To Sell Or Not To Sell

[KevinG]

Most of these sales schemes are a terrbile deal for the students. I advocate car wash for a donation, "rent a kid" services or just plain yardwork or babysitting so the kids can raise their own cash and keep 100% of the proceeds towards school activities and clubs.

General fundraisers for the school are a definate "no thanks" for me. That's what budgets and tax dollars are for.

-Daddy "scrooge" G

[Nathair/|\]

Most of these sales schemes are a terrbile deal for the students. I advocate car wash for a donation, "rent a kid" services or just plain yardwork or babysitting so the kids can raise their own cash and keep 100% of the proceeds towards school activities and clubs.

General fundraisers for the school are a definate "no thanks" for me. That's what budgets and tax dollars are for.

-Daddy "scrooge" G

Cue Lehi.

[LeSellers]

Cue Lehi.

I'm staying out of it.

It was easy for us since we didn't have to make this sort of decision: our children were home with us, where they belonged, not subject to the constraints of a bunch of bureaucrats, like most of the children they knew.

Lehi

[blueadept]

General fundraisers for the school are a definate "no thanks" for me. That's what budgets and tax dollars are for.

-Daddy "scrooge" G

I'm not under the impression the OP is involved in 'general fundraisers' for this thread but it does speak volumes that if a child wants to do anything outside of a classroom, fundraisers are a must. In our school district, parents even have to pay the school system if their child uses the bus to get to school. If a kid shows up at my door doing a fundraiser, I at least ask what the fundraiser is for that the child is hoping to go to. It's tough times for sure.

I was always jealous of schools who seemed to provide their kids new anything in regards to sports or band uniforms. I don't believe those parents can appreciate issues like this one.

added.....I don't think parents who home school can appreciate the issue fundraising can cause IMHO.

Edited September 14, 2011 by blueadept

[ERayR]

I was just explaining to my son that we don't see coffee as "evil", so we shouldn't be offended if people do drink it. We tell our kids that we don't play sports on Sundays, but we drive by a field every Sunday right by our church and they say, "OH! THOSE PEOPLE ARE PLAYING SPORTS AND IT'S SUNDAY!!!!" I'm trying to teach them that we can live our religion without looking down on others with different beliefs.

I don't see anything wrong with helping your child sell it as long as they understand they, as LDS, do not use it. I know of some who have coffee in their food storage, to use as trade goods.

Your circle of friends may limit your childs ability to sell very much.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I would not sell something I couldn't personally endorse.

I agree. Although it is not a sin for a non-Mormon to drink coffee.

[ERayR]

As a Catholic I could never have let my children sell things that are forbidden by my faith. Not for the wide world. This is a teaching and learning moment that is a million times more important for the integrity of your child's belief system than whether he gets to go on a field trip. How confusing to a 6th Grader. We can't drink coffee but we can sell it? Lovingly explain and he'll understand. I say this to help you teach your child to learn decision making and to be more confident at everything he ever puts his hand to.

It certainly is a teaching moment and I am afraid you may have taught the wrong message. You could have taught them to maintain their own belief system and respect for others beliefs too. Perhaps a better message is we don't dring coffe but respect others choice to drink it.

[ERayR]

If your son is selling it for the mutual benefit of others, for a charity or a worthy organization, then yes. Why not? Your son is part of a bigger world with divergent and diverse values and ideals (remember, drinking coffee is neither moral or immoral). Hopefully, Mormons can practice their beliefs for reasons internalized and personal while allowing others to live according to their own ideals without judging or self-rightous hang-ups. The WoW is just that: wisdom about healthy living. Mormons cannot expect outsiders to view the drinking of coffee as a moral decision as that is only applicable to Mormon beliefs and their specific religious views.

People do not convert to Mormonism because the members do not sip coffee, drink alcohol or smoke tobacco, but because they are tolerant and loving members of the world community, and more importantly, that they take their religion seriously without imposing it upon others.

That is the sign of spiritual maturity IMO.

I don't often agree with Tchild2 but I do here.

What an opportunity to teach your child strength in his own beliefs and customs and respect for the right of others to choose.

[blueadept]

It certainly is a teaching moment and I am afraid you may have taught the wrong message. You could have taught them to maintain their own belief system and respect for others beliefs too. Perhaps a better message is we don't dring coffe but respect others choice to drink it.

Just to keep the perspective, Catholics do not have anything like Word of Wisdom issues. If a Catholic would have an issue in selling something in particular, most other faiths would as well IMO.

[ERayR]

Just to keep the perspective, Catholics do not have anything like Word of Wisdom issues. If a Catholic would have an issue in selling something in particular, most other faiths would as well IMO.

I know Catholics don't have a word of wisdom type issue. My broader point is that there is a strong tendency amongs LDS, Catholics and most religons to try and protect their children against these "heritic" differences when they should be teaching them to maintain their personal standards but that there are some very good people who do not believe as they/we do.

Edited September 14, 2011 by ERayR

[asbestosman]

If they had you going door to door selling jars of the nasty white substance people put on their sandwiches, would you do it?

[KevinG]

I'm not under the impression the OP is involved in 'general fundraisers' for this thread but it does speak volumes that if a child wants to do anything outside of a classroom, fundraisers are a must. In our school district, parents even have to pay the school system if their child uses the bus to get to school. If a kid shows up at my door doing a fundraiser, I at least ask what the fundraiser is for that the child is hoping to go to. It's tough times for sure.

I was always jealous of schools who seemed to provide their kids new anything in regards to sports or band uniforms. I don't believe those parents can appreciate issues like this one.

added.....I don't think parents who home school can appreciate the issue fundraising can cause IMHO.

