Schools and money

[fattt]

I really need advice.

I work in a school that prides itself on pastoral care and it has regular tutor time competitions.

We never win but the thing is I can't afford to. They involve dressing up or having mascots or house colours - our house is red, I own nothing red but apparently I have to wear red on Monday. Payday isn't until Monday either.

I know it sounds stupid but it's really shit.

Yeah I agree with others - all possible solutions seem to have been offered and for various reasons they don't seem to work. So really there's only one outcome: you don't wear any red and tell whoever challenges you (if they even challenge you) why that is. If you can't afford it there's no way they can discriminate against that and if you're looking for new jobs anyway then it's not like you need to find alternative solutions by next year anyway.

Thing is, you will be the tutor group which stands out if you do nothing as well.

I don't think it's unreasonable to plan in advance and given it is only a week, I assume it's down to the staff how much effort they put in.

Maybe there is an element of competitive teaching, like competitive parenting or wherever where parents try to outdo each other with bigger parties, better presents and so on.

Part of it does just sound like you and this school just aren't a good fit.

That's because with the greatest of respect the advice is not correct.

People have given me advice as to where I can buy cheap red things. That isn't why I was posting.

Well I've suggested you don't do it, and that you speak to your union rep, but you haven't liked that either!

Not just that though. People have suggested borrowing items, making items, wearing token items you might have with red on them, or not wearing anything red at all...
I'm not being critical, if the solutions dont work for you then they don't work, but at some point people will run out I'd solutions to offer and there will be nothing for it but to just say to work that you can't take part in this week's event. For what it's worth I think your school sounds ridiculous with the clear emotional and financial pressure its putting on its staff.

I hear you. I caved with the Xmas jumper and have a spotty top, but that’s about it. I did see a red tshirt in Asda sale recently for about £1.50 I considered getting for future Xmas/red nose/etc days but didn’t.
Your competitions sound way overboard - you can’t be alone in how you’re feeling about it.

If payday is on Monday , any chance you can stop at a supermarket on your way to work to buy a cheap top/ scarf/brooch etc.

I work in a v small school of 3 teachers and when it's world book day or something other crap thing then we just rotate our costumes between us.

Direct the powers that be into looking at Scotland's cost of the school day initiative.

I flat out refuse. I don't know if that's helpful or not.

Only person who hasn't dressed up. Or whatever.

Freecycle, but definitely use the line that buying stuff for one off events like this is horrendously wasteful and a poor choice when so many young people are concerned about climate change (plus cheap, disposable fashion often = horrendous working conditions/exploitation). Also potentially discriminatory to pupils from families on low incomes who might not be able to take part.

Why did you agree to have it as a PM target??

What’s the wording of your PM target? It can’t be spend money on dressing up clothes.

If you tell us maybe we can offer suggestions that fit the brief.

You need to fucking suck it up or speak to slt, head or something. People on this thread have given you SOO many suggestions and you're being a dick about it

I'm confused about what the problem is. Why can't you just say 'I can't afford to keep buying things for this. Sorry!' 🤷‍♀️ It's not being an arse to not have the means so just tell the truth.

All the teachers I know have a good variety of “dress up” clothes. Red is perfect for Valentines, Chinese New Years, Christmas. Be prepared for Halloween and yes other monthly events.
It goes with the job really should have been mentioned in your training.

Make a hat or tunic/ apron with a newspaper - a free one would do- and if anyone asks tell them it's been read. I too loath dressing up and resent spending any money on it. I'd rather spend my salary on my own children or, I'd it has to be at school, on supporting the mini enterprises the sixth form do.

I hear you OP. you’re not looking for suggestions as to how to do it, it’s the fact that you’re having to do it at all. Your management seem to think you have to show that you’re a team, but what better way to demonstrate that by looking after the weaker members of your team y standing up (somehow) to the assumption that people -staff or pupils-have money to lash out on this crap.
Far better use of teamwork to be challenged to do something with zero budget

If you don’t like any of the suggestions, then the only solution is to move. Or form a collective of like-minded souls and revolt.

I'd suggest a word with the headteacher. Just be honest and say that while you'd love to be able to participate, you can't afford to buy stuff. Therefore this week you won't be participating Simple.

Any understanding boss would say I'm so sorry take what you need from school/resources, or they might find you the pretty cash to get something red that you can wear every week.

If they're not understanding, put in a polite grievance.

Also if you have a staff survey, then feed back in that.

Are you being paid regular teacher wages? It seems odd that in a professional role you can't put aside £30 a year to make this happen.

Fucking hell why are people in the staffroom being dicks? Fuck off back to aibu!

Op you are not being unreasonable to expect not to have to spend your wage on the stupid ideas of someone creating extra work to justify their random TLR.

I stopped using my Own money to fund random school crap Years ago. If it isnt important enough to come out of the school’s budget, it certainly isnt important enough to come out of my wage.

Maybe ask who you give your receipts and claim form to?

I find it really difficult to belived that you have a form full of secondary age dc (whether they are all Yr11s or whether they are vertically grouped) who turn up EVERY WEEK in whatever "theme" has been chosen for them.
As a teacher myself I've supported some annoying requests from all my dcs' schools over the years, but there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD I would be faffing about trying to get teens into some kind of 'dress up' week in, week out It would just not happen. Teens wouldn't do it. Parents wouldn't support it.

Are you really trying to convince us you live in some kind of parallel universe where your whole form turn up in a different 'dress up' costume every week, and you, as the form teacher are the only one struggling with this ?

I get that people suggesting to "create" things to get round the buying, are sort of missing the point. It is the expense, but clearly time is limited too. Doing something once a year for whichever charity day your school picks - it would be right to make the effort to borrow something or create something or budget for something from a charity shop, but no right minded person is going to be doing that every week.
Therefore, all the other form tutors will be thinking the same.
If you won't go to SMT and tell them enough is enough yourself, then do it together as a group of you.

This all sounds absolutely crazy but I am struggling to imagine a situation where some stuck on paper creation wouldn't suffice. It could be your thing. Just use plain paper there is no need for glitter etc. Or are you saying you can't even get paper from school.

You said people have given you suggestions on where to get red clothes, which is not what you asked for.

You're not happy with "speak to slt"

You're not happy with "just don't do it"

With all due respect, those are all of your options (aside from ring in sick)

So what did you actually post for? Your op says you're asking for advice, so what were you hoping to achieve?