My daughter’s school never seizes to amaze me. This time I was reminded of a recent post by Happy in Bag about his career in sales and degenerate motivational tools that were unleashed on him in order to increase his productivity. Apparently,the idiotic creativity of professional motivators doesn’t have any limits.
“Let’s h
it the goal”(click the photo) is a new low reached by the Olathe School District. While it’s debatable that paying property taxes already contributes enough for the school system, the money factor is not what pisses me off. It’s the pep-rallies, kick-off meetings, cheap prizes and the situation where the kids are forced to harass everyone they know and through their parents everyone they don’t know, to compensate for the district’s lack of financial planning and state’s failure to adequately budget for education. Long time ago I explained to my daughter that we will not participate in these collections since school usually only draws a small percentage of the proceeds. I always offer to buy her a prize because that seems to be the main motivator for the kids’ participation.
I’ve always been told that American kids learn about money early by selling girl scout cookies and running lemonade stands. However, judging by the number if bad financial decisions in this country, early experience with money often does not translate into the sound budgeting skills later in life. However, early acquaintance with the sales motivational bullshit surely leaves it’s evil impression on the child who will grow up thinking that if a phrase “Let’s hit the goal” is written on the wall enough times, the goal will magically be hit.
In an earlier post it was pointed out to me that my voice (in a form of a vote) actually matters. In this case I agree. If I can raise a skeptical, smart child who can see through the bullshit, I will contribute to the society another level-headed member. There are less and less of them around. That’s my way to hit the goal.
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7 responses so far ↓
1
Joe
// Feb 7, 2008 at 6:16 am
Glad to find you back and blogging. I had wondered what happened to your blog and saw you on Midtown Miscreant’s blog.
2
JustCara
// Feb 8, 2008 at 7:08 am
I hate how our schools socialize kids into being corporate shills. They should just send kids out into the neighborhood and go door to door begging for money. At least that way some third-party company wouldn’t be taking 60% or more of the of the money the kids make.
3
KC Sponge
// Feb 8, 2008 at 1:23 pm
My daughter has to sell trash bags for a school fundraiser . . . not a bad thing, I guess - everyone needs trash bags - and these are pretty and shiny and tough! The thing that bothers me - actually that ticks me off - is since she has been given the order forms she is constantly reminding me that we have to sell firty (thirty) rolls so that she can go to the pizza party. My little kindergartener is being told that if she doesnt sell them, she will not be allowed to go to a pizza party! Not, if you sell so many bags you’ll be rewarded, but that if you don’t, you’ll be punished. disgusting. We did get a notice in our email that if we wanted to ‘opt out’ of this ‘optional’ fundraiser, it would only take $120.
There’s a reason so many corporations offer to do fundraisers - from Mary Kay to Smoothee King - they get these kids to be their door to door salesmen and guilt their friends and family to buy their products. Then get a nice little tax incentive on top of it. And fundraising companies are even worse. Bleh!! Eww!! That’s all I have to say . . .
4
AF
// Feb 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Good idea with buying the prize! I never would have thought of that. I’m stealing the idea now though.
5
meesha.v
// Feb 8, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I talked to my cousin in Jersey and she says that their school routinely runs “fund raising” dinners at $500/ head. If the parents don’t participate kids gets borderline harassed by constant reminders. I told her that I should move there and as soon as they harass my child I will unleash JustCara on them. We will both be set for life and my kid will be getting limo rides to school.
Take your kid to your own pizza party,they buy crappy pizza anyway. In my house all the crap goes right back to school. If my co-workers need trash bags I can give them directions to WalMart. It starts with trash bags, then cookie dough, wrapping paper, discount cards and never stops.
6
KC Sponge
// Feb 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Yeah - we already have it planned . . .some families who didn’t sell 30 bags are going to take our kids out of school before the pizza party and go have a party of our own at Waldo Pizza (much cooler than a party at school!)
7 Respect Thy Teacher? // Mar 24, 2008 at 10:19 pm
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