Scholastic books ordered through school

[cabanafrau]

I disagree and think most rational people would.

Apparently I'm an irrational dictionary reader.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Never regret money spent on books or flowers.

 

[littlejimmy]

some friendly advice, bcla. toughen up. just say no, if you don't want to buy it. don't feel guilty. as much as it feels like you are being pressured, you really aren't. kids have to get used to hearing no. and you don't even have to give a reason. this thread is getting quite humorous. hope this helps

 

[Nancyg56]

I disagree and think most rational people would.

I am a rational and fairly well educated person. I disagree with you.

 

[Marchand63]

First just decline offers. Or realize fundraisers are not discounted offers

People abused in their past or those who have an abused child would ask you to look up "abused" in the dictionary.

Apparently I'm an irrational dictionary reader.

I am a rational and fairly well educated person. I disagree with you.

Ok starting a foundation for those abused by/at book fundraisers.

 

[cabanafrau]

First just decline offers. Or realize fundraisers are not discounted offers







Ok starting a foundation for those abused by/at book fundraisers.

You're ever so thoughtful to think of me, but that doesn't fit what I said. I merely raised the point that a rational read of the dictionary doesn't limit the use of the word abuse to imply child abuse or a like sort of "abusive" history. In fact the definition has a broader possibility of applications. I think if you'll look back at what I said about my own past experiences with/at book fundraisers you will see I would have a difficult task attempting to inflate it to anything approaching any rational application of any of the choices my dictionary provides for using the word.

One does hope you have time to get the change workorder in to the printer before my moniker gets inadvertently splashed across your foundation's letterhead. I would so hate to see such a worthwhile cause get started on the wrong foot.

 

[monsterkitty]

Never regret money spent on books or flowers.

Don't you mean books and chocolate?

 

[cabanafrau]

Don't you mean books and chocolate?

Sadly, I think my hips and behind might tell their own regretful tale if I didn't keep the chocolate spending on a budget.

 

[NHdisneylover]

OP---I take it this is your first child to enter school and her first year there? Really, just start now with telling her you cannot buy everything she/you want and saying no to the flier. Either tell her you'll never buy from the fliers, or give her a budget and let her choose (great lessons there---but you might end up overpaying for some books) or circle ones that you feel are worthwhile products and price and let her choose one from those, or whatever works for you----but being overly dramatic about being "abused" becuase a flier with books and related items for sale gest sent home is not goign to do you any favours---just wait until the serious fundraisers when the kids have assemblies to pep them up to sell very overpriced crap, and earn prizes based on numbers of orders to whine about the whole thing---trust me

(and, put me squarely in the camp that understands "abuse" does not mean only serious physical or emotioanl harm to a human being as Coonhound has indicated, but is also far too strong of a word for something as simple as a book order coming home---niether extreme makes any kinf of sense).

 

[Magpie]

I disagree and think most rational people would.

I was "abused" in the sense you're using it when I was a child. I still don't think twice about using abused in the sense of merely feeling a wee bit taken advantage of. Heck, I'll even say, "My poor wallet is feeling abused!" Or, "You're abusing my good nature."

"Abuse" is not a trigger word for me. It has many, many applications. In fact, according to Google's dictionary, the very first definition is:

1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.

The second definiton is, 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.

Personally, I think it's quite rational to freely use the first definition of a word in general conversation!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I was "abused" in the sense you're using it when I was a child. I still don't think twice about using abused in the sense of merely feeling a wee bit taken advantage of. Heck, I'll even say, "My poor wallet is feeling abused!" Or, "You're abusing my good nature."

"Abuse" is not a trigger word for me. It has many, many applications. In fact, according to Google's dictionary, the very first definition is:

1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.

The second definiton is, 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.

Personally, I think it's quite rational to freely use the first definition of a word in general conversation!

I liked your rationality, not that you were abused as a child, of course. I am very sorry you had to endure that

 

[Magpie]

I liked your rationality, not that you were abused as a child, of course. I am very sorry you had to endure that

That's the awkward part about the "like" button, isn't it? I get stuck all the time, too, "I want to 'like' this, but I don't LIKE it!"

 

[cabanafrau]

I was "abused" in the sense you're using it when I was a child. I still don't think twice about using abused in the sense of merely feeling a wee bit taken advantage of. Heck, I'll even say, "My poor wallet is feeling abused!" Or, "You're abusing my good nature."

"Abuse" is not a trigger word for me. It has many, many applications. In fact, according to Google's dictionary, the very first definition is:

1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.

The second definiton is, 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.

Personally, I think it's quite rational to freely use the first definition of a word in general conversation!

I'm glad to know that you've overcome your past difficulties to have a healthy view of life not to respond to general conversation and dictionary definitions with an attempt to censor. I'm sure it's not been easy, but I wish you nothing but the best.

