tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post469076127140209904..comments2023-09-02T07:09:34.264-04:00Comments on Digging Out From Our Mess: Do you value "Free" over "Cost"?Mystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-27932654254463517722012-09-25T07:34:18.072-04:002012-09-25T07:34:18.072-04:00The Princess's elementary yearbooks were hardb...The Princess's elementary yearbooks were hardbound, as were all subsequent ones. The expense was ridiculous but I didn't think twice back then. However, looking back, I kind of wish I had all that money back. By her senior year, the events had grown to monstrous proportions. I finally drew the line on ridiculous donations when they had a last day of finals barbque and the parents organizing had done up exensive invitatons and requested "donations" of $20 per student. The Princess doesn't even EAT barbeque. So, I cheaped out and sent $5 to cover the cost of the soft drink and chips I figured she'd eat at the party and that's it. I had to draw the line somewhere.Sasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348650157037720366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-45119860755637790622012-09-24T20:01:26.225-04:002012-09-24T20:01:26.225-04:00My problem is that each year the activities and th...My problem is that each year the activities and the book get bigger and bigger. So each year more and more money is required, vs cutting things back to a more managable size.<br /><br />I think that the yearbook should be an optional purchase. What has happened is that the class have been trying to fundraise the entire cost. So now other people are paying for the book. Additionally, they want everyone else to pay for socials, graduation, and more.<br /><br />I might not be clear on some of this because there is ALOT that goes into all of this. The bottom line is that there isn't any reason that things have to be so overblown. Other than a bunch of parents who think that their kid deserves everything under the sun.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-41939914747060129582012-09-24T19:29:30.709-04:002012-09-24T19:29:30.709-04:00I do not see the point of a yearbook for Grade 5. ...I do not see the point of a yearbook for Grade 5. It's a costly thing getting your kids through school without having to take out a second mortgage nowadays.<br /><br />GukkGill - That British Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17456247587052149765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-27779207261021246022012-09-24T18:11:38.554-04:002012-09-24T18:11:38.554-04:00Our kids have yearbooks, but if they want one, the...Our kids have yearbooks, but if they want one, they have to buy one... I think they are about $15 (small school, small yearbook). We are only a PreK-2nd grade school, but even when I worked at a K-5 school, we didn't do anything huge for the 5th graders. They had an assembly at the end of the year to receive their certificate, and that was it. The 5th grade teacher always made bookmarks for the kids, but they were not given a party or anything like that. It seems absurd to spend that much money on end of the year stuff for 5th graders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-50745440290845381282012-09-24T16:52:39.228-04:002012-09-24T16:52:39.228-04:00My son is in Kindergarden and we already have 2 ye...My son is in Kindergarden and we already have 2 yearbooks for him!!! They are from his 2 years in Pre-school. They are glossy pages some color, some black & white spiral bound. We don't pay for them they just come home the last day at school. The school sells ads to local businesses so I guess that covers the costs. Parents can buy "ad" space too for a special message to thier kid.Jesse R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10858758776135918589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-2940716672051910882012-09-24T13:34:27.802-04:002012-09-24T13:34:27.802-04:00When parents go overboard and try to make every mi...When parents go overboard and try to make every milestone in their kids lives a BIG EVENT, it makes the really special milestones just another event by comparison and takes away from the significance of the big milestones. IE-High School graduation is just another ho-hum thing to attend if they have had a Kindergarten Graduation, an Elementary Graduation and Middle School Graduation. By the time High School Graduation rolls around, the kids are burnt out of graduating!lol<br /><br />It's the same way I look at Christmas and presents.....if you give your kid stuff(non-necessary wants, not needs)all year, when they ask for it, then getting presents at Christmas is NOT as special. You could also say that giving them LOTS of presents at Christmas instead of a couple of well considered special presents is another version of this 'overdoing' for their kids by parents.<br /><br />Let's get back to picking and choosing our milestones that need what I consider "over the top" treatment.<br />Having them come every year not only cheapens the important ones but it causes stress on families already tight budgets!slugmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12728856166374248591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-32176160055683712972012-09-24T13:06:40.732-04:002012-09-24T13:06:40.732-04:00I didn't know they had yearbooks for elementar...I didn't know they had yearbooks for elementary school either. I think that if my school had had that, my parents would have told me that I would have to pay for it myself. Because I think that kids who have to put their own resources towards things do value those things more and maybe are more careful with those resources. I think your instinct to scale back is good as it's appropriate to mark the milestone and the occasion of a class moving on to other schools. But not excessively.Annehueserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10933138074579131499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-74175236832881775852012-09-24T12:32:23.787-04:002012-09-24T12:32:23.787-04:00I