Thanks, But No Thanks
So, beginning of the month an e-mail came out asking the staff here at the school to chip in 30 dollars for the annual "Social Committee" fund. Said committee looks after gifts for occasions both good and bad, and also staff shindigs.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who didn't reply. We, and by "we" I mean the entire staff again, were informed today there are at least 10 people who haven't paid. I'll tell you right now I'm one of them, and I'm betting some of the single period/less than halftime staff are as well.
Here's the way I see it. Various things occur throughout the year that call upon this money, some of which would be mine. Some of the spending I would agree with, and some I would not. For example, we had the father of a young student pass away the week before school started. Out of the blue, the person in charge of the SCF sent flowers. The situation was very tragic, but the SCF has never done so. To my understanding a card of condolence is usually sent. So, in this case, I would not have paid for flowers. That's just me. But, other things I would kick in extra if I felt inclined to. Not to mention, the staff parties this money goes toward? I'm AT WORK when they happen.
So, I politely declined. My beliefs are genuine when I say I'd rather see my money go how I want it to go throughout the year -should I choose to.
I'm going to add this not out of spite, but to illustrate an underlying reason why I'm also disinclined to donate. Last year at least two staff members asked if the staff was buying me a wedding present. "No, he didn't give any money." So wait...staff has to pay to receive? What the hell's the point of THAT!?? If a teacher that wasn't part of the social committee had a baby or their brother passed away, I'd chip in for a gift or flowers in a heartbeat. But apparently, "that's different." She wouldn't even use staff money for A CARD. Fast forward to the fall when we have three new teachers. Courtesy of the staff are three bottles of wine, one for each. Myself, another custodian, and a planning teacher didn't get so much as a kick in the ass when we came last year.
I only use my own cases as an example, I'm not bitter. As I said to one of the teachers about it today, "I'm not bothered the staff as a whole didn't get a wedding gift for me. Quite frankly, several barely even knew me. But to not do it because I didn't partake in a cliq committee? Daft." I laughed and said I'm better off keeping the 30 dollars and getting us something nice when the baby comes in April.
But all kidding aside, I just find in general these committees handle the money in ways I don't always agree with and as such will decline. Apparently the queen of SFC doesn't take kindly to people who don't "tow the line" or her line, specifically. I hope she leaves well enough alone, but part of me is a little doubtful of that. Would make things interesting since I know a few people see things the way I do, but chipped in anyway (one was the Head Custodian...because his wife told him it's different because he's on days...lol).
Apparently I wasn't the only one who didn't reply. We, and by "we" I mean the entire staff again, were informed today there are at least 10 people who haven't paid. I'll tell you right now I'm one of them, and I'm betting some of the single period/less than halftime staff are as well.
Here's the way I see it. Various things occur throughout the year that call upon this money, some of which would be mine. Some of the spending I would agree with, and some I would not. For example, we had the father of a young student pass away the week before school started. Out of the blue, the person in charge of the SCF sent flowers. The situation was very tragic, but the SCF has never done so. To my understanding a card of condolence is usually sent. So, in this case, I would not have paid for flowers. That's just me. But, other things I would kick in extra if I felt inclined to. Not to mention, the staff parties this money goes toward? I'm AT WORK when they happen.
So, I politely declined. My beliefs are genuine when I say I'd rather see my money go how I want it to go throughout the year -should I choose to.
I'm going to add this not out of spite, but to illustrate an underlying reason why I'm also disinclined to donate. Last year at least two staff members asked if the staff was buying me a wedding present. "No, he didn't give any money." So wait...staff has to pay to receive? What the hell's the point of THAT!?? If a teacher that wasn't part of the social committee had a baby or their brother passed away, I'd chip in for a gift or flowers in a heartbeat. But apparently, "that's different." She wouldn't even use staff money for A CARD. Fast forward to the fall when we have three new teachers. Courtesy of the staff are three bottles of wine, one for each. Myself, another custodian, and a planning teacher didn't get so much as a kick in the ass when we came last year.
I only use my own cases as an example, I'm not bitter. As I said to one of the teachers about it today, "I'm not bothered the staff as a whole didn't get a wedding gift for me. Quite frankly, several barely even knew me. But to not do it because I didn't partake in a cliq committee? Daft." I laughed and said I'm better off keeping the 30 dollars and getting us something nice when the baby comes in April.
But all kidding aside, I just find in general these committees handle the money in ways I don't always agree with and as such will decline. Apparently the queen of SFC doesn't take kindly to people who don't "tow the line" or her line, specifically. I hope she leaves well enough alone, but part of me is a little doubtful of that. Would make things interesting since I know a few people see things the way I do, but chipped in anyway (one was the Head Custodian...because his wife told him it's different because he's on days...lol).