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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 11, 2016 11:48:01 GMT
My ds's school asks for a donation just about every week.
$2 here.
A dollar there.
Four cans of vegetables.
Two jars of peanut butter.
Socks.
This is not counting any school supplies needed by the classroom. Nor the Kleenex, or hand sanitizer.
I wouldn't feel so put out by it if it was "donate if you feel the urge," but the kids who don't donate are excluded from that week's special activity.
Are your kids' schools pushing for so many donations for so many causes? I'm feeling burnt out already and it's only November.
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 11, 2016 12:11:07 GMT
I just sent home a request for my classroom. I teach in a public school. Parents are getting a free education for their kids. If they can't handle requests for Kleenex and crayons they have some serious issues. We do have charity drives-from different organizations. I think it broadens kids' thinking.
That being said, I'd never reward or punish a student for not participating. It would be hard to participate in all of the drives anyhow.
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on Nov 11, 2016 12:13:59 GMT
We have a special group on campus that organizes monthly service projects, so we often collect stuff. This month it's socks and canned goods. However, there is no reward tied to it. Participation is completely optional.
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Post by sawwhet on Nov 11, 2016 12:16:37 GMT
I just sent home a request for my classroom. I teach in a public school. Parents are getting a free education for their kids. If they can't handle requests for Kleenex and crayons they have some serious issues. We do have charity drives-from different organizations. I think it broadens kids' thinking. That being said, I'd never reward or punish a student for not participating. It would be hard to participate in all of the drives anyhow. Education is never free and maybe some do have some serious financial issues. It's quite common even in good areas. It's great to participate and help others but not if its a burden.
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TheOtherMeg
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Nov 11, 2016 12:17:15 GMT
I don't have a problem with the requests to donate items, but students should not be denied an activity because their parents didn't donate something.
If the "donation" is mandatory for participation, it's no longer a donation, it's a fee and should be called such.
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 11, 2016 12:19:27 GMT
What do you mean by "already" in your title? Do you mean it's early to be asking for the holidays? Because really it isn't. Thanksgiving is almost here and they have to plan ahead for donating for Christmas.
Teachers don't get paid enough to buy everything they need for their classrooms, so of course I never minded giving if I could. For items like markers, glue sticks, etc. I figured that's what those great back-to-school sales were for. Just stock up in anticipation of the teacher needing more mid-year. As for kleenex, let's just say that give even five or six kids a cold in each class and they can go through multiple boxes of kleenex every week. I've been tempted to go get one of those HUGE cases of tissues from Costco and donate it to the kindergarten teachers at the school where I sub.
Socks, food, etc.... Those are often put in Christmas boxes. Socks, mittens, hats...If I can why wouldn't I donate? It's easy enough to buy one or two food items every time you go shopping and set them aside for donation.
However, that said...at my school there would never be a reward just for those who donate. The idea of helping those in need is, in my opinion, to do it quietly and not for any concrete reward other than a "thank you so much for helping". So I would be contacting someone at your school about that if it were me.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Nov 11, 2016 12:43:26 GMT
I'm ok with the little asks like that. When DD was in the younger elementary days, I had to convince her that my prize for NOT selling $100 worth of junk would be better than the trinket the fundraiser gave her. We don't have a big family or a large social group. We're not going door to door, and I can't really sell at work. The big fundraisers were just constant.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Nov 11, 2016 13:13:21 GMT
Ours ramped up years ago when Gov Brownback got ahold of our budget and education system. Not only did my mill levy go up to cover the school funding shortfall, the schools raised the cost of enrollment. I paid $400 for 2 kids in August, another $300 or so on school supplies. Then the first day the schools sent home a note that they needed $4 per teacher to cover the cost of supplies for the room. Since my girls have 7 teachers a piece it adds up! Then we still have fundraisers on top of that. It's been an expensive "free" education since we elected this moron. Before, the tuition was about $45 a kid.
