My boy, the salesman.

[Must_B_Free]

My son started first grade this year. Today his homework assignment was to come home and give the presentation he was taught for Marketing Readers Digest products.

You see, there is a catalog of prizes that kids can earn for each item they sell. If my 6 year old boy can sell 200 items, he can get a Sony Playstaion 2 or a color TV.

His school will earn up to %50 of the funds received for each item sold. So you see it's all for a good cause, or at least up to half of it is for a good cause, who knows where the other %50+ percent goes.

With the first item sold, children are rewarded with a pack of Jolly Rancher fruit candy and a blinking button.

It comes with instructions for parents; that they should buy a few items to get it started so others aren't afraid to fill out the form. It also says that parents should take the catalog to work and sell items there, for the child.

While I like the idea of supporting childrens education, I am a little suspicious of this program. I feel that first grade is really pretty early to be bombarding children with seductive marketing, candy, blinking lights and manipulation. When my son was showing the pyramid of prizes and I pulled out the merchandise catalog from the pack he said something like - "I haven't gotten that far yet"... and the way he displayed the items in the catalogue it made me wonder if he had been coached with some sort of sales pitch.

Is this what public education is for? Is this corporation preying on the innocent appeal of my child to make a profit?

[sandnsea]

1. Welcome to school fundraising

QSP! Yes the corporation is making a profit, obviously. But this is one of the better fundraising programs as far as dollars to the orgnanization. This usually goes for playground equipment, music, art, you know 'fluff'.

There may have been a big meeting where the kids were presented with their 'sales pitches'. Or the teachers may have done it enough to have it down pretty good themselves.

When I did it with my girl scout troops, we focused on why we needed to raise funds and used it in conjunction with deciding what the troop activities were going to be. More contributing to the activities of the troop than win stuff for yourself. Although the girls did like winning stuff. We also worked in alot of budgeting activities, speaking to strangers, manners, etc. We took the girls out ourselves and never encouraged them to do this alone.

So I understand what you're saying about the snazzy marketing, but if you fill in the blanks that your school may not have, it could be a good lesson in community participation for him. And it might be something you want to talk to the principal about as well. Your son really shouldn't be left with the idea that this is just a grand scheme for him to rake in free stuff. IMO.

And if you don't like it, don't do it and maybe find some other way for your son to raise funds for the school that doesn't promote the self-indulgent marketing tactics.

First grade. Probably the most exciting year of school for a kid. Everything is new and he's learning so much, you're going to have a great year!

[Paschall]

2. I think this is pretty atrocious

If they want to raise money for the school, isn't there some non-profit they could be using. Like UNICEF maybe? Or couldn't they sell a local (farm?) product, to support local people. Or the kids could even make things themselves to sell; most people will buy from kids for a good cause like school improvements even if they don't need the product. And wouldn't that be an even better lesson in entrepeneurship... I mean if that's part of the goal?

Besides, I've always thought Readers Digest was extremely conservative. And I really don't like the idea of tempting kids with candy and worthless gadgets. What does the school nurse/health/PE instructor think of the Jolly Rancher candy?

Readers Digest had revenus in FY 02-03 of $2.47 billion, and Thomas Ryder, the CEO, earned $1.8 M in fiscal year 2002.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/R/RDA.html

[Must_B_Free]

4. Thanks for digging up those details

I wondered who we were serving.

[Paschall]

17. For some reason, both my internet search engines

...Google and AlltheWeb.com had a lot of trouble bringing up pages about Readers Digest. You might want to try a search yourself.

A cursory search at OpenSecrets.org about campaign contributions seems to indicate that Ryder donates to the Magazine Publishers Association (a PAC), which spreads its money pretty evenly between Dems and the GOP. But that was only what I found after a very quick look.

Oh, by the way, one source I didn't link to gave Readers Digest stock an F rating (the worst), and there seem to be rumors on the market that RD may be bought up by the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann.

Just FYI.

[sangh0]

3. You child is being exploited

Though it is for a "good cause", salesperson is a professional job that is supposed to be paid according to the minimum wage laws. IMO, you should carefully think about how much time it takes to sell enough merchandise in order to earn one of those "prizes". Then, using the retail prize of that "prize", calculate the hourly wage, but first, be prepared to be shocked.

Then share your findings with the other parents.

[OrdinaryTa]

5. I Agree. It Is Exploitation

A little kid doesn't know any better, but adults ought to. This may be for a good purpose, but the end does not justify the means. Conning little kids is reprehensible.

[sham]

6. Share the info in this thread

with other parents and write a letter to your local paper. People need to know the truth about these things. This kind of bs makes me sick. When I was in school and they did these school-wide fundraisers, my mother assured me that I only had to do it if I wanted to (which I never did). One teacher asked why I hadn't sold anything and my mother sent a note explaining that I would not be participating. You might want to consider that with your kids. There are better ways to raise money for schools -- ways that don't exploit children -- if the people who plan these things would only get a little creative.

