Kip Tips
When Your Child's School Asks You to Give, Give, Give
Here's how to handle all those requests for classroom supplies, fundraiser contributions and more.
By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com
August 17, 2010
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Parents, I know you're feeling the pull on your purse strings from you children's schools. You're being asked to contribute supplies to your children's classrooms (not just pencils and paper, but even cleaning supplies). You're expected to donate money to help with the schools' fundraisers. You're getting notes from teachers each week about this field trip or that art project you have to pay for if your children want to participate.
I know because I'm a parent with one child in a public school and one child in a private preschool. As president of the parent committee at one of my children's schools and vice-president of the parent-teacher organization at the other, I also know how much the schools need financial support from parents. So how do you balance your desire to help with the reality of your own limited funds -- and avoid looking like a cheapskate if you can't open your wallet every time the school asks?
Even though this is your child and his school we're talking about, you have to approach this like you would any other financial situation. You have to ...
Set a budget. If this is your child's first year in school, talk to his or teacher, parents with older children or members of the parent organization to get an idea of how much you'll be expected to spend on supplies, field trips, etc. or to contribute to fundraisers throughout the year. If your child is a returning student, you already have a pretty good idea. Once you have a dollar amount, it will be easier to figure out whether you can make room in your budget to help out your child's school. Our budget worksheet can help.
Prioritize. Of course the school, its parent committee and your child's teacher would love for you to donate every time they ask, but they also understand that not every parent can. So contribute only when it fits in your budget and when you feel like your contribution will have the most impact. That might mean skipping the chili-supper raffle in order to buy a coffee mug adorned with your child's art so his or her feelings don't get hurt.
Give your time. You might not be able to afford monetary contributions, but you can donate your time. Schools need volunteers to help in the classroom, cafeteria, you name it.
Please share your advice in the comment box below on how to handle requests from your child's school for supplies and contributions.
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Reader Comments (4)
Posted by: Mahesh Panchal at 08/19/2010 09:04:04 AM
As far as the supplies are concerned, such schools should look to the manufacturing companies and request them for their donation and in return naming a class or hallway or a small area in the contributing company's name for a give time period. This gives free publicity to those companies and schools can even have annual or long-term relationship with them for their needed help. Also schools can request such directly to their school districts, city or village who tax heavily to their residents, for such financial supports. They even can participates in the higher-prize paying competition and have their students help them win such competitions...this is universal truth that you cannot stretch your legs beyond your limits...Once such (a) school is closed in the area due to financial hardship, sustainability, the related communities, city/village, school district will realize its long term impact and act accordingly. We parents cannot promote such activities for the long run. We are trying to paralyse such so called independent not-for-profit organizations, by providing such supports every year, every time. We should stop such activities which only raise more and more expectations from us only, day after day, one or the other way.
Posted by: michael at 08/19/2010 07:31:03 PM
As a teacher...I fervently believe that we should keep the pressure on the legislature. Schools should not have to beg and cajole for funds. When we donate and donate often, it takes the pressure off state governments to financially support schools. One of the main duties of state and local governments is to educate its citizens.
Posted by: Frank Guerrero at 08/19/2010 09:32:49 PM
As far as school supplies, parents provide for this. As far as all other supplies, the school dist. should provide as this is why we pay high taxes. The dist. need to budget and do away with all the real fancy football stadiums. Regular stadiums would do, that millions of dollas saved. Also build a good school building not these fancy campus, that cost extra millions of dollars.
Posted by: Limoman at 08/27/2010 08:06:05 AM
Well, we all but Stopped that Practice in our School District.. using Children is Wrong, plain and Simple...-If your school is Too Poor? Then Move..Plain and simple..-If it's MisManaged? either Fire the People running it or Move...-If they want to raise $ /Supplies for other schools? Your support a Failed System and it should be allowed to Fail..not keep supporting it..and keeping it afloat...-Let the Kids learn what Life REALLY is all about while they are Young.. not Live in FantasyLand...and if the Teachers want to do so much for others? Then let them Doante their Over-paid salaries and Benefits to the cause.. they can well afford it..!