How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Hubby and I have talked about it and have OUR opinions. Wondering what ya'll think.

------direct from the newsletter---------
This year the children will be designing their on “piggy banks” for collecting for a family in need. Your child will bring home their piggy bank and be asking you to put in your spare change, as well as other family members if you like, to be given to a family in need. The piggy banks are due back to the school by Thursday, December 20.
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Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Not a fan of forcing people to donate money. You never know what anyone may be going through, especially this time of year. Poor kid that comes back with an empty bank bc there just isn't anything to spare :(

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I like this idea. It wouldn't bother me, so long as there was no penalty if a child/family did not participate. If a family has very little to spare, they shouldn't be expected to give up the pennies that they themselves may need.

ETA: I also think that it should be kept private how much each child raises so that the kids won't feel bad if theirs is empty or if they didn't raise as much...

Message edited 12/11/2012 12:20:24 PM.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

My questions:

1. Who decides who these "families in need" are?

2. If it's a child's project, how much spare change are they going to muster up?

3. Is each classroom raising money for ONE family, and the money is pooled, or is each child expected to "foster" one family?

4. What happens when I child brings in a piggy bank with a few pennies, dimes and maybe one quarter? How is that helping anyone?


My opinion:

Putting a dollar value on someone's needs is insulting. If Sally raises $50, but Jane only raises $12, what does that mean about Jane's charitabilty (sp) compared to Sally's? To me, it means that they both tried their best. But is that how Jane will see it? What about Jane's foster family that receives this money? Will they feel less "cared for" if they receive less money? And who decides which family gets what amount?

Donating non-perishables for food baskets is a good way to explain to children that not everyone can afford to put food on the table.

IMO, there are better ways to teach a lesson to children about families in need. Donating food, clothing, even their time assembling gift baskets for families teaches them more about values than hitting up family members for cash for some "fundraiser" at school.

Message edited 12/11/2012 12:21:55 PM.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I don't like it AT ALL because it's basically a forced donation. Since each kid is making a piggy bank, what are you gonna do-- have your kid be the only one who sends it back empty? Who says you even have any interest in supporting this cause?

I love supporting food drives, toy drives, book drives etc at my children's school, but I also want to CHOOSE to participate in them and not be bullied into them.

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

thank god.. I thought it was just me.

I had pretty much some of the same thoughts as you guys. And just FYI they are most likely going to have all the kids bring in their piggies and as a class share as they dump them into a bigger container.

At 4yrs old I *KNOW* its gonna be who has more in their piggy. Not so much $$ but the sheer number. So the kid who sends in a piggie FILLED in pennies will be a huge win over that kid who brings in a half a piggy filled with dollar coins. ya know?

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I'm seriously NOT liking this idea at all but since the handbook was updated to basically say that we the parents MUST participate with our children and not counterman any of the school's 'mission' with the children ... I can't say diddly. I can't afford AJ to be kicked out (which is the penalty) but I think this is crazy.

I feel like it puts so much pressure on us as parents to play the "One up the Jones" game and basically it doesnt so much teach my child about charity as much as it teachs her the principle of she who has more gets more attention. Great. and its MONEY! so now lets teach our children that more money is better than less money. Competion for who has more money. Ugh

Just makes me feel icky.

Past few years we did the Food Bank (which I thought was good) and we also have done collections for the needy (socks, blankets, etc) plus pet donations (cat/dog food, bowls, leashes, pet beds)


But you KNOW I'll do it... I have to. I can't let AJ go to school with a half empty piggie.. and I know its for a good cause but it does not make me feel good at all.

They won't tell us any of that info by the way. Who its going to, what charity, how much is needed, how it will be used. Just ... Give us your money, we'll use it wisely.

Seriously a yucky taste in the mouth type thing all the way around.

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

What's the time frame? Just now until the 20th? I'd probably break a $5 bill into a ton of pennies and maybe two bucks in silver. That's just how I'd approach it- but yes, I think it's dumb. One bc it "forces", two bc it "compares", and three bc it doesn't make a lot of sense- how does a kid asking their parent for "spare change" really teach a lesson? Would be better if the kids worked together to raise the money.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I guess if you elect to send your kid to this school you have to have some sort of trust in them in which case I would not get hung up on who it is going to.

I would make it about the charity for my kid. Make sure they know we give what we can, no matter how hard times are there is always someone out there less fortunate and we want to do what we can.

I don't know, if it really is just about the money and who brings in the most, can you talk to the director about how to make sure the focus is on the right values and not who has the most coins?

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I feel like why wouldn't you want to donate... They aren't asking for big amounts... Just some spare change that we all have lying around... I see no big deal with it.

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

We haven't even gotten the pigs yet. It was in our newsletter which went out 12/6. I haven't said a WORD. I am already on thin ice for raising a stink about other stuff. AJ is *this* close to being kicked out. She does well in the class and the teacher is worth it, the rest outside that room is not.

I can't call the director. Seriously, I can't. We've agreed my husband will do all communication going forward. He's just sorta meh about it.

I get that I *COULD* just send in pennies but I DO want to do the right thing. Ugh. So we have some food and toys to donate. I am going to have AJ drop off a toy for toys for tots (new unwrapped) and we'll also be donating food for food bank pick ups. And yeah. I guess I'll be sending in what i can in the piggy.