read your posts about PTA and now this one, and ...I read your posts about PTA and now this one, and I'm really trying to understand, but I must have barely missed it. Are you resenting that some parents don't pay for things like the yearbook, or that they don't do enough to make the fundraisers work? Or do you think the yearbook is too expensive (ours are paperback but color-printed and glossy, and we pay about $20 for them, maybe $30.) Maybe some parents are short on resources (money) and maybe they work two jobs or have a lot of responsibilities at home and can't do a lot of volunteering for fund-raisers. I don't think there should be a lot of activities or items that kids traditionally participate in that cost money because some families can easily afford paying/donating time and others can't afford much at all, and it makes some kids feel really left out.444https://www.blogger.com/profile/18317761558076527630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-51189752307243813982012-09-24T11:35:02.360-04:002012-09-24T11:35:02.360-04:005th grade is our graduation here too. We have a co...5th grade is our graduation here too. We have a color, hard cover yearbook which is $25 if you buy it. I've switched off on the kids getting it and try not to have them destroy it. Our school has a 5th grade celebration (one) and last year it was a bbq on the playground. Our PTN is wonderful I will say but not overboard.<br /> I agree, it's not an accomplishment at this age (for most kids). Parents make things into such a big deal what will the kids expect for the things that are meant to be accomplishments?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-22992302359304576692012-09-24T11:33:50.543-04:002012-09-24T11:33:50.543-04:00You will always get a group of parents who have th...You will always get a group of parents who have these great ideas and then they grow out of control. Usually the parents have more money than the other parents. Someone will eventually have to say stop. It might as well be you.Out My windowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13456481267171643227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-79572615522201555302012-09-24T11:10:28.976-04:002012-09-24T11:10:28.976-04:00I know it makes the kiddies feel nice to have year...I know it makes the kiddies feel nice to have yearbooks... at least those that care, but I never quite understood why make it such a big deal. It is a milestone, and under the current edu system, it is not even an achievement. Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11075300256482920618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-2123223449588601232012-09-24T10:56:51.040-04:002012-09-24T10:56:51.040-04:00I have High School and College yearbooks...in a bo...I have High School and College yearbooks...in a box in my attic.<br /><br />I do have an elementary school yearbook, and an 8th grade one....somewhere. No idea where!<br /><br />Yes, and would you like to hear about the social, the OTHER social, the yearbook signing party, and Graduation????? FOR 5th GRADE!!!!Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-57742602781730727512012-09-24T10:55:03.561-04:002012-09-24T10:55:03.561-04:00That is a very sweet story. And as I said...it is...That is a very sweet story. And as I said...it isn't that I think that there shouldn't be ANYTHING....let's just tone it back.<br /><br />But in reality, the majority of these yearbooks will end up under the bed...never to be seen again. I think it is the parents who want it...it is a trip down Memory lane for them.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-43443722998701190342012-09-24T10:50:08.026-04:002012-09-24T10:50:08.026-04:00Colour me clueless... I had no idea there were yea...Colour me clueless... I had no idea there were yearbooks for elementary schools! lol! I have my highschool yearbooks in storage somewhere... lol! ~Carla~https://www.blogger.com/profile/02341057469246030024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-31131470078313072392012-09-24T10:29:22.013-04:002012-09-24T10:29:22.013-04:00I am a rare one. I whole-heartedly treasure my el...I am a rare one. I whole-heartedly treasure my elementary yearbook. I have a reason though.<br /><br />I do not agree that it should be as big of a deal as you are saying - sort of pathetic. I do think that a majority of the parents who don't do anything, do not expect so much. <br /><br />My story on the yearbook. I only have the the one from my first grade. I moved out of state then and they were not handed out for subsequent years. Then, as an adult, I hauled from apartment to apartment and met a man. A wonderful man. This wonderful man married me and was in fourth grade when I was in first. He is in my elementary yearbook.<br /><br />I love it because it shows how small our worlds are and almost how we were meant to be (if you believe in that sort of thing). I know this is unusual though.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02863887265545701157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-30072612776811513732012-09-24T10:01:36.473-04:002012-09-24T10:01:36.473-04:00The yearbook issue is only a part of the problem. ...The yearbook issue is only a part of the problem. Last year it was all in color and hardbound. Do these parents really think that these kids TREASURE this? <br /><br />Add in the socials and the events...ugh.<br /><br />High School is a different animal all together. But even then....let's keep some perspective.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-65776549363202379642012-09-24T09:31:01.736-04:002012-09-24T09:31:01.736-04:00I refuse to buy my kids a yearbook for elementary ...I refuse to buy my kids a yearbook for elementary school. It is ridiculous. My daughter is in highschool this year, so I will let her order one.<br /><br />People who do not pay, should not receive a yearbook, plain and simple. Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02410176479138340024noreply@blogger.com