To refuse to pay for a theatre visit from the school

[peachypips]

that happened today?

I received a letter in the book bag telling me that they would like a £4 contribution towards a visit from a theatre visit they had had this afternoon. We had no information about this except this retrospective letter!!

It almost takes the option of refusing away- "your child just did this- now pay for it"!!!

I doubt they'll get much money back!

Our letters always say that if enough money is not contributed then the activity will be cancelled- quite rightly. I always contribute and have not missed one.

So there was a kind of choice- if we didn't contribute it wouldn't go ahead, and as this is my first son's third year at school I know that there will be many more such contributions asked for. So, in answer I guess to your question, I would like the opportunity to say no to the activity if I can, rather than be presented it as a fait accompli. And other parents would like that chance too (there has been moaning on FB- not from me, please no flaming)

these "theatre group experiences" is an outside company coming in to sing nursery rhymes to Reception kids

Tsk.
We used to tour everything from Shakespeare to shows about Anti-bullying. This year my son has seen some amazing shows on science and history.

No wonder theatre in education is dying on its arse when parents are so dismissive and unappreciative of its value - and unsupportive of schools who actually bother to bring companies in.

This was The Wizard of Oz. Not sure what it entailed. Sure it was good though.

It's up to you. Personally I think if you can afford it, it would be mean and petty not to pay.

I dislike it when parents can afford voluntary contributions but choose not to.

I send my kids to a great school that I don't have to pay for. We are so lucky in this country. I am more than happy to contribute something so he can experience something different at school.

We do pay for schooling though through taxes and council tax.

In my child's old school I couldn't afford lots if these things that were supposed to be voluntary contributions because dp had lost his job.

Reminder letters and the odd phone call about these contributions made me feel like shit and embarrassed dd when the teacher kept asking about her payment.

Luckily dd is in a new school who don't constantly beg for money.

Patrickstarisabadbellend...that is a different situation if you couldn't afford it. I am talking about parents who can but don't on some bizarre point of principle.

Patrick yes we pay but the government is too tight to add funds in for things that matter....like theatre and extra art activities. If we didn't fund raise and chip in the DC would have a much less interesting time of it. If you can't afford it that's fine but many can and don't pay.

Don't waste your time, and don't waste their time.ultimately it will be time taken away from someone at your child's school that could be directed to something more useful.

Just pay up. It's 4 poxy quid for heaven's sakes. For something pretty worthwhile. And before you say 'principle', I would suggest you save fighting for the 'principle' for bigger things than this. Probably an admin error.

peachypips - our school always sends a letter home during the first few weeks in September, saying what all the trips are going to be (they do quite a lot of stuff at one of the feeder secondary schools) and asking us to (voluntarily) cough up loads of dosh with the thinly veiled threat that if we don't pay up then the trips will have to be cancelled because of the people that don't have to pay. It does annoy me at times as it seems so expensive! It wasn't so bad when I just had one child - £20-£30 for the trips. But now I have two DC at school so it's £40-£60 and when DS starts school it'll be even more!

We would all like the government to fund a broader, more exciting curriculum. However, funds are tight and sadly the things like theatre trips/visits, trips to museums, music and general cultural, enriching events are the things that go, so that books, teachers and other basic necessity ties can be bought.
This thread shows how some people really don't value the 'nursery rhyme singing theatre visits' and perhaps don't have a sense of the value of a broader cultural experience. Lots of people don't value these things or expose their children to them,due to cost, or just due to not valuing them.

Schools could just decide not to offer these things. It would mean they never have to ask for the bits of extra money, nor chase them up, not have the embarrassing conversations with people about their voluntary contributions. It would be much easier for the school to not bother. And such a shame for the children who would be the losers in it all. So, I really think, that if you can pay, you should. And if you have to make a minor sacrifice to pay £4 then you should be willing to,rather than having a strong sense that the school is somehow wrong to want to provide your child with a broader experience which will hit your pocket, because of your principles that all education should be free. The broader experiences cannot be free. It is a simple fact, and also that unless parents who can pay,do pay, these things cannot be offered. So if you can pay, just do it. If you cannot, becaue it would take money from food or your rent or mortgage or whatever, then that is different.
However,,too many people are quick to say that the £30 they are asked for per child is too much and they cannot afford it. But they will happily spend that on a Friday takeaway. Why is it wrong for the school to ask for a contribution that might require a small sacrifice, when it will benefit your child? I really think that many people either don't pay or moan loudly, when actually, they would frequently spend that kind of money on other things without a second thought......why the negative attitude towards the school. Again, before I am flamed, I totally accept that not everyone can pay and of course it needs to be voluntary. And I also accept that people should be given advance notice and perhaps a range of ways to pay,to make it easier.

The matter has been cleared up- apparently the theatre company just turned up when they had been booked for January. And I only know this through one teacher, so it hasn't gone out to the school.

So it was the theatre company's fault which makes me a bit cross because I know a lot of people will think like I did, feel miffed and not pay. Then the school will be out of pocket.

Can I just restate that I am not averse in any way to paying for these things, was just annoyed at the lack of warning.

These things happen- people need to be flexible, parents included. Never jump to conclusions and wade in before finding the facts.

I think the school were daft not to have been honest. If they'd said, 'Due to a mix up with dates, the theatre group visit that was scheduled for January actually happened today so, with huge apologies for the lack of notice, can we ask you for your voluntary contributions of £4 towards the cost of this activity, please' - then there would have been no misunderstandings or crossness at the lack of notice.