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Post by christine58 on Nov 11, 2016 13:20:47 GMT
I just sent home a request for my classroom. I teach in a public school. Parents are getting a free education for their kids. If they can't handle requests for Kleenex and crayons they have some serious issues. We do have charity drives-from different organizations. I think it broadens kids' thinking. That being said, I'd never reward or punish a student for not participating. It would be hard to participate in all of the drives anyhow. WOW...you sure are judgmental about the kids/parents you teach. I am just astounded at your response. Oh and I am a teacher and would NEVER think a parent has a "serious" issue if they can't handle a request. SMH. Hope your judgmental attitude doesn't come through to your students. How sad of an answer
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 11, 2016 13:24:18 GMT
I just sent home a request for my classroom. I teach in a public school. Parents are getting a free education for their kids. If they can't handle requests for Kleenex and crayons they have some serious issues. We do have charity drives-from different organizations. I think it broadens kids' thinking. That being said, I'd never reward or punish a student for not participating. It would be hard to participate in all of the drives anyhow. WOW...you sure are judgmental about the kids/parents you teach. I am just astounded at your response. Oh and I am a teacher and would NEVER think a parent has a "serious" issue if they can't handle a request. SMH. Hope your judgmental attitude doesn't come through to your students. How sad of an answer How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem?
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peaname
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Post by peaname on Nov 11, 2016 13:25:06 GMT
My kids attend public school and in no way do I consider it a free education. I give when I can but do not feel guilty about not participating in the multiple requests for donations that I get. Our church regularly asks, our kids' school, scouts, sports, etc. a family can't possibly give to everything. Say no without guilt.
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scraptag
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Post by scraptag on Nov 11, 2016 13:31:30 GMT
I am a big supporter of teachers and always send in the requests they make, I understand you never have enough tissues, etc. But my kids are NOT getting a FREE education. I and millions of other hardworking people are paying the taxes that are paying for that education.
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Post by bigbundt on Nov 11, 2016 13:38:30 GMT
For me it isn't that they are asking for a lot, it is just the frequency that we get requests. I don't mind donating things, just feels like I am always making a special trip to the store for things because the lead time is so short. I wish it was consolidated so I could do a month at a time. My daughter's school doesn't exclude kids though, that isn't right.
I had the same complaint about preschool when they asked for oatmeal containers and shoe boxes to be sent in the next day. I don't have those things laying around my house and I do my household shopping on the weekends so that meant I had to make a special trip to get those things.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Nov 11, 2016 14:00:33 GMT
I always send extras of all the supplies to school at the start of the year, and as the year goes on, I check in w/ the teacher to see if there's anything running low.
We've had a PTO "please just send money" fundraiser, selling trash bags for the school itself, and right now is major saver (restaurant discount) cards for the district education foundation (scholarships). The last 2 offer rewards, but no exclusionary events. The first Tuesday of every month, kids can donate $1 to the PTO to wear a hat or PJs to school, so I suppose that could be considered exclusionary, but honestly not that many kids participate anyway, and a kid would never be sent home or forced to change for not bringing their $1
We had a Kid President-inspired sock drive and collected more than 1000 pairs of socks, which we donated to. We have also had a Thanksgiving meal food drive with each grade assigned a certain item, and there will be an upcoming "anything" food drive. We had a chili supper/bingo night/teacher auction (where teachers donate things like "be my helper for an hour" or "take the class pet home for the weekend") with all the money collected going to a family whose kindergartener is fighting cancer.
Our school is very low-income (all students get free breakfast, and free dinner is offered as well), but these are generous people, and they contribute as they can. We feel fortunate to be in a position to be able to contribute to DD's school and do so happily anytime we're asked. The principal let us know they were expecting that many more kids would be in need of winter coats this year, so I thrifted up 7 or 8, and it makes me happy to know that a few more kids won't be cold this year.
We're very open with DD about our donations and hope to set an example of charitable behavior for her. We emphasize that not everyone is in a position to be able to donate lots of money or things, but that if you can, you should. And, if your finances don't allow that, it's just as valuable to donate your time to causes you care about.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2016 14:39:15 GMT
I pay school taxes. I also spend money on supplies not only for them but also for the Kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc. requests that come home on the first day of school.
