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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be happy that these people are teaching DS?

76 replies

DioneTheDiabolist · 30/06/2016 00:49

DS(9) is going into yr5. It's a brilliant school in a shitty area. At least three times a year there is a school disco. With tuck shop.

I know the takings are used to fund end of year booze ups for the staff. I like their entrepreneureal(sp?) acumen.

AIBU to be happy that DS's teachers are so resourceful? Or should I be outraged and appalled that they are exploiting our children for to pay for their end of year addictions, depravity and off the clock sinfulness?

I'm torn.

OP posts:
ptumbi · 02/07/2016 11:10

In my experience the teacher's end of year piss up is entirely funded by parents - I took four bottles of wine into school yesterday and I wasn't the only one - about half the parents dropping their kids off had a bottle bag in hand - that would probably be a, you know, a 'thank you' gift for the teacher?

Did you really take 4 bottles in, specifically for the staff booze up? Or gift a bottle to teacher,TA, Maths teacher, PE teacher etc.
As a Thank You - a welcome change from the candles/picture frames/cups the teachers get?

Or did the Teachers specifically say they wanted bottles for their party?

Lucyccfc · 02/07/2016 11:16

I ran out PtA for a while and organised school events like disco's and there is no way the funds would be spent by the teachers on anything other than resources for the children. (Sorry, but your story is horse-shit).

There are very strict rules on things like this, even down to buying teachers end of term presents. If a gift is deemed to be worth more than £25 by our local authority, they are not allowed to keep it. It has to be added to the Lord Mayors raffle and the proceeds go to charity.

PurpleDaisies · 02/07/2016 11:21

The op hasn't been back...reckon she didn't get the response she wanted?!

NotMyMoney · 02/07/2016 12:47

Omg yes this happens at my school I know 120%!

Really OP this wouldn't happen in any school most of teachers care about their students the money we raised at discos went on a school trip before the pta school would use the funds for extras such as a gift from Santa!

JohnBarrowmaniac · 02/07/2016 12:52

Utter bollocks.

00100001 · 02/07/2016 13:05

But.. OP clearly said she knows

That's the proof!

CuntyPotato · 02/07/2016 13:26

2/10 OP. Must try harder.

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 09/07/2016 04:13

Apologies for starting this thread and not being back. School ended and we've been on holiday. Just got back tonight.

Thank you who gave me marks out of 10. I've no idea why you were inspired to do so, but I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to do so. Those of you who have decided my post was "bollocks" and that I don't "know" this, you are wrong. I get that it might not happen at your DC's school. But it happens
at my DS's school. It is not a secret and none of the parents at the school have a problem with it.

Because we know how much the teachers care about our children. And we don't mind their funding their end of year party by giving them a good time with their peers.

OP posts:
Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 09/07/2016 04:21

By giving our children a good time with their peers.Blush

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 09/07/2016 04:26

Bullshit.

nooka · 09/07/2016 05:13

My children's primary school had a very active PTA equivalent. They did lots of fundraising, including discos, and at the end of the year organised a big potluck meal for the teachers (plus a welcome potluck for all the parents at the beginning of the year). I don't think there was ever a shortage of parents volunteering to bring in a dish or two, great school, excellent community.

LynetteScavo · 09/07/2016 07:03

I don't know any teachers who wouldn't rather just pay for their own night out - manning a school disco must be close to hell on earth.

These must be truly special teachers. Grin

Funnily enough, I can believe this happens...although I doubt the thought process was...less flog the kids sweets at the disco and then go and piss the profits up against the wall.

More likely money was trying to be found for staff team building, the PTA offered to fund it, somehow the team building became a meal out...

StillRabbit · 09/07/2016 09:29

I still don't believe it in the slightest. There is no way such an arrangement would get past the auditors!

Our end of term disco will be paying for some much needed sports equipment.....

LynetteScavo · 09/07/2016 10:52

A school disco will be run by the PTA.

