Unsolicited school pictures that you have to pay for or return

[DisneyBamaFan]

How exactly is that mean spirited?

Throwing something of value that does not belong to you in the trash, on purpose, to "teach them a lesson", is very mean spirited. There are more mature ways to handle things like this.

 

[Tigger Fans!]

I would hate to think a parent was this upset about those pictures. As a teacher so much of my time is spent trying to create a nurturing environment in my classroom. Please communicate with the teacher so these feelings don't "spill over" into other areas. As parents our children are always listening. If you're upset about the pictures and talking about it at home kids won't necessarily know what you're upset about but they will know that you're upset with the teacher and/or school.

 

[LisaR]

Nothing ever gets done without someone first taking a stand. I applaud you for being that person! Stand your ground, and let us know what happens! Surely, you can't be the only annoyed parent, but YOU are the one doing something!

I am all for taking a stand on something but I can't understand why the OP can't simply ASK first. Is it so complicated to tell the teacher to stop sending them home? If that request is ignored, I would not have a problem taking a stand but why create conflict when you haven't let anyone know that you are unhappy in the first place?

 

[mjkacmom]

How exactly is that mean spirited?

Because you are making more work for the teacher, who probably hates pictures just as much as you do. Since this is your first year, just let the teacher know, in the future, that you are not interested in buying pictures, and not to send them home. Or don't sign the form giving them permission to take your child's picture.

Heck, the fundraiser was probably set up by the PTO, the parents. How else would they be able to have parents preview pictures, if they didn't send them home? If you don't like this fundraiser, join the PTO, and let them know how you feel the proper way. Leave the teacher (who will be your child's teacher ) out of it.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

I would hate to think a parent was this upset about those pictures. As a teacher so much of my time is spent trying to create a nurturing environment in my classroom. Please communicate with the teacher so these feelings don't "spill over" into other areas. As parents our children are always listening. If you're upset about the pictures and talking about it at home kids won't necessarily know what you're upset about but they will know that you're upset with the teacher and/or school.

I look at it differently. I was always taught to keep quiet and don’t make waves. Be polite.

But I would love to be like the OP. I really think it is wrong to take a child’s picture and send it home with the choices being 1)PAY or 2)Know your child’s picture is being destroyed.

I think it would be good to sit down and explain to my children about scams and how they don’t ever have to fall for them. I think a child should see a parent upset over this. I think a child should know that daddy is mad at the school for taking a picture and saying "give us money or kid's picture goes in garbage".

The school should have asked BEFORE the picture was taken.

Again, I was raised differently, but I would love to show my children they don’t have to smile and take it.

 

[mill4023]

Throwing something of value that does not belong to you in the trash, on purpose, to "teach them a lesson", is very mean spirited. There are more mature ways to handle things like this.

And if I choose to return it, what do you think they are going to do with that picture?

They took the picture without me requesting it.
They printed it without me requesting it.
They sent it to me without me requesting it.
It does belong to me.

What value does a picture of MY CHILD have for the school or photography studio?

They took all the pictures and printed all the pictures with the expectation that some parents would buy them and it would end up being a profitable photo shoot for them, which I'm sure will be the case. Nobody agreed ahead of time to purchase anything.

I'm fairly certain that any pictures that are returned are going to be thrown away. What other use would they have for them?

 

[mill4023]

Because you are making more work for the teacher, who probably hates pictures just as much as you do. Since this is your first year, just let the teacher know, in the future, that you are not interested in buying pictures, and not to send them home. Or don't sign the form giving them permission to take your child's picture.

Heck, the fundraiser was probably set up by the PTO, the parents. How else would they be able to have parents preview pictures, if they didn't send them home? If you don't like this fundraiser, join the PTO, and let them know how you feel the proper way. Leave the teacher (who will be your child's teacher ) out of it.

How is it more work for the teacher?
They can just tell the studio that we didn't return the picture and didn't pay for it. It seems that would be the extent of their responsibility.

 

[npmommie]

they should really just send a proof sheet home. Isn't it expensive to print out the pics on photo paper just to have parents view them?
but again that is probably part of their plan, since the parent sees the pic all printed out very nicely and they don't want to destroy it.

they will argue that the pic by copyright law does belong to them.

 

[mill4023]

I would hate to think a parent was this upset about those pictures. As a teacher so much of my time is spent trying to create a nurturing environment in my classroom. Please communicate with the teacher so these feelings don't "spill over" into other areas. As parents our children are always listening. If you're upset about the pictures and talking about it at home kids won't necessarily know what you're upset about but they will know that you're upset with the teacher and/or school.

We teach them to show respect to teachers and other adults, regardless of whether they agree with them. But we do not try to teach them that everyone is perfect and if we are upset about the teacher and/or school, our children will know why.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

they will argue that the pic by copyright law does belong to them.

And they gave it to a child to transport home.

