First child in school - shocked that school wants money.

[Ablepsia]

My boy has just started foundation/reception and as my first child it is a learning curve for me too! One thing I am disgusted at is that the school is asking for £10 towards the snack table AND items for the "malleable table". The snack table I can sort of buy into but asking for money for school supplies seems just wrong! What do I pay taxes for??

On a similar theme, they are having a day when school uniform is excused. Great, seems like a bit of fun I thought. But, no, YOU HAVE TO GIVE MONEY TO CHARITY!!!! Jeez, the charity blackmail begins with using children now does it?!

Obviously I have to build and maintain a good relationship with the school so am loathe to complain. But should I? Is this normal?

Get used to it, Costs a fortune sending kids to school. Snack money, trip money ,sponsor money, charity day money like comic relief, donations for xmas/summer fayres and the dreaded dress up days like world book day or roald dahl day or any other reason they can find to get you to spend money on a dress up outfit they'll only wear for 1 day 😤

Surely the right question OP should be asking is how much she should make other people pay for the pleasure and privilege she has in her children? Presumably she chose to have them - and was fortunate enough to be able to do so. Free education is provided already - unlike in most of the world - but there must be a limit to what we can expect other people to pay for our life choices. I am also very happy that my children see that charity giving is widespread and that they are encouraged from an early age to recognise a duty to those less fortunate than themselves.