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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain about the NED yoyo selling show coming to school?

39 replies

LouAnnVanHouten · 02/07/2010 21:24

We have had a letter home today telling us that the NED assembly is coming to school next week. I had heard of them through MN but for those who haven't its a motivational/inspiring pseudo educational American thing where they "inspire" the children whilst doing yoyo tricks then sell the yoyo from between £5 and £10 each.

Technically I can just tell ds I'm not buying a yoyo. He has £5 and can choose to buy the cheap one himself. He usually wastes his pocket money on crap, thats what its there for, but at 6yo its an utter waste of his savings as he has little chance of being able to use the yoyo. It is all the money he has got.

However, I object to the school being used as a shop for an unrelated company.

I'm not sure that the positive message they are trying to sell won't become swamped by the division of the haves and the have nots.

Its a faith school with a huge and varied catchment. Lots of families can afford to buy the yoyos but others can't. This doesn't really fit with the ethos of the school.

In this term we have had 2 sponsored events, a raffle, school play, sports day with ice creams/programmes/raffle, summer fair and several classes have had trips. Its been quite a bit of money when you add it up (although non compulsory)

So AIBU to object? Or am I being difficult and precious and over thinking it?

OP posts:

stressheaderic · 04/07/2010 22:12

Your letter is good.

I remember back in the 80s, a man used to come to our school every year and talk to us about birds - then flog close-up arty wildlife style photos of birds for quite a few quid. All the kids used to buy them

When I think back now....what a swizz.
I'm appalled at this yo-yo con business and would prob be doing the same as the OP.

bibbitybobbityhat · 04/07/2010 22:19

Your letter is very good but why not cut to the chase "Ds comes to school to be educated, not to be marketed to".

I find this deeply shocking, tbh.

solo · 04/07/2010 22:28

Ds's primary(faith school)did these events too along with skipping and selling ropes and visiting authors and book sales(not quite so bad, but still expensive), along with the magic kind of show too selling all the trick stuff. It wouldn't have been so bad, but Ds had both his yoyo and skipping rope(the super duper one)stolen leaving me skint and him in tears. I don't think schools should do this stuff at all.

Original poster

LouAnnVanHouten · 04/07/2010 22:29

I can't think why they are doing it. The HT is nobody's fool and if the school don't get any money and do get a load of tears, squables and yoyo thefts then I can't think what has got into her.

OP posts:

BeenBeta · 05/07/2010 19:35

deaddei - sorry, I missed your post about the charity 'selling' issue.

There were a series of large national charities that seemed to be targetin prvate schools. At the time private schools were under a lot of pressure to 'prove' they did good for the community beyond teaching a few privelleged children as private schools are themselves often charities. These large national charities were very clearly exploiting the pressure that private schools were under and using that to get access to sell to children in order to raise money.

One in particular had close connections to Govt to deliver childrens services. I checked and 95% of its funds raised were spent in administering one large Govt contract.

SixtyFootDoll · 05/07/2010 19:39

YANBU
Our school had the NED show, with no prior warning, didnt know about it until DS1 came home asking for money for a yo- yo.
I was Livid and wrote a very strong letter to the head.
Mine was similar to OP's letter, i objected tot eh fact that it was a cpative, impressionable audience.

SixtyFootDoll · 05/07/2010 19:41

There was a prob too with kids having their yo-yos stolen from their lockers.
Needless to say there has not been a return visit.

moonstorm · 05/07/2010 20:08

YANBU - we had this at our school. All the teachers were against it, but the head vetoed. They rely on peer pressure to make money from children. Awful.

plusonemore · 05/07/2010 20:18

We had NED show. I really enjoyed it, think the message is great actually. They definately don't put the pressure on the kids to buy- the pressure comes from the kids wanting to be able to do the tricks- whats wrong with that? Better to be a yo-yo than some other crap?

Original poster

LouAnnVanHouten · 05/07/2010 20:46

How can you do the tricks if you don't buy a yoyo? The pressure to do trick is bound up with the pressure to buy yoyos. I think the tricks are a bit on the difficult side for primary age dcs anyway so not really in line with the message. Some of the children are only 4 so it seems a bit unfair to demonstrate a trick that a 10 year old would struggle to master whilst at the same time drilling 'never give up' into their brains.

moonstorm Do you know why your HT was so keen? What does the school get out of it?

OP posts:

OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/07/2010 20:49

yanbu - it came to dd's school recently. Our normally sane HT made a particular area a yo-yo playing area so it meant that if your dc didn't have a yo yo they were excluded from playing with their friends.
I think it went a bit pear shaped with some children spending ridiculous amounts and others not buying any. HT actually apologised and said they wouldn't be doing it again.

SixtyFootDoll · 05/07/2010 20:58

Plusone, am sure most schools are capable of giving that message themselves without yo-yos.
and as for no pressure to buy?
Get real.

plusonemore · 05/07/2010 22:34

what i mean is that the 'hard sell' from the person performing really isnt that at all- in fact they make a point of talking to the kids about not pressuring parents. I think its great to be able to watch someone who is really talented at something and for it to inspire the kids to want to have a go. He shows lots of tricks ranging in difficulty so they are all able to have a go at something.

emcsquare · 26/07/2010 15:27

Bah humbug - I saw the NED show and it was fab - so I bought 2 yoyos (1 for me.) Me and my 9 year old have had a fab time learning tricks - what's wrong with positive outdoor play with good values attached - personally I would pay a tenner on a regular basis to see my daughter have this much fun without being plugged into something electronic. The NED show has visited my school this term - some of the teaching assistants still remembered the last show - more than 6 years ago - I CANNOT tell you how much motivational good old fashioned fun it is! Stop worrying about the £5 and join in with the message - Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best!!

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