Taking the Micheal?

[thegubner]

Straight into it, we got our little 'un into a private school for her nursery years, it's great. Little uniforms, boater hats and a proper school feel to it, the do assemblies, plays etc.

She as all other kids is entitled to so many hours a week free, but being a private school the hours work out a little over the free entitlement, meaning I have to pay school fee's each term. No problem there, it's a struggle to find the money but sod it, it's only one more year and to be honest the place is worth the money. She is getting a really good education for this age and is developing bloody well.

Now the "problem". She went on a school trip a while ago, all we were asked to provide was a packed lunch, couple of quid for a treat bag and to sign the consent form.

Now a month or so later the posh (but nice) gits send an invoice for 14 quid for the day out. First mention of any payment to do with this trip. It's only 14 quid, I'm probably going to pay it. I would certainly have paid it with no issues had it been open and up front.

So, are they taking the piss?

[Wilson12345]

Pay it you cheap bastard. If you can't afford £14 for a school trip don't sent your little one to a private school
____________________
Seem to not have enough karma to post :l

[Raffles]

^^^
What he said
____________________
A good loser will always be a loser.

[Ariel Badger]

No way should you pay. Inform them that no fee was mentioned prior to the trip and a retrospective invoice is no way to treat parents. It may only be for £14 but it could well have been for £3000, it is the principle not the money.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[thegubner]

[thegubner]

[hellbound]

The school my kids are at say "this trip wil cost Blah amount, this is a voluntary contribution but if it isn't paid no one can go"

Or words to that effect
____________________
May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[hellkat]

In this instance, given that you're still relatively "new" to the school, you could enquire politely as to whether regular pre-advice information regarding the full details of the trip were given out before-hand.

The thing with kids is that SOMETIMES they forget to give mum and dad the handouts from the teachers. And SOMETIMES the teachers forget (or don't have time) to give them to the kids. Sometimes the office hasn't got round to giving them to the teachers, and the consent forms suddenly come home the night before the trip. Conveniently!

Although in this day and age of everything being wrapped up in health and safety jibber jabber, they should be organised enough to have crossed their T's and dotted their I's well beforehand.

Be charitable this once and say "Oh, was there an extra charge? I didn't get the handout giving us the price" ... and next time there is a school trip make sure you ask her AND the teachers "Where is the handout with the details and the price?"

The price (and there almost certainly will alway be one - lesson number one in school-age-kids parentship) should have been on the same sheet (or at least attached to) as the consent form.

They're quick enough to make sure they have your consent in case anything goes wrong, they need to make sure they have your consent to the price as well.

Don't be afraid to play the "I'm a struggling parent and I need to know these things in advance" card. No point trying to look like you're not. Trust me, the rich twat parents* already know you are. The school administrators shouldn't care.

Join the school's board of guvnors if you get a chance, even if only for the lulz.


*who are no better than you, 99% of rich people in Essex are all nouveaux riche.
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[thegubner]

They give us the forms direct being as she's three

The trip was a long time after she started school and we knew about 6 weeks in advance. The teachers were pestering us all for about two weeks leading up to it not to forget anything etc.

New rich? Yeah I know, I was talking to "her what must be ignored" about this yesterday, its not easy to find a rich person with a real posh money accent here. I was walking behind a bloke the other day in the high street, he was nattering on a mobile and had the BEST posh accent I have ever heard, but mostly its all "sharon and Tracey's"

The swines.

[D O G]

All nursaries under the age of 4 are 'private' - state funded education does not kick in until 4 (this September for my eldest, thank God!).

We have to pay for these ourtings too, oddly enough £14 was the cost of the last one....

[thegubner]

I know all nurseries are private, what I meant was she is in the reception class at a private school, it caters for early years, infants, juniors and seniors.

That's the reason I wanted her there, its not a nursery and as such she already has a school routine, she has a full uniform, dress, boater, school cardy, school blazer, PE kit. The uniform costs a fortune as it's exclusive to the school and can only be bought from one shop but worth it as when she starts big school next year there will be no major shock to the system, all she has to do is make some new friends.

She already knows about lining up, registration, lessons, lunchtime etc.

I love the place I really do, its just that the way that was invoiced is irritating.

[Glenben92]

Some of the most stupid, unaware and common sense-less people I know went to a private school (my girlfriend being the worst culprit). I'm not trying to put a downer on you, but don't take for granted that if you pay for education, it's going to result in a smarter child. They often seem to leave huge gaps in knowledge. For instance the other day I mentioned the 2nd world war and my girlfriend replied with "is that the one with Hitler in?" (she studied the 2nd world war at GCSE)

Things like that really piss me off because she and her grandparents (who paid) have been totally fucked over. Her spelling and mathematical skills seem to be good in parts, but once again lacking huge sections of pretty fundamental information.

I understand that obviously you just want the best for your child, fuck what it takes. All I'm saying is to bare in mind that private education isn't necessarily the answer. In my OWN personal experience, public school results have been similar or often actually BETTER than private, in terms of GCSE results, knowledge, common sense and social ability. Creating a young adult rather than an exam passing machine.
____________________
57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[WannaBeDude]

Right or wrong, just pay it, if it was double that or more then maybe.
____________________
Jogging on, destination living.

[Tarmacsurfer]

[Glenben92]

[Tarmacsurfer]

My point is very simple. People are generally fucktards who are obsessed with the idea of "us and them".

Rationalise fucktardery (I just made that word, I like it ) however you like. It might be the fact they went to a certain school, it might be the idea that you're blonde and they're brunette, it all boils down to a pointless pissing match.

**Edit - What do you mean by "public schools"? That usually means non-state rather than the co-ed comp around the corner.

**Edit 2 - that reads more more harshly than I intended and the fucktard comment isn't aimed at Glenben personally. Just sick of seeing people judge and justify negativity with phenomenally tenuous reasoning.
____________________
I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[Skudd]

I'm sure someone on here would say you are scum for sending your child to private school. But like most people who send their children to private education it is a scrape around for the cash and hard work affording everything that the school wants to do. Good on you for trying your best to give your child the best start you can.

I would pay the amount, but then ask to be told before hand of any costs in the future.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[LordShaftesbu...]

[DrDonnyBrago]

It's only £14 but unless you were told and agreed prior to the trip it is not on. Ask to see the forms etc where they mentioned the £14 and if it isn't mentioned refuse to pay it on principle.

[Glenben92]

[hellkat]

I went to a private girls secondary school for six years.
Can you tell?
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[iooi]

[LordShaftesbu...]

[thegubner]

[thegubner]