School sponsorship forms - is it ok to just attach a tenner or is that missing the point and not entering into the spirit?

[WideWebWitch]

The spirit of sponsorship of course is touching up friends and family for money which they pay if you do something. Ds's school have given us a sponsorship form (I don't want to say what the thing is but the whole school are doing it and it's a pointless exercise imo: a craft thnig, not making anything useful or doing anything particularly enjoyable) and I have neither the time nor inclination to start tapping people up. We don't know that many people to touch up anyway come to think of it, well, not enough that we'll see this week and we only got the form on Friday.

So my proposal is that I attach a tenner and send it back, since the idea is to raise funds for the school and this achieves that objective. But what's the mumsnet verdict, is this anti the spirit of sponsorship and getting involved or is it fair enough? Votes and comments please! I hate all this stuff, am v grumpy about PTA fundraising things and would much rather hand over £100 at the beginning of each year if it bought me NOT going to cake sales/fayres/other stuff. All comments very welcome!

In answer to the question though, I'm with Hula - this is what we do for every sponser form now we get so blinkin' many.

It's fine to just attach a tenner! More than fine I would have though. A percentage bordering on a majority at many school will not even cough up 50p which would also be fine!

Custardo, you baked cakes? I think we could ALL find 30 minutes to bake some cakes if we got off mumsnet now don't you, hmm?

I'm joking, don't have a go at me. Don't get me started on the politics of it. I don't actually think schools ought to have to raise money for necessities but sadly, they do. I agree issymum, I'd be miffed in your position too.

I was one of those who helped a LOT at preschool, was chair, gave loads and loads of my time and energy but absolutely haven't got any of either of those things atm for ds's school. I like the relationship I have with dd's nursery: I pay them, they look after her and don't hassle me for anything other than fees.

what bugs me is that they flog stuff for so little, the ingredients end up costing me more. It would be much more efficient if I just handed over the cash without doing the dreaded baking bit inbetween.

they sold my honey and spice cake for £2.75

I thought that was v expensive for a cake sale

but it sold anyway

I totally agree about the sponsorships form I hate them with a vengence and indeed end up forking out the money myself. I know the PTA don't give a flying monkey where the money came from. I actually joined the PTA and did say how much I disliked those events, but they are by far the ones that raise the most money... for the least "work".

You have to give PTA some credits, it's a blooming nightmare. I took the huge task of designing and printing calendars for the school as I was of the opinion that as a parent I'd rather see something for my money than my 5 yo DS supposedly skipping (He can't skip I know he can't so that certificate they gave me is a joke)

The skipathon cost me a tenner... The calendars were £2.50 and you know what the parents whinged that they were a bit pricey!!! Now there are 400+ kids in the school I got them all to do a self portrait, then scanned all of them and did separate calendar per class, so that they pictures wouldn't be tiny... Why bother!!

whinge over :P

I make up names and just divide what I'm going to give by that.

Oh yes, I do actually make cakes though. Enjoy it, makes me feel all worthy.

Have just filled in my kids'latest sponsor ship form with my usual choice of names. Mr D Duck and Mrs M Mouse.etc etc Unfortunately they are not eligible for gift aid...

Why do private schools need to raise more funds?
Well, all the fees pay for teacher's salaries, building maintenance, bills etc etc ... If your child's private school is a small one and based in an old stately home (like the one where I used to work) then the bills, upkeep and maintenance of the building cost a fortune. Once the teachers salaries had been paid and resources bought then there wasn't much in the pot for extras like new swanky science labs, drama studios, IT suite (which the parents all expect to get in a private school) ... So the PTA used to do fundraisers and then we got all the swanky extras.
That is why private schools fundraise.
Teachers hated it, parents hated it ... but that is what happened.
I don't necessarily agree with it (why do you think we chose for DS to go 'state' when we had the choice??)
In NZ in 'affluent' areas the government pays for salaries and some basic building upkeep ... only. Any extras (resources, 'puters etc) the parents have to stump up for. That is why we have to pay a 'donation' every year, have to volunteer for 'working bees' where you go in on a sunday and make fences, paint playgrounds, paint classrooms etc, stump up for fundraisers so our children can have books in the library and books in the classroom. We even have to buy our own child's stationery at the beginning of the year ... books, pencils, rubbers, glue .... in a pack and send it in on the first day of school.
In less affluent areas (all means tested) the government pays more to the school and asks the parents for less ... but still, even in the poorest areas the parents have to pay for stationery and resources.
So, stop your moaning you lot!!!