Lynn’s exaggerating a bit, but only a bit. In my experience (band, swim team, choir, etc.), the parents do end up buying the lion’s share of fund-raising stuff..@OldWolf: so what message is Michael not learning? That success in life is ultimately about convincing other people to buy stuff that they don’t want and that isn’t good for them? Maybe he’s better off not learning that lesson.
Since the comments are making social commentary here is mine. Isn’t it a tragedy that schools need to resort to this type of fund raising when wars and other military endeavors spend so many millions per day and hour? The priorities in this country are so backwards. Children’s development should be a primary responsibility of our nation and that includes financially.
Throwing money at kids never made them smarter. Many countries with far less resources and expenditure toward education turn out smarter and more creative children.If we didn’t have a military I would be writing this in German or Japanese.All that being said, I agree that we blow far too much money on military endeavors that have no resolution. What the heck is the mission in Afghanistan?
When I was a kid in school, it was the the children of doctors and dentists who won all the prizes for selling the most candy and magazines because their parents could afford to buy them out while the rest of us had to peddle it door-to-door…. I hated it then and I still do.
I posted something the other day about my parents buying a subscription to Pathfinder magazine (the cheapest mag.) in the late 1940’s because a phys. ed. teacher said she’d give A+ to anyone who sold a prescription. Guess it was on this site. Anyhow, it was a lame rag and we didn’t resubscribe, but they hopefully sent us free issues for a long time. . . .
“It’s no wonder that door-to-door salesmen have gone the way of the dinosaur.”
Kirby vacuum cleaners are still sold door-to-door. After we moved into our brand-new house in 2006 we probably had 7 or 8 waves of Kirby salesmen in a two-year period. (They are sent out in groups so each man has only a few houses to demonstrate his wares.)
Now hold the phone…didn’t a strip earlier have Mikie saying they had to go back and look for the money that fell through a hole in his pocket? Maybe those were the “rest” of them. Heck, give ‘em away to everyone with John’s business card on them…might be some profit in this.
It’s no wonder that door-to-door salesmen have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Yay for that! Unfortunately, not all of them have gone the way of the dinosaur though. We still get window / pest control / lawn care salesmen not to mention people wanting to convert us to Mormonism knocking on our door! Oh, and every now and then, a neighborhood kid or two wanting us to buy their candy bars, wrapping paper, Girl Scout cookies, etc.! It’s so annoying.
Yup, that’s the way it works. As for “sending the wrong message to Michael…” perhaps a better message might be that his education is more important than the other cr@p we are spending tax dollars on — multiple wars for instance, bailing out filthy rich bankers for instance, etc.
Schools sales are a form of extortion designed to force parents to pay more than their tax dollars for school. I wish they would just tell us up front and give me a bill. Would save me money in the long run.
bluskies over 12 years ago
And this is news HOW?
Tog over 12 years ago
John should give out free to his customers thus ensuring that they’ll be back sooner rather than later.
The Old Wolf over 12 years ago
Sending the wrong message to Michael about life, and the reality of door-to-door sales…
pendijk over 12 years ago
He did so well, the teacher will give him a second box…
puddleglum1066 over 12 years ago
Lynn’s exaggerating a bit, but only a bit. In my experience (band, swim team, choir, etc.), the parents do end up buying the lion’s share of fund-raising stuff..@OldWolf: so what message is Michael not learning? That success in life is ultimately about convincing other people to buy stuff that they don’t want and that isn’t good for them? Maybe he’s better off not learning that lesson.
jmcaldaro over 12 years ago
Since the comments are making social commentary here is mine. Isn’t it a tragedy that schools need to resort to this type of fund raising when wars and other military endeavors spend so many millions per day and hour? The priorities in this country are so backwards. Children’s development should be a primary responsibility of our nation and that includes financially.
J Short over 12 years ago
Throwing money at kids never made them smarter. Many countries with far less resources and expenditure toward education turn out smarter and more creative children.If we didn’t have a military I would be writing this in German or Japanese.All that being said, I agree that we blow far too much money on military endeavors that have no resolution. What the heck is the mission in Afghanistan?
J Short over 12 years ago
Oh, and John should just hand out the bar with that free toothbrush and floss you always get at the dentist.
Finbar Gurdy over 12 years ago
When I was a kid in school, it was the the children of doctors and dentists who won all the prizes for selling the most candy and magazines because their parents could afford to buy them out while the rest of us had to peddle it door-to-door…. I hated it then and I still do.
The Life I Draw Upon over 12 years ago
Michael sold his chocolate, and ate it too.
Gokie5 over 12 years ago
I posted something the other day about my parents buying a subscription to Pathfinder magazine (the cheapest mag.) in the late 1940’s because a phys. ed. teacher said she’d give A+ to anyone who sold a prescription. Guess it was on this site. Anyhow, it was a lame rag and we didn’t resubscribe, but they hopefully sent us free issues for a long time. . . .
JanLC over 12 years ago
“It’s no wonder that door-to-door salesmen have gone the way of the dinosaur.”
Kirby vacuum cleaners are still sold door-to-door. After we moved into our brand-new house in 2006 we probably had 7 or 8 waves of Kirby salesmen in a two-year period. (They are sent out in groups so each man has only a few houses to demonstrate his wares.)
briankblough over 12 years ago
He IS a dentist, isn’t he? Just making some provisions to keep up his “practice”!
danlarios over 12 years ago
dumb luck
lightenup Premium Member over 12 years ago
An extra big supply of overpriced anti-oxidants (if it’s dark chocolate)…
iced tea over 12 years ago
That should teach Michael a lesson: if he has no luck in selling his candy bars, his dad will just buy them all.
:(
jppjr over 12 years ago
Now hold the phone…didn’t a strip earlier have Mikie saying they had to go back and look for the money that fell through a hole in his pocket? Maybe those were the “rest” of them. Heck, give ‘em away to everyone with John’s business card on them…might be some profit in this.
Gretchen's Mom over 12 years ago
It’s no wonder that door-to-door salesmen have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Yay for that! Unfortunately, not all of them have gone the way of the dinosaur though. We still get window / pest control / lawn care salesmen not to mention people wanting to convert us to Mormonism knocking on our door! Oh, and every now and then, a neighborhood kid or two wanting us to buy their candy bars, wrapping paper, Girl Scout cookies, etc.! It’s so annoying.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 12 years ago
Yup, that’s the way it works. As for “sending the wrong message to Michael…” perhaps a better message might be that his education is more important than the other cr@p we are spending tax dollars on — multiple wars for instance, bailing out filthy rich bankers for instance, etc.
steelersneo over 12 years ago
Schools sales are a form of extortion designed to force parents to pay more than their tax dollars for school. I wish they would just tell us up front and give me a bill. Would save me money in the long run.