Column 55 for September 24, 2000

Last week I mentioned the "other" school financing, meaning other than our taxes.

Years ago, I was of the opinion that if something, or some activity, was important enough to be included in our public educational system, it was the state and local school boards responsibility to raise the funds necessary to provide for it. Over the years, I’ve mellowed a little, but it still seems a little incongruous to pay $5 to see a football game that I, as a taxpayer, feel I’ve already paid for. I feel the same way about providing new band uniforms. If it’s important, then tax money should pay for it.

The public, but most especially the parents of students, are hit with a constant barrage of "fund-raisers" right from the beginning of the school year until the end. Our own children are terrific and vulnerable sales people for all the companies that make fortunes catering to the "fund-raising" needs of our schools. Our children are made to feel belittled if they don’t turn in sales, and rewarded by the schools and the private profiteers if they sell a lot. What could be a stronger motivator for our children then peer pressure?

Recently, I received an e-mail from my Granddaughter, a kindergartner living in a suburb of Chicago. A first for me, her first fund-raiser! Also my first e-mail fund-raiser request. Of course I’m going to buy some of that Christmas wrapping paper! How many times have you purchased a tin of caramel corn, Christmas trinkets, candy, booster club membership, or magazine subscriptions at inflated prices just to a "help out" a youngster? Did you really need the product? Or would you have felt guilty if you didn’t buy?

Back in the mid 80’s I worked for a company that produced calendars for schools, consisting of pictures of the football team and cheerleaders, the sports schedule, and small advertisements for local companies. What a scam! I would go into a school, usually the coach’s office, and make my calls to local businesses. "This is Coach Miller and we’re doing that fund raising calendar again for our team. What size ad would you like to do this year?" The businesses really felt they were contributing to the schools and buying a little goodwill. None of the money they paid went to the school! We did produce the calendars, and the school received them free, (If enough ads were sold!) but my company and I kept all the money!

Where does it all stop? I don’t think it will. I consider the people that sell fund-raising programs and other "necessities" to our schools to be among the biggest sharks in the sea. Think yearbooks, class rings, senior cards and invitations. These really aren’t fund-raisers, but it’s that same type of "shark" preying on our children and motivating them with peer-pressure.

Solutions? Why not a "United Way" type of system. Or at least an option to give a dollar or two to the group we specifically wanted to support? One donation, for those of us that would like to make it. A sticker for our door, telling one and all that we’ve already given, don’t ask me again. Why not give a dollar that went right to the cause instead of purchasing some useless, unneeded product that cost $8 for which the group received that same dollar? Life would be so much simpler!

Peace! tomiswho@mindspring.com