marketing literature in bookbags

[flipflapdingaling]

My daughter came home from school yesterday (she's 6), with an envelope. On it was her name, (written in an adult hand), and signed by a boy in her class! She didn't really understand why he had given it to her and assumed it was a party invitation. I opened it to find it was a promotional leaflet for a woman who teaches hoola hoop tricks, for party celebrations, school fetes etc. This in itself wound me up because the woman doesn't have any connection with the school, but I was more concerned about the direct marketing of young children! I feel deeply uncomfortable about it but I'd be interested to know what others think!

Leaflets etc are perfectly normal here but often in connection with holiday clubs or after school clubs.

The way it is done is a bit too far for my taste. I would speak to the school and raise it. I know they make a far amount of money with these but there should be standards what is acceptable.

I bet the teacher thought they were party invites.

Its quite cheeky and I dont think I would be too impressed.

My daughter has regular junk mail in her school bag. Mostly from local pizza and kebab shops, or not so local (in the next town), fast food mainly in fact, plus local estate agents bumph. I'm assuming these companies pay the school to send home approx. 380 leaflets or brochures several times a term. When exactly does the teacher get time to sit there and insert several pieces of junk mail into every child's bookbag in their class?

As unpleasant as advertising is, I would be more concerned how the woman got your daughter's name especially if she wasn't connected to the school. It sounds like there is a breach of school policy or a mum is not using the class list as intended.

My bugbear is when free testers are given to the pupils without consent and then come home wanting cheques for ££££ so they can do the activity out of school.

Hi flipflapdingaling:

Our school has twice sent home letters on school stationary in sealed envelopes addressed TO THE PARENTS OF DD1/2 of MRS PSBD from the Head recommending touch typing or additional English support with a contact number and when we've explored it - they're a chain selling us 'a package'.

On both occasions I instantly opened it because I presumed there was some problem.

I found out from the touch typing one (who had a nice person on the phone and as it would turn out her brother is a neighbour) that they pay the school for distributing the letter of recommendation from the Head, which they prepare.

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On the flip side - we sent out flyers for a local venue (somewhere you might take the kids for a nice day out) because they were offering tickets for a family of four to their venue for our raffle at a fair. It seemed a fair deal. They were obvious flyers (A5, no envelope & not addressed to anyone in particular) - and were offering 50% discount to parents if they went to the venue during a certain period, so we thought it was reasonable to circulate them as a PTA group.

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I think like all things it just depends - although I would say in your case the fact it was addressed to your daughter was odd, to say the least.

I hate it but it's common at DC school, I grit my teeth as it's easy money for the school & pays for things I do want.

Thank you for all you comments . . . I managed to have a chat with dd's teacher today and she was as incensed as I! Because they had been sealed in envelopes, she assumed that they were party invites. They were put there by the father of a child in my daughters class. I'm going to have a quiet word with him and suggest this underhandedness is not appropriate. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with information about local community events or activities that we can enjoy as a family appearing in bookbags but I do take issue with those trying to make a profit for themselves. Grrrr!