Posted by Vil (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get off your hind end and walk door to door selling the cookie dough with your child. That's what the other parents in the district are doing, and it helps instill a work ethic into your child.

Quit complaining and sell some cookie dough. I've got no problem buying some, and I know tons of people in Ironton who'd love to buy some.

Posted by gcmom (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with Mrs. Turvey . The money is not used for the kids. They say it helps with supplies. If thats true then why do we still have to pay a book fee every year? here in cg schools we sell three times a year. we just got finished selling things from a book that can be bought at the dollar store..just before Christmas we will be selling pies that cost 10.00 dollars so the kids can go to sparetime for a couple of hours. then just before school is out we will be selling cookies. You are right the kids that have parents on fixed income can not sell as many items as the schools want.. who wants to buy junk from a book and pay 10.00 when you can get if for 1.00. it also makes the kids that cant sell or have someone to buy from them feel left out..to me its like singling out the kids that have money and those that dont. we have the santa work shop here too.. and the stuff in it comes from the dollar store. people if you want to let your kids shop take them to the dollar store your self.. and by the way sell 30 items to get to goto gattiland is stupid my kids will not begoing to school the day of the gattiland trip i will be taking them to gattiland my self while the school is there. And to Vil you must not have kids in school . you must not know whats it is like to have to buy clothes shoes and everything else they need while in school.

Posted by SomeoneWhoCares (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with Mrs. Turvey as well. I grew up in a household where my mom was only making it on child support and alimony after she and my father divorced. We also lived in the country where there were no neighbors except my grandparents to sell to. Luckily, my grandfather would buy everything I had because he knew I had no one else to sell it all to. Even if he didn't need candy bars or whatever else I was selling, he would take it off my hands so that I wouldn't be the kid left behind while the other kids were rewarded. Unfortunately, not everyone has (had) a grandpa like mine who would do that. When I moved to Ironton in elementary school, I then had to resort to going door-to-door with catalogs and never did well like that. My mom would take everything she had to make sure I wouldn't be embarrassed or be in some kind of danger going to strangers' doors. This was hard on her. And if you're asking, "What about your dad?" He'd come around 3 times per year, so him selling stuff at his work was not an option. There are just too many kids in that situation. The high school fund raisers that I did were a bit easier, but the stuff we did in lower grades was difficult on a lot of kids and parents. Most of the time it has to do with the minimum amount that must be sold.

Posted by former_itowner (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Crystal,
I agree and disagree with you. About the fund raisers, I do agree that there are too many during the school year and there should be a limit of maybe one per class. Between school, youth sports and other kids organizations, we nickel/dime people to death. But in turn, I do feel that we need to teach our children the importance of working to better the schools and organizations that they are involved with. Selling fundraiser items does just that.
We need to encourage the kids to sell the items and try to do their best while selling items. This will instill good work ethic, goal setting and actually make them learn what work is.

This will benefit them for many years to come, unless you plan for your kids to be like so many others that sit back and expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter. I hope that you are not.

About the parties. In South Point, there are not parties for kids that sell the most or sell a certain amount. The kids that sell certain items are awarded prizes, such as radios, toys and other items. Lets keep the parties for good grades, good behavior and other rewards that coincide with the positive behaviors for kids.

That would just be another way to show kids how to work toward goals and show them how hard work pays off.

Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What's the big deal? So you child is asked to get off the pc/cell phone/xbox for a few afternoons to do something good for the school and themselves. This teaches good work ethic and builds self esteem. In most of today's economy, and probably more so for the next generation, their work performance (quotas) will determine their worth to their company.

I'll add this. Well-meaning parents/grandparents who "buy everything the child has for sale" are not doing the kids any favor. It's like doing your kids homework for them.

I DO NOT agree with the "sell or miss out on a field trip" inducement to get the kids "busy". I much prefer the "prize awards". And parents, you KNOW these sales are coming. Talk to school officials during the school year about the projects. Let them know that if they expect your child to sell, with your support, they need to choose quality merchandise, not "dollar-tree" crap.

School sales programs help teach self-confidence, money-handling, competitive spirit (face it. They're not ALL going to be cheerleaders or football players).

