Comments on: This Test is Brought to You By McDonalds – Ads On Our Children's Tests? http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/02/this-test-is-brought-to-you-by-mcdonalds-ads-on-our-childrens-tests/ Green and Natural Parenting for Eco-Friendly Families Thu, 24 May 2012 17:04:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jamie Ervin http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/02/this-test-is-brought-to-you-by-mcdonalds-ads-on-our-childrens-tests/#comment-6854 Jamie Ervin Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:47:36 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=2209#comment-6854 I can't help but think that advertisement on test papers would pose a distraction. Our school has taken to a few simple ways to raise those extra funds. Of course, asking parents to contribute is always a valid method of obtaining funds and something we do when needed. We've placed a plastic bag recycling bin in the hall. The school is given $ for each bag recycled. We also collect Box Tops and our parent group is happy to help fulfill added teacher needs from our budget. There are better solutions than placing distracting advertisements on the test papers. I can’t help but think that advertisement on test papers would pose a distraction.

Our school has taken to a few simple ways to raise those extra funds. Of course, asking parents to contribute is always a valid method of obtaining funds and something we do when needed.

We’ve placed a plastic bag recycling bin in the hall. The school is given $ for each bag recycled. We also collect Box Tops and our parent group is happy to help fulfill added teacher needs from our budget.

There are better solutions than placing distracting advertisements on the test papers.

]]> By: Shirley Hudson http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/02/this-test-is-brought-to-you-by-mcdonalds-ads-on-our-childrens-tests/#comment-6853 Shirley Hudson Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:28:29 +0000 http://ecochildsplay.com/?p=2209#comment-6853 I agree that I would rather see parents chip in where possible. A dollar from each parent would almost eliminate the extra costs. Parents tend to feel that if their children are in a public school, then the government should be footing the bill through collective taxes. We tend to look with green eyes at the private schools an say "oh yes, it's alright for those rich kids to expect a better education - their parents can afford it". Truth is most (not all) of us can afford a little out of pocket change, which as illustrated here, would make a huge difference. The sad fact is that our tax dollars just don't get to where we'd like to see them used. Again - get active; send an e-mail, letter, post card, telephone call to your local and federal representatives. Organize your fellow school parents to do the same. Attend your local district school Board meetings. Investigate spending policies. Volunteer for School Site Council positions. See where your school is allocating funds. Arrange with employers whenever possible to volunteer for an hour when needed at school to be in the playground, make photo-copies. Pay for one running or volunteer to take it home and copy a set of papers. So much we can do to participate gainfully in our children's education. Our family worked on an extremely tight budget for many years, but we were still able to make these contributions. You are absolutely right, our childrens' education is our future. I agree that I would rather see parents chip in where possible. A dollar from each parent would almost eliminate the extra costs. Parents tend to feel that if their children are in a public school, then the government should be footing the bill through collective taxes. We tend to look with green eyes at the private schools an say “oh yes, it’s alright for those rich kids to expect a better education – their parents can afford it”. Truth is most (not all) of us can afford a little out of pocket change, which as illustrated here, would make a huge difference. The sad fact is that our tax dollars just don’t get to where we’d like to see them used. Again – get active; send an e-mail, letter, post card, telephone call to your local and federal representatives. Organize your fellow school parents to do the same. Attend your local district school Board meetings. Investigate spending policies. Volunteer for School Site Council positions. See where your school is allocating funds. Arrange with employers whenever possible to volunteer for an hour when needed at school to be in the playground, make photo-copies. Pay for one running or volunteer to take it home and copy a set of papers. So much we can do to participate gainfully in our children’s education. Our family worked on an extremely tight budget for many years, but we were still able to make these contributions. You are absolutely right, our childrens’ education is our future.

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