I don't consider that a free education.
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 11, 2016 14:39:52 GMT
WOW...you sure are judgmental about the kids/parents you teach. I am just astounded at your response. Oh and I am a teacher and would NEVER think a parent has a "serious" issue if they can't handle a request. SMH. Hope your judgmental attitude doesn't come through to your students. How sad of an answer How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem? Of course that means there is a problem, but not one of 'free education therefore you should be grateful and suck it up and buy the Kleenex.' If a parent can't afford the Kleenex, the deeper problem is one of economics and that isn't always apparent-job loss, medical bills, death, divorce...the list goes on and on and can be as varied as the people involved. People can both avail themselves to the free education system and still live in circumstances that don't allow for a single dollar to fall outside their budgets. Often times there is the idea that the solution is to seek assistance. But there are many myths and untruths about how 'the system' works. If you get food stamps, that doesn't cover anything beyond food. If you have assets it can preclude you from getting assistance. Qualify for cash assistance? It is minimal at best, with a lifetime limit of five years (last I remember) and by minimal I mean a couple hundred dollars. What to some is a two dollar box of Kleenex is beans and rice for dinner. It may not be as simple as it appears.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Nov 11, 2016 14:51:43 GMT
My ds's school asks for a donation just about every week. $2 here. A dollar there. Four cans of vegetables. Two jars of peanut butter. Socks. This is not counting any school supplies needed by the classroom. Nor the Kleenex, or hand sanitizer. I wouldn't feel so put out by it if it was "donate if you feel the urge," but the kids who don't donate are excluded from that week's special activity. Are your kids' schools pushing for so many donations for so many causes? I'm feeling burnt out already and it's only November. You just reminded me that dd was supposed to bring money for her poppy yesterday and I forgot to give her a few dollars. I don't have a problem with little items. In fact, I prefer it to what dd's dance group is doing - they're raising money for their dance group. Usually I don't have a problem with that but at this time of year I think they should be raising something for charity. What a missed opportunity to teach the kids about compassion. I don't think a child should be denied admission to an activity if they forget the donation. Paige.
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 11, 2016 14:54:19 GMT
And I did not say otherwise. If you cannot afford Kleenex, you have some problems. Focus on those problems. If you can afford Kleenex and choose not to provide them when asked, then you have other problems. Don't assume that I hold any ill will towards families that cannot, truly cannot, give their children what they need at home and at school. Those are the families our school helps support with backpack programs. Those are the kids that eat my snacks after school on the bus.
The parents I am not fond of are the ones that feel they shouldn't "have to" send in supplies. That if the teacher wants the kids to have pencils she should buy them herself. If the teacher wants to do an activity, she should buy the supplies herself. That the school should provide everything (I don't disagree with that!) and since it won't, the kids have to go without or the teacher needs to step up and pay. The ones that claim they cannot afford anything for their kids so my husband goes out and buys them new backpacks, fills them with supplies, only for the mother to show up ten minutes late to a meeting because her nail appointment ran late (literally happened to me three years ago).
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 11, 2016 14:58:33 GMT
How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem? My kids don't have allergies, they don't need Kleenex. If they have a cold, they stay home, or I'll send some specifically for them. My kid doesn't use crayons, he eats them. What have we done in our home because of our kid? Installed a fence in the backyard, put covers on every door, put a lock on the fridge, an extra lock on the sliding glass door, changed the flooring, finished a room with sound proof insulation,....Then there's the medical bills. Do you know how hard it is to just go out to a store and buy these items when these lists come up when you have a kid you have to leash? Or if I happen to have that miraculous 3 hour time span without a kid? I sleep because it's better I function. Or to pay extra for the "free" prime shipping or to pay shipping? Nope, sometimes a parent cannot contribute a measly $1.00 for a box of kleenex or crayons that will not be used by their children. Damn, I do what I can but that's a shitty thing to say. There's a lot of kids that are much worse off in my son's school because it is title 1. I'm super cranky today because I've been up since 2:00 a.m.! Yep, I have serious issues and so do my kids.