I remember my mother and grandmother taking me door-to-door selling greeting cards (in the 60's). We had a great time. I learned a lot, sold a lot and laughed a lot. And there was always Borden Burger or The Sweet Shoppe as a treat after the last sale. My mom and grandmother are gone now, but you can see I still have the memories. Mrs. Turvey, Take your child "selling" and make some memories of your own.

Posted by Vil (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Something I missed....

Mrs. Turvey, if the parent isn't working, why do they not have the time to go out and help their child sell the cookie dough? Maybe they're too lazy to get out and help their child.

If you are new to the area, this is a great way to introduce yourself and your family to your neighbors and learn about your neighborhood. Great way for your child to maybe meet some neighborhood kids too so they can make new friends and make the transition to a new home easier.

When I was attending Ironton City Schools (80's-mid 90's) I had to sell all sorts of things. My family makes decent to good money, but my Mom and Dad would take me around the neighborhood and sell the candy bars or magazine stuff, whatever it may have been, instead of buying it. This helped me develop social skills with all types of people, not only people my age. It was also the first time I can say I worked for something as a child.

My father could have easily sold them from the front desk of his business and they would have been sold in a day, same can be said for my Mom taking it to her workplace. They didn't do that because they wanted me to earn it the honest way, which I did.

We never had inflatable parties or trips to the bowling alley. We sold stuff to get prizes and all the kids would get to be at the pizza party they had in the class. They may have acknowledged the top seller or two, but nobody was excluded because they didn't sell much. I think if you sold 3 things you at least got a prize, so all the kids would get something.

Kids have it great these days. When my boys get school age, I'll be out with them busting my behind to help them sell their stuff because I WANT them to succeed.

Posted by lewheeler (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dear first responder, I think you missed the whole point!! Would you want your kid to be the one sitting in the hall because you had to pay your electic bill. In this day and age everywhere you look places are filled with drug users would you want to tell your chid to go to a strangers house to sell cookie dough, this is not safe anymore. The cookie dough is not the only thing going on at this school, last year I paid for a t-shirt at sign ups and still haven't received it, who oversees this, or what about the years I have spent on the bleechers waiting for my child to spend 5 minutes in the game only because the coaches son was on the team, starting, playing the whole game no matter how good or bad they were. I think Ms. Turvey has a good point each child should have equal opportunity to play the games or whatever the school is doing after all this is the United States of America. I can't believe you would say get off your butt and sell cookie dough what if the parent was disabled would you still feel that way?

Posted by butterflikisses (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ms. Turvey, I couldn't agree more, it is ridiculious how school systems do our kids. I am a single mother who works 2 jobs just barely getting by and I have 4 kids in grade school, I sure can't afford to pay for the cookie dough or even send a small amount of money for the Santa shop, I apprecite you wanting to safe guard my kids' feelings and as for the comment about get off your butt, I stay off my butt and on my feet all day 7 days a week trying to feed my kids, let me guess miss first commenter you don't have to work and mommy and daddy have always supported you correct, because that comment sounded like a spoiled BRAT comment. Why should my kids be made to feel unworthy and have to watch other kids enjoy school or the shop, that is a joke anyway, last year the PTO sent home papers with items ranging from $.25-20.00 there was not one item there for less than $2.00 this is a fact. I think the board should be looking into who they are allowing to work the PTO, what kind of experience do they have to have, who watches over them to ensure that they are treating each kid the same, not showing any favoritism? Anyone??? What if I don't have $25.oo for each of my kids to play baseball but they have the ability of Babe Ruth is it fair to the child that he or she can't play because of the inability to pay the fee?

Posted by Vil (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sounds like your issue is with the Little League too. If there was no fee to play, then where does the money come from for uniforms, for bats, for helmets, baseballs, upkeep of the facilities, etc? My family has been heavily involved in Little League for the past 25 years in Lawrence County, so don't start talking about what you don't know. Corporate sponsorship money only goes so far, and these fees help offset the cost differential. I've known many times when coaches and league officials have taken out of their own pockets to make sure kids were treated fairly with pizza parties and such.

