At Union Mill Elementary, some children's birthdays are announced on the school marquee. Others are not — because their parents didn't pay enough money at a silent auction to have it done.
THE SCHOOL says it's a legitimate and profitable fund-raiser that brings in needed dollars that benefit all students there. But some parents believe it's a hurtful and divisive practice in which wealthier parents and their children clearly have the advantage.
"What about the poor kids whose parents can't afford it?" asked Union Mill mom Susan Mason of Little Rocky Run. "Anyone whose parents choose not to bid is left out of this process. To me, there shouldn't be any school-sanctioned distinctions between children. But this is the sanctioned recognition of children whose parents paid the most money."
She and her husband, who have a son at the school, lived here from 2000-02, when a job transfer sent them to California for a year. They returned in time for the 2003-04 school year. While they were gone, though, Union Mill began auctioning off the marquee as a PTA fund-raiser.
When Susan Mason discovered what was going on, she called then-PTA president Jill Mullins. "I told Jill I didn't agree with it, and she said she'd pass along my feelings to school Principal Molly Kingma and to the PTA Board for possible reconsideration the following year," said Mason. "I left a detailed message on Molly Kingma's phone, but did not hear back from her."
This school year, 2004-05, said Mason, "I naively thought ethics would prevail and would dictate that this wouldn't happen again. But a week before the fall festival in late October, I saw a list of silent-auction items and this was still on the list."
PARENTS SIGN up for each month and write down a dollar amount they want to bid. One child per month then gets wished a happy birthday on the marquee — often, adorned by balloons, too. "They raise a lot of money this way," said Mason. "Some bids go as high as $50."
Similar auctions were also available for lunch with the principal, breakfast with teachers and appearances on the school's morning TV announcement program. Offended by the whole thing, Mason e-mailed Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale, the day before the festival.
She expressed her objections and, in return, received a response from Cluster VII Director Lillian Lowery. "She said the auctions were fine with the school system and didn't violate any regulations," said Mason. "But she said she'd have Mrs. Kingma talk to the PTA Board and take my opinions into consideration."
Mason also asked Union Mill PTA president Margot Yost to withdraw the birthday-marquee auction, but was told it had to be a decision of the whole board. After the festival, she discussed her feelings with both Kingma and Assistant Principal Heather Wechsler. She then gave Yost a statement dated Oct. 29 to read at the next board meeting.
In it, she said she believes that distinguishing one child from all others, "simply due to financial means" is "morally and legally wrong." She said it pits the "haves" vs. the "have nots" and teaches children this distinction "from the minute they enter kindergarten."
On Nov. 3, the PTA Executive Board replied by issuing a statement to the PTA general membership. "It is the purpose of the Union Mill PTA to help enrich the lives of our children both academically and socially," it read. "Raising money to fund programs such as GRACE, Bread Basket, FLEX, Hands-On Science, Cultural Arts, Odyssey of the Mind, Reflections, Core Essentials, Young Authors, Family Bingo Night and the Ice Cream Social helps us reach our goal."
It stated that events such as the fall festival yield this money and fund-raising auctions are not unique to Union Mill. After discussion, the Executive Committee concluded that these auctions "do not discriminate against community or school members."
Furthermore, the statement read, "Financial numbers reflect the popularity of these items over the years, raising hundreds of dollars that have directly benefited the school. Since we have received only one parental complaint, and no student complaints, in three years — from a school community of 876 children — we feel that the general population of the school remains untroubled by the auction."
But is that really the case, or are they afraid to speak up? Upon learning that Centre View intended to write an article about this issue, four mothers called the newspaper in support of Mason. But all said they could not give their names for fear of retribution against their children.
"I THINK this is just the icing on the cake," said one mom. "The PTA kids tend to get certain teachers. It's all about money and buying and power, and I'm really glad you're bringing this to light."
Another mom praised Mason for going out on a limb for them. "The problem is when the parents get involved like this, the other children feel bad," she said. "My child came home and talked about [the auctions], and I said, 'I'm really sorry — that wasn't fair.' If they had drawn raffle tickets, it would have been a different story. But it wasn't. It was who's got the most money, and I think it sends a wrong message to the children. For a lot of children, it's terrible for their self-esteem."
A mother of a fifth-grader also agreed with Mason and said fund-raising at Union Mill has gone "a little bit overboard." She, too, said the auctions delineate between those who have money and those who don't. And, she added, "It seems to me that, perhaps, there are better and more productive ways to raise funds for the school."
Still another mother — a member of the PTA — also called on Mason's behalf. "Sue's not a nut case," she said. "She does have a valid opinion and I do agree with her in many respects. I don't think any kid should be singled out over another kid. And, certainly, paying to try to promote your child is rather distasteful."
Addressing the Dec. 2 meeting of the county School Board, Mason explained her concerns. "I believe that awards and recognition should be earned by students for achievement, effort or good citizenship," she said. "What lesson does the selling of awards and recognition teach our children?"
While empathizing with the PTA's need to raise funds, she said, "If even one child is hurt by this activity, the cost is too high. For children as young as 5 — who are not able to rationalize the need for fund-raising — all they know is that they are the victims of a mean game played by grownups."
MASON THEN asked the School Board members to search their hearts and consciences and re-examine district policy to determine if these auctions "represent what is believed to be good and true about Fairfax County Schools. Are we a district which supports No Child Left Behind in the letter of the law, but not the spirit?"
The Board listened to her, but did not comment. Springfield District School Board representative Cathy Belter said Tuesday that the Board "doesn't have to respond because it's a PTA thing and the PTA has the right to do what it believes is correct for the school."
Principal Molly Kingma noted that the PTA is always looking for new ways to raise money for the school. And when Mason addressed the School Board, said Kingma, "Twelve to 15 other parents spoke on behalf of the PTA and all the good its activities do. And neither the PTA president nor I have heard anything more about [this matter] since [that night]."
She said the vast majority of Union Mill parents are in favor of keeping the silent auction as it is. And, she added, "We continue to be appreciative of all the PTA does for us."
Despite everything, Mason still believes Union Mill is a "fabulous" school. "We would not have chosen to come back here again, [otherwise]," she said. "We love the school, the teachers are wonderful and I know the PTA is comprised of very hardworking volunteers — and I appreciate what they do. But I just think, in this particular instance, they're not considering the feelings of the children who don't receive the rewards and recognitions that come from these auctions."
One of the mothers in Mason's corner also contended that parental involvement at Union Mill "affects pupil placement, and I just think it's completely inappropriate. I don't think it's equal and fair education; it's a bad practice." She said parents actively involved in the PTA "make the ultimate decisions," and their children are placed in classrooms together. Said the mom: "It's completely wrong."
But school-system spokesman Paul Regnier said that's not the case at Union Mill. "I'm sure there is not favoritism," he said. Regnier said parents discussed the fund-raising auctions and "there was overwhelming support for [their] continuing. My understanding is that this is done at other schools, too."
KINGMA, TOO, said the school would never retaliate against a child whose parent had a dissenting opinion, and she denied that any preferential treatment is given to children of parents active in the PTA.
Meanwhile, Mason said she feels frustrated. "I hope to raise public awareness that this is how things are done," she said. "And I hope people will call on the school system to enact strict guidelines about fund-raising activities which affect children on school property and during the school day. I don't agree with fund-raising done on the backs of children, and that's what this is."
But, said Kingma, "These kinds of things are not unique to Union Mill, and the ideas have come from neighboring schools." She said the teachers and administrators haven't heard any discussion among the children that any of them feels bad about not having their names up on the marquee. On the contrary, she said, "The kids are happy for each other."