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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be utterly pissed off with the school

28 replies

ladygoingGaga · 20/11/2013 18:30

DS (7) came home from school today with a nice glossy leaflet and a free sample of some play doh type stuff called sqwooshi.

Now DS is going on about getting some.

I'm annoyed that the school allow such blatant advertising, and sales, especially this close to christmas.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 20/11/2013 18:33

Schools are desperate for money at the moment.

azzbiscuit · 20/11/2013 18:35

Get him to put it on the teacher's seat tomorrow. It'll be the last time they do this.

RedHelenB · 20/11/2013 18:37

Tell him to put it on his Christmas list, Think yabu!

firawla · 20/11/2013 18:38

Yabu, they gave him a freebie - I don't see anything wrong with it. either tell him to put on his xmas list, or tell him just play with the sample he has??

bundaberg · 20/11/2013 18:40

i don't like this either. my kids are at school to learn, they aren't a marketing opportunity.

phantomnamechanger · 20/11/2013 18:40

you haven't had the NED yo-yo show yet then, OP.......

JassyRadlett · 20/11/2013 18:41

OP, I agree with you, direct marketing at children through schools is a pretty appalling development.

barebranches · 20/11/2013 18:44

Really! put it on the teachers seat!! poor woman... we get letters from the office to had out. Nothing to do with the poor teacher.... wow!

TidyDancer · 20/11/2013 18:53

Wow DS's school hasn't got to this point, but it would have words with the teacher if it happened.

Not acceptable.

Original poster
ladygoingGaga · 20/11/2013 18:59

Well they tried to disguise the shitty marketing ploy with a 'design a sqwooshi monster' competition.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 20/11/2013 19:03

The teacher will have had no involvement in the decision.

WooWooOwl · 20/11/2013 19:04

Companies like this often make a donation to the school in exchange for the marketing.

Schools wouldn't need to do it if they were better funded, but they aren't, so they have to take these opportunities when they arise. Oddly enough, they are trying to do their best for their children, they don't spend staff meetings thinking up ways to piss parents off.g

barebranches · 20/11/2013 19:04

It really wasnt the teacher. Leave her alone!!! Go complain to the office if you really must...

bundaberg · 20/11/2013 19:06

barebranches... it wasn't even the OP who mentioned the teacher! just a joke from another poster.

calm down

MaryShelley · 20/11/2013 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MistyB · 20/11/2013 19:08

Did the company pay the school? If they didn't YANBU amd you should approach the Head and suggest they only allow this kind if activity in return for a donation to the PTA funds. If they did, find how much and convert it into cupcakes, and then consinder if it is a good price to pay!

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 20/11/2013 19:09

I am not stuggling to see what she is pissed off about!

Its obvious.

However, we get this too, usually for extra curricular stuff, so I will get a leaflett saying...your child did BLA today, its x £ for a ten week course.

I dont mind it, I like her trying free stuff. But then she doesnt pester me for it either.

HappyMummyOfOne · 20/11/2013 19:12

Schools need momey on top of budgets and it sounds like a fun fundraiser.

Parents will always find something to moan about or try and get out of paying for, seem very few parents who support fundraising given the comments on here recently.

barebranches · 20/11/2013 19:12

Just annoys me that someone would want to abuse the poor teacher for something that was nothing to do with her. Wasn't aimed at OP.

Original poster
ladygoingGaga · 20/11/2013 19:14

I am annoyed at the school, I understand it wasn't one teachers decision.

After all where does it end? It's easy, cheap marketing with apparently no policy in place.

I'm going to put ask the school for a copy of their policy in relation to it, surely I can opt out?

I also want to know how much the company paid to the school.

OP posts:
ihatethecold · 20/11/2013 19:27

I wouldn't be happy if this happened at my dd school.

vestandknickers · 20/11/2013 19:35

phantom - I'd forgottten about the great NED yoyo swindle until you reminded me and I ranted about that for months at the time! Grin

I wouldn't mind a bit of playdoh though. As others have said, just get him to put it on his Christmas list. At least it is something I'd be happy to buy and can be used creatively.

HerRoyalNotness · 20/11/2013 19:39

We get reading books sponsored by McDonalds at ours ffs (USA) to be fair the school has 49% financially disadvantaged children, so I guess they must accept sponsorship to provide supplies at school

phantomnamechanger · 20/11/2013 19:46

NED yoyo, for those who don't know yet is a total scam designed to get your kid to want to buy a £15 yoyo so they can do amazing tricks (yeah of course they will). many complaints about this at our school last year.

from their site -
"The NED Show is a high energy, 45-minute motivational assembly featuring our character NED and lots of active participation for kids. Presented through storytelling, humor, visuals and audience participation, The NED Show utilizes a multi-sensory learning model to motivate…encourage…INSPIRE your students to become champions at school and in life.

We teach three critical skills that bring out the Champion in every kid by sharing the story of NED, whose name is also an acronym.

Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best

These three simple principles can make a profound difference in every student, as well as create a strong impact on the culture of your entire school."

danone · 20/11/2013 19:50

Tampax sponsor those puberty leaflets given out to Y7s. Little difference.