South Dakota Teacher “Dash for Cash”

[ronandannette]

Sorry, I don't see it as disrespectful to any group.

The fact ANY group NEEDS to do something like this to do their jobs is what's disrespectful.

Same. I picture it as something like those "money-tunnel" contests I've seen. People are super-anxious to play that game and they're grabbing money for themselves. I guess that's where the sponsors here went wrong - designating it as a charity event. Had it been a contest for the fans in attendance to grab the money for themselves and they drew seat numbers or whatever to pick the contestants, nobody would be having this conversation. I really doubt these particular groups will ever attempt anything similar again.

 

[prairie_girl]

The fact ANY group NEEDS to do something like this to do their jobs is what's disrespectful.

This is the grander point that I was trying to make.

Same. I picture it as something like those "money-tunnel" contests I've seen. People are super-anxious to play that game and they're grabbing money for themselves. I guess that's where the sponsors here went wrong - designating it as a charity event. Had it been a contest for the fans in attendance to grab the money for themselves and they drew seat numbers or whatever to pick the contestants, nobody would be having this conversation. I really doubt these particular groups will ever attempt anything similar again.

YES! If it had just been a generic event, it would have been fine. I’d love to get into one of those phone booth type looking things and grab cash as it blew around me lol

 

[jormom1030]

As a teacher, I would not have any problem doing this. I am sure the teachers probably invited their students to come watch and cheer them on. I also don’t have a problem taking a pie to the face, riding a mechanical bull or being covered in shaving cream (all things I have agreed to do to raise money for my school.)

 

[leebee]

I guess what sticks in my mind is, in what other profession are people expected to fund their workplace? Do truck drivers have to raise cash to buy gas? Do nurses have to hold bake sales so they can buy face masks? Where else but in the schools do we expect the employees to fund purchases that enable them to do their jobs? It's bad enough that librarians have to run week-long book fairs so they can buy new library books and teachers sell raffle tickets or hold bake sales or dig into their own pockets to buy supplies- but to ask them to grovel on the floor and "fight" each other for dollar bills? What is wrong with this country's attitude towards education?

Having said that, this whole circus shines a light on teachers, who'll do anything for their students!

 

[Kestryl]

So if it was some random group of people it wouldn't be "degrading", but since it focused on one group, it is? Sorry, I disagree.

It’s “degrading” because the teachers were collecting money for use in their classrooms. If it was just someone doing it who happened to be a teacher, and they could do whatever they wanted with the money, then whatever, no one would care. Having teachers do it for the purpose of school supplies? It would be like asking medical professionals to grab money for bandages, or firefighters doing it for flashlights, etc.

Would I do this for money for myself? Sure, maybe. Would I do this for supplies for work? No. My employer should provide that. Putting me in the place where I feel like I need to do this to better my place of employment… that’s the problem.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I just automatically assumed it was a promo to get kids to come to the hockey game.

Students absolutely love to watch their teachers do crazy things (ie dunk tank, head shave, pie in the face, etc). These things are always done to raise money.

It was a win win win. Kids got to see teachers be "un teacher like" outside the classroom, hockey arena was probably fuller than normal, teachers got money for their classrooms.

Nobody was forced to do it. It appears a good time was had by all. Teachers are a fun bunch!

 

[Sinder]

It’s “degrading” because the teachers were collecting money for use in their classrooms. If it was just someone doing it who happened to be a teacher, and they could do whatever they wanted with the money, then whatever, no one would care. Having teachers do it for the purpose of school supplies? It would be like asking medical professionals to grab money for bandages, or firefighters doing it for flashlights, etc.

Would I do this for money for myself? Sure, maybe. Would I do this for supplies for work? No. My employer should provide that. Putting me in the place where I feel like I need to do this to better my place of employment… that’s the problem.

And yet the very teachers participating in this event didn’t feel degraded.
Guess they just don't see it the same as you.

 

[sam_gordon]

It’s “degrading” because the teachers were collecting money for use in their classrooms. If it was just someone doing it who happened to be a teacher, and they could do whatever they wanted with the money, then whatever, no one would care. Having teachers do it for the purpose of school supplies? It would be like asking medical professionals to grab money for bandages, or firefighters doing it for flashlights, etc.

Would I do this for money for myself? Sure, maybe. Would I do this for supplies for work? No. My employer should provide that. Putting me in the place where I feel like I need to do this to better my place of employment… that’s the problem.

So it's degrading to the school boards/educational departments. If that's what people meant, I can understand that. I was reading it that folks felt it was degrading to the teachers who participated. THAT I disagree with.

 

[kathyk2]

And yet the very teachers participating in this event didn’t feel degraded.
Guess they just don't see it the same as you.

If one of those teachers had complained they would have been called ungrateful. People would be angry if police or firefighters had to crawl around for money.

 

[Pink Partridge]

People would be angry if police or firefighters had to crawl around for money.