 

[Magpie]

I'm glad to know that you've overcome your past difficulties to have a healthy view of life not to respond to general conversation and dictionary definitions with an attempt to censor. I'm sure it's not been easy, but I wish you nothing but the best.

Thanks! Aside from a few bad years when I was a kid, I've been very, very fortunate in my life.

 

[Coonhound]

I'm glad to know that you've overcome your past difficulties to have a healthy view of life not to respond to general conversation and dictionary definitions with an attempt to censor. I'm sure it's not been easy, but I wish you nothing but the best.

One person's experience does not speak for all abused. I too am happy for Magpie but that does not make the word use non-offensive.

As for school book fairs, they're best when you know what the books are like in advance, or, when it is run as an actual book fair where families can attend and not just as an order form. If you don't want to do either, you can always purchase books your child wants and do that at home rather than going through the school.

 

[cabanafrau]

One person's experience does not speak for all abused. I too am happy for Magpie but that does not make the word use non-offensive.

As for school book fairs, they're best when you know what the books are like in advance, or, when it is run as an actual book fair where families can attend and not just as an order form. If you don't want to do either, you can always purchase books your child wants and do that at home rather than going through the school.

I do not appreciate your attempt to put your spin on my words. I said nothing about one person's abuse speaking for all. It's neither healthy nor appropriate to attempt to use such a situation as leverage to censor or to chastise anyone's use of the dictionary.

As for Scholastic book fairs when my children attended them and I worked them, the flyer of what books to expect at the fair did indeed come home in advance of the fair, advertising books that were to be offered. The flyers weren't all encompassing, but designed to highlight whatever offerings the marketing department was looking to promote. Families were welcomed warmly at our school, and you also received information as to the time your child's class would be allowed to attend the fair during school hours if you wished to join them. I never did see any of the adult section promoted in the pre-fair flyers, but then again I'm a live on the edge sort of parent who found it acceptable for my kids to look at everything at the book fair without my supervision or presence, even the adult section. I guess the joke would have been on me if they decided they just had to have the 150 Crock Pot Meals Your Family Will Love.

 

[Magpie]

One person's experience does not speak for all abused. I too am happy for Magpie but that does not make the word use non-offensive.

And the fact that you find it offensive, doesn't make the word inherently offensive, either.

There are some words we almost all agree are offensive. Most are blocked on this site. But "abuse" isn't one of them. It is commonly used, in many contexts, some serious, some not so serious. I can't support chastising people for using a perfectly accurate (as defined in any dictionary) word to describe their own personal feelings about something.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I do not appreciate your attempt to put your spin on my words. I said nothing about one person's abuse speaking for all. It's neither healthy nor appropriate to attempt to use such a situation as leverage to censor or to chastise anyone's use of the dictionary.

As for Scholastic book fairs when my children attended them and I worked them, the flyer of what books to expect at the fair did indeed come home in advance of the fair, advertising books that were to be offered. The flyers weren't all encompassing, but designed to highlight whatever offerings the marketing department was looking to promote. Families were welcomed warmly at our school, and you also received information as to the time your child's class would be allowed to attend the fair during school hours if you wished to join them. I never did see any of the adult section promoted in the pre-fair flyers, but then again I'm a live on the edge sort of parent who found it acceptable for my kids to look at everything at the book fair without my supervision or presence, even the adult section. I guess the joke would have been on me if they decided they just had to have the 150 Crock Pot Meals Your Family Will Love.

I'm with you on not censoring kids. I will admit, we do limit the reading choices of younger children--for example, my younger two read the Harry Potter series quite young, but we stopped them after Book 5. We felt the content of the last two would upset them. We just had them wait a couple years (DS10 is reading book 7 now). And when my oldest (now 21) was in HS, we would have her keep certain books in her room--her younger sister was reading adult books by the age of 4, there were a lot of topics appropriate for a teen that were NOT what you want your 6yo reading! And when we have censored a book, we've always explained why we felt the topic was not appropriate for that child at that time. If they were curious about, say, breast cancer, we might find a book better suited to their age and comprehension.

And I had to crack up on the "adult section" of the book fair. I had never thought of it that way, but you're right. All those scary books about parenting techniques and 30-minute meals--the horror!

 

[SC Minnie]

I usually let DD pick 1 book from the Scholastic book order and typically gave her $5 for the book fair. The Scholastic order I had to approve and tried to keep it under $5 at least but most definitely under $10. It helped the class and didn't break the pocket book. DD felt included and loved when the order came in and getting something from the book fair.

 

[dreiwhit]

I don't remember how often we got the Scholastic "catalogs", but I had to wipe the drool off mine to take it home! Even when money was tight around our house, my parents always gave me the money to purchase books.

When my wife was teaching 6th Grade, she would bring home the "catalog" paper to see if there was anything I wanted!

Lately, i've been finding and purchasing some of the Scholastic Books I loved when I was a kid off Amazon or Abe Books. Good memories!