AIBU - to be annoyed at school hounding me for a voluntary contribution?

[altern8gal]

My son is in reception at school. When he started we were given a small re-sealable bag and a letter for "Fun Fund" which basically said to put a £1/week in bag and send into school.

I did this for a few weeks, until I started thinking about it properly, totted up how much school were getting a year from the "Fun Fund" (approx £1560) and started to wonder where this money was going. When parents do not send in the contribution, we either sent a text to remind us, or pulled up by a member of staff.

I spoke to a teacher, who had pulled me up in the playground, and voiced my opinions and explained that I thought it was unfair to chase debt for a voluntary contribution. The next day, teacher came out with a big long list of what they used the money on (Sweets for Diwali, googly eyes, shaving foam (??) etc etc). We also pay for the usual stuff, school trips, disco, nativity, book week etc!

I explained, yet again, that I had no problem with providing a donation for something my child was doing at school, but I did think £1/week was excessive and that I didn't appreciate being chased for the money. Teacher agreed a letter would be sent out explaining clearly, and she didn't seem to know that we were getting texts too (I'm not the only parent concerned about this, just the only one to speak up about it).

Anyway, after being spoken too in the playground, twice, surrounded by parents, kids and teachers, I have yet again had a text chasing a voluntary contribution.

AIBU to think that this is a bit wrong?

Go and see the head.

Agree with Groovee, take it to the head.

I would be talking to the head. You are an adult and the teacher shouldn't treat you like that!

YANBU - its a bit pushy. I'd send a letter in stating you are not prepared to be hounded in person or by text and that you will contribute if and when you choose. They should at least take you of the text list and the teacher pest can be warned to back off. Once its in writing it should be okay.

I have never heard of this before. If they call it voluntary contribution it should be just that. Do it sometimes and sometimes not. I think yanbu and that you should not be chased for it. If everybody stops volunteering then the school will have to realise the scheme does not work and ask for a mire specific contribution when needed e.g. Supplies for cooking etc.

It is not really voluntary if you are being chased up. I would challenge the member of staff on that basis. Voluntary means just that. If it is actually a requirement then they need to be honest and tell the parents. They can't have it both ways.

Talk to the head, and also the local education authority and compalin about the teacher as well as the school. they have no legal or moral right to demand you pay to go to a state school at the end of the day, and next time they pester you in person say very loudly that none of the parents have a legal obligation to pay to go to a state school, and that they should not be harressing people in this way. The more people hear this the fewer parents will start to contribute.

As they are texting you I presume you have given them your number. I would check to see what they told you this woudl be used for as if they told you it was for emergencies, and now they are using it to obtain money they are breaking the rules, so i woudl also tell them that you gave your number in good faith and they are abusing this and using it for purposes you have not consented to.

I would send a letter in to the school and state that whilst you are happy to pay for specific events or outings that require extra money, you will NOT be contributing to this fund each week and that you are not prepared to discuss it any further with any members of staff.

By law, they are not allowed to make the payment compulsory. Education in the UK is free, they are only allowed to ask for voluntary donations.

My DS's primary school asks for a voluntary contribution once a term for additional art/garden/cookery supplies. The school never chases individuals as it's purely "voluntary". As other people have said, the way you are being chased is unreasonable. If it really is a voluntary contribution there should be no reason to hound you.

i would also talk to other parents about it, and tell them they do not have to contribute.

It sounds like they are pushing parents into topping up their budget, and are getting away with it!

Meeting with/letter to the head should sort it, OP. Oh, and YANBU!

School nursery here does something similar - they use it to provide the extra "consumables" that otherwise mount up. The shaving foam will be for children to practice mark making :)

But ... there is a money box on the teacher's table and parents give money to their children to put in. Nobody monitors who has put in, or how much.

Asking for £1 a week each and every week sounds a very unusual arrangement.

Doesn't school fundraising cover those sorts of expenses though? Our school only asks for voluntary contributions for school trips really. All other money for "nice" stuff is raised at school fetes, school discos and the like.

Very odd.

If I say the school are being grabby and entitled do I get ten points on MN bingo?

Erm, i think you have to say "Americanism" too to get your full points, ComposHat

Wow, but good for you for asking.

Reminds me of when I was at secondary school. The school asked for an annual contribution from all parents for the "school fund". Being a cocky 16 year old, I asked what it was for and said we would like to know before we paid. I was in the 6th form where we bought all our own text books and materials. I was summoned to the head master's office and asked to explain my disgraceful attitude and to convey his disgust to my parents at my and their lack of gratitude. When I refused to do this (on the basis that they had actually done nothing wrong and were my parents), I was threatened with suspension!

Blimey not heard of this before. What a cheek and hassling you in the playground in front of everyone too! Def stand your ground and see the HT, they are out of order.

Letter to Chair of Governors cc'd to Headteacher. Totally unreasonable behaviour by the school, and I'd refuse to pay it on principle. I'm all for raising money for schools by cake sales and the other kind of PTA activities and I do my share and contribute my share, but just telling parents they have to pay is ridiculous. And actually quite a lot of money - especially for poorer families with more than one child at the school.

Letter to Chair of Governors cc'd to Headteacher. Totally unreasonable behaviour by the school, and I'd refuse to pay it on principle. I'm all for raising money for schools by cake sales and the other kind of PTA activities and I do my share and contribute my share, but just telling parents they have to pay is ridiculous. And actually quite a lot of money - especially for poorer families with more than one child at the school.

Send a text back or an email with a dictionary definition of what voluntary means.

We are asked to contribute £2-3 every week for DS's school. It covers tuck shop and the community visits they do.
His school is a special school and the tuck shop isn't just to give them sweets it is a tool for them learning interaction, communication, turn taking etc.
Again it is a 'voluntary contribution' but it is often mentioned in the home school book if we haven't paid and it was even brought up at his review and his social worker flagged it as well.
I don't mind contributing but sometimes I can't afford it or just don't have a few coins to put in his bag

redsky, can i ask what practice mark making is??

Yes - the Head first, just so you're following complaints protocol, but if you're not happy straight to the Chair of Govs. That's just plain shit - if you're on a low income and have several children at the school, that quid a week per child is going to hurt. They should be planning their activities around the resources they have or which their budget allows, not demanding money from parents.