Of course once you open up this most colourful and alluring booklet, it turns out that this "free" watch will only be handed over in return for all your personal data, and two euros fifty. The shoe retailer behind the scheme has also very charitably included a five euro voucher, just in case you were to decide to buy some shoes when you get there. Apparently the shoe chain sponsored the school's cross country event, so now we should all just smile prettily and put up with this.
Jack's school has a history of questionable judgements like this. A few weeks back, he assured me I should buy a local newspaper, a rightist rag I wouldn't buy or want to be seen with. Apparently, he was 'in it.' Along with 25,000 other primary one children. Every year, they publish class pictures of all primary one classes. We're going to be goaded into buying another permutation of the same picture soon anyway. I was not amused. The other mothers did not see my problem. Whatever.
So after the newspaper incident, and again after the recent stopwatch incident, I carefully and at length explained to my five year old why, in fact, I disagreed with his beloved teacher and principal, and why I will not be buying into some cynical marketing ploy designed to separate us from our money and common sense. (The first time I explained this, we were walking down the street, and I got some very strange looks from another mother for talking to a five year old and a one year old about "cynical commercial ploys" - how are they ever going to learn those words if I don't use them, I ask you.) I'm lucky Jack's a clever boy and he understands what I'm trying to say, but at some level I'm sure he's very disappointed in me for not just going along with it like most parents and forking out the (admittedly small amount of) cash so that he can have his coveted keepsakes. I just can't bring myself to reward any company for such a scheme. Call me naive, but I would like schools to be little oases from the commercial madness going on everywhere else in the world.
The PTA should be the place to go with my concerns, and believe me, I tried. In fact, I have turned that PTA meeting into another little film. (It's short, it's snappy.) Again, I may have dramatised the proceedings a little.
Am I making something out of nothing? I still haven't found a single parent at that school who agrees with me, so I'm starting to think I may be overreacting.
Posts
I thought PTAs were only like that here in good ole US of A
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing so hard I'm sweating.
I had to watch it twice.
Again, I love the wave goodbye at the end.
Too too funny
My 9 yr old peeked over my shoulder and asked if they were Legos, so I played the film for him. He said "it sounds like my school".
ReplyDeleteEvery year they hear me rant that I'm not buying cheap crap made in China and I'd rather just write the school a check.
They wish I was a normal mom
I still laughed the third time I watched it
Love the video! Lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a parent but from experience, I am extremely dubious/terrified about how certain schools are run.
Great video.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right- school should be a commercial-free zone. What crap!
Isn't that why many schools have switched to uniforms? So that branding is not apart of the classroom. Your argument makes sense to me. I especially love your non verbal remark at the end!
ReplyDeleteIt has been slowly gaining here (some places faster than others) that schools are turning more to commercialized ways to make money. From school photos (I got so made fun of cuz my parents were too poor to buy them some years) to even the school yearbook (in my parents' day I guess they were free) - every time we turned around there was some manipulative 'request' being made like you say, to part one from their money.
ReplyDeleteIt's sometimes tedious to be different, sensical
I loved your last gesture. But I'm sorry about the PTA.
ReplyDeleteMy son's school hosted a bastketball course, sponsored by Pepsi. I hated that, but I thought "when in Rome".
I HATE the fundraising catalogues they come home with. Especially as the reps have filed them full of all the exciting prizes they will get if they order from the catalogue. They omit to mention that to get the kind of prizes they talked about, you have to spend huge amounts of money.
I really hate commercial schemes aimed at kids...but at the same time part of me thought 'ooh, the boys haven't got a watch and that looks pretty cool...and what's more it's cheaper than any I have found in Target'.
ReplyDeleteStill, on principle I think the whole thing sucks.
And I too loved the movie. Absolutely bloody hilarious.
Several times a year, I get the stupid fundraising brochure from school, and the letter encouraging my kid to sell as much of the crap (wrapping paper, candles, peanuts, beach towels, crack pipes) as humanly possible. Every single one goes directly into the recycling bin.
ReplyDeleteThe movie was awesome, that little gadget is so addictive. Love the friendly wave goodbye!
