Reward assemblies under scrutiny
By: JENNIFER KABBANY - For The Californian
Officials consider new policy after parent complains | ∞
LAKE ELSINORE -- Often, students who participate in campus fundraisers are rewarded by a special assembly during school, but that practice is under scrutiny by Lake Elsinore Unified School District officials.
A parent's complaint about whether the practice unfairly segregates students who did not participate in fundraisers for a variety of reasons has prompted officials to draft a proposed policy to regulate school assemblies.
"I don't see what you are gaining by excluding kids," said Wildomar resident Elizabeth Swenke, the mother who voiced her concerns. "Teaching 5-year-olds that life isn't fair, is that what PTA fundraising is all about? Is that the job of our public schools?"
Campus fundraisers are held by most public schools during the school year. Typically, a school and private company collaborate, with students selling items such as wrapping paper or cookie dough to earn money for their school and the company offering rewards encouraging the students to sell. Sometimes, as an incentive, they offer to put on an assembly honoring students who participated.
One version of Lake Elsinore's proposed policy states that only students who participate in a fundraiser can attend the reward assembly. Another version calls for all students to attend, regardless of whether they took part.
Trustees reviewed the options at their December meeting but did not make any decisions nor comment extensively on which way they were leaning. It remains to be seen whether trustees will vote in a new policy or maintain the status quo. As it stands, administrative regulations on assemblies are fairly vague and do not ban reward assemblies.
"I am just for not hurting children," Trustee Sonja Wilson said.
"I don't know if there is an absolute right or wrong to any of these," Trustee Tom Thomas said of the rough draft policies.
The issue arose at Ronald Reagan Elementary School, where Swenke's son attends third grade. The school joined with a private company to conduct a fundraiser that began in September. The organizers handed out trinkets during the course of the campaign to those selling items and offered a special reward assembly in November for all students who sold at least one item.
The reward assembly was part of the company's fundraising package and not solicited by the school's PTA. Swenke said she volunteers weekly in her son's class, and knew there were children who could not participate either because they did not have enough money to buy items for sale, or because their parents did not have time to take them around the neighborhood to solicit sales, and it would be unsafe for the children to go alone.
She said that, over the course of several months, she pleaded with her school's principal and campus PTA to hold the reward assembly after school or allow all students to attend, but to no avail.
In the end, she said, the reward assembly, which featured dogs doing tricks, was held on a November morning, and the students who attended gushed to those who did not throughout the rest of the day.
At the board's November meeting, Swenke told board members that every student, especially in a public school, should be made to feel equal with the other students.
"Schools should be a safe haven, where how much money your parents have, your living situation, and how often your parents are visible on campus should not determine how you are treated," she had said.
But at the December meeting, several PTA members spoke against banning reward assemblies, saying their group, as well as campus booster clubs and Associated Student Body groups, which conduct similar reward assemblies, would suffer.
The PTA moms argued that their group works hard to raise money to buy schools computers and pay for field trips, and that they need to offer incentives to help make their fundraising efforts successful. They said all students benefit from the funds raised in the events, even those who don't participate.
The parents questioned whether a change in policy would mean all students also get to attend honor roll reward assemblies even if they got Cs and Ds, and perfect attendance reward assemblies, even if they were absent a lot.
"Where does it end?" said PTA mom Susanne Anderson.
They also said that offering reward assemblies to students who participated in fundraisers teaches them that hard work pays off, and that trying to keep children from discovering the realities of life does them a great disservice.
"It is far greater to give them a helping hand than to give them a handout," said PTA mom Catherine Pallares.
"I am OK with not attending all assemblies," said seventh-grader Jacob Anderson, Susanne's son. "I would be bummed out about it, but I would get over it."
Kim Urness, who has been involved in Lake Elsinore and regional PTA groups for 21 years, said reward assemblies are very common and that ASB and booster clubs often use them, too. She said campus fundraising would take a serious hit if the practice were banned.