I agree with the funding issues for worthwhile activities. That's why I prefer activities where the kids trade service for 100% of the funds. Not those where they peddle goods for a small % of commissions for some crappy chocolate, cookie dough or spoiled fruit. (Believe me I've sold them all).

When a kid comes by with a fundraiser for cheerlieading, band, football, etc. I just give them a few bucks cash and tell them to add it to their profits.

[KevinG]

Your circle of friends may limit your childs ability to sell very much.

Good point. Probably not a good idea to pass the fundraising sheet around Relief Society.

[Kenngo1969]

If they were selling multiple things for a catalog and it contained coffee, that wouldn't bother me so much. The idea of my son knocking on doors and saying, "Hi, I'm selling coffee." feels a little strange. I asked him, "Are they selling anything else?" He said, "Tea."

No alcohol or harmful drugs, though, right?

[MorningStar]

I don't often agree with Tchild2 but I do here.

What an opportunity to teach your child strength in his own beliefs and customs and respect for the right of others to choose.

I agree that it's an opportunity to learn maturity, but from a standpoint that we hold to our standards whether other people like it or not. I wouldn't expect a Jewish kid to help sell non-kosher foods for the good of everyone else.

The car wash was great. They made $1000! I'm just going to bring up the fact that my son and I worked two shifts at that one, so they shouldn't be bothered that he's not selling coffee. We were one of the few people who went at 7:30, so he was able to hold up signs and get customers early.

Asbestos, I can't believe you brought that up. That is nasty.

[asbestosman]

Asbestos, I can't believe you brought that up. That is nasty.

I get the feeling you hate it even more than I do--and I didn't think that was possible.

While I admit I was trying to be funny, I did have a serious point. As much as I hate certain foods I have no problem selling them--well other than the fact that I think selling products for fund raisers is questionable (how much do food manufacturers benefit)? I prefer having kids sell services like car washes or something like that. I'd even prefer them just begging for money to having them become unwitting shills for some corporation's products.

I do wonder what it would do for my reputation if I went around selling coffee although people know I'm LDS--maybe if it was decaf? Either that or I could sell hot chocolate. I would be a bit surprised to see a Jewish person selling bacon and ham, but I wouldn't judge him for it. Still, I know of LDS store owners who sell coffee, tobacco, even alcoholic beverages, and I don't think the less of them for it.

[MorningStar]

I get the feeling you hate it even more than I do--and I didn't think that was possible.

While I admit I was trying to be funny, I did have a serious point. As much as I hate certain foods I have no problem selling them--well other than the fact that I think selling products for fund raisers is questionable (how much do food manufacturers benefit)? I prefer having kids sell services like car washes or something like that. I'd even prefer them just begging for money to having them become unwitting shills for some corporation's products.

I do wonder what it would do for my reputation if I went around selling coffee although people know I'm LDS--maybe if it was decaf? Either that or I could sell hot chocolate. I would be a bit surprised to see a Jewish person selling bacon and ham, but I wouldn't judge him for it. Still, I know of LDS store owners who sell coffee, tobacco, even alcoholic beverages, and I don't think the less of them for it.

Haha! Yeah, I knew you were being funny. I should have added an emoticon. As much as I detest mayonnaise, I would let my son sell it. If it were against the Word of Wisdom, then I wouldn't. I just think if a person's religion forbids something, they shouldn't be expected to sell it since it's a deeper issue than not liking something.

To me it would be weird if an LDS person opened a coffee shop, but if they opened a bakery and customers expected coffee with their pastries, that's more understandable. If this catalog sold a variety of foods and had coffee on the list, it wouldn't bother me so much.

[ERayR]

I agree that it's an opportunity to learn maturity, but from a standpoint that we hold to our standards whether other people like it or not. I wouldn't expect a Jewish kid to help sell non-kosher foods for the good of everyone else.

The car wash was great. They made $1000! I'm just going to bring up the fact that my son and I worked two shifts at that one, so they shouldn't be bothered that he's not selling coffee. We were one of the few people who went at 7:30, so he was able to hold up signs and get customers early.

Asbestos, I can't believe you brought that up. That is nasty.

It sounds like you and your son have, at the very least, done your share. If it bothers you don't do it I have chosen not to participate in several fund raisers but not for the same reason.

I was not trying to be nasty but only presenting something to think about. I would not condemn you or anyone else for their stand on this issue.

My animus toward these fund raisers is that they usually take up to 75% to 80% out of the area. When my grandkids approach me, with one of these, I usually tell them I will give them a check (that is when I can afford it) for the amount of what they are selling but I will order nothing and they are to put my check directly into their cause and not as part of their fund raiser. This way their cause gets 100% of my donation and I don't end up buying something I neither need or want.

[ERayR]

I get the feeling you hate it even more than I do--and I didn't think that was possible.

While I admit I was trying to be funny, I did have a serious point. As much as I hate certain foods I have no problem selling them--well other than the fact that I think selling products for fund raisers is questionable (how much do food manufacturers benefit)? I prefer having kids sell services like car washes or something like that. I'd even prefer them just begging for money to having them become unwitting shills for some corporation's products.

I do wonder what it would do for my reputation if I went around selling coffee although people know I'm LDS--maybe if it was decaf? Either that or I could sell hot chocolate. I would be a bit surprised to see a Jewish person selling bacon and ham, but I wouldn't judge him for it. Still, I know of LDS store owners who sell coffee, tobacco, even alcoholic beverages, and I don't think the less of them for it.

I agree.

[ERayR]

No alcohol or harmful drugs, though, right?

I would and do draw the line at controlled substances. In my state it would be illegal for kids to deliver these things if they did sell them.