Also, I think it's disgusting that they are telling parents to buy the first few items, to boost the kids' confidence. How dare they put that expecatation into kids' heads! Many parents are probably out of work or just barely getting by and cannot afford the junk they sell in those fundraiser catalogs. Geez.

[JohnyCanuck]

7. Too bad the US gubmint has muchos dineros available

for buying bunker buster bombs, stealth fighters and nuclear powered aircraft carriers and submarines but schools have to flog Reader's Digest products so they can have chalk for the classroom blackboards and a few new books for the school library (assuming there still are such things as school libraries).

[KamaAina]

8. Ah! So *that* explains why we don't bother to fund "extras" in our schools

(not even textbooks, for the most part :( )

Why bother when we can just enlist the keiki (kids) into a mega-sales force for a notoriously right-wing rag sheet? And think about this: it's bad enough when your kid does it by himself, but consider for a moment a typical, large, "local kine" family gathering where several youthful commission salespeople* are running around showing their displays to all the aunties and tutus (grannies)?!

I wonder if this is the new Repuke administration's way of "saving money" for DOE? The choice of Right-Winger's Digest as the vendor seems a bit suspect...

P.S. Having actually met said kid, briefly, at an anti-war demo, I'm gonna guess he builds up a decent collection of blinking buttons. Dunno 'bout the Playstation, though. :-)

[Bandit]

9. Readers Digest is a right-wing rag

If you have ever read any of the stories in it you will know exactly what I mean. I would not lift one finger to sell, promote or in any way further the efforts of Readers Digest. I would also protest the school unless they can provide an alternative. Maybe Ben & Jerry's or something. Paul Newmans Own would be much better.

[SoCalDem]

10. I absolutely REFUSED to allow my kids to sell ANYTHING

It's dangerous to start with.. Lots of parents work in jobs that are "no soliciting" zones, so it means that ALL the kids in a given area are competing against each other in the neighborhood..and families can only buy so much of it..

The other solution is to "smile and make nice at strangers coming out of stores" to try and get THEM to buy your stuff..

That is a NOT a good idea...

The first time my kid brought home something, I called the school the next day and thanked them for the lovely gift of "whatever it was".. The school secretary said ...no that is stuff for Scott to sell.. I told her that if someoone GAVE my son, a MINOR "product" to sell, it was like a contract, and since he was a minor, he could not enter into the agreement, so it was a GIFT..

She put me on hold, and transferred me to the principal, who told me to just return it with in the next day..

They never sent anything home again...:evilgrin:..

My boys would always say.."My Mom won't allow us to sell stuff", and if you make me take it, we consider it a gift "..

[kittykitty]

11. Our son in the 80's

Our boys never really were asked to sell many things. They thought it was dumb and so did we, so we never encouraged it. If they did, we bought one or two candy bars or whatever it was. Certainly there was never was a situation where they were required to make a presentation for homework! That is a bit over the top! And only First Grade!
And asking parents to hawk the stuff at work! Unrealistic! You might end up with a son who is 35 and still depends on you to "help him out"! Yes, the corporations are exploiting the children for their own gain.

[HEyHEY]

12. I remember that

ANd even at the age of 10 I knew there was something wrong about it. My folks would never let me do it anyway, they though it was sleazy and had no place in schools. But if a ten year old gets a creepy feeling, it must be bad.

[salin]

13. Get this one - a few years ago

kids at an elementary school, were taught how to write letters to family members and family friends asking them to buy magazine subscriptions, and that the money raised would go to the school.

The kids were coached in very manipulative language to put in the letters. They were coached in who they should target (eg who would be guilted into buying).

Fortunately I have never heard of this program again. I think it was pretty soundly put down as being in exceptionally poor taste.

[jmowreader]

14. The way they do it in Fayettenam

It is illegal for children to sell door-to-door, because some kid was out selling, crossed the second busiest street in town at rush hour without looking both ways...would it be crass and uncalled for to state that they were able to bury her in a mailing tube?

Now there are three ways to sell: accosting your relatives, having your parents/cousins/uncles/etc. accost their friends/coworkers and setting up in front of a store accosting the patrons. Well...that's how it works everywhere but at Home Depot. According to company policy, not only are employees not to solicit their co-workers but no fund-raisers can be held on company policy at all. (This was because a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan wanted to raise funds at one of our stores, and we really didn't want to lose the business of...well, everyone except members of the Klan.)

Now at my other job, my newly-hired second operator has already announced that she will be selling stuff for her kid. Anyone got a good way to tell a 48-year-old single mother of a kindergartener that I've already contributed to her kid's education as much as you can stand just in my soaring property taxes that I get no direct benefit from?

[sandnsea]

15. Well just to hell with all kids' activities

Because if kids don't take part in raising funds for activities, including school activities, there aren't going to be any. I just wrote out a check for $93 to cover all the extra fees for my son's PUBLIC high school today. When are children supposed to learn that school is NOT FREE? They should be taught some measure of appreciation for the fact that people are paying for their education and having them participate in fund raisers once in a while isn't too much for them to do. Kids used to have to help keep the classroom clean themselves, but that would be child abuse these days.