What if the child lost it? Are the parents responsible for paying for it?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

And if I choose to return it, what do you think they are going to do with that picture??

You are asking the wrong question. The question that you should be asking is, if I throw them away, does someone else have to pay for them if I refuse.

Last time I checked, responding to someone else's "wrong" with something that I know also to be "wrong" is unacceptable behavior in our society.

 

[mill4023]

they should really just send a proof sheet home. Isn't it expensive to print out the pics on photo paper just to have parents view them?
but again that is probably part of their plan, since the parent sees the pic all printed out very nicely and they don't want to destroy it.

they will argue that the pic by copyright law does belong to them.

They own the copyright to the picture. That doesn't mean they own the physical prints. It just means that it would be illegal for us to scan or otherwise copy the pictures.

Amazon cannot send me a DVD of The Lion King, then ask me to pay for it or return it. If they send it to me unsolicited, it is a gift and I'm free to do whatever I want with it except make copies, which would violate copyright law.

Making prints from digital photos is cheap. Yes, there is some cost, but just like advertising, they recoup those costs through increased sales that they wouldn't have received if they only sent a proof sheet and an order form.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

Amazon cannot send me a DVD of The Lion King, then ask me to pay for it or return it. If they send it to me unsolicited, it is a gift and I'm free to do whatever I want with it except make copies, which would violate copyright law.

Excellent example.

 

[mill4023]

You are asking the wrong question. The question that you should be asking is, if I throw them away, does someone else have to pay for them if I refuse.

Last time I checked, responding to someone else's "wrong" with something that I know also to be "wrong" is unacceptable behavior in our society.

Who is going to have to pay for them?
If it's the school, then they shouldn't have agreed to that contract with the studio.
Sorry, I don't see anything wrong with keeping the pictures.

What if I stopped by your house and dropped off a book on your porch, along with a letter stating that you had to either send me a check for $50 or send the book back to me so I could throw it in the garbage.

Are you telling me you would have no problem with that?
If so, please send me your address because I have a great new business idea.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Amazon cannot send me a DVD of The Lion King, then ask me to pay for it or return it. If they send it to me unsolicited, it is a gift and I'm free to do whatever I want with it except make copies, which would violate copyright law...

Agreed - companies did this for decades before the laws were changed. There were all kinds of "book/album/movie" of the month clubs that sent the items to your home. If you didn't return them, you were billed.

I agree that the practice is shady, but our school doesn't make you pay if your child loses the pictures. You can also choose to never have them sent home if you wish. Our son left his in his desk one time - we never saw them. He didn't lose them, and no one found them until he had to clean out his desk at the end of the school year. We were asked if we decided to keep them, told the teacher that we hadn't seen them, and were never asked about them again. No biggie.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Sorry, I don't see anything wrong with keeping the pictures...

My integrity would keep me from doing so, but mores vary from person to person.

 

[RUDisney]

And if I choose to return it, what do you think they are going to do with that picture?

They took the picture without me requesting it.
They printed it without me requesting it.
They sent it to me without me requesting it.
It does belong to me.

What value does a picture of MY CHILD have for the school or photography studio?

They took all the pictures and printed all the pictures with the expectation that some parents would buy them and it would end up being a profitable photo shoot for them, which I'm sure will be the case. Nobody agreed ahead of time to purchase anything.

I'm fairly certain that any pictures that are returned are going to be thrown away. What other use would they have for them?

No one has answered my question from page one. Did the school notify you that pictures would be taken on a specific day so you could dress your child appropriately?

If they did, you should have sent a note that day to tell them that you didn't want your child photographed.

Failure to advise the school of this would make the photo solicited as you went along with the school's plan.

 

[luvmy3]

No one has answered my question from page one. Did the school notify you that pictures would be taken on a specific day so you could dress your child appropriately?

If they did, you should have sent a note that day to tell them that you didn't want your child photographed.

Failure to advise the school of this would make the photo solicited as you went along with the school's plan.

Our school does this, and a note is sent home however you do not have an opt-out choice. It clearly states that all kids will be photographed even if you don't plan on ordering. So, while you can send a note in, you are still going to be getting those unwanted pkgs sent home, at least in my kid's elementary school.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I read your post and said to myself, she must be in CMS. I bet I am right!

I had that situation when we lived in NC. Some of the pictures were just awful, but my kids feelings were hurt if I didn't keep at least a few. I think it's blackmail.

 

[shannonh]

I hate these pics as much as the OP does! I send them back every year, but just because I don't want the school holding on to something that belongs to my kids, ie. diplomas, etc. But, it really makes me mad, that they charge an arm and a leg for them and then throw them away when you send them back (I'm assuming, I mean what else are they going to do?). How about making them like $10 a pack and I'm sure people would buy them.
Anyway, OP you do what you want to do. Don't send them back, send them back, eat them, shred them, whatever you want..just know that you aren't the only one that feels your picture pain