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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that advertising via an infant school bookbag is Not On?

40 replies

OddFodd · 14/02/2014 20:38

I know the school gets money from Scholastic (even though it's shit) and I presume they get money from Primary Times and the other kid-focused newspaper that we also get every now and then. I don't mind them - they're infomercials which I can say to my DS are telling us about what's on over half term or whatever.

Today however, DS came home with Primary Times and a Change for Life leaflet (which I hate but we'll put that on one side for now) AND:
a National Trust leaflet
a PGL leaflet and ... (drumroll)
a VIRGIN MEDIA leaflet!!

WTAF? My child's state infant school is handing out advertising for private companies? I'm furious!

Do other schools do this? It seems entirely wrong to me

OP posts:
Original poster
OddFodd · 15/02/2014 22:17

As far as I know (and I think I read it here!) Scholastic are not nearly as generous as other schemes are but for some reason are embedded. I also think they sell a pretty rubbish selection of books

OP posts:
RobotLover68 · 15/02/2014 22:38

the one that drives me demented every year is the company flogging private tuition - I get told by my child I HAVE to fill in the form even I'm not interested

I got so fed up I scrawled across the envelope - I'M NOT INTERESTED - I haven't had one since

Sleepyhead33 · 15/02/2014 22:42

Scavola-I have to disagree. This type of thing may have happened on a fairly small scale in the late 90s/00s, particularly in smaller schools or schools with places left unfilled. It is now widespread and is going to get much, much worse over the next 10 years. This is indeed thanks to current government policies.
Don't just complain on here. Write to MPs asking them to justify education policy in your LA.

queenofthemountains · 15/02/2014 23:57

We have a magazine called playground,one issue had an article about dancing for exercise. Two of the dances were burlesque, complete with a picture of a lady covering herself in fans . The other was pole dancing! In a magazine given out in primary school.

I wrote to the magazine and complained to the school. The editor couldn't see any problem with advertising these. The head saw my point and also complained.

WilsonFrickett · 16/02/2014 00:07

YANBU. I really hate this although most of our PTA don't share my concerns. It doesn't matter to me if the things being advertised are 'good', it just doesnt sit right with me.

cashewfrenzy · 16/02/2014 00:12

I can beat all of the above.

My six year old brought home a flyer for Slimming World. Every child got one. I was speechless with rage.

scaevola · 16/02/2014 07:08

Our schools were neither small nor undersubscribed and it was happening there through the 00s.

It was 'widespread' long before 2010.

scaevola · 16/02/2014 07:12

Also, if you search MN, you'll find plenty of pre-2010 threads complaining about this.

Just as an example (the first I found) ones from 2004 and 20045 here and here

TheRealAmandaClarke · 16/02/2014 07:14

We had the same in DS's bookbag.
Along with the "swap smart" thing.
Straight into recycling.

DarlingGrace · 16/02/2014 07:15

I work in marketing for secondary schools. They all need the money. It's a revenue driven market place. Would you get worked up about, hiring the hall out to a zumba class? No? principle is the same though.

I'm currently working on a deal with an estate agency. The parents get reduced fees and the school gets advertised by the agency on all their boards.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 16/02/2014 07:20

DH has suggested lining the book bag with a "no junk mail" notice.

If there had been a pole dancing Advert or slimming world I would have taken that up with the school and local press.

Original poster
OddFodd · 16/02/2014 09:06

Reduced fees for what DarlingGrace? DS is as a State school otherwise I wouldn't complain. It's not supposed to be a commercial enterprise
I'd be furious at a Slimming World leaflet Shock

OP posts:
EvaBeaversProtege · 16/02/2014 10:40

A friend is a slimming world consultant & one of their 'prongs' at training is how to promote their groups - she tells me that more often than not the suggestion of putting leaflets into book bags causes debate at training camps.

So perhaps not all sw consultants do it due to their own standards, but others see schools as an easy way to deliver X amount of flyers & tick that off their 'to do' list.

WilsonFrickett · 16/02/2014 11:25

Darling Zumba and a book bag leaflet aren't the same principles at all! It's not the same principle at all! One is direct marketing to an audience who may or may not definitely may not welcome it, the other is revenue gathering from an asset that would otherwise be doing nothing. No parental marketing at all with the Zumba class, apart from a poster in the gym hall...

mamamicha16 · 14/03/2014 14:16

This is interesting feedback for me as I have asked for schools to hand out leaflets for me as children are the target audience...our Head office proclaim it is a fantastic way to advertise and promote brand awareness I especially agreed for fresh and small businesses owned by people within the community who in turn feed the money back as a parent I will confess getting the competition in my daughters book bag (no longer as one)made me cross but not for the reasons that are clearly upsetting parents today. Would you all prefer to search on line for classes outside of school when you want rather than being forced to take the approach of 'not now Bernard!' as parents need to be informed but also kept happy. I would welcome replies

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