@michelle - I'd rather just give them money, too. Actually, the next thing we're getting is not too bad. A huge box full of chocolate waffles for only five euros. I can just about live with that. Mmm. I'm so glad it made you laugh.
ReplyDelete@Fatbrideslim - Yeah, I think it's most schools these days. There's just so much sponsoring to be had.
@Ms. Moon - If I was the principal... Thank you for agreeing with me. :-)
@Erin - This school has uniforms! They also have a "healthy school plan" so they make them take in fruit, but then they give them chocolate milk all the time.
@Laura Lee - I know. These pesky principles are annoying. My life would be much easier without them, too.
@Iota - I'm not even against all sponsoring per se. If there's huge value to be gained, so be it. Especially for poorer schools. It's just important to weigh up the pros and cons. I don't mind a banner at a sports event if that means the thing can happen in the first place. It's just that it can go too far, you know. And really schools should have enough money to function without sponsoring.
@Nicola - :-) I would have gladly given you the voucher. I briefly considered it, but it has this snappy system to close, and it looked uncomfortable, like it would cut off the blood. Much easier to be against something if you don't want the handout. :-)
@Cristin - You made me (and Babes) lol with your crack pipe. Now that would be a seriously messed up school.
I think that if it was just a ploy to get me in the store I would do it, but I certainly wouldn't want to give out tons of personal information either. I remember when we ordered our closet doors from Leroy Merlin. They offered us delivery for only 40€. what a deal! but when we started to sign up for it, it turns out that you had to get the members card. And to get the member's card you had to tell them all about where you worked, how much you made each month, etc. after the first question or two we looked at each other and said "no, we'll pass." and walked away. not worth it.
ReplyDeleteCan't see the video because I'm on dial-up in the village, but am sure it's to the point. It's hard when you're the only person with any critical sense around, and everyone else is saying "oh what the heck, it's only 2.50", but if you believe in your principles, they're worth sticking too despite everyone else's lack of support. Don't let the couch potatoes drag you down!
ReplyDeleteI am with you, completely. I think I would flip a little as well...
ReplyDeletePlease please please tell me you have blue hair in real life!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so with you. It just wouldn't sit right with me either - good for you for speaking up.
I seem to be so late getting to your posts these days. I will do better...
@Megan - I HATE it when they want to know all about you. I've probably missed out on lots of cash that way.
ReplyDelete@Pueblo girl - Thank you. I won't.
@Metropolitan Mum - I flip each time. But I'd still rather the kids roll their eyes when I go off on another speech than that they just take everything at face value. The message WILL somehow get through.
@Josie - I don't - sorry. But I did use to have a dyed blond asymmetric mohican. Now I just have a huge mop of (dyed) brown curls.
- And don't worry. I like it if people stop by, late or early. I'm always a day behind or something myself. Kiss!
Ack, I just clutched my chest in true and real agony. and NO, you are NOT the only parent who feels the same way, I PROMISE you.
ReplyDeleteOoh we are lucky - the only thing my kids ever got sent home from school with for free was a Bible, which was promptly sent back with a rather hastily scribed diatribe informing them that it would only be accepted along a free copy of the Koran, Torah, Tipitaka and a just for fun The Book of Mormon. I'm an equal opportunity religious intolerant.
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy, you are not! If you were a parent in our school, you would be welcomed with open arms into the PTSA!! I love the video you made, it works in so many contexts...agenda...blah...blah...blah!!
ReplyDeleteThe last school we were at, I drove them nuts. I hated the fact that they peddled stuff constantly and I was very vocal about it. So I totally agree with you.
ReplyDelete@Kori - Well, thank you. That's nice to know.
ReplyDelete@MrsW - That's another problem. Last year, they did a full two weeks on the "story of creation", which I then had to counter with two weeks of Big Bangs and evolution at home, as well as other religious explanations. By the end of it, he'd become a muslim. It's all very exhausting to me.
@Kate - Yeah, did it show I'm a fan of long and tedious meetings?
@Mad Woman - It's a tough one. I'm wanting to make friends with a few people there, but at the same time I can't help complaining about these things.
WTH? I would be a bit pissed. Also I would be annoyed that a newspaper is publishing school pictures of children without my permission. But the watch kind of looks cool.
ReplyDelete