Voluntary contributions for school

They can not insist on a €140 voluntary contribution as that would equate to fees.
It might be for locker and printing and stationary etc but 140 sounds quite high for that.

Our PS is demanding E250 contribution plus a mandatory E95 for photcopying and text messaging.

€95 just for photocopying and texts? Does this include standardized tests,art and crafts and maybe something like swimming? They can look for this , if so, however €250 per primary child is outrageous,is it broken down as to what this would be for?

€250 is the minimum amount for the school to reclaim the tax relief.

They can request it but can not deny a place based on it.

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

€95 just for photocopying and texts? Does this include standardized tests,art and crafts and maybe something like swimming? They can look for this , if so, however €250 per primary child is outrageous,is it broken down as to what this would be for?

95 doesn't include swimming. I really don't know what it includes, I think texts photo copying and arts and crafts. Probably standardised tests. I know we weren't asked for extra for the Drumcondra so I'm guessing it includes that one. Although we only got raw scores for that test and not converted ones.

The E250 was not broken down, just a general request.

A request or a demand? There's quite a difference, how was it worded?

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

A request or a demand? There's quite a difference, how was it worded?

They call the E 250 a voluntary contribution. The E 95 is mandatory.

The €95 would need to be paid, as it is to cover specified items. The €250 is voluntary, but most schools depend on some form of "voluntary" additional money to survive. €250 per child is huge. I'd talk to the school and tell them you can't pay that but will contribute what you can.

Our local school asks for 250 every 2 years,which I have no issue with.

muckisluck

What does the word voluntary mean in all this. I don't think anyone should pay. It's just another form of taxation if you ask me. Either we fund schools or we don't. If I was to pay this I would want to see how the money is spent. How many schools are sending out accounts to parents as to what is done with this "voluntary" contribution.

SOme schools do.

The problem is that the schools do not receive enough public funding sometimes they can not afford to pay things as simple as heating and teachers are often putting their hands in their own pockets to buy educational supplies for their class room.

It is crazy but reality.

muckisluck wrote: »

What does the word voluntary mean in all this. I don't think anyone should pay. It's just another form of taxation if you ask me. Either we fund schools or we don't. If I was to pay this I would want to see how the money is spent. How many schools are sending out accounts to parents as to what is done with this "voluntary" contribution.

Our accounts are gone through each year with the parents' association. Take it from me, it's not going on foreign junkets for teachers!!Any teacher I know ends up paying for school stuff out of their own pockets .

SamforMayo

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Our accounts are gone through each year with the parents' association. Take it from me, it's not going on foreign junkets for teachers!!Any teacher I know ends up paying for school stuff out of their own pockets .

In my experience not a cent is wasted in Primary Schools and a contribution is needed however 250 is crazy. In our local school we are asked for 5 euro a month or what ever a person can afford even if its only a euro. It causes a lot of resentment if only a certain amount contribute, especially when they are the same people who turn up at every fund raising event as well.

Moonbeam wrote: »

SOme schools do.

The problem is that the schools do not receive enough public funding sometimes they can not afford to pay things as simple as heating and teachers are often putting their hands in their own pockets to buy educational supplies for their class room.

It is crazy but reality.

Maybe if they took all that First Holy Communion money spent they could afford heat.

muckisluck

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Our accounts are gone through each year with the parents' association. Take it from me, it's not going on foreign junkets for teachers!!Any teacher I know ends up paying for school stuff out of their own pockets .

I would be absolutely sure that none of it is used incorrectly but if more schools refused to charge for education and schools who do charge went public with their accounts maybe there would be more of a backlash from the public to get proper funding for schools. I don't think going through accounts with a few parents who have time on their hands to join a parents council is enough. Everyone who pays a contribution to the school should see where the money goes.

Merak

diveout wrote: »

Maybe if they took all that First Holy Communion money spent they could afford heat.

Schools don't spend anything on the First Holy Communion except for maybe some art supplies.

SamforMayo

diveout wrote: »

Maybe if they took all that First Holy Communion money spent they could afford heat.

Schools don't spend money on Holy Communion, parents do.

diveout wrote: »

Maybe if they took all that First Holy Communion money spent they could afford heat.

There's no money spent on sacrament preparation, can you explain your comment?

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

There's no money spent on sacrament preparation, can you explain your comment?

Several people already pointed that out.

Obviously if they spend most of 2nd class on teachings of the holy ghost that is money spent on first communion. Teaching hours, overheads, etc.

SamforMayo

diveout wrote: »

Several people already pointed that out.

Obviously if they spend most of 2nd class on teachings of the holy ghost that is money spent on first communion. Teaching hours, overheads, etc.

I think you are grinding a different axe there, one which has no connection to the original op.

I have no time for religion in schools but it is a completely different issue to that of the chronic underfunding .

killbillvol2

diveout wrote: »

Several people already pointed that out.

Obviously if they spend most of 2nd class on teachings of the holy ghost that is money spent on first communion. Teaching hours, overheads, etc.

6th class is spent on the Holy Ghost. 2nd class is the baby Jesus. If you're going to make ludicrous statements at least get part of them right.

killbillvol2 wrote: »

6th class is spent on the Holy Ghost. 2nd class is the baby Jesus. If you're going to make ludicrous statements at least get part of them right.

Same voo doo, different day. All those teaching hours and overheads spent on all that time. And yet they want 250 from each student, even when on prime real estate. Yeah.

is mise spartacus

My school requests €100ish and if you don't pay in time you get no locker, journal etc until you pay.