They didn't have to do it. It appears it was voluntary.

They looked like good sports having a good time. Bonus: Their class might get to have a pizza party!

I think this aggressive woke (I know, I know..."woke" is now a canceled word only used by old people) culture loves to make good and fun things seem sinister.

 

[kathyk2]

They didn't have to do it. It appears it was voluntary.

They looked like good sports having a good time. Bonus: Their class might get to have a pizza party!

I think this aggressive woke (I know, I know..."woke" is now a canceled word only used by old people) culture loves to make good and fun things seem sinister.

I didn't think it was a good thing. The hockey team could have had the teachers try to score a goal or shoot the puck through a target for money. I'm sure they put on a happy face to avoid bad publicity.

 

[Pink Partridge]

I'm sure they put on a happy face to avoid bad publicity.

But why are you sure of that? Why don't you think they were having fun? It certainly isn't for me. I don't like to be the focus of large groups. But these teachers seemed very confident and fun loving to me. I would have never watched this and thought they were just putting on a happy face.

 

[Bamaclan4]

it is a shame that teachers have to pay out of pocket if they want anything more than the bare minimum in supplies. However, everyone needs to understand that a true teacher does not have a profession. They have a calling. A calling so passionate that they will do what it takes to provide the tools that deem necessary to do their students succeed.

 

[bcla]

I guess what sticks in my mind is, in what other profession are people expected to fund their workplace? Do truck drivers have to raise cash to buy gas? Do nurses have to hold bake sales so they can buy face masks? Where else but in the schools do we expect the employees to fund purchases that enable them to do their jobs? It's bad enough that librarians have to run week-long book fairs so they can buy new library books and teachers sell raffle tickets or hold bake sales or dig into their own pockets to buy supplies- but to ask them to grovel on the floor and "fight" each other for dollar bills? What is wrong with this country's attitude towards education?

Having said that, this whole circus shines a light on teachers, who'll do anything for their students!

There's actually been quite a few businesses that have been struggling and looking to donations to keep them afloat. Startup companies have to grovel for money all the time.

 

[Kestryl]

And yet the very teachers participating in this event didn’t feel degraded.
Guess they just don't see it the same as you.

My view is that it’s terrible that teachers feel obligated to participate in these things to get money for school supplies. I would be surprised if these teachers would prefer this kind of cash scramble over having a fully funded school.

 

[sam_gordon]

My view is that it’s terrible that teachers feel obligated to participate in these things to get money for school supplies. I would be surprised if these teachers would prefer this kind of cash scramble over having a fully funded school.

Why do you think they feel obligated to participate? "Hey, do you want to get on your hands and knees to grab money you can use for school supplies?" Where's the obligation? For that matter, maybe I missed it, but where did it say the money they were grabbing had to be used for supplies? Couldn't they have used it for themselves?

 

[leebee]

There's actually been quite a few businesses that have been struggling and looking to donations to keep them afloat. Startup companies have to grovel for money all the time.

Start-up companies don't grovel for money and crawl around on the ground in public to get their funding. This is part of the fabric of my life; DH has been a founder of four start-ups and I've helped write the grant applications for them. Sure, it's time-consuming, stressful work to do all the writing and budget proposals and such, but NO funding agency is throwing money on the ground and telling us to crawl around to collect it.

 

[RedAngie]

Why do you think they feel obligated to participate? "Hey, do you want to get on your hands and knees to grab money you can use for school supplies?" Where's the obligation? For that matter, maybe I missed it, but where did it say the money they were grabbing had to be used for supplies? Couldn't they have used it for themselves?

From what I’ve read, 31 teachers signed up for 10 available spaces. So there were plenty who were quite eager to participate knowing full well the scope of the event. No one was coerced.

The money they collected was supposed to be used for classroom decorations. I’m sure there would be an even bigger backlash if they kept the money for themselves. The barren classrooms would have given them away.

 

[RedAngie]

it is a shame that teachers have to pay out of pocket if they want anything more than the bare minimum in supplies. However, everyone needs to understand that a true teacher does not have a profession. They have a calling. A calling so passionate that they will do what it takes to provide the tools that deem necessary to do their students succeed.

Yes, I’ve read and heard about how the job is a calling, successful students are supposedly the “reward” for teaching, they’re not in it for the money. Perhaps.

Yet many of these same teachers then whine about the (lack of) money. Go figure.

 

[kdonnel]

It's not a good look.

But, it was voluntary by those participating.

So it doesn't bother me.

How voluntary?

As a teacher if your options are:
1. Don't do certain activities or learning activities because there is no money available.
2. Or fund the activities using your own money
3. Or fund the activities by demeaning yourself for a short period of time performing like a trained dog

Some teachers are going to be willing to pick option 3. They might put on a brave face but that does not mean they completely agree with what had to be done.

It is not really voluntary when the funding is not available from less demeaning sources.