I actually respect the opinions of the posters in this thread, but not this time.

[greekspeak]

16. Sandnsea, I think it was more the way they were being taught to sell

rather than the simple fact that they were selling. In various organizations over the years, I peddled door to door everything from popcorn and candybars to coupon books and m&ms. I don't think I learned much from it, nor was it harmful. It was just something we did. As for kids learning to appreciate school...how are kids ever going to appreciate school when 1) right wing bozos do everything they can to damage public school and 2) they have to hear grumpy and greedy jerks whine incessently about having to pay for schools? I honestly do not remember a single kid that appreciated school and all the money that goes into it. I am not saying this is right. But you can't expect children to appreciate teh value of an education and of money. They will experience that soon enough for themselves.

I think that your shelling out $93 to the school for anything is a sign of where education is headed-broke city.

[Paschall]

18. No, school is not free

But neither are any other public facilities. Should kids be expected to fill potholes in public roads? Or fetch coffee for air traffic controllers?

Aren't there hundreds of other ways to teach kids about home and community economics? Like maybe allowing them to help balance the home checkbook or manage the food budget? But first grade? Can't kids be allowed a few years of ignorant bliss before they're hit with these realities? I mean, at least until they're able to accurately count change.

Besides, even when you've "learned" these things, does the lesson ever really make sense before you land your first job, move into your first apartment, or sign your first loan?

Of course, another lesson (in democracy) you could offer your kids would be to organize parents (and kids) to stand up before your local school board and demand that so called "extras" be appropriately funded.

[stunted evolution]

19. I Disagree

My child goes to a PRIVATE school, and there is no shortage of fundraising. So, your argument that ourchildren should be shown that someone is paying for their school doesn't hold much water with me. That someone, is ME. Even with all the fundraising, at my son's school (where he is in kindergarten) the actual participation by students isn't done until much later (3rd or 4th grade if I'm not mistaken). At this particular school, the PARENTS are heavily encouraged to participate in fund-raising, and in new ideas for the same. It is not something we pawn off on the kids. 1st grade is way too early to try to be teaching kids lessons about paying for school. There are other lessons that don't put them at as much risk, and which doesn't put as much pressure on them. We have a reward system at home. My son gets paid to help mommie out with things like cleaning his room, doing activities (academic activites) and other tasks which teach him responsibility, and that work can be rewarding. Setting a child up (especially at such an early age) to expect the grand prizein a fund-raiser, while putting it safely out of reach behind hundreds of sales, is nothing short of exploitative and does nothing to enhance their ego if they fail. At least with an allowance of some kind, the results are immediate (albeit slow) and they learn that it sometimes takes quite a bit of work to get the things they REALLY want.

On the other side, only a VERY SMALL percentage of the profits go to the target of the fundraising. If companies really had children's best interests at heart, they would be giving up far greater percentages. The truth is, fund-raising is big money for them and as long as you are willing to give them free sales people, they'll put your kids to work.

Just a bad idea, if you ask me.

[stunted evolution]

20. From a PTA mom

   I rarely get involved in these strings of posts but I just
read my husband's post (StuntedEvolution)and I wanted to make
a few comments.
At our son's school the bulk of the fundraising is put on by
the parents. We RARELY, if ever, have anything that we take
out into the world and sell door-to-door, or at places the
parents work, etc. Almost all of our fundraisers are
activities that people come to and enjoy themselves. We have
an auction of goods and services donated by business and local
artists. Our Fall Festival is coming up in a few weeks. We
also have a very popular Mardi Gras party for adults, plus a
few other events throughout the year. Yes, these take more
time and effort than selling wrapping paper, but it's for the
school and we have a great time. We don't want to dicourage
our fundraising efforts by making it a chore and a bore.
   The only kid oriented fundraising at our school is by the
8th grade class. Every year they plan a trip at the end of the
year and they have to find creative ways to raise money for
this purpose. It's a lesson in disguise, teaching them
teamwork, problem solving, marketing and more. 
   If you ask me using the children as vacuum cleaner salesmen
is a bad idea. They are already under enough pressure with
homework, extracurricular activities, and enrichment programs.
Let them be kids!

[Hamlette]

21. Don't buy the goods, contribute cash

My son's school sold the same stuff all 7 years he was there (gift wrap) after a couple of years I had enough to last a life time so I found out how much the school got if I bought a generous amount and sent the school a check for that amount.

[jiacinto]

22. Well

It is teaching your son how to sell and to be persuasive. The assingment will also help the child sharpen his communication skills. However, I do have a problem with this assingment being "mandatory" on some level.

[kittykitty]

23. This should not be part of the curriculum!

This was a homework assignment--to go home and practice a "pitch" on his parents. Therefore, they have made it a part of the curriculm. I find this irresponsible to use instructional time to require the children to learn to sell and participate in this sales program. It should be voluntary, if anything. And they should find other ways to raise funds for the school such as book fairs. Isn't there a PTA?