And for the fees, it is $25 for the first child, then $10 per additional child. Show me where you can entertain four kids for an entire summer spending only $55. They are asked to sell candy bars, but it is one box per home, so 4 kids selling candy is easier than one in this case.

Anyone who sends their child out into the neighborhood going door to door with no adult supervision has no business being a parent in the first place. The leagues/schools don't suggest this, so I don't know where people get this idea. Kids should never go door to door without adult supervision ever, there's no excuse for it.

If a child does not have his/her own glove, the league will get a glove for the child to use at no additional costs. Ninety nine times out of one hundred the child is never asked for the glove back. I know this because I've seen it happen with my own eyes and members of my family have shucked out the money to help get these underprivileged kids the equipment they need to play the game with no questions asked.

If you can't bring your child to practice, games, or parties for one reason or another, the coaches are more than happy to pick your child up, take them to the event, then bring them home. I know this because I've seen it first hand.

And why does it matter what the parents can afford when it comes to their kids selling things? The idea is to take your child out and teach them a life lesson, not take the easy way out and buy your child's quota. That's the point many of the posters here are missing.

Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I know I'm going to catch flak for this, but it seems most of the posters are angry...perhaps upset is the better word, that the schools are encouraging parents to be involved with their kids even during non-school hours. I won't be one of those posters who lambasts parents for not doing things with their kids. Thats just plain WRONG. I firmly believe parental involvement is good for both child and parent, but if you don't have the time, you don't have the time to give.

If you don't have the time it takes to help your child sell 10 or 20 candy bars over 1-3 weeks, ok. Perhaps the person who IS spending all that time with your child (special someone, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, etc.) could be persuaded to "work" with your child. I realize that in today's economy many parents are being forced to spend more time away from home to "pay the electric bill" as a previous poster stated it. Not every child lives in a "Leave It to Beaver" home situation.

But the majority of posters are correct in that a school uses your children as little fundraisers. Parent(s) are overwhelmed by "book fees", "activity fees" "classroom supplies", etc. Your tax dollars should be plenty enough to purchase books if your school officials and board members work hard to plan for the inevitable replacement of textbooks. If they're not, vote them out.

Most teachers are given a "classroom supply fund" each year. If the supply money is exhausted before the end of the school year, there's the principal's fund. Go to PTO meetings, board meetings. Ask how the school's "profit" (money from juice/drink machines, icecream sales, etc.) is being spent.

In closing, two final items. "Vil" is dead wrong to think you can entertain four kids at a little league ball park for $55. Don't forget the concession-stand prices.

So, it comes down to this...if you have the time to spend with your kids "selling stuff", cool. If you don't, perhaps you can persuade a "Trusted" family member to help them. But do take the time to get involved. You'll never be sorry.

Posted by gcmom (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Go to PTO meetings you say..they wont tell you where the money goes... but i can tell you this most of the money goes for trips for the principal... and for the teachers classroom supply fund.. why is it that we have to buy so many supply's at the beginning of the year and then all throughout the year.....bottom line the kids are the ones that are left out... selling 30 items to goto gettiland in a hummmer is stupid i dont care if the child sells one item he/she should be aloud to go along on the trip......stop making the kids feel like no one wants them.. stop leaving them out..its not their fault they cant afford it..

Posted by OhioanAtHeart (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

When I was in school we had very few door to door fund raisers. You either had very few neighbors or more kids selling than adults buying. What we did have was dedicated parents, adults and business owners who worked their tales off to raise money with us. Either by a car wash, bake sale, donations, raffle tickets or in school candy sales. I know everything doesnt work for every one. It did work for us..

That being said, we live out of state now and it isnt any better here guys. Truth is, times are tough, people are spending less and needing more to make ends meet.

We chose not to participate in the sales this year. My children understand. They also understand that the $2 prize they would get for selling $100 worth of items is not reward enough for the effort. That doesn't mean that we can not help the school. I would rather donate $, supplies, snacks and my time, than to pester my neighbors by asking them to buy something during these hard times.

