Opinion wanted, am I being a Scrooge?
 

We get this letter in the mail from our nephew. It's a solicitation for $$$ for his school district. We buy subscriptions to a magazine and 40% of the money goes to the district general fund.

Here's why I'm being curmudgeony. Their property tax on a 270k home last year was $2,000. Currently they're going to vote on increasing the levy of $2.70 per $1000 to over $4 per $1000, or on par with what we're paying here in my school district.

The way I see it is this.

1) Why should I pay for your kids' school?

2) Isn't it your responsibility to take action?

3) You are part of the growth in your neighborhood. Shouldn't you be take responsibility?

It's not the $16 or so for the subscription. It's the principle. I'm not trying to start a political debate. I just want someone to give me a plausible principled reason why I should take responsibility for some other person's inability or non-desire to pay their fair share, especially when we're talking about their kids' future.

At least it's not for a private school.

You face more of a dilemma than when I I used to get solicitations from my nephews to help pay for their missionary trips to save the heathen.

I see your point Kuan and I think it is valid. However, since it is family I'd probably cough up the $16. Lesser of two evils, IMO.

Better yet, send a check for $6.40 directly to the district general fund, and cut out the middle man...and maybe save a tree while you're at it.

(that's if you want to contribute in the first place)

I won't even send my child out for these fundraising efforts (wrapping paper, candy bars, 'precious moments' figurine crap) for his own school, so I'm *really* a scrooge. I find the whole idea loathsome. So no, I don't blame you for being a scrooge.

I agree. They're embarrassments.

I don't know what it is about Precious moments figurines...but they make me wanna gag (just like watermelon jolly ranchers). :sick:

I agree, my kids have never gone out to solicit subscriptions, to sell candy or anything else like that. If the school needs money, I would rather write them a check. The worst part was when they had these contests where kids would get prizes (real cheap stuff, btw) if the sold certain amount of subscriptions. I told my kids that if they wanted the "prize" they could always work doing extra chores at home and I'd get it for them. That usually worked, but the peer pressure can be intense.

At work many parents continually hit co-workers for money for this or that other activity or fundraiser. I always say no. But then again, people know I am cranky, so they generally leave me alone. :D

But Kuan, this is family, so just bite the bullet my friend and pay up. Are they from your wife's side of the family (if so, you need to keep the peace).

But if they are from your side of the family you can always blow them off... :eek:

Good luck.

Me too, Ben. We do no fundraisers but do a sort of a targeted Larry Delor approach (money gets lost in our central office).

Mrs B is a teacher and I know she's about $400/yr out of pocket for classroom stuff and for poor kids who need stuff. Or kids with no love from home. Like a birthday present, for example. Mrs B is a saint in a lot of respects but I can just about guarantee that her expenses are average for teachers or even lower than average. At least in LA schools.

So what Mrs B does a couple of times a year is send our grade-school kid's teachers a ream of paper or some boxes of Kleenex. Pencils. Gift certificate to Office Depot for a really good teacher. No it isn't bribery. Our kids are all pretty bright and extremely self-motivated, no need to bribe.

I think you have a point there, Kuan. However, the question is that since it is family, how easy is it to avoid the hat when it is passed around.

My pops is a teacher here, and he has to shell out about $500 every year for supplies. This usually includes a toner cartridge for the laser printer that 5 different teachers use (none want to offset the cost AT ALL) and many common classroom supplies so that no one is at a disadvantage because they cannot afford proper materials.

Bot, you probibally get this too. Most teachers are paid 10 out of the 12 months in a year, so $$ tends to get tight in the summer months. We go on a huge cutback in expenses. Not to mention, my dad has not recieved a Cost of Living raise, it just becomes the same ol thing. My mom works though, so we have a pretty good amount of income. We are able to splurge on those nonessential things like Plasma TVs, gaming consoles, computers, and nice cars. Still though, I think teachers should be compensated a bit better, especially when considering the service they provide to the community.

But that is just in my opinion.

It's called community service, or civic duty, or simply being a good citizen.:rolleyes:

Writing a check is something anyone can do and fosters a sense of entitlement. People value things more when they have a invesment in them.

Maybe I'll write a check to the teacher instead. The kid, and the parents I'm sure, don't get it. I don't want them to talk about us like we're misers, can afford a brand new bike but can't afford to spend $16 on a poor kid.

I'd like to gently explain to them how property taxes work but it would be kinda hard for a family who doesn't know that we're still waging a war in Iraq.

Teachers in my wife's school system may elect to receive the 10 month salary over 12 months, which eased the burden. The side effect of that is the public perceives teachers as being paid for a 2 month vacation. She would NEVER have lasted this long in education had she been unable to take time away from the stress, especially with the "No Teacher Unburdened By Paperwork Act" fully in force.

B