Swenke said she agrees that reward assemblies for things such as honor roll are different from fundraising ones. She also said perhaps a good solution would be to conduct the reward assemblies after school.
She said she thinks the policy could be tweaked to take all aspects into account.
One of the draft policies suggests that board members could regulate when certain assemblies take place. The drafts also include clauses stating that perhaps all students should attend the academic and athletic reward assemblies, too, as a way to encourage and motivate everyone to do better.
The drafts also include a clause suggesting that students who do not attend reward assemblies of any kind could be given an activity that doesn't seem like a punishment.
Trustee Jon Gray said the board is "just studying" the issue, and that everyone's comments and opinions "will go a long way" toward the board's decision.
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Gary wrote on Jan 5, 2008 7:57 AM:Actually, it IS the job of our public school system to teach children "life skills" and I would call the lesson of "life isn't fair" a life skill. Most certainly! Much the same way as children get "cut" from athletic teams or don't make the team...I'm not at all for hurting children, but teaching them, absolutely!
gv wrote on Jan 5, 2008 8:25 AM:I hate those fundraisers. Is it right to pimp these kids out to make money for the school. And if they don't sell they don't get a prize. Such a joke. It's always something at my kids school, from a fundraiser, to the class needs paper, or stickers, or glue, or whatever, then there's a party, can you bring juice or cookies or snacks, then it's christmas, bring a 20 small gifts to put in stockings. How much money do they think people have. And the teacher puts the kids names in a newsletter for all to see who brought/bought items to the class.
reward assemblies are just that...REWARDS!!! wrote on Jan 5, 2008 8:59 AM:if someone chooses not to participate in a function for whatever reason, then they know that they will not be rewarded for something that they have not participated in, its simple enough.
when my own children were young, if they could not participate in an event for whatever reason, they were taught why by me & then followed up by the teacher or event director as to why they were or were not allowed to be a part of the reward ceremony...its really a very simple thing, it only gets complicated when someone who isn't happy that their child didn't participate, therefore, was not allowed to be a part of the celebration for having done so, is excluded from the celebration. its really kind of sad to think that those who do there share should not be rewarded just because someone else could not participate...there is always friendship, where if one knows that the other child doesn't have the opportunity to get out to make the sales or whatever the case may be, that another student (there friend) allow the other to go along with them & then they both have a chance at becoming involved...again, too easy of a solution I am sure, but then again, I did raise my children in time when sharing meant alot more than I have this, you have that, so I am better off than you...come on people, teach the children the old fashioned way...rewards for those who do good things, good grade assemblies for those who do good-it should be an incentive for those who get the lower grades to want to do better so then they will be a part of the celebration in the future.
Its all in the way things are explained to children whether or not they feel left out of a situation...if they cannot sell something, then it should be explained to them as to why they cannot do it, there are always alternatives to problems, an adult just needs to be able to explain it to them, truthfully...kids are not stupid at any age or position, unless we make them feel that way...once again, there is always a positive solution for any reason of not being able to participate in something...explantion is the key!!!
(I remember the first time my daughter tried out for cheer, she failed making the squad, she was saddened, she worked very hard, but, as a parent I was there to keep her head high & explained that there would always be another time for her to try again & in the meantime, she could still keep practicing on making those skills perfect...she was young, she kept her chin up, kept cheering around the house, when the time came, she tried out again & made the squad-all because she didn't give up & had someone to believe in her, as well as her believing in herself)I do believe that attitude is everything...if we teach the children in our lives to prosper then they will, if we teach them to fail, then they will. Take time to realize that life isn't always a given, they must learn to appreciate the things they work hard for, by letting all children come to all assemblies isn't teaching the children anything they need, teaching them to excel so they can attend the special assemblies is what needs to be done.
Mother wrote on Jan 5, 2008 9:21 AM:Part of the reason our society is in the mess it is in is because we try to make every feel good. The trophy for everyone who played and everyone getting equal play time is not real life. Many young adults are failing because they believe they are owed something and should always feel good and have their needs met.
