to wonder what the point is in the school cake sale...?

[Ladyanonymous]

Three kids at three schools.

All have numerous "cake sales" throughout the year where we - the parent - are sent a paper plate with a little note on it from the plate itself requesting that we - the parent - fill the little plate with cakes and send it back to school to be sold at the "cake sale".

We are then requested to either take time out of work or whatever one afternoon to attend the "cake sale" or send our child in with some money to buy these cakes back.

Can we bake these cakes with our darling DCs at minumum cost to ourselves? Of course not, its against "health and safety" regs apparently.

So AIBU to think I would just rather cut out the middle man and donate the amount of money its cost me - to buy the cakes and buy them back again for the umpteenth time - to the school - either by a regular monthly direct debit (and while I'm at it lump in the total of every other "voluntary donation" in that sum too). Than go through the facade of the bloody "cake sale".

Don't 'pitch in' then.
I am in similar circumstances to you though.

Really Moondog - and what would they be?

I don't because its impossible and I refuse to be a total martyr and take on something I clearly would not be able to cope with.

I did when I didn't work.

Don't then!
FGS, noone has a pitchfork to your throat telling you that lemon drizzle cake must be at the school door by 8:50 am tomorrow or you'll be dead meat.

I would love for our school to do a cake sale.

I love baking and have my pinny at the ready, kitchenaid wooden spoon poised awaiting the request for cakes from the school but sadly no....they have a quiz night instead

I never said they did - I am just saying I would rather send in a monthly donation to the PTA - rather than either letting my child down by not providing cakes for what I see as a pointless exercise or having to buy a whole load of cakes - twice.

'am just saying I would rather send in a monthly donation to the PTA"

People are always saying this. So do it then. No one's stopping you - but I bet you don't.

No-one ever does!

Very true Seeker!
Don't bleat, do.

I don't because I can't bloody afford to with all the "fundraising" activities I am constantly shelling out for

Careful Lady-you are in danger of a haemotoma brought on by sudden onset of attack of self righteousness.

Write to the PTA at the beginning of the year enclosing a cheque for 10 quid. Say that this is your contribution for the year, and you will henceforward ignore any fundraising letters. Sorted.

But I don't get why you're willing (and presumably, can afford) to pay a monthly direct debit - which would have to be at least a couple of quid? - but complain at providing some shop bought cakes which are probably cheaper than ones you could make at home (if you bought a pack of sainsbury's mini muffins - about 20 for £2.50?) and send in your child with say 50p tops to buy a cake. You've already said that parents aren't necessarily expected to attend.

Even then, it's not compulsory!

Really?

I thought I was just complying with the school agenda and not being one of the parents who doesn't bother - who everyone on this thread has been monaing about - doesn't mean I have to like it though.

Maybe you should look up self righteous.

Thanks Thekla that does make sense now!

Tryharder, yes our taxes pay for our free education system, but that does not often include nice new play equipment for the playground, smart football, netball etc uniforms, Up to date ICT equipment. All the little things that enhance our children's environment.

If people haven't the time or the funds to contribute or get involved in the pta that is fine but what gets me going is when they then slag off the people that are doing it. Would it be better if we just did nothing and let our kids put up with basic equipment. I know what I'd rather have.

If that was one monthly event, with 3 kids I would be paying £9 a month - just for the cake sale?

Yes I'd be happy to donate £5 a month to each school before school trips etc - happily - and I'd be quids in.

It doesn't work like that though does it? If there is a cake sale, everyone is expected to contribute. If you did send your child to school with a cheque instead, certain PTA do gooders would still be critical. You can't win, in fact it's a PiTA!

Well, suggest it to the PTA then if that's how the costs balance

Put it forward as 'guaranteed future income' rather than saying 'I cant be bothered with cake sales' and they may be interested. Suggest they send out a survey or soemthing asking if any parents want to do this

Secondary schools do this because there are far fewer events like this. But even then very few parents actually take the direct debit forms let alone fill them in!

They do send out surveys (which I do fill in) but I think they do meet a lot of apathy with some of the parents.

They have a big fun day once a year (at the primary school) and I have run a stall every year bar one for the last 8 years.

TBH I didn't even know there was a direct debit form and it hasn't ever been pointed out to me in the four schools (my son moves up to High School in Sept) my children have attended.

I don't mind paying what I can afford and if that goes towards kids who have different circumstances to me thats great - why should they miss out because of their parents situation?

Isn't that how the whole "class system" continues to breed?

• And I'm not slagging anyone off - just because I don't have time to contribute doesn't mean I am going to send in cash I can't afford to without question.

And then there's all the Mufti days and the Red Nose Days and the Sports Relief and the Red Cross Appeals and Children in Need etc etc etc - where does it actually end?

We had to cancel our PTA family quiz nights after one family took it so seriously they had a family member armed at home with encyclopedias and the internet and kept going to the toilet to ring them for answers to the questions!

Nobody has ye said that yes, they will make sure theri children don't use the stuff the PTA fund because they don't agree with fund raising. I wonder why not?

doyouthink....don't wait to be asked, just do it! Suggest it at the next meeting and offer to run with it.

I don't understand why you can't have a quiz AND a cake sale!

would have thought the H & S aspect is not knowingh ow hygienic the kitchens, equipment, cooks even might be at home, so they say bought only

don't understand cake sales either really

We do have a quiz, and a pamper night, and a fasion show.....

what is a pamper night?