to think I don't have a genius in the family?

[notwavingjustironing]

DS1 comes bounding home tonight telling me he has won a literary competition. Cue much applause. However, when I open the envelope, it's basically an opportunity for me to spend £15.00 on a book which includes his poem (consisting of 6 words).

I have to sign a permission form so that his work can be published, and send a cheque for the privilege.

Turns out several of his classmates have also "won" this competition.

It's a scam, isn't it?

Usually it is the whole school and you buy a book with all the poems in. Not a competition as such - it is a fund raising thing.

Yes. Is your school allowing it as a money making venture ?

This has been raised before on MN.

God, how disgraceful of the school. Basically giving you the choice between being scammed and upsetting your child. Can you raise it with the head, and/or PTA? Really awful.

No, the letter and the information came from somewhere called "Young Writers" who are poetry publishers, so I don't think it is a school thing as such.

We had this same thing. It's not a money raising venture for the school. Entries are put forward by the school and then some are chosen from lots of different schools for a book. Parents then feel obliged to buy it. DD was in one and she was pleased as punch but it was scam like I agree.

Yes it was Young Writers.

Not EVERYONE gets in it, but I do agree tis a money making scam - some of dd's class had their poems rejected which was a shocker LOL

However, I did a buy 2 get one free with friends so it minimised the cost to £10 which ... ho hum... something to keep!

Gah. Should I start a new thread asking if I am unreasonable in not wanting to spend £15 on a book that only has six words in that I would be interested in ?

Yep, my DD has her poem in one..it sounds like it's the same one. I think only a few got picked though...

to spending yet MORE money...

We had it at our school, poor ds1 thought he HAd won something, I just "lost" the form, as it appeared the whole year "won".

We had excatly the same thing a couple of years ago when DS1 was in Primary. We didn't bother and I can safely say no harm has been done.
It's never crossed his mind since and it would have been something else to clutter the house up with. Total nonsense

This sort of thing plays on parents vanity,ego and guilt if they don't buy into it.
I'd give it a miss. Same with drawings that your child has done and turned into cards same wiht tea towels and other tat to get money out of you.

Yes. I think I will learn the "poem" and shred the letter. Job done.

This happened to DS. They had a poem with blank spaces on it and the staff at the nursery asked him questions to fill in the blanks.

As DS had a significant language delay and LDs the result was interesting to say the least

About 10 of the children in the nursery 'won'. We were give a letter telling us if we ordered now it would be cheaper and even more so if we ordered several (for proud granparents)

I was deemed heartless for refusing to buy any.

The books were about £12 each. So 10 per nursery/school with this going on at thousands of sites around the country. That company must be raking it in

I did mention this to a close friend when it happened again at the same nursery a few years later. She was upset because it was like I was suggesting her DS's poem was crap (she bought 5 books). So I let people get on with it now.

Could you just explain that his poem is the only one you want, so can he write it out and illustrate it for you? That way he gets the chuffedness without you having the scammedness.

That is a very good idea perfectstorm. That can be his literary homework this weekend.

Perfecstorm.... that is a top idea!!!

Yes, great idea.

Get it written out, decorated & laminated.