Litl Bits wrote on Jan 5, 2008 10:57 AM:So - let's not teach our children that there are rewards for positive behavior - or that sometimes life is "unfair" - and that they may not always be among the chosen....that way, as they reach their late adolescence, early adulthood, and disappointments occur - or they are lazy and lack incentive that they should receive the same rewards as those who work harder - and try more....WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? why can't you face reality and teach your chidren to FACE REALITY - instead of giving them a fantasy world....so yea, when they grow up, they'll turn to drugs/alcohol or just drop out because everything is not just handed to them!
Get a life! Children need to be taught to deal with adversity, with disappointment, when they are young....else they will have NO coping abilities when they grow up (if they ever do!)
JP wrote on Jan 5, 2008 11:47 AM:Teaching our kids to expect rewards for doing nothing? Let's all give a warm welcome to the next generation of Welfare recipients.
Kathy wrote on Jan 5, 2008 1:00 PM:I agree with Litl Bits comments. We are not doing our kids any favors by constantly coddling them. I know many 20 somethings who are living at home, unable or unwilling to work and who are driving their bewildered parents nuts. These kids are part of the entitled generation, kids who attended school during the "self-esteem" craze of the 80's and 90's. Kids who now want everything their parents have but aren't willing to work or wait for it. Kids who were constantly told how great and unique they were and how they could do anything they wanted to in life and could be anything they wanted to be. Well, the sad harsh truth is that you can't be anything you want...you can't be a rock star or a professional football player just because you want to. You are not going to be rich just because you would really like to be!! Kids need to learn, little by little, that life can be difficult and that it takes hard work to get anywhere in life.
Wait a minute wrote on Jan 5, 2008 1:04 PM:I have to admit, there is something that seems wrong about the PUBLIC school system, funded with tax dollars, using the kids to go out an raise funds for the school. I think all the things the funds pay for are great, but depending on a workforce of 5, 6, and 7 year olds...that makes me pause.
The other thing that bothers me is the "reward" assembly taking place during school hours. How can any of these administrators justify the loss of contact minutes?
No easy answer here, but I would rather write a check to the school each year than have my kids pounding the pavement to raise funds. Oh wait, I do write a check each month to the private school my kids attend. And my tax dollars still go to the public school.
Fundraisers are rip-offs wrote on Jan 5, 2008 1:51 PM:Overpriced goods, sold by unpaid labor, with the bulk of the profit going to the companies involved. It's a great deal for the businesses that exploit the kids, with the schools complicit.
How about this: The public schools take the $$ we pay them (much more per child than any private or parochial school gets) and focus on actual education, as opposed to social engineering.
The Wildomartian wrote on Jan 5, 2008 3:19 PM:One of Elizabeth Swenke's solutions was to have these "unfair" reward assembies after school hours. Is she offering to pay out of her own pocket for the overtime expense of keeping the maintenance and security personnel plus the bus drivers needed to achieve these functions? Or is she planning to have fund raisers to pay for them?
Furthermore, as a proud father of four LEUSD students. One was the drum major at EHS, one a valedictorian at EHS, one has been the student of the month 3X & honor roll 2X at JHS anf finally one is in the top ten in his class at JHS. Plus all of them involve in youth organizations, both in and out of shcool, we have had our share of fund raisers. NOTE TO LIZ: You pick and choose the ones you think are important and want to support! AND MOVE ON!
What? wrote on Jan 6, 2008 8:44 AM:Can we just let our kids be kids when they are kids. Why do they need to learn a life lesson (life is not fair sometimes) at such a young age. No wonder kids grow out of there toys at 9 and drink and have sex at 12. When I was in elemetary school they did not have fundraisers (we are talking early '70's here) I think I turned out just fine without having to learn a life lesson so young. I know my parents would not have bought anything. My Mom has said it was a streach to pay a $97.00 mortgage.
