Bring something in for Harvest Festival or detention

[Chopstheduck]

Is this teacher being reasonable? Please tell me before I fire off a very cross email to the school. Dd's class were told this today - half haven't donated.

We don't usually bother, because I'm not christian, I don't celebrate harvest festival and I prefer to donate food and cash where and how I want to rather than be coerced into donations.

All those that are saying the OP is BU - so the only people that will be punished are the poor ones? No, it's not right to force this issue, and that point should be made by everybody. It shouldn't just be those that can't afford to be bullied (and that's what this is).
For myself, I wouldn't do it and I would complain as it's wrong to punish for this. It's supposed to be voluntary.

YANBU at all. And I'd ratchet it up a notch. Email teacher with the following questions -

• how will the donated food be distributed?
• how have the beneficiaries been targeted?
• have they been consulted on what food they would find suitable?
• has the charity done an audit to assess food allergies; whether the beneficaries have access to facilities to heat the food; are ABLE to do so safely; have access to a tin opener etc.
• ratio of admin costs of the charity to value of goods donated
• how is the charity accommodating different religious groups?
• has the charity assessed the economic impact on local small businesses, especially those owned by minorities, e.g. the corner shop owned by Asian lady

Only when you have answers to these questions will you be able to decide if you donate or not. This is how all the 'proper' aid agencies operate!

Alternatively, loving the dog food idea and I'd probably throw in some fish food too!

Well I've had a rather apologetic phone call from her teacher who explained it was a joke and dd must have got the wrong end of the stick.

I'm a little bit suspicious as dd was very certain he was being serious, but he was apologetic and so hopefully he will be explaining that to the class!

Thank you very much for all the mumsnetters who advised caution, so I didn't go in all guns blazing and embarrass myself totally

I delivered harvest festival donations last year, in a reasonably affluent area. Some if the old people were really grateful, maybe for the donation, maybe that they were thought of, and sometimes because it meant someone had come to see them that day

Rhinestone really? For a simple school harvest festival?

You must be Canadian YouMayLogOut facetious humour clearly lost on you.

It made me snurk, Rhinestone.

Wow, your sense of humour is even more sarcastic than mine Rhinestone! All credit to you :o

I don't think it was sarcastic, just beautiful evil genius!

So now you know there's no detention, Op, will you donate?

sarcastic/dry/ironic/acerbic/TIC/satirical/sardonic delete as applicable

I'm not too surprised that your dd had misunderstood. Lucky you didn't fire off the very cross email.

It is technically extortion isn't it? I am sure as soon as you mention that word to the school they'll drop it

Thanks for updating, not often I'm right! lol So are you going to donate or not?

Hmmm I wonder if they really were joking, or just realised that they were being a bit OTT.

The incentive for DS2's school is wear your own clothes if you bring something in. I would have donated a few bits anyway and still will be, but I suppose it is kind of a similar situation to get people to donate.

I remain sceptical! So does dd actually.

I shall ask dd, if she wants to donate, she can take something tomorrow.

And I promise it won't be dog food