propaganda! These guys are actually giving the kids "lessons"on how they're teamwork (aka getting pledges) will "change the world!" I can't believe a public school would stoop to this level to get money they don't even need.

Yes, it sounds pretty bad from what has been said here.

I don't know how one would file an "official complaint" about this, but I suspect if enough parents did so then they might do something about it. That's what I would do (along with explain it to my kid in an age appropriate way).

And if your kid feels bad about not getting a crappy prize, you could consider telling them you will give them something better instead, for doing something good (something other than making people feel guilty for not giving money or making pledges).

[Uther]

You complain by writing and calling both the school, the school district and your elected school board representative...

[JKTex]

You complain by writing and calling both the school, the school district and your elected school board representative...

Ditto!! Parents need to make sure the Principle and the district are well aware of the impact of that crap. It certainly doesn't lend anything positive what why they're at school to begin with.

[txbonfire]

oh...believe me...i will

thank you, GoNavy, for starting this thread

[love Lantana]

yes ditto thank you go navy...I think for a long time parents have been/are afraid to say anything. when my son was in k it was much harder to deal with. First and foremost we have to be advocates for our kids.

[scvsop]

You complain by writing and calling both the school, the school district and your elected school board representative...

Ditto!! Parents need to make sure the Principle and the district are well aware of the impact of that crap. It certainly doesn't lend anything positive what why they're at school to begin with.

A. Principal.
B. File an FNG.

http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/383?filename=FNG(LOCAL).pdf