Good Grief! wrote on Jan 6, 2008 10:26 AM:How many assemblies does LEUSD allow during the school year? Let's see...there are assemblies for perfect attendance and honor roll but only the GOOD students are invited. The mediocre students are left to rot in the classroom probably watching a movie or texting friends on their cell phones because it wouldn't make sense for their teacher to "teach" anything without the entire class present.Then, LEUSD permits a private fundraising company to take up more class time with an assembly for kids who have raised money for the school AND the private company(tell us- is it the $8 a box pre-formed cookie dough or the mini-Hallmark store in a catalog money makers?)And they have separate athletic assemblies too?
Why not have ALL students attend one or two assemblies at the end of the semester to reward outstanding students and motivate other students? And forget the fundraising assemblies-give the kids the trinkets they earn by selling products for the PTA (hey ladies, whatever happened to bake sales or silent auctions?)and leave 'em in the classroom TO LEARN.
Note to The Wildomartian-YOU MOVE ON!Elizabeth, you are right to question these policies.A lot of people agree with you but are too afraid to say anything.
Re: Good Grief wrote on Jan 6, 2008 10:49 AM:You mean, so-called "mediocre" students. Labeling kids isn't helpful.
Mom and Teacher wrote on Jan 6, 2008 12:59 PM:LIFE IS NOT FAIR! As an adult, I am constantly looking at what others have, the luxury car, a pool, a big house, and I say "I want that!". I can mope and be sad that I don't get all that I want, but I don't. I choose to be content with what I have.
This is something children need to learn as well, because when they grow up, they too will be faced with materialism.
The public schools indirectly teach fairness every day like being at the end of the lunch line, losing a game, not getting first pick at a "prize", not getting an "A" on a test. School is a great medium to learn about unfairness and contentment.
Teacher wrote on Jan 6, 2008 1:54 PM:Fundraising has become such a burden on schools, parents and teachers. There is never enough money to support your classroom and parents are tired of door to door sales ... or even worse, taking their kid's crap to their office. We use a program called Simple Fundraiser ... that requires no selling ... and everyone wins.
While I would still rather have money fall from the sky, at least I don't have to participate in another car wash!
To Teacher wrote on Jan 7, 2008 12:31 PM:Rather than wishing for money from the sky, why don't you get your union to stop agitating for ways to waste it, like rich early retirement packages that suck money and teachers out of the classroom. Private schools manage a better average level of education with less money per pupil. Instead of wishing for more money, which won't solve the problem, start working on solving the problem of waste and sub-standard education.
Here's some reasons wrote on Jan 7, 2008 1:11 PM:Sports and honor roll assemblies are attended only by those being rewarded because this gives parents and grandparents the opportunity to come and see their child rewarded for their achievement. If the entire school attends, then likely the family of the recipients can't attend (unless the weather is nice and it's held outdoors) because of maximum occupancy codes of multi-purpose rooms. Do kindergarten and 1st grade students even realize or care what "honor roll" is? Can they sit through a lengthy assembly?. I'm sure they would rather be in their classroom learning, than having to sit still for so long. As far as doing away with fundraising, that is a joke. I don't like fundraising either, but know it is a necessity. School Budgets have been cut so much and a NC times article today indicates further cuts are on the horizon. Parents have to supply the classroom with many materials that were supplied by the school many moons ago, from copy paper to glue! If we want any fun and educational assemblies the only way to do that is with funding from PTA which equals fundraising. If you don't want to deal with fundraising but you can afford to write a check then do it. I've done this in the past and my kids were disappointed that they wouldn't get the prizes that way. I explained to them though that in order to get the prize they really wanted I'd have to purchase hundreds of dollars of items. Guess what? They understood! For private school parent; that's wonderful that you can afford to sent your child to private school. Obviously, you pay for any "extras" out of pocket instead of fundraising. Those that can't afford to purchase fundraising items, will likely not be able to afford private school either. Where is the "lottery money". Oh, it's coming to the schools alright, but guess what? The Budget is then reduced to compensate for those funds received. Makes sense doesn't it???????? HAPPY FUNDRAISING!
