In response to Mr. Adams, not all teachers make "good money."  Teacher pay in the state of Mississippi is 49th in the U.S. If teachers there were paid as other professionals, their paycheck would be much larger.

We do not participate in school fundraisers on principle. I think it is exploitative for schools to get children whipped into a frenzy over some trinket "prize." Kids don't have the filters to see that they're being used by grown-ups trying to make a profit. I remember some fundraisers when I was in school where I sold a lot of items and others where I didn't. I remember feeling crushed when I couldn't unload my merchandise. Sales is for tough-skinned people with positive self images. It is not for children. Shame on the schools and the greasy fundraising companies for this practice. This is child labor, pure and simple.

When I was in high school, the school came up with a great idea to bring a little extra money in. We had what a Literary Magazine. And every year at a certain time, the staff of the magazine would send out flyers having people submit their artwork, poems, short stories, songs and the like. The staff would go through and vote on what would or wouldn't make it in, and they'd assemble a book of all of the artwork and things people submitted. The Staff would hold a 'Book Signing' in the library so that anyone who bought a book could have it signed by the students whose work made it in. It also served as a printed keepsake of your work, as well.

The book was $5 to purchase, which with 1,000 students, made for a lot of income, only a small fraction of which went to the printing and distributing of the magazine. The rest of the money that was made went to buy the school new computers/supplies for the classrooms, to remodel our gym and buy us new equipment to use, to fund sports and anything else you can think of that the school needed.

We also held a coffee house in our cafeteria where the students who had submitted their work (or even the ones that didn't) could come in and read it aloud or show off their artwork. It was $2 to get in and that money, too, went to the school. They tried to make things fun for us in order to raise money to help out, and it didn't involve over-priced wrapping paper or old chocolates. :)

Recently, the chlidren at our school were told by their 5th and 6th grade coach that if they didn't donate $5.00 to the  "a certain large charity" then they would be required to write a two page report.  I do not have a problem supporting MY school, but why in these tough times do we have to support everyone?!  And why are we resorting to extorsion?  My children will not be donating or writing that report.  We will donate to the "large charity" directly from our home, never through the school again!  And by the way - what's with the kids getting bigger and bigger prizes?  Shouldn't we be teaching them to donate and help the needy simply for the good feeling they get from it?  My daughter already does that.  She sees the kids on TV that are starving and gets her purse.  There is no big prize in this for her.  Just the feeling that comes from knowing she may have helped someone out there.  I couldn't be more proud of my girl.  I wish there was a way in the school charity drives to refuse the "big prizes" and turn that money into donations that make a difference.

Change has arrived in fundraising. I came across a website www.raisewhileyousave.com   (RWYS) the other day when looking into Green fundraising oppurtunities, as I am fed up with my kids going door 2 door and selling cookie dough and magazines. I looked into this new fundraising program which is helping parents Save Money while raising money.they are also helping great causes which don't have any budget to run a fundraiser, as they do all the work for you, by building you a webpage attached to thier website. Thier products are these really snazzy energy saving product kits, which can save parent $100's of dollars on those bills we all hate to open. I thought I would share this information as we could all do with a little extra cash during this economy Im sure. My friend who is a PTA mom is always complaining about the difficulty of getting new ideas, and the lack of interest they have in the same old boring fundraising oppurtunities. I think this is very clever, as the schools and community fundraisers, don't purchase anything, the kids don't need to do anything, the kits save money and help raise money, and apparently they even send the kits out to the parents home, so PTA moms like my friend no longer need to chase moms around the playground to tell them thier products are in the sports hall for collection. we've all been there.  :)