AIBU to think "treats" for school classes which hit a fundraising target is not acceptable?

[GrumpyMummy91]

We have a great school and a great PTA and people do give generously throughout the year.

However, the latest fundraiser has come with a target for each class, and those classes which hit the target will get a "treat". To hit the target requires everyone to give over £10 on average.

I know some people get motivated behind a target, but I think this really just opens up inequalities.

AIBU to think this is not acceptable, that the PTA shouldn't have come up with such a divisive idea and that the headteacher shouldn't be facilitating it (targets, progress and treats are being actively discussed in assemblies).

How are they doing this fundraising? Working together as a class to do an activity is different to a sponsored event for example.

EtA... targets should be based on participation not a monetary value however

Sorry, it's a sponsored event. Basically parents donating.

What is the “treat”? eg is it something that can be bought, like sweets, or is it getting to do something?

Not yet specified, but what's bothering me is how this is just forcing the children to pressure parents to give money. I've already had my five year old check to "make sure I've given enough or he won't get a treat".

@GrumpyMummy91 are you a member of the PTA? Who decided the idea?
What is the fundraiser for?

I'm not on the committee, I do volunteer for a lot of events and attend meetings for the ones I'm involved in. It's an annual event but this is the first time a target has been set for each class. I know it's been done to try and drive higher donations.

Fundraising for equipment.

Great way to highlight the children whose families don't have the money, or the children whose parents don't care, to the class bullies.

I would ask what the plan is to ensure that no children end up being targeted because of their class failing (my DD got the blame for her class missing a trip in an attendance thing when she was in hospital so I'd be asking very bluntly as these things (that children have no control over) have no place in a classroom)

Sounds awful and £10 is a lot of money for many.

Especially if you have two, three or even more children in the school!

@GrumpyMummy91 I think you need to talk to the committee with your concerns.

I don't really like that there is a target. A treat for the class(es) that raise the most money without a target seems fairer. Have you raised it with the PTA and pointed this out to them?

Yanbu.
This "Great way to highlight the children whose families don't have the money, or the children whose parents don't care, to the class bullies."

Donations can be anonymous, but there will still be division between classes. DS' best friend is in another class and he's already worried about 'what if Bob gets the treat and I don't. What if I get the treat and Bob's class doesn't. Mummy, please make sure you give enough money".

I guess that's the crux of it. I feel we give generously across the year but I'm fed up of the constant asks and this added "motivation" is the final straw. And surely the headteacher shouldn't have agreed to it?

No, I won't be discussing it. I'm venting on here instead! Two reasons; firstly I know being on the PTA is a largely thankless task and they are trying to do good things. Secondly I don't want to be that parent with either the PTA or staff.

@GrumpyMummy91 no I think you should talk to the committee.
How are they meant to know of any issues if no one talks to them. They could keep going on for years running an event that no one likes because no one told them.

Could you write an anonymous letter with your concerns and post it to the committee via the school? That way they get your concerns to discuss, but you don't publicly become "that parent" (although I don't think this is the sort of thing that makes you "that parent" - it's a genuine and justifiable concern)?

Well I'm not sure if it is justifiable or if it's just me! I try not to discuss these things with other parents because I don't know them very well, hence curious to know what the mn hive mind thinks.

Ex PTA chair and committee member of three different PTAs here. This would not have been ok on any committee I served on: but we often had very overt discussions around the tension between fundraising (maximising profit) and building the community of the school (maximising inclusion and engagement) and we’re clear on where we wanted to sit.
I think sometimes committees get very focused on the bottom line; and that can come from
absolutely a good place; and sometimes a lack of thinking anout implications.

as a chair I’d have really wanted this raised to me: I’d send a (gracious, constructive) email - call out all the good work, but say you wanted to raise this as an unintended consequence. It may well be the plan is to give all the classes a treat regardless for example, so they’ve not thought about how the perceived competition will impact little ones. As a chair I certainly got a few of emails that were a bit ‘that parent’ but this would absolutely not be one of them!

I agree with contacting the school with your concerns.
I live in an area where families tend to all live close at hand. So when my kids were in school and doing sponsored events, all the kids with big families would have masses of sponsorship and those, like mine, who had no family anywhere near, would have very little. We managed to put a stop to any of the 'children who raise most sponsorship money get a treat/trip' because it just wasn't fair. But I did have plenty of back up from other 'incomer' families. You won't be the only one who feels this way, OP, so maybe get others on board so you don't look like a party-pooper.

I think it’s an awful idea. Completely tone deaf.

I'm a teacher and this certainly wouldn't be happening in my class.

And you just know that somebody will chip in 300 just to make sure their kid's class wins. And somebody else perceived as being equally comfortable will be hauled up by the class rep if they don't do the same.

If it’s anything like our school was it’ll be an extra playtime or something.

YABU. They’re trying to raise money for the school for the benefit of all the children. If you don’t like what people are giving up their free time to organise for the benefits of all kids including your own, why not volunteer to run the PTA yourself.

My daughters school have asked each child to raise £25. No particular event, how they do it is up to them, but essentially it’s asking family to sponsor them to do something of their choice. It’s slightly ridiculous as obviously it’s ask parents and grandparents. No proper event, just each student expected to give the school £25 - they don’t even have to share their fund raising.

To add - the main thing our PTA fundraised for was the leavers party and events. Every child in the school got the exact same experience and gifts and no one had to pay a penny out of their own pockets, this was rightly the case no matter what people had contributed to fundraising or the PTA at all. Seemed pretty inclusive to me - but it needed at least some people to contribute money