To think baking for school is a waste of women's time?

[SayThisOnlyOnce]

Not a taat but I have seen various posters mentioning 'and I've got to bake for the school fair/sale' amongst many other things they need to do.

If you LIKE baking, fine.

But most people seem to find it a chore. I have never baked for school and I don't intend that I ever will. I've never encountered a dad stressed out because he has been guilted into agreeing to bake something he doesn't really have time for.

IME the cakes are sold really cheaply anyway. If you costed the time and ingredients I'm sure its making a loss, ie it would be cheaper not to bake and just stick money in a bucket.

It just seems to be another form of everyday sexism.

In fact, now I think about it, I don't think DD has ever actually eaten any of the cake itself. She just licks off the icing and gives the rest to me "for later"/the bin.

Homemade cake sales (preferably made by other children) are very good for developing children's immune systems.

I think the amount of time, energy and trauma women put into fundraising is way disproportionate to the returns achieved. All that effort into the school fair for a measly couple of thousand dollars!!!! We live in an affluent area fgs, just ask parents for a voluntary extra hundred on their school fees and be done with it. Save everyone's time. Or spend the energy on lobbying for corporate sponsorships. Or, charge for parking at the school gate. Or, sell an easement to a network provider. Or, enrol some fee paying international students. Bigger bucks, less effort, less angst.

200 cakes, cash profit of 1-2 pound per cake, 200-400 pounds made for the school. Now add in the economic cost of 1 hour per cake. Time valued at 10 pound per hour. 2000 pounds of valuable time lost for parents. That's a net economic loss folks.
Next fundraiser should be "parents can opt to pay ten pounds or bake a cake". Bet you get more payers than makers.

schools needed to change their attitudes and stop making demands on parents

Or parents need to change their attitudes and realise the school and parents need to work together to do the best for their children?

But it is very pleasant to go to a well organised school fair, have a nice piece of home made cake and a catch up with people you don't see that often. Slip the kids a few quid and let them go wild with the secondhand books and games, buy a bit of secondhand school uniform at a good price. It's not just about the money, it's about building the school community.

Now add in the economic cost of 1 hour per cake. Time valued at 10 pound per hour. 2000 pounds of valuable time lost for parents. That's a net economic loss folks.

Except why is my time worth ten pounds an hour, as a parent? It isn't. Your calculations are nonsense.

Last night I had to represent the French revolution in cake. I got pre-made fairy cakes and some frosting and stuck a marzipan severed head for each with a little face and some blood. One of the DDs wrote "Let them eat cake" in the "blood" gel icing colour. I thought we were all rather clever and smug.

BTW What can I do with a pound of leftover white marzipan?

Kiwi I like your style! TLL, the school fair is full of people one sees all the time!

Previously, on the hottest day of the year, I made chocolate cake pops. They didn't even make it up the drive. I only made 12, each one must have cost £2 in ingredients alone. All I had left were small inverted bags of melted chocolate and mush.

I have also made a Tudor heraldic shield out of jam.

Depends if you do the school run or not MrsMcColl.

The thing is, you don't need to spend loads of money and time. I do a basic Bero 6oz mix. All in one it Takes 10 -15 mins to weigh and mx and then 15 mins in the oven. I usually do this while tea is cooking.

Topping is butter cream, glacé icing or melted choc. Usually with sweets or sprinkles. Again 10-15 mins tops. This makes enough to take 8 to school and 10 for home.

That's what I do Purple. All this angst over a school's efforts at fundraising.

At DD's primary school the funds raised by the PTA were spent on the children - markings in the playground, laptop computers so the children didn't have to share, library books etc. So unless you really can't afford to make any kind of donation to school fund raising efforts it looks mean spirited not to.

It's part of having children I'm afraid - unless you home educate.

Oooh, Bunbaker, I think you go to my school! (Were the markings done last week? The kids LOVE them).

I do a choc packet mix (I like Wrights) with added courgette for moistness! Usually keep icing in the freezer left over from other cakes, so take some out and defrost whatever I have.

DD is at high school now. The markings were done years ago.

In these times of budget constraints schools need the extra funds that the PTAs raise more than ever.

I don't care who does it. I just am not doing it. I hate making cakes and I hate this awful obligation to do this kind of crap. I would happily write a cheque and get on with doing things I am interested in.

"I would happily write a cheque and get on with doing things I am interested in."

Fantastic. Go right ahead. Nobody's stopping you!

Bun, guess it is the same old, same old . Mine are only 6, and they are loving the new playground markings.

I think we should introduce am annual charity bucket (with gift aid envelopes to hand) for those who are too miserable to make/ buy cake or attend a summer fete.

Sorry, did I say 'miserable', I meant BUSY...

" I only made 12, each one must have cost £2 in ingredients alone"

Bloody hell- what did you make them out of????

As I said before, I bake for a sort of living. I can make and decorate 72 cupcakes in 2.5 hours and for less than 20 quid. People who don't do it all the time won't be as quick as me- but surely to goodness 12 isn't going to take long? But if you don't want to, then don't. But don't be sneery about people who do, and do chuck a couple of quid in the cake stall's margarine tub. Even if you don't want the cake.

If you want to write a cheque instead there is nothing to stop you- just go ahead and say that you are doing that instead- it really doesn't matter. I prefer to do a cake, it doesn't take long and can easily be done when doing other things. Each to their own. I really can't see why it should be an issue.

Our schools fundraising is for stuff for the kids. Stuff they wouldn't have but for the fundraising. Some parents go into class to help kids read, others go on school trips or help at discos. I don't do this and appreciate it. My help is limited to walking them to church, making cakes and turning up at events or enabling DS to do so.

Don't feel guilty if you don't want/haven't time to do something but do what you can/enjoy or donate cash. Am sure all contributions are gratefully received.

Fund raising is essential these days- people would be shocked at what was missing if they didn't do any.
It doesn't matter if you give time, as in baking, or just give the cash but you do need to benefit your children.

It doesn't have to be cake. I get that some people can't/don't want to bake, but just making a donation towards the summer fair whether it is money or something for the tombola would be the nice thing to do.