What an ingenious idea! And I don’t mean this sarcastically. Perhaps it’s truly time to create an “award’ system based on entries provided by parents, whereby the schools will be given negative awards. The stars have them - the Razzies. At least they take them in stride.

Perhaps it’s high time to highlight some of the things that schools do that are detrimental to children. If this was out in the open, it would hopefully make schools think twice about receiving the negative attention.

I for one am absolutely fed up with any form of fundraising required from parents. This is especially true of public schools. If our taxes are not sufficient to cover textbooks, basic student supplies, sports equipment, classroom basics, appropriately sized chairs, desks, and provide decent temperatures and cleanliness throughout schools then something is definitely wrong.

The school with the most fundraisers should earn an educational “Razzie” and bring to the forefront that something is not right at that location, thereby lowering enrollement, or at least opening parents’ eyes that if their childs attends, they will need to have an appetite for a great many chocolate covered almonds.

Same goes for the other items which Malkin named.

Where might I purchase a ticket for the gala?

The lack of funding is because of the huge pay increases to staff.  It’s absurd to pay a primary school teacher with a degree in sociology $94.5K/annum; then there are the burearcrats, most of whom belong to the sunshine club.  These salaries and benefits are way out of wack with the private sector, but the private sector is paying these salaries—many of whom are far better educated/skilled and working way more days/yr and hr/ but not getting nearly the pay nor benefits they’re paying to educrats and other government workers.  This is where the tax dollars are going, so there are no funds for supplies like textbooks, etc.  Personally, I’m so tired of government wasting my hard-earned money.  If government would spend our tax dollars properly, parents would not have to work at raising money, nor would there be fees for everything.
When I went to public school, we had a full-time school nurse, music, art, gym, a well-equipped science lab, and a good library.  Needness to say we had proper texts and were supplied workbooks, pens, pencils, mucical instruments.  We also had city-wide exams so all students were literate and numerate—this was in a ethnically mixed and very poor neighbourhood.  By comparison, nowadays our tax dollars spent on education are a complete waste.  Kids do not benefit.

There hasn’t yet been a book or instructional manual for parents that tells them the truth about what to expect if they choose a public school for their kids.

Something that all parents can intimately relate to.

I really like Monika’s idea - never been done. It would have to be done very well. Some of what I’ve heard and experienced over the years could almost be considered fantasy….but it’s for real.