Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Art sale at son's school

145 replies

Bardette · 14/05/2014 22:23

Genuinely don't know if I'm being unreasonable but...
Next week is sports day at ds school. School have announced that there will be an Art display in the hall with one framed piece of work by each child. After perusing the display we can then buy our child's piece for £8. Ds knows about this and has told me I have to rush to make sure no one buys his picture before me! AIBU in being a bit cross at being forced to do this? It's not even a like they have chosen the children's best work, they all had to sit down and paint a tree over a couple of afternoons last week.

OP posts:

aprilanne · 15/05/2014 11:44

they did that at my sons school but they let them take a while to do picture .tell your son not to worry they usually only let members of the family buy childs picture .so you would get his .but I understand £8 pounds is a lot and you do feel you have to have it

Retropear · 15/05/2014 11:46

How are fetes judging (which is the message non bought art sends) a child's work?How do you explain to the kids whose parents didn't buy their work?

School assemblies don't cost parents anything.

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 11:46

No, it was only 10p a colour copy and about 50 were sold so it was only a fivers loss (or additional cost, whichever way you look at it).

Not much in the grand scheme of things and ALL children (disinterested parents or not) got their work displayed in the gallery.

On another point, you can be a skinflint and get your child to do a picture for free, but some of us (affordability aside) are happy to donate to the school, you know.

I go to the fete's etc.. looking to spend because I know it raises money that helps all children.

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 11:48

Involvement in the school is not just about cost though is it!
Confidence building is not just about spending money.

What do you say to the kids whose mum/dad doesn't bother to come to their assembly either. That is probably worse than not buying art as there is no cost involved!

This happens regularly, the same parents, never bothering!

aprilanne · 15/05/2014 11:50

another teacher mum .that's terrible to do that .I am sure our school let the children take the picture if there parent could.nt afford the frame .don,t get me wrong they were lovely and mine still hangs in my living room .but I am sure our headmistress would never have been that mean .

BoomBoomsCousin · 15/05/2014 11:53

This sort of funraising is illegal unless parents are given the option of paying only cost price. The government's guidelines on charging for activities makes it clear that schools may charge parents for materials if the parent indicates they want to take a piece created by the student home, but they may not make a profit from those charges (even in the name of fundraising). The may ask for donations however.
media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/c/charging%20for%20school%20activities.pdf

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 12:03

No, it's not illegal if it's part of the PTA's activities. It is a separate body entirely from the school and are usually run as a charity so they can charge what they like.

It's completely extra-curricular!

BomChickaMeowMeow · 15/05/2014 12:04

YAB a bit U, I think.

I don't like the style of doing the art sale at the sports day, but it is common to do these things within the context of a bigger event such as a Fete or Bazaar. PTAs do get external companies involved for some things if it still makes money for the school and/or is something fun for the children.

If you don't like the way the PTA does things, let them know, get involved. Don't be the parent who stands on the playground moaning but never actually helps out or does anything to change it.

Theas18 · 15/05/2014 12:05

Okaay....

I get this is a lot of money and people are very appropriately interested in profit made by the external company, but lets not loose sight of the fact it's raising money for the "extras" that are no longer funded for in the school budget eg playground toys for playtime.

the teachers/TAs are already putting their time into this - putting the display up/ manning it etc...

So how else do you as parent suggest the school finances the "extras" (no point in discussing " it should come out of their budget" they are spending that on the things that matter to your child education- in most school that is staff) ??

Get onto the PTA and fund raise in a way that is acceptable to you!

SoFishy · 15/05/2014 12:08

There are always parents who don't give a shit about these (even if their child has a reading part, or is participating in the Christmas Dance) and never do anything to support the school.

It makes me so mad that not turning up at school things is seen as a failing and a sign that you are a crap, uninvolved parent who doesn't give a shit. What about people who work all hours in jobs they can't just opt out of for a day? Especially if they are single parents or low paid, or on contracts where missing work hours means no pay? What about those who have to care for someone 24/7? It's bad enough for their child if they genuinely can't make it, without getting disapproval as well.

I say this as someone who does play a part at school, I help out in class and turn up to performances etc - but I'm aware that I'm very lucky to be able to do this because I'm freelance and home-based, and even then it can be a bugger to fit in.

Yes there are some parents who genuinely don't care. But not having time to show your face at school does not equal not caring.

Retropear · 15/05/2014 12:09

Don't need to.

In all my years of teaching and having kids in primary schools I've never come across this and said schools have always managed to raise pretty healthy sums in other far more creative ways even in non affluent areas.