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Nov 11, 2016 14:59:30 GMT
WOW...you sure are judgmental about the kids/parents you teach. I am just astounded at your response. Oh and I am a teacher and would NEVER think a parent has a "serious" issue if they can't handle a request. SMH. Hope your judgmental attitude doesn't come through to your students. How sad of an answer How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem? A.) i was that kid. We struggled to get by. My parents would not have been able to afford most additional requests. For this reason, I'm still a fan of your own supplies and not communal supplies. I would take care of my own things so that they would last the entire year. If my nose ran, I grabbed some toilet paper and put it in my pocket. It just seemed like common sense. B.) The OP is not talking about a box of kleenex. She's talking about bringing 4 cans of beans for the food pantry so her kid can watch a movie (or whatever) with all the other kids. Are you so jaded or live such a privileged life that you don't understand that 4 cans of beans might be all someone has in their entire pantry? I just don't think those kind of requests are fair to all the poor kids. I thought we were all on the same page about that kind of stuff.
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 11, 2016 15:00:34 GMT
I wouldn't feel so put out by it if it was "donate if you feel the urge," but the kids who don't donate are excluded from that week's special activity. This is a big fat OH HELL NO! for me. I would be meeting with the principal by the end of the day on this one. How do they know you aren't a needy family? Is that anyone's business? This practice has no place in the classroom or the school. I remember one of my kid's classmates got a limo ride and ice cream party because they raised the most money for a fundraiser. I worked with her grandmother and I knew for an absolute certainty she raised NOTHING. Her grandmother called every relative and friend she ever had and got them to donate. They even dedicated a special yearbook page to this girl. I told my boys I thought it was stupid and we could have a limo ride or ice cream party without making all of our friends and family pay for it. I despise this type of thing in school.
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 11, 2016 15:03:21 GMT
How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem? A.) i was that kid. We struggled to get by. My parents would not have been able to afford most additional requests. For this reason, I'm still a fan of your own supplies and not communal supplies. I would take care of my own things so that they would last the entire year. If my nose ran, I grabbed some toilet paper and put it in my pocket. It just seemed like common sense. B.) The OP is not talking about a box of kleenex. She's talking about bringing 4 cans of beans for the food pantry so her kid can watch a movie (or whatever) with all the other kids. Are you so jaded or live such a privileged life that you don't understand that 4 cans of beans might be all someone has in their entire pantry? I just don't think those kind of requests are fair to all the poor kids. I thought we were all on the same page about that kind of stuff. I'm sorry you had it rough growing up. I know the OP wasn't talking about basic supplies, she mentioned that and I did too. I think you need to re-read my posts before you come at me so hard. You are projecting and/or misunderstanding.
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Post by ahiller on Nov 11, 2016 15:03:57 GMT
I have no problem sending in extra supplies for the classroom.
This time of year, it just seems like you get hit for donations from every direction. DD's school was packing boxes yesterday to send to kids in Latin America. So that was $25. Today, we get hit with an email for donations for the Santa Shoppe (which I skip because we send a check with our kids to pay for the gifts, I'm not paying for some crappy gift twice). Next will be picking a name from the giving tree, then the teacher gifts (which I always do because they deserve it). Then DS's preschool starts on their giving tree, which I also always do. Then teacher gifts for them too.
I don't have unlimited funds at Christmas. I'm happy to support what I can but there's only so much you can do.
OP, I would be majorly ticked if they tied giving to rewards.
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 11, 2016 15:04:32 GMT
B.) The OP is not talking about a box of kleenex. She's talking about bringing 4 cans of beans for the food pantry so her kid can watch a movie (or whatever) with all the other kids. Are you so jaded or live such a privileged life that you don't understand that 4 cans of beans might be all someone has in their entire pantry? I just don't think those kind of requests are fair to all the poor kids. I thought we were all on the same page about that kind of stuff. ![:yeahthat:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/yrGoHMAelQz8f2Qt0sjb.jpg) It wasn't until I was in 7th grade that I realized poverty happened in my community. I went to my friend's house who had 7 siblings. There was no food in their home except one sleeve of graham crackers. She begged me not to tell anyone because she didn't want her single mother in trouble. These kids came to school in decent clothes and clean. You would never know.