Hey Crystal..
I believe the 'NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND' law should apply to the financial segregation the school puts on children. Especially ROCK HILL. It has always been there. My husband and most of his family attended Rock Hill and there has always been a classification made based on who you were or how much you had. Bad part of it is that the faculty drew those lines not the kids.. Most of the higher classed, money people were grouped together, middle class together and then lower incomed class together (for lack of better words) Once they were classified in elementary school, it followed them all the way to high school, into sports and right out the front door of RHHS.

Make a difference! Stand up to the school boards and tell them enough is enough. Take it to the people, take it to the polls and vote those people out.

Remember, One person cant do it alone, the old proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" holds true. It takes a village of fed up parents to stand up for their children.

Good Luck..

Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's another way. Go to your district treasurer's office. ask for a copy of the (insert building) principal's fund, showing revenue and payouts. Public information.

The annual amount for a classroom is very small. Some use it for watercolors, construction paper, etc Some use it for classroom decorations for all the various holidays. Some use it towards one bigger purchase, like a vcr/dvd player or an apt. size fridge for cold water (this eliminates long lines at the waterfountains and fewer classroom interruptions).

I was told face-to-face by a district superintendant that with new schools came even MORE money. He said the total from the school's commission included maintenance money for the first 10 years (not custodial, but maintenance, like electrical, waterlines, etc.), as well as in savings on utilities (newer buildings should equate to better insulated buildings, energy-saving H&A, etc. SO, where's the "savings" spent? It varies by school board. ASK!

Posted by rhparent (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i would like to add the school has over 800 students, one fundraiser for the entire year is pretty nice. every year that the school has sold cookie dough ALL children have attended the "stupid Inflatable" party and loved it. Also for parents concerned about the funds of the pto go to a meeting! It would probably benefit you and your child to attend. then you will see that everychild is benifiting in some way like recieving a rock hill t shirt last yr.(probably the only one most kids will ever have), field trips usually 2 per grade, rewards, parties, treats and much more. and for all the complaints on cookie dough fund rasier, its hard to find something to sell that one of the other buildings has not sold yet or a sports program. i attendended the first pto meeting this year and they are suppling each student with game so many tickets, and a free meal to the family at the festival.i believe this would be a good activity for everyone. Also fund raisers has never been a requirement, just an oppertunity to help out for extra activities. at least if you sold one you made an effort.
i am pleased to know that there are activites for my child and the others here bc they do not play sports or are any better that any other child. I support the school bc i know with help from parents/teachers and community the children will benefit.

Posted by ladybug (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just have to say to Vil and everyone else who is wondering, I did go out and sell 20 tubs of cookie dough actually to people that I work with and I'm by far LAZY, I did have other kids in this and other districts in mind, no only my own. My heart breaks for these kids. I do have to wonder though where my son's $86.00 in cash for a portion of the cookie dough went, the money that the school board has agreed to pay for, advice to everyone GET A RECEIPT!!! Oh, and another thing I didn’t say anything about the athletic dept!! Thanks, Crystal

Posted by proudarmywife (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kuddos to you Crystal:) I read this article and then the responses and was shocked to say the least. I have been away from home for a long time now, but lived a year and a half back there when my husband was overseas. My son attended the local school and we of course had fundraisers to do, I picked and chose b/c they were overwhelming.

You all say we need to teach our kids "work ethic", heck they are K-6th graders...come on people. You ever wonder why our nation is the most over worked , no vacation time, technology addicted people? We start working from a young age. I am sorry going door to door or hitting up family to buy "junk" or cookie dough to help the obese nation we already have, does not promote work ethic. It promotes, hey buy some crap from me and I get to go to a party. A party which in my opinion should be banned. You ever wonder how much of those funds are going to rent the building or pay for the Hummer gas?! When our county could use it in many other ways? New books, better playgrounds, bus maintenance etc..

I think the schools here where I am and everywhere have their priorities in the wrong place. Keep the kids in class, do the annual field trips like they used to, TEACH them education, not how to be a traveling salesperson.

Posted by AlisonMiller (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm late in the game but....

