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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

School says “bring lots of cash”

171 replies

Queestuproblema · 03/05/2023 16:55

I’ll start this by saying I understand schools are underfunded and have been doing Christmas markets/summer fayres/wear x colour for £1 days since even I have been at school. It’s not going to stop but the leaflet we’ve been sent this week quotes:

”Spring market
Come and toast the coronation!
Support our school, bring bags and lots of cash”

AIBU to think the wording of bring lots of cash is completely insensitive to how much everyone is struggling right now? I don’t feel that part was necessary. They could’ve made the leaflet without that surely given some children wont even be able to attend with a few pounds.

OP posts:
swanling · 03/05/2023 17:55

Thegoodbadandugly · 03/05/2023 17:41

Schools are seriously underfunded it takes a lot of hard work and man power to do events so your children can read and write.

Schools are providing a public service.

elevenplusdilemma · 03/05/2023 17:56

I read it as 'bring lots of cash (and especially small change) because they won't be able to take cards or change notes easily'.

WombatChocolate · 03/05/2023 17:56

You are being over-sensitive if you think this is advertising is inappropriate and unfair, because it will make people who are struggling feel bad. What you are essentially saying is that no-one should mention anything that costs money, because some people don’t have much of it. That’s daft.

It is an entirely optional event and it’s a fund raiser, with the purpose of benefitting the kids at the school - and to be honest, quite likely those who are from families that are struggling.

Are you complaining too about school offering any trips which cost money, or firms that advertise luxury products that cost more than most can afford? are you saying that those who are struggling should never see the mention of prices or anything that costs money, because it will be upsetting?

Bloody Hell, those who are struggling have far bigger things to worry about than a school fundraiser asking people to bring lots of cash,not help them fundraise. There are far more things which will upset them….like prices in supermarkets, needing to rely on food banks, their electricity bill arriving, all the adverts for expensive stuff at Christmas. People who are feeling the pinch live in a world where money is mentioned all the time, and to be honest it’s just not possible for it to never be mentioned.

I wonder if OP is one of those people who will always be critical of schools whatever they are doing? Is it someone who will complain if they do offer trips (too expensive) and don’t offer trips (not enough opportunities) or do run a school fair (costs money that some can’t afford) or don’t run a school fair (must be lazy teachers, or not caring to try and raise money) etc etc. There are some people who any public institution that they have dealings with, can’t see anything good in and always find something to criticise. I think this is one of those, or a Erwin who feels they are being victimised by absolutely everything.

LlynTegid · 03/05/2023 17:58

It does not inspire me as to the quality of the school for them to phrase it that way.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/05/2023 17:58

I get your point but imo I'd read it as bring small change, all your shrapnel 2p's and 10 pences etc

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 03/05/2023 17:59

Maybe they should have worded it better eg "bring some change" but the whole point in these things is to raise a bit of money.

Exactly. "Bring some change" doesn't really communicate the fact that it's a fundraiser and you're encouraged to spend as much as possible because, well, that's the point.

toomuchlaundry · 03/05/2023 17:59

That's sort of how I read it @Wavescrashingonthebeach it's more along the lines of bring any spare coins, rather than wads of notes

Dodgeitornot · 03/05/2023 18:01

toomuchlaundry · 03/05/2023 17:59

That's sort of how I read it @Wavescrashingonthebeach it's more along the lines of bring any spare coins, rather than wads of notes

That's exactly how I read it too. Bring your piggy bank and any loose coinage.

RandomGeocache · 03/05/2023 18:02

Toottooot · 03/05/2023 17:10

Formal complaint NOW 💁🏻‍♀️

Log it with 101 at the very least.

RunningRunningRunningRunningRunning · 03/05/2023 18:05

LlynTegid · 03/05/2023 17:58

It does not inspire me as to the quality of the school for them to phrase it that way.

It's often the pta who create the posters for events like these, usually the sahm's who have time on their hands to help out (at least ours is). Ours created a poster to advertise an event recently and forgot to put the date, time and who was invited, they'd printed all the posters and distributed everywhere by this point. Nothing to do with the teaching staff or quality of the school, the person who made it had volunteered to help and just didn't realise the details were pretty essential!

SteakExpectations · 03/05/2023 18:05

I think what they mean is “bring lots of change” ie don’t turn up with £20 notes for stalls where it’s 20p a turn.

