When I wrote my first letter, it was to voice my opinion and that of my child, which I am grateful for this wonderful country that I live in, that I have the right to do so.
In writing it, I praised Lisa Kelly (I did not put her down) and I praised Joey Morman (In fact, I responded to her e-mail immediately that I would participate in her fundraiser). Obviously the point I was trying to make was very much missed. Ignorance is bliss.
I never said the PTO Beautification Day was a fundraiser, although I
think that utilizing all the children does save the school money, so
in an abstract way, you can think of it as such. What I said is
there are way too many fundraisers and they put our children "on
the spot". The wrapping paper fundraiser may be the main
one...but it surely is not the only one. There are many of
them...
The classrooms go the book fair and if a child doesn't have money
to buy books, I am sure he or she stands out from the rest. The
jump-a-thon is another fundraiser; and yet if a child feels self-conscious
about jumping in front of other children, they have no choice to opt
out...or at least they feel as though they don't. Getting
a PTO flyer every other week for something or another is definitely overkill.
I'm glad this is a caring community. I've done my share as well. I served in the Woman's Organization for several years and have helped out the community as much as my little time will allow. I've contributed to the Cancer thing and the Autism thing (which by the way, very few of our good people of Killingworth bothered to sponsor the walk I did for Autism on May 6th)....I guess Autism isn't high on the list of priorities in this community...but planting flowers is much more important. Special Education and the special needs of children are much more important to me than beautifying the school.
And in town when "so and so" had a brain tumor, I gave a small donation. I've also contributed to "so and so' when her daughter had surgery. I've even sent my local mechanic a "get well' card when I found out he had had surgery. Because I care, not because I have to.
In the past, I've worked in soup kitchens and fed the hungry and the poor. I've gone several years in a row to BLYTHDALE Children's Hospital in Valhalla NY and put on a Christmas show for the children with disabilities. Do any of you even know what Blythdale is? Not to mention in the 70's doing the March of Dimes, walk of the battered boot, 20 mile walk (4 years in a row) and I've raised thousands of dollars…..and I've gone to senior homes at Christmas time to sing carols and hand out gifts to the elderly that are forgotten, many of them have no-one to visit them during the holidays, or at any other time.
So what, you can toot your horns and I can toot mine. You are still missing the point.
The whole entire point was and still is ...the freedom to choose. If these events do not allow children to make choices, then as far as I'm concerned, they are worthless. All the efforts, of all the PTO and others in the community, have not taught our children the freedom to choose and the rights that they have.
And you know what, I wasn't made to do any of the good things I did or do. Nor was I taught by my Elementary School that that's how to live your life. And I don't feel it's in the place of the schools to use children in that way. Children should want to do something because they feel it in their hearts, not because they have to. Perhaps if they were clearly given a choice, I wouldn't have gotten so upset about it all. I don't even think half the kids know what they are doing and why. I have been at the school during Beautification Day and there are no lectures and it appears as nothing is being taught. It's just child labor, that is all it is.
My son told me that he plans on participating again this year in Beautification Day. But the difference is he knows he has a choice. I asked him why the change of heart and he said that he still feels the same way he did ...that children shouldn't be used that way and that he would like to see Administrators do their part as well ...but that it is kind of fun, and he has decided he will help out. I am so very proud of my son. More so of him, than this entire community. That he has the intelligence to know the difference and to express that he wants to have a choice and a voice. My oldest son spent a year in Iraq and is going back in the Fall. Another son I am very proud of. He fights for what he believes in and has the right to do so. I am very proud to have raised children that can think for themselves, rather than be puppets of a community.
And by the way, I've received numerous e-mails and phone calls from colleagues, friends and acquaintances who completely supported my opinion. For that I am so grateful…that I have been a voice for all of you. I can understand not wanting to go up against the grain. Quite frankly, it doesn't bother me to do so. Thank you Lord for my Freedom to Speak and for giving me and my gifted children.
Virginia Biliades Rioja