Selling stuff in school was always an ordeal for me. I simply didn't have the personality for it. Talking to strangers and asking them to buy stuff?

Some kids are sociable enough to pull this off, but it bothers me that introverted kids might be left out of parties. Before some of you start harping--introversion can be a blessing, not a disease.

Stick to your guns, Crystal.

Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It seems the first thing a kid learns at school is how to sell a candy bar. It's ridiculous.

look at IHS. the kids have to sell stuff to pay for a $10,000 prom!! It's insanity. No one has the guts to scale it back to a reasonable amount of money. a $10,000 party for 200 kids!

Posted by GoTigersGo (anonymous) on September 24, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm sorry, but saying "get off your butt" and sell cookie dough (or whatever other crap the schools are selling) is disrespectful.

Kudos to the kids that do sell well, but for some children, the thought of going door to door to peddle junk is downright agony-inducing. People are often rude, and let's face it, in this day and age it is NEVER SAFE to send kids to doors of people you don't know (and even some you do know). So, most of the time, parents are left to guilt co-workers and friends into buying this unneeded crap so their children can participate in PUBLIC school.

For the amount of junk these kids sell to their families, they could go to private schools.

Little League and other groups are different- they need the $ to operate, and unfortunately not all kids get to participate. That's a fact of life. But the taxes we pay should support the schools without the kids having to work to sell crap. So, think about that the next time you do (or don't) VOTE.

Posted by fact_finder (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Get this one and it's Fact.......one Sunday moring several weeks ago the Coal Grove Little league was collecting money on Marion Pike at the traffic light and the four way stop at 9:15 a.m. Now who would authorize that especially on Sunday Morning!!! I think the schools and little league have taken this stuff too far. Have I missed something? I thought schools are for educating our children not exploiting them.

Posted by irontonnative (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vil, exactly what kind of skills did you say you developed again? social!!!! hahahaha!!! seems like ya' may have lost 'em

Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I know I'm in the minority here. I always enjoyed my class/schools' sales campaigns. It gave me confidence enough that I could try selling a freezer to an Eskimo AND sell the extended warranty plan as well.

I realize all kids aren't like me. And nearly ALL the above concerns are valid.

My advice: if you don't want your child participating, return the "junk" to the "sponsor" as they call them now. The sponsor will try giving YOU a pep talk. Ignore them. Tell them if your child is in ANY WAY discriminated against or any form of retribution is visited upon your child, you will be at the next board meeting, and if necessary you'll go to the county board or on to the state board.

Hint: If you have to go to the board meeting, go prepared. Visit the Treasurer's office first and get a printout of athletic funds and principal's funds. It'll be hard to justify your child sitting in a hallway when they just spent $150 or more for the football squad or $800 for a storage cabinet.

Good Luck!

Posted by pinkpearl6886 (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

Vil Ihave some Tigers tickets to sell and the cookie dough fundraiser starts Oct 13 th FOR Whitewell I need to sell.

As of last week I have sold over 600 bucks for my kids activites. People see me coming and don't say hi anymore but what you sellin now.... It is so sad that the schools have stopped peddling the junk stuff to throwing parties to get the kids wanting to go to the party, Damn inflatables.

With the sports I don't mind spending 150 I have 3 kids in base/Soft ball the candy bars are easy sells But when you are in competion of other schools who have already sold the stuff it gets hard. My kids gandparents always buy and we bug the hell out of the people who we work with and the neighbors well I buy off the son and she buys off my son.
Just last week I had 3 fundraisiers at the same time 50 to sell for my son so he can go to the inflatable party, 10 in tickets for my daughter and tshirts I bought 3 at 13 apiece,
now the cookie dough and more tickets to sell it has to stop before xmas!

Posted by OhioanAtHeart (anonymous) on October 15, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just a followup to my earlier comments.. A news channel here in NC interviewed a local school that decided NOT to allow their students to sell this year. Instead they are sending home typed Pro's and Con's and respectfully asking for donations. Not a set amount, but anything they can offer reminding them that they would normally purchase 'X' amount from their children so why not get 100% profit from it for the school. So far, the school anticipates making the same or more than past years! LOVE THE IDEA!!