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 11, 2016 15:05:36 GMT
I just sent home a request for my classroom. I teach in a public school. Parents are getting a free education for their kids. If they can't handle requests for Kleenex and crayons they have some serious issues. Wow. Where was that covered in your teacher education classes in college? I'm sure that was a class in itself - how to see public school education as free and how to shame parents to make up for it. Guess what? It's called TAXES. That was another class you took - maybe Civics or Economics or US History? Who do you think pays you? Who do you think provides the building and utilities where you work? Who do you think pays for busses? Public funding from city, county, state and federal taxes. Your attitude that school is free is off the mark and maybe you want to rethink it during the summer.
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AnotherPea
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 11, 2016 15:13:35 GMT
Wow- some people are really reading what I said the wrong way. I love my students, no matter their families' financial status. I'm going to extend some grace here and not come back at the rude posts in the same manner they were written. I'm going to assume my intention was misunderstood and/or people are still reeling from the election.
But I will address the "free education" part. I'm perfectly okay with you pointing out that taxes doesn't equal free. As long as you remember your roads aren't free. The social programs we have in our country aren't free. Voting isn't free. Since these conversations tend to occur on NSBR from time to time. If you don't want to consider public education free, then none of it is...
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Nov 11, 2016 15:20:16 GMT
A.) i was that kid. We struggled to get by. My parents would not have been able to afford most additional requests. For this reason, I'm still a fan of your own supplies and not communal supplies. I would take care of my own things so that they would last the entire year. If my nose ran, I grabbed some toilet paper and put it in my pocket. It just seemed like common sense. B.) The OP is not talking about a box of kleenex. She's talking about bringing 4 cans of beans for the food pantry so her kid can watch a movie (or whatever) with all the other kids. Are you so jaded or live such a privileged life that you don't understand that 4 cans of beans might be all someone has in their entire pantry? I just don't think those kind of requests are fair to all the poor kids. I thought we were all on the same page about that kind of stuff. I'm sorry you had it rough growing up. I know the OP wasn't talking about basic supplies, she mentioned that and I did too. I think you need to re-read my posts before you come at me so hard. You are projecting and/or misunderstanding. And I'm sorry that you have parents that are douches. But please don't project that onto the kids in any way. First off it's not the kids' fault their parents priorities are out of wack and secondly, they might be struggling and you don't even know it.... even if they "look" like they have money. We all have our own battles. For what it's worth, I give supplies to the school and all my kids are grown and gone.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Nov 11, 2016 15:22:32 GMT
Our school severely limits fundraisers. They found if they did one ask at the beginning of the year - send us X and we will not bother you again all year - they ended up with way more $ than the constant fundraisers. The only exception are a few of the children run fundraisers for charities (but even those have to be approved and are limited). One group of kids is doing a turkey drive next week for the local food bank.
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basketdiva
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Post by basketdiva on Nov 11, 2016 15:32:50 GMT
WOW...you sure are judgmental about the kids/parents you teach. I am just astounded at your response. Oh and I am a teacher and would NEVER think a parent has a "serious" issue if they can't handle a request. SMH. Hope your judgmental attitude doesn't come through to your students. How sad of an answer How am I wrong? If you cannot afford a $1 box of tissues for your own child to blow his nose in, do you not have some serious issues? If you can't afford 50 cents for crayons isn't there a problem? Wow-what an attitude. Do you know the financial situation of all your students??? That $1 could be needed for gas so a parent could get to work or to buy milk. So yes, if this is the reason a parent can't afford the crayons, there are serious issues.
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Nov 11, 2016 15:43:00 GMT
come on guys, let's not dog-pile Jenniferc. I think she's frustrated with "some" parents and it came off as being frustrated at all ppl that don't participate, but I'm sure that's not what she meant.
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