School Fundraisers

So what do coupon books and wrapping paper have in common?

It appears they both have raised a lot of money for my son's PTA this year. Here is the breakdown as reported in the last PTA update:

The following are the main sources of income for the year***:
• Box Tops - $760 (These are collected from the box tops of cereal, diapers, etc.)
• Race for Your Cause - $1690 (Sponsorship.)
• Grocery Certificate Program - $2870 (The grocery store returns a percentage of sales to the school.)
• Original Works - $3070 (Sales of your child's custom art printed on various products with a percentage returned to the school.)
• Family Donations - $3500 (Donations.)
• Sally Foster - $4740 (Sales of wrapping paper with a percentage returned to the school.)
• Payback Book - $8265 (Sales of a book of coupons for local shops, restaurants, etc. with a percentage returned to the school.)

***This is income for the school year 2009-2010. The largest expected fundraiser is the Jog-A-Thon which will happen in the spring.

"Wow," you say. "That is fabulous. I'm so glad your school is so successful in raising money through these programs."

This is what I'm trying to tell myself. But I can't. I was absolutely amazed by these fundraising figures. And I will admit why. The fundraisers that brought in the most money for the PTA so far this year were fundraisers that I absolutely opposed. And I voted for my viewpoint by not contributing one cent to these campaigns. It seems like I was the only one.

Let me thank the PTA in all seriousness, for their efforts in raising and distributing money within our school. This organization has contributed enormously in making the extras and the not-so-extras available to our staff and students. Though I value the PTA, I must admit that I have never even attended a meeting. And so I should certainly not be one to criticize. But I have to. Because I am bursting.

I just have to throw this question out there - should our school's PTA fundraising efforts support our educational values? What are we teaching our children by asking them to sell coupon books (one of which was sent home with every student for purchase) and wrapping paper? Do the ends justify the means?

Now there are many fundraisers and school programs that support my values - the recycling efforts, the Garden to Table program, the Walk to School program, the Jog-A-Thon. I even like the Original Works program because the kids experience the publication and distribution of their work. But I believe that education occurs most naturally through example out of the classroom. What are we teaching our children about the world when our fundraising efforts are about consumerism?

Here is what I would like to ask of our school's fundraising:
Does it reflect our community values?
Does it better the world?
Does it bring the community together?
Does it teach our children something positive?

Public education is SO awesome, because it is FREE. We can decide to contribute more than our tax dollars or not. I understand that statistically people will contribute more if they feel they are getting a product. We are clearly voting on the means by handing over our dollars.

Isn't there a way to package the true product for sale here? Because what is actually being purchased is not wrapping paper or a coupon book but AN EDUCATION.