Do you think it is fair?
@celestial052506 (2914)
Philippines
September 26, 2008 2:56pm CST
Big amount of fines in school if parent can't attend school activities!! do you think it is fair? What about if parents are working and they have no time to be absent in their work just to be in the activities in school? Well, I can do that it is only one day. But the problem here is this. There were several meetings for parents to practice for parent day presentation and if one can not attend the practice they would be fined a big amount. I and my hubby can not make it because we are both working. So, we are charge to pay P300 for my 5fth grade and 200 for my 3rd grade a total of P500? my goodness.. I am even having a hard time looking for money to buy groceries? and then they would let me pay that anount? that's crazy!!! I told them I will pay if I have money, When? I don;t know.
What would you do if it happen to you? I am upset with this but this was approved by the PTA meeting in which I am also late because I am working and I can not meet with the early time schedule of meeting. That is ridiculous!!! what do you think?
1 person likes this
16 responses
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
27 Sep 08
I think it is not fair to fine parents big amounts for not attending school activities. Now a days huband and wife have to work outside for family expenses.Through out the world price hike is a great problem for the common people. School authority must consider this situation. If the school authority behaves like business institution,it is unfortunate.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
yes, you are right!! I would like to suggest to them next time that there must be an option given to working parents.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
1 Oct 08
Thanks for accepting my thought. There must be option for the working parents. School authority may arrange a special schedule for the working parents. Meeting arrangement can be twice a month.I think school authority will consider the problems of working parents.Please make me know whether school authority make new arrangement.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
I did no pay the fines. I made arrangements and they give in to my suggestion and it saved our P500.
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
27 Sep 08
oh my god i cant belive what hearing is they crazy i never heard of such craziness this a outrage i would not pay them a dime they have went to far if you don,t mine me asking what state thats doing this.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
hahaha!! it';s not happening there in US.. it is in the Philippines. I know this kind of thing is not tolerated in the US. They might end up in court if they do this. But we were able to solve this problem now. I will not pay that amount anymore..
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I don't think that is fair at all. I can see rewarding people who volunteer, but I do not agree with fining people who have to work to support their family.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
correst!! I agree with you,, they should think this over next time..
@BabyGurly1745 (302)
• United States
27 Sep 08
That is ridiculous! I can't believe that. Parents can't get off work just because of a school meeting. I am not a parent my self but if it came down to going to a meeting for like 2 hours or working to feed my child i would definitely choose working. especially in these times when the price of everything is going up except for the money that you make you need to make as much money as you can. I would definitely get parents together and protest against it.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
correct!! definitely hahaha... crazy.. if I would think about it.. but good they gave in to our suggestion and we solve the problem.
@germany_fan (511)
• Malaysia
27 Sep 08
nope..it's not fair? but why not just join it..anyway it said 'school acitivities' not labour or force :-)
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
well, we were able to solve this issue. I just hope that next time they will give options to parents who are working. They just give us chance because we aks for it. What about those who never make arrangements? of course they pay.. some pay P400 and some pay 300. I don't because I have no money for that.
@emarie (5442)
• United States
27 Sep 08
that is pretty stupid. i don't know if there are laws in your country to prevent that but here in the US i don't think schools are allowed to do that. i know i would throw a huge fit if i had to pay for not being able to go to something of my kids. schools have to understand that parents work for their kids to go to school and to feed their family, i don't think a school should have the right to make parents pay even more. i would complain if i were you, see if they're really allowed to do this.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
yes, they suppose to give other options for parents who are working. That is ridiculousII really but if they give options.. that would be fine. In my case, we made arrangement and they give in to it.. so, it solved our problem.
@tholitz (1127)
• Philippines
27 Sep 08
Hi celestial052506!
Definitely this is outrageous. Maybe the author of this ordinance have the good idea of making or compelling the parents to regularly attend the PTA meeting but he/she should also consider the case of other parents who usually work together just to go through their daily needs in life, just like in your case. The penalty of P500 for your 2 children will really have a big factor in our daily budget particularly right now where everything are getting higher (except our height). I think you should talk to the PTA President to discuss this matter and probably came out with a solution that will be acceptable to everybody (changing the schedule, etc). Also, you should look for relatives that you could approach and maybe ask to attend meetings like this in your place.
Well hope everything will be solved.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
I am just thankful that this problem has been solved. Unfortunately I have no relatives to request for this matter. But I am glad that we made solution to it. Me andmy hubby create a unique presentation during parents day and it solved the P500.00 fines because we arranged it. It is just a matter of participation that we are fined. I just swallow my embarrassment or shyness for that presentation but it saved our P500..
