DS is in Yr 3 in NI (equivalent of Yr 2 in England I think? - anyhow, he's 6 in the 6-7 academic year!). He attends a bog standard (though good) primary school in a fairly mixed area in terms of the parental income/socio economic status. However I am getting increasingly frustrated by the extras we are asked to pay for. This month they are studying a "bear" theme and have invited a company to come in and make teddy bears with the kids- at a cost of £11.25. Kids get to design their own bears t-shirt etc. I am not impressed. Apparently this was instead of a class outing in the summer term, and was very successful last year. However, I'd prefer an outing or something a little more educational and different, and would have been happier footing a bill for something like a farm trip etc. I do not want another teddy bear. But if I opt out my son risks feeling very upset while his mates make theirs. This is the last in a very expensive few weeks of school-related expenses and I simply can't justify the money (financially very stretched too).
What would you do? Raise the issue with the teach/headmistress, just bite the bullet and pay or just opt out and teach DS one of "life's hard lessons"?
Thanks for bearing with my rant!!