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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to refuse to copy DVD's you can buy from the school, showing a typical school day, in order to share the financial load between parents?

25 replies

emkana · 24/03/2009 23:08

The DVD is £20, so I know it's very expensive. I have ordered it already. My friend wants to copy the DVD for herself and other parents and give me some money towards it. But I don't want to do this, because it is a/illegal and b/deprives the school of a fundraising opportunity. I am a governor of the school as well, if that makes any difference.

So aibu?

OP posts:

coppertop · 24/03/2009 23:10

I think they're unreasonable to put you in that position, especially considering that you are a governor.

Original poster

emkana · 24/03/2009 23:11

They haven't asked me as such, but as I'm the only one who has placed an order so far it seems kind of clear that they want me to provide the DVD...

OP posts:

DSM · 24/03/2009 23:13

Hmm.

I fully agree with you, I am vehemently against illegal copying, downloading and pirating. I would morally feel exactly the same way as you.

However, I am afraid I cannot offer any advice - other than to maybe use your moral stance as an excuse not to?

I have done it in the past, and it has pissed people off.

In my opinion, YANBU.

kylesmyloveheart · 24/03/2009 23:14

i think its more cheeky of the school to charge so much.

CKelpie · 24/03/2009 23:14

Well no I would suppose yanbu but then the price is a bit steep.
As a governor can you suggest a more reasonable price?

BatmansWilly · 24/03/2009 23:15

the school is unreasonable to ask for £20 for a dvd.

I wouldn't pay that personally and would probably get together with some other parents to share the cost. So I don't think the other parents are being unreasonable but I can see your dilema with the governor thing.

Original poster

emkana · 24/03/2009 23:15

I've only recently become a governor so wasn't involved in the decision-making, and it's too late now.

The DVD was made by a filming company, and the school just gets a cut.

OP posts:

CKelpie · 24/03/2009 23:23

Well if you wanted to turn a blind eye you could say as a school governor you cannot agree to her copying it but you will lend it to her to watch.

Chances are she will take a copy but without you as a conspirator.

Conscience clear

FatFree · 24/03/2009 23:29

20 squid to watch what your kids get up to at school? good grief, i'm not sure i wanna know

mumeeee · 24/03/2009 23:39

The school should not be charging £20 for a DVD. When my daughters Drama club put on a performace they charge £10 for a DVD which is much more reasonable and most people could afford to buy them.

kitkatqueen · 24/03/2009 23:42

Tell you friends its encrypted and can't be copied .

Original poster

emkana · 24/03/2009 23:42

But I don't think the price justifies doing something which is illegal.

OP posts:

Tinker · 24/03/2009 23:50

£20 is way too much and the school only gets a cut??? Who is the filiming company? My eldest's school had a cd made by some Christian organistion (parents not told until after it was made) I would not want to be funding something like that

mrsblanc · 25/03/2009 00:01

I am astonished you would buy it to be honest.Can you tell me why you would want such a thing? who will watch it?

am I alone in thinking watching a vid of my child at school would be marginally less fun than whacking myself with sharp sticks?
Please tell me you are not planning to show it to friends and family

Having bought it, no, I don't think others should copy it

Original poster

emkana · 25/03/2009 20:00

No of course I won't show it to friends and family...

but yes I like the idea of owning it, school takes up so much of my children's time that I like to get an insight that way what their day is like, also I think it is a nice memento for them of their time at school, what the teachers looked like, what their friends looked like... don't really see how the idea is that outrageous

OP posts:

dilemma456 · 25/03/2009 20:05

Message withdrawn

funtimewincies · 25/03/2009 20:10

I'm wondering what they will play it on in the future, thinking of the technology when I was in infants school .

Seems ludicrously steep when you should have been given a fairly good idea of what is included in their school day when you had your introduction session. Obviously, it's your choice to buy it if you feel that it's worthwhile and a cheek for your friends to expect you to fork out £20 for them to get it cheaper.

And no, I don't think that you should collude in copying DVDs.

Bathsheba · 25/03/2009 20:26

I have to say that I think thats is a ridiculous money making scam...!!! £20 for a not even very special day at school - I didn't pay £20 for my graduation video..!

If they are pressurising you to copy, I'd offer them a viewing night at yours - everyone come round and watch the video. I doubt it would be something anyone would need to see more than once anyway.

I'd hate to think how disruptive to a school day a company filming for no good reason would be.

Original poster

emkana · 25/03/2009 20:44

Am really surprised that you are all so anti this. Dd has her ballet shows and you can buy DVD's of that for £18, on which she is seen for less than a minute, otherwise children I don't know dancing - how boring is that? Primary school day much more worthwhile IMO.

OP posts:

procrastinatingparent · 25/03/2009 20:48

YA definitely NBU. This is not about the cost of the DVD, it's about whether it is acceptable to defraud the school and the company who made it. If they have a problem with the price, they should approach the school, not ask you to break the law.

Stick to your guns.

Stretch · 25/03/2009 20:48

Can you not copy the DVD for your friends, but then charge them, say, £6 each for it and 'donate' the money to the school? That way the school benefits, not some rip-off company?

Original poster

emkana · 25/03/2009 23:25

But if I did that then I would have to explain the donation wouldn't I, thereby admitting to doing something illegal?

OP posts:

ScumdogSquillionaire · 25/03/2009 23:40

You had another thread like this a week or so ago didn't you?

If you don't want to do it, don't do it. They'll probably do it anyway.

Eve4Walle · 26/03/2009 10:44

DD's school did one of these not so long ago. They were charging £20 for it, which I could have afforded.

The school played it on a big screen at parents evening so you could see what you were getting and DD was on it for literally 30 seconds, so I was bloody glad I didn't waste my money on it.

I don't need a DVD to show me what I already know (which is that she's a little bugger most of the time!)

ZZZen · 26/03/2009 10:48

I suppose if these are friends you could invite them round to watch it at your place, or take it round to watch at their place.

I probably would let them copy it tbh if they were my friends but I see your point

Flip