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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Advertising in school

19 replies

BeeRayKay · 02/12/2014 20:56

AIBU to be a bit narked that today my reception aged child came out of school clutching her important school letters and also a leaflet for one of the local soft plays?

If it had just been put in her bookbag I'd have been less fussed, after all she wouldn't have seen it properly. I just feel school isn't the right outlet for nadvertising? Or am I being precious?

OP posts:
caravanista13 · 02/12/2014 21:00

The school has probably been offered something, e.g. a guest pass to be used as a raffle prize, in exchange for distributing the publicity.

cailindana · 02/12/2014 21:03

I'm noticing this a fair bit with my DS's school too and it makes me uneasy. In fact the school advertised a company that provides maths and english tutoring for parents who need to brush up their skills and a friend went for it only to be treated like absolute shit by a pushy salesman who berated her for not having a partner to help her to decide on whether to dole out tonnes of cash for shit lessons. It was awful, she was really upset. IMO schools should not be endorsing anything not directly provided by the school itself.

TheEnchantedForest · 02/12/2014 22:02

School budgets being squeezed equals more 'creative' ways of bringing in money. Otherwise cuts start to be made;they aren't popular with parents either.

Our school don't do it but I do understand why some have to resort to it.

FelixTitling · 02/12/2014 22:13

I would guess this is definitely to do with raffle prizes or other fundraising. I don't see any harm in it. You are likely to see advertising for the soft play elsewhere, or hear about it in someway anyway.

Even if the leaflet had been in her bookbag, she would probably have seen it as the kids are usually given any letters/flyers to put in their bags themselves as its quicker than having a ta spend half an hour putting leaflets in 30+ bags (in every class).

the only think I have ever been annoyed about was a weightwatchers flyer that dd came out waving once. Especially when I found out later that it was just as a favour to a parent and the school didn't benefit in any way.

WorraLiberty · 02/12/2014 22:17

I don't know what's wrong with her seeing it?

If you mean it's because she's going to pester you to take her there, kids have to learn they can't have everything they see in advertisements.

If it raises funds for the school, that's a good thing.

It's a shame the school has to resort to doing it this way, but many budgets are tight.

WorraLiberty · 02/12/2014 22:18

Apart from the fact the school didn't get any money from it, what was wrong with the weightwatchers flyer?

FelixTitling · 02/12/2014 22:26

Worra because it promotes the whole "women must be slim" rubbish that I didn't want my dd to be aware of at the age of 6.

WorraLiberty · 02/12/2014 22:38

So all the parents were women? Confused

WorraLiberty · 02/12/2014 22:41

64% of UK adults are classed as being overweight or obese

WW isn't a women only thing, unless the flyer specifically said 'no men'.

Original poster
BeeRayKay · 03/12/2014 07:29

I don't like advertising being pushed at children. And the school doesn't need extra funds if I recall the head teacher correctly.

OP posts:
TheEnchantedForest · 03/12/2014 09:12

They must be the only school in England!

YANBU then-no idea why they are doing it in that case.

marnia68 · 03/12/2014 09:15

I get fed up and have told the school no junk mail is to be put in bookbag.

flipchart · 03/12/2014 09:15

I really can't get irked up over such leaflets!
I'm either interested in what they say or they go into the recycling bin.

Complete non issue to me.

Lucyccfc · 03/12/2014 09:28

We het a few and I don't mind most of them. The one I objected to was the one advertising maths and English tutoring, which turned out to be the crappy centre's that sit kids in front of a pc to do online stuff with in-qualified teachers. For the same price each month, you can get access tea qualified teacher who does 1-2-1 tutoring.

I did complain to school about that one. The Head did agree that it wasn't appropriate.

WorraLiberty · 03/12/2014 09:42

If the school doesn't need extra funds (which I find hard to believe), it'll be because the advertising is bringing in the extra money.

kim147 · 03/12/2014 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FelixTitling · 03/12/2014 21:44

worra the ww leaflet had a picture of a slim pretty woman on it and the overriding message, because of the picture, urged other women to come to weightwatchers so they too could become slim and pretty just like the lady on the leaflet.

I would have been much happier if the leaflet was more obviously aimed at both men and women (and I know they exist) and had not been put into the hand of a very impressionable 6yr old girl. I have seen other leaflets aimed at adults (for Mixed Martial Arts) come home in a brown envelope.

MrsPiggie · 03/12/2014 22:50

I actually find the leaflets I pick up at school quite useful. Music lessons, foreign languages, drama classes, various sports, events in the neighbourhood. This year I signed up my kids to 2 activities I wouldn't have found out about otherwise. If ww were starting sessions in my neighbourhood I would be very happy if I could find out about it via a leaflet picked up at school. I trust myself enough to be able to explain to DD about weight loss, I'm not worried she will get the wrong impression from a ww leaflet.

ilovesooty · 03/12/2014 22:58

I get fed up and have told the school no junk mail is to be put in bookbag

Yet another tiresome monitoring task for the class teacher/ta then.

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