I doubt teachers are putting hours into this,PTA activities at our school are always dealt with by them.

BoomBoomsCousin · 15/05/2014 12:10

But this isn't simply a part of the PTA's activities DamnBamboo. It is artwork done at school in school time. It's not clear whether the PTA are involved in the sale at all.

BomChickaMeowMeow · 15/05/2014 12:13

Yes there are some parents who genuinely don't care. But not having time to show your face at school does not equal not caring.

I agree. I thought that comment was disgusting and nothing to do with the main issue of the thread.

noddyholder · 15/05/2014 12:16

You can buy a few bits of shopping with £8 I hate these things that single people out.

Xihha · 15/05/2014 12:16

DDs school do a few craft sales through the year, with the money going to a charity the class have chosen, I think it's a really nice idea but at DD's school it is 50p-£1 per item (usually 2 or 3 items per child) and any varnishing or framing is done by a TA, I'm not sure I'd be quite so happy if it was £8.

Babieseverywhere · 15/05/2014 12:16

Our school did this a few months ago. Such a nightmare. I have three kids at the school so at a couple of days notice have to find £25 and that is not possible because we are on a tight budget.

Planned to take children straight home quietly to avoid the 'Art show' straight after school. Turned out teachers had put stickers on every child, just before hometime and told them they had to buy their pictures.

This lead to two upset girls and our boy rolling around crying on the floor having a bad meltdown (he is very sensitive to language and thought the teacher would be angry that we didn't buy art)

I went home and sent a rant email to deputy head who was horrified that any children were upset, but sadly there was several kids and parents upset in playground that day.

The school later allowed a payment scheme to get the darn pictures, which I did do and how they are in a cupboard, but at least the kids don't feel left out. Wish they had a lowed us a choice and/or introduced payment plan on Art show day.

odyssey2001 · 15/05/2014 12:18

Our school does this and a lot of effort was put in by the kids. My class spent a good 10 hours preparing for and creating a piece and they were only Year 2. I think it raises the profile of art and places it at the same level as other things such as sport, music, story writing, poetry etc. My class loved it. I know Â£8 is a lot for some people but is not a huge amount. If the school hasn't put the effort in then don't buy it. Our head made it very clear to us that this was important and a priority and that he wanted to see quality art produced, so we did and it was amazing.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/05/2014 12:20

Summary from teacher OH, for what it's worth: "Manipulative in the extreme"

LittleMissGreen · 15/05/2014 12:22

The DSs schools have done this. I've paid for them if I really liked the picture (and when I only had one DS). One year though I didn't think they were great - all the kids had to paint the same thing and didn't show my DSs personality at all.
DS1 saved up his pocket money and unbeknown to me a few days later bought his picture and gave it to me as a mothers day present . Whilst it was a lovely gesture from him I was really that there had been that much pressure on him to make sure his picture wasn't the only one left behind.

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 12:22

Yes boombooms you are right!
It doesn't say in the OP that the PTA organised it.
I had assumed that it was because that's the only way I've ever known it be done.

Does the OP clarify this further down at all? I'm not going to re-read it all.

If it is in fact the school doing this, then you are quite right in your last posting.

PaulinesPen · 15/05/2014 12:25

I've actually saved money now my dc are all at secondary school. No badgering for money every two minutes from them.

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 12:28

never do anything to support the school

Please don't take my post out of context when my point is quite clear. I work, i have missed things - that's part of life.

Yes there are some parents who genuinely don't care. But not having time to show your face at school does not equal not caring

Did I say it did?

And this was relevant to the discussion, the point being is that if schools never did anything so that no child was never left out (which is something a poster quite rightly pointed out might happen with an art show)... well they'd never do anything would they as there are many other ways to be left out, not just those involving money!

Retropear · 15/05/2014 12:29

Babies I'm appalled and really feel for you.

That kind of thing is exactly why I think this is awful.

Payments schemes . I'd rather families spent £24 on books from a Scholastic sale and had the art for free.

Those of us with several kids,how do you tell the ones whose art you won't be buying?

DamnBamboo · 15/05/2014 12:29

Retro can you please provide details of these all-inclusive, fund-raising opportunities that you are familiar with, in which no child is ever left out, or has the potential to be left out.

I am genuinely interested to hear of them and our newly formed PTFA is struggling so would pass on any good ideas.

noddyholder · 15/05/2014 12:31

Why can't they do these things and have collection buckets instead of a bloody bill for your own child's work?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6