Auditors? For the PTA? Parents reading the accounts reports may not be happy, but I doubt it's recorded under outgoings as "teacher piss up"

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 09/07/2016 11:45

We don't have a PTA and pmsl at "auditors" for the school disco.Grin Lynette, the teachers at DS's are special. The big money is made on the glow sticks. 50p each.Shock

OP posts:
DesolateWaist · 09/07/2016 12:54

You say that everyone knows this but do they really? On the letter home does it actually say 'school disco 50p each so we can all go down the Dog and Duck'?
Or does everyone know it in the sense of playground gossip?

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 09/07/2016 13:43

It's not a secret. It doesn't make "playground gossip", it's not interesting enough and has been done for years.

I'm surprised by some of the responses and troll hunting on this thread. I don't think it's controversial or even that interesting.Confused

OP posts:
tinytemper66 · 09/07/2016 16:01

Dione...Where is this school? I want to work there! I have spent so much of my own money on my pupils this year as money is tight, including exercise books, paper, ink for printer, I would have loved to have had a little drink or two!

Ditsy4 · 09/07/2016 16:16

Yeah me too. I bought all the food for the pizzas they made.
Regularly buy a couple of books, provide snack each week for Nurture Group, books x4 for the spelling group, slipped the odd £ to the kid who has no money for the shop on trips, taken in arty materials for sewing, art and art club.
No way would that happen at our school are you positive because it sounds like a wind up by one of the staff.
Our Head buys everyone a drink then we fund our own and pay for our meal at our shindig. There is no way we would do that and we do sacrifice our evening and our ears for the disco. We do shifts of two hours. It is hard work but the kids love it.

StillRabbit · 09/07/2016 16:44

Auditors? For the PTA? Parents reading the accounts reports may not be happy, but I doubt it's recorded under outgoings as "teacher piss up"

Yes, I've been involved in PTAs as a parent at two schools and worked at another two schools. At each one PTA accounts have had to be audited.

If money is given to fund an end if term party for staff and doesn't appear on the accounts as such then someone is lying on the accounts...

Newes · 09/07/2016 16:51

I'd mind as a parent and would be very uneasy as a staff member to use money raised in this way. In fact I would refuse to partake in food and drink purchased by parents and bring my own.
They may be good teachers but they are wrong to do this imo.

cheapandcheerful · 09/07/2016 16:57

I work at a primary school that has an allocated 'staff welfare' budget. And yes this does sometimes involve the occasional social/pizza/bowling/whatever night. And a glass of bubbly at the xmas do. Working for a government and in an era which generally seems to do everything it can to belittle the efforts and expertise of teachers, this budget is one of the few things that makes the teachers feel valued. And in our school, despite the current pressure/cuts/climate within education, morale is high and not a single teacher (out of 25) is leaving this summer.

JackieAndHyde4eva · 09/07/2016 17:00

Are you still in NI dione? Havent heard of this happening in any local schools and its not the case in our school but thats not to say it doesnt happen.

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 09/07/2016 17:40

Tiny, Ditsy & Cheerful, the school is in a very deprived area and the parents are grateful that the staff are brilliant, not just at teaching but at providing pastoral care for the children, some in very difficult situations. I think it's wee things like that that make the staff feel valued. Staff turnover is very low. When DS started, there were 2 teachers that started teaching when I was at the school over 30 years ago. They have retired now but occassionally pop in to parent's craft class or school shows.Smile

OP posts:
Ditsy4 · 09/07/2016 17:47

So is the one I work in.
I wouldn't dream of using in fact I wouldn't go. Biscuits or chocs in the staff room would be plenty.
So I am presuming the parents have decided this is how it is to be spent? Perhaps it is a tradition but I don't know of any school near here that does it and I have worked in most on supply or short contracts. You sound more for it than against to be honest.
We would be using it for reading books or outdoor equipment for the kids.