RobertM wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:56 AM:Why are we allowing these reprehensible football playoffs? They should just play the season and then give each team an award. By having playoffs and a superbowl, they are just setting some teams up to feel bad. It isn't fair to players who try so hard.
Wouldn't it be better? wrote on Jan 9, 2008 5:50 PM:Wouldn't it be better to ask every parent to write a $20 check at the beginning of the year? Then the PTA would know what their budget would be for the year. In addtion, all the rewards the kids get for fundraising are just junk. I'd rather not waste the money on the middle man (the fundraising company) and just give it to the school. I guess asking for that much money would be difficult, since a lot of families don't even join the PTA for $6. Also, to parents-I hope you realize how much teachers spend on their classrooms. Sometimes they have a small budget, but that is a drop in the bucket. Many PTAs try to support the teachers, too. Teachers appreciate the support. I believe those notes you are getting from your school for supplies are participation optional. I don't think your school can require you to send those things, but I can tell you I am overjoyed if someone sends in a box of white board markers or a container of baby wipes. That means I don't have to buy them for my classroom.
Seriously wrote on Jan 9, 2008 10:10 PM:Are we seriously still talking about this? It's over and it's time to move on. Hasn't this school been talked about enough in this past year. If you are afraid of anything it should be how our kids feel when someone asks what school they go to and they have to respond by saying Ronald Reagan. "Oh that school" people say. Give it a rest, it's a great school that has been given a terrible reputation!
Swenke Supporter wrote on Jan 11, 2008 3:42 PM: First off..Kudos to Mrs. Swenke- at least she has the guts to stand up for what she believes in, and speaks for many parents that are too afraid to!! For the record..her child DID participate in the fundraiser and was eligible to attend the dog show assembly. The issue that Mrs. Swenke brings up is a good one. Most of you forget it wasnt about the actual assembly,,it was the manner in which it was going to be handled. Most older kids will understand, but as for the younger grades having an adult come into the classroom and single certain kids out to attend an extra curricular assembly while others are left behind is not right.Singling them out as those that could afford to buy some stinkin' cookie dough, and those that couldnt. It boiled down to those that have money and those that do not. THAT is the issue. It is not about perfect attendance,honor roll,or box
tops or pta membership rewards..those are rewards that children can earn WITHOUT their families having to "pay" for them by buying fundraiser junk that could be bought at our local stores for half the price!! I am all for rewarding kids for good behavior, good grades etc,,but NOT for excluding kids simply because they can't AFFORD
to participate. Mrs. Swenke is not the only parent that had this concern,,,she was just the "voice" of many. It was just too bad that she was ignored and the issue had to be pushed this far.
2nd Swenke supporter wrote on Jan 11, 2008 8:40 PM:I also totally agree with Ms Swenke. There is a difference between getting an individual gift to take home and being excluded from an on campus, during school hours, private business event. For those of you who quote similarities to rewards for school academic and athletic awards, you are so off base when it comes to similarities it is almost comical if it wasn't so idiotically tragic. Accomplishments made for or with the school, during public school events should be rewarded and acknowledged by the schools students and staff. Private enterprise fund raisers So what’s next, all those who decide to sell Brand X vacuum cleaners during after school hours can be removed from class during school hours and shown a movie, if Brand X vacuums gives .5% of each sales 99.5% copororate profit to the PTA or school. To those who are trying to voice support for the BAD decision you made, just admit you made a mistake and move on. I know for a fact not all PTA members approved the decision for the “Dog Show,” and the school/school district administration left the decision up to the local RRE PTA board and they made it. Of course when the issue was brought to light, the “Cowards of the County” (a.k.a LEUSD) acted as if it was the first they heard of it and now they have to adjust the school policy. It’s pretty simple folks, individual prizes are to be handed out and enjoyed at home,,School Assemblies are just that “SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES” and are to be enjoyed by all students of the school. My hat goes off to you Ms. Swenke for having the courage to stand up and speak for what is right. If I had know about the School District meeting I would have publically stood up and supported you.
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