@thepack (32)
• United States
26 Sep 08
it's crazy some people have a hard time getting out of work for things at school and to get fined for it is just crazy,they should call your employer and let them know what days you need off and they should make sure you still have a job my guess the boss will ask what nut thinks you can have this time off unless of course you use vacation time .
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
yes, I know,, I just don't understand why some people could not feel how others
feel. But I did find solution into it. I will not pay fines anymore.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
26 Sep 08
No. it isn't fair to do that. I should voiced out my situation in the meeting the let other parents understand it. What if it will happen to them too? I'm sure some of the parents just keep quiet during meeting but they don;t agree too? that is not fair. they should give another option rather than letting you pay big amount.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
they did give another option, they let us present a special presentation. The 2 of us. me and my hubby and it solved the fines.
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
26 Sep 08
That is too much for a fine. I think you should complain about it to the the PTA officer. At this time of crisis i think they should have take into consideration the financial problem every parents is facing. They should take into consideration that every parents need to go to work to earn money.That is too much and it is not fair at all.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
right!! Finally I was able to solve it. I and my hubby present our own presentation just to have our special participation and that the fines would be erased. hahaha Good they agreed to it and I am done with it.
@momjessie82 (344)
• United States
27 Sep 08
That is absolutely outrageous and ridiculous. I would look for a different school. I know they are trying to get parents more involved and want them to be active in what is going on, but that is extreme. They need to realize that people have to work and cannot be at all the school activities. If that happened around here, it would end up in the news and ultimately in court. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. I do not see how they can legally do that.
1 person likes this
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
yes, it is absolutely wrong if they don't give us any consideration. Good they were able to understand the situation.. But I made a suggestion good they give us chance and we were abale to save our P500.
@carmela0210 (1591)
• Philippines
27 Sep 08
that was really big, but maybe if they would just fine parents with small amount like 50 pesos, they would not attend it already and just pay 50 pesos cause its just small, maybe the school just wants the parents to be obliged in attending and to have time with the school activities and it is also a big way of having/ and knowing what is your children's status at school and how is she doing, besides it just happens 2 to 3 times in a year. And we should have give time with that.
HAPPY MYLOTTING
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
30 Sep 08
Definitely!! you are correct!! but not all parents can attend to the practice because of our work.. so, good that we made arrangement and it was solved.
@CAdreamer (118)
• United States
26 Sep 08
I would tell them to go bite themselves. In these times, parents need to be able to support their children at home as well as in school and if that means you can not make it to meetings then so be it. People are always judging others by what they don't do that they never stop to look at what they do do. No one should have to pay for not being able to make it to a meeting. I mean, yes you should be involved in your child's life as much as possible, but first and foremost is your responsibility to provide them a roof, clothing, food, and security. If you have to miss work to go to a meeting, you are not able to do that. If these people cannot understand that then they are riding a high horse and need to be knocked off it to see reality. Our economy is difficult right now, and people like that are just making it more difficult. If they want you there so badly, then you tell them they can pay your bills and provide food and clothing for your children, otherwise you will be working to provide those things for them and if they don't like it they can just shove it. I mean seriously anyone who expects you to pay out 500 dollars just cuz you are busy working instead of sitting with them in a meeting room is a little touched in the head.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
26 Sep 08
That's right!!!! it is very upseting when people don;t understand our hardship. That is why I don;t want to be absent so that I will not be deducted in my salary, and here they want me to pay that big amount? I can hardly buy groceries for my children? that is ridiculous!!! inhuman as would think about it. I am completely upset about it. I hope they would give another option than to pay big amount like that.
@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
26 Sep 08
I agree with you. I hope they would learn their lesson soon.
@lrglara (1334)
• Philippines
26 Sep 08
that is really outrageous and completely ridiculous... why not change school? i know that they are trying to encourage parents to actively participate for their children's activities but you also have responsibilities. what are they going to do with the money you're going to pay?
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@celestial052506 (2914)
• Philippines
26 Sep 08
Yes Ieglara, completely ridiculous!!!! They said they are going to use the money as class fund for Christmas party. Actually it was voted during parents meeting (homeroom) that they are going to do that fines so that parents would be force to attend and at the same time when they can;t, we, the parents could raise funds for the Christmas party for our kids. Well, the plan is good but they have no consideration to workinf parents. suppose to be there is another alternative,, not only paying a big amount of money? they don;t understand we are working to earn? and we are having a hard time and then they would make things more harder?
Well, this is a pricate school. I maybe plan to transfer if ever I would feel harder in here.