sat, nov 6, 1999
school fund-drive no party for kids
non-selling students barred from carnival
By Melissa L. Jones
The Arizona Republic
"They told her she couldn't go because she didn't sell anything," said Nicole's mom, Laury Forester.
Unlike hundreds of others - from her school, Nicole gained admittance to Alma Elementary School's carnival, dubbed a Big Blast after a call from a reporter. But her mom and other education officials think urging a 6-year-old to raise money may be taking school fund-raising a little too far.
Especially when students are being left out of the at-school rewards packages.
It all began when Mesa's Alma Elementary School students were asked to sell Christmas items out of a catalog.
Depending on how much students sold, they earned rights to carnival rides, movies and other activities during morning and afternoon recesses on Friday. Sixty students earned a limousine ride.
"It's just like when you have (any) fundraiser," Alma's principal, Cynthia Arterbery, said, "where if you sell $200 worth of things, you get a CD player, or you get a T-shirt or you get a pizza party."
Any parents who had concerns about the fund-raising were told to contact her directly, Arterbery said.
About half the school's 900 students didn't raise any money at all, the principal said.
"Those kids are looking at movies or having, activities in their classrooms," she said Friday.
Although not every child was rewarded with a limousine ride, and some kids were not permitted to go on the carnival rides outside, every student will benefit from the funds raised, Arterbery said.
Math materials will be bought and authors will be brought in to talk with students about writing.
All Nicole knew was that she was left out of some fun.
"I was supposed to sell Christmas stuff," she said. But it was hard "because some people just don't want the stuff."
Nicole's mom, Laury, said she is not against selling - her daughter was asked to do it as a kindergartner in her California school but the family is at a disadvantage because it's new to Mesa.
"We just moved out here, so we don't really have anybody to sell to, and I don't like going door-to-door," Forester said.
She's not alone. Most schools and parent groups consider fund-raising "necessary evils," said Penny Kotterman, president of the Arizona Education Association, the state's biggest teachers union.
"The type of program you're talking about is very common," Kotterman said. "It used to be that fund-raising was for extracurricular activities like cheerleading or extra things kids wanted to do. Like a dance."
But now, schools are raising money for what used to be considered staples.
"Has it gone too far? I think people will tell you, 'Yeah, it's gone too far,'T" Kotterman said. "I think we've begun to, put an awful lot of pressure on really young kids. The idea that we would have firstgraders - that's extreme.
"To take a group of kids and give them special privileges during class time is not a very good practice."
Furthermore, students get extremely competitive, Kotterman said. And it can be tough for kids in low-income areas to find people to buy what they're selling.
Tempe's Holdeman Elementary School had a similar fund-raising event last school year, but the selling burden usually rests with their parents, Principal Robert Pellegrino said.
"Children don't really sell anything," Pellegrino said. "We do not allow children to go door-to-door."
Haldeman raised $14,000 last year from selling things like chocolate and gift wrap, followed with a rewards carnival featuring pony and limousine rides for top-selling students.
With the money earned, the school bought 600 dry erase boards for every student to use in class, as well as a shade ramada for playground equipment.
Allowing students to earn prizes for the money they earn for the school teaches them a lesson, Pellegrino said.
"I guess it's just like anything else. Not everyone gets everything," the principal said. "Do you feel left out because you didn't pass the test? You didn't study for the test."
At the same time, Pellegrino said, last year the school was careful to involve everyone in some sort of carnival activity.
"You have to really balance it. Life is tough enough for kids," Pellegrino said.
Terrie Minnick, president of the Arizona Parent Teacher Association, said although selling is a common way for PTAs to make money, children should not be used in the process.
"Our policy is children should never be exploited," Minnick said. "I think there are other ways. You have to be real careful about not hurting the kids' feelings."
Friday after school, reminiscing about the carnival, Nicole said she had fun.',
"They had all kinds of rides," she observed. "Little swings that go around in little circles. I went on that big slide, and they had a big caterpillar there, and I went to that. It jumped around, and you had to get out. It had a machine inside it.
The day, she said, turned out fine after all.
Melissa L. Jones can be reached at (602)444-7951 or at melissa.jones@pni.com