Yerroblemom1923 · 03/05/2023 18:06

It doesn't even rhyme.

Nordicrain · 03/05/2023 18:07

🙄
YABU

Goshdarnitgoofy · 03/05/2023 18:08

Grew up in massive poverty and would not have been offended.

Maybe instead of writing on mumsnet, write to your MP who chronically under funds schools then you wouldn’t need fundraisers.

arethereanyleftatall · 03/05/2023 18:09

Clearly from this thread there's lots of parents who are clearly much better at wording of fund raising posters. I'm sure their schools pta can look forward to these creative individuals making all the posters (for free of course, in their own time) going forward.

Giselletheunicorn · 03/05/2023 18:09

Actually Op, I'm going to agree with you. Whilst not the biggest crime in the world, it is emotionally tone-deaf in the current climate.

Our school has a very mixed catchment and has a growing number of families relying almost weekly on food banks, families at risk of eviction because they can't afford rent hikes and kids being almost permanently cared for by grandparents so parents can work two jobs. They shouldn't be pestered to buy raffle tickets and buy fete tut....

Dodgeitornot · 03/05/2023 18:11

Yerroblemom1923 · 03/05/2023 18:06

It doesn't even rhyme.

You should find the school and write your formal complaint using only rhyming sentences. That'll teach them. 🙄

MaryCrawford · 03/05/2023 18:11

I'm guessing it's a mainly white middle class school, with their rally to celebrate a white king being crowned at a mainly white ceremony, with just a handful of non whites there to kow tow to the great ruler, whose lands he once owned.

If ever there was a case of Check Your Privilege, this is one and I'd be emailing that to them. and not be going, let alone bringing any cash.

Desperatelyseekingcommonsense · 03/05/2023 18:11

I think it’d just a jokeyreminder to brlng cash. People often don’t carry cash anymore and then if they do they have no change.

AprilSmiles · 03/05/2023 18:12

Recommend volunteering on the PTA so you can have actual input in the wording of any future fundraisers, rather than just lobbing stones from the sidelines.

I don't mind people who don't volunteer. I give short shrift to people who don't volunteer and then whinge.

Dodgeitornot · 03/05/2023 18:12

Giselletheunicorn · 03/05/2023 18:09

Actually Op, I'm going to agree with you. Whilst not the biggest crime in the world, it is emotionally tone-deaf in the current climate.

Our school has a very mixed catchment and has a growing number of families relying almost weekly on food banks, families at risk of eviction because they can't afford rent hikes and kids being almost permanently cared for by grandparents so parents can work two jobs. They shouldn't be pestered to buy raffle tickets and buy fete tut....

The current climate is the reason they're having to do this no doubt. Ironically most money raised at these sorts of events mostly go to helping the less well off kids within the school.

Dodgeitornot · 03/05/2023 18:13

MaryCrawford · 03/05/2023 18:11

I'm guessing it's a mainly white middle class school, with their rally to celebrate a white king being crowned at a mainly white ceremony, with just a handful of non whites there to kow tow to the great ruler, whose lands he once owned.

If ever there was a case of Check Your Privilege, this is one and I'd be emailing that to them. and not be going, let alone bringing any cash.

I think you win ,😂😂😂 I have an even better idea. Join your local PTA and ensure this sort of thing never happens at your own kids school! You won't have to miss any events that way. The only thing you'll have to part with is your precious time and sanity as you'll experience what it's like to deal with parents just like you.

PopsicleHustler · 03/05/2023 18:15

I don't know whether to call the police or the FBI first!!!!!

CurlewKate · 03/05/2023 18:17

"Professionally offended"?
Personally I have much more of a problem with the professionally UNoffended! Of course it's tone deaf and could have been better phrased.

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 03/05/2023 18:17

MaryCrawford · 03/05/2023 18:11

I'm guessing it's a mainly white middle class school, with their rally to celebrate a white king being crowned at a mainly white ceremony, with just a handful of non whites there to kow tow to the great ruler, whose lands he once owned.

If ever there was a case of Check Your Privilege, this is one and I'd be emailing that to them. and not be going, let alone bringing any cash.

Yeah, you stick it to the establishment! That'll show the Royal Family!