I'll try to pull the teacher aside but I know that they won't do that. They can't leave the room so the money will come in. They kids are decorating their own piggies so they will be eyes glued to them the moment they come back into the room. Kids being kids they'll all show eachother and feel the weight differences. Just unavoidable. Teacher won't even step in the class until 8:30. So the kids are all in there comparing stuff, etc (even with OTHER classroom kids of different classes) before anyone comes in as a teacher. Before Care begins at 7:15am. AJ isn't there until 8am usually.

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

As far as the whole kids competing for who has more, that's life... You can't shield em from that kind of competition forever. It exists everywhere you go... Instead of focusing on that aspect, why don't you make a lesson out of it for your child. That its not about competing, but everyone contributes what they can to help someone in need and that COLLECTIVELY all the children have helped someone less fortunate and that's what is most important.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I don't know. I'm iffy on it. I sort of don't like the forced donation idea. I think a better idea would be if they created a "class piggy" bank and had it set up in the school lobby so when people come in they could drop their spare change in there IF THEY WANT without any pressure of HAVING to. And then AS A CLASS they could count out the money each morning, maybe graph their collections, and have it be a math lesson along with teaching children about donating and helping others.

I also feel they should give some specific information as to who the family in need is and where the money will be going.

As far as individual contributions, why not a food drive and that can be donated to the family along with any money collected from the class piggy bank. Or maybe just skip the piggy bank idea all together and do just a food drive and maybe toy donation. I think that might be a way better idea then collecting a few dimes and nickels here and there. I don't think it will amount to all that much.

ETA - I read above and I'm sorry, but that's some BS that they aren't sharing details about where the contributions are going. NOT that you need a specific name but a little insight into who you're aiming to help should be included. Personally, I think the school is handling this all wrong. Speaking as a former teacher, there are better ways to go about teaching children about charity, giving, and helping as well as collecting for those in need. I don't really like how they are approaching this.

Message edited 12/11/2012 1:36:16 PM.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I know you didn't ask this but I would have a bigger issue with a school that didn't allow me to voice my concerns as a parent. Forget the pig, I wouldn't want my kid at this school.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I really don't like it.

But I don't like the girl scout thing and the wrapping paper selling thing either.

I remember MY mom hating it when they gave it to me to do as a child.

What was worse was when they handed out prizes for those who sold the most (I remember that... my mom explained that the people who won took it to work and that she already has a job... not one at which she should solicit money... she was a teacher).

When I was growing up, we didn't have spare change. But, what my parents had me do was to recycle bottles at the local grocery store & I could use that $$. It was usually a dollar or so.

If I were you... not to stir up drama, if you don't have recyclables... I'd give a bunch of pennies to your daughter for the piggy bank last minute.

I HATE pressured donations (even to needy causes).

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I think it is teaching a child to give, especially during this holiday season. It says spare change. Who is to say that your spare change isn't $1.00. It doesn't say a minimum amount!!!

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I complained about an abusive assistant
I complained about the construction
I complained about the lack of safety protocols (fire, choking, crossings)
I complained about lack of safe passage for the children in the front area
I complained about lack of safe passage in the back area
I complained about public posting of children’s photos (without permission)
I complained about the owner not responding
I complained about lack of information to the parents
I complained about lack of communication regarding injuries
I complained last term about lack of supplies
I complained last term about over crowded classes
I complained last term about the lack of qualified teachers (based on their own website data)
I complained about tuition being non-competitive
I complained about the increase cost in school pictures with decrease in quality
I complained that they over charged me for Dec (which they’ve since fixed but only after several discussions)

So yeah I’ve had some complaints. To be fair a lot of above, I was not just complaining on my own but with other parents. Some were solo but most were sort of a group thing.

But.. I have never complained about AJ’s teacher this term. I actually like the direction AJ is going with this teacher. Last year’s teacher was flaky. This time, we have direction, purpose, goals. It’s working well for us all. Ironically, I’ve defended the teacher against any complaints about her.

Why not just move her? Time, Place & Money
#1 Time: She has only until June, then she’s out and onto public school in the Fall. She’s less than 5mins from hour house. As we drive to work she’s on the left, we turn in, park, drop her off and cross traffic to go to work but its on the way just outside our main community. When we come home she’s on the right so its super easy to pull in, pick her up and continue right to the house. Means less time traveling, more time at home.
#2 Place: there is only one other place that is close although not convenient since we are an area of growth. The main road is under construction and is known to take up to 20mins to go half a mile. If I went to the alternate location it would be 2 miles in the wrong direction. Leave right out of our community then double back after dropping her off, then pass the house and double back to come home.
#3 Money well the alternative is just slightly more affordable but not when you factor in all the uniform costs I will have incur again. I did not buy uniforms this year. Just reused all from last year (thankfully). Plus before the term (and before the construction drama) I paid in full for the before and aftercare program. I’m ‘invested’ if you will.

So maybe you’re right. I’m looking at this with an evil eye if you will. Which I guess it’s good I don’t complain anymore, right?

Message edited 12/11/2012 5:30:13 PM.

How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Oh and here's the new clause in our handbook:

Therefore, "meh" Montessori reserves the right to dismiss or to deny the privilege of reenrollment to a student if we reasonably conclude that the actions of a parent or guardian impede a positive and constructive relationship or otherwise seriously interfere with the accomplishment of our mission.

Message edited 12/11/2012 5:42:24 PM.

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

I don't see how it is different from the Unicef cans/boxes schools give out for Halloween

Re: How do you feel about this school 'project' that AJ's school is pushing through???

Message edited 12/12/2012 4:47:28 PM.