It’s back-to-school season, and that means it’s once again time for children to roam the neighborhood, clutching order forms in their tiny little fingers, trying to convince people that spending $25 on a roll of wrapping paper is somehow a good idea.
There’s an entire conversation to be had about whether any of this would be necessary if our schools were simply funded adequately, but for now, we’re focused on survival. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or simply an innocent bystander on a street full of schoolchildren, getting through this part of the year can be rough. Here are some pointers on making it out alright.
Teach your child manners.
Anyone who’s walked through a major metropolitan downtown has horror stories of charity “street teams” who grab them, harangue them, and never let them go. But do you know someone who’s actually given money to a single one of these organizations? People don’t like to feel trapped, badgered, or browbeaten. If your child puts the neighbors in this position, not only will your kid be disappointed, but future fundraising will be tainted by that bad interaction. Remind your child to be courteous in both successes and failures.
Offer extra incentives.
Let’s be honest, nobody’s going to frame the dollar-store harmonica they got from their school fundraiser and cherish it forever. Don’t be afraid to go off-book and provide rewards that the entire school can enjoy. The one big tried and true method is public humiliation. Whether it’s getting a teacher to shave their head, or duct-taping a principal to the wall, kids love it, and it doesn’t cost that much.
You could also throw a pizza party in the homeroom if a certain goal is reached, but never underestimate the motivational power of seeing a school administrator humbled.
Budget.
Funding schools is important, but so are your personal finances. Lay out a specific amount of money to support local education. Find out what fundraisers are planned around you for the year. Then make sure that you focus on raising funds for what’s important to you, and don’t go over-budget.
Be honest, polite, and age-appropriate when saying “no.”
If you try to hide from the kids, they’re just going to come back later. Besides, do you really want to go through life knowing that you’re a person who hides from schoolchildren? If you can’t participate in a fundraiser, simply answer the door and tell them that you can’t participate this time. Don’t be rude – in fact, it’s good for the kids to see that there are respectful ways to decline a request, and handling rejection is a good skill to learn. Keep your explanation appropriate for the audience, but don’t talk down to the kids. Trust them to understand, and they’ll probably meet you halfway.
Conversely, take “no” for an answer.
Fundraisers have always been omnipresent. In the age of social media, they’re even more so. And there’s never just one. Every club in the school, every extra-curricular, they’re all trying to stay afloat in an increasingly turbulent sea. Remember that you don’t know how many people a potential donor has already said “yes” to. You don’t know what else they’ve got going on in their life. It’s easy to feel pressured by friends, colleagues, and school officials, but you’re not a bad parent just for being kind enough to let people say “no” to you.
