Answered Conundrum Next Conundrum
Should the Scholastic Book Fairs held at children's schools continue to sell knick-knacks and video games that distract children from books?
I recently volunteered as a cashier at my children's fall book fair. What I noticed was that a great amount of items sold included overpriced plush pens, pencils with baseball fingers, erasers shaped from anything like cell phones to zoo animals, and other knick-knack that likely break within the first few days of purchase. Most children only had a few dollars to spend and instead of investing it in a book, they went to buy some of the smaller items, since it would allow them to purchase a greater quantity. Is it okay for the bookfairs, that should primarily aim at fostering children's love for books, to sell all these smaller items that deter children from buying something more educational?
Interesting Question?
Yes (0)
No (0)
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
Marked as Best!
October 20, 2009 12:49 AM
Helpful Answer?
(1)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
The point of the book fair, is as a fundraiser for the school. Usually intended to purchase new books and supplies for the library. To that end, having more than just books for sale allows thm to pull in more money, which means more profits being shared with the school, and thus, more money being put into the library, and childrens educational opportunities.
I remember the book fairs from when I was a kid. Yes, the knick knacks are crappy. Yes, the break. But for every box of 500 knick knacks, the school can buy textbooks. For every 5 video games, the library can add more encyclopedias.
Nobody says you have to let your kids spend money on these items. If you do not approve, don't let them. But in the overall good of the school, let the fundraiser make it's money.
I remember the book fairs from when I was a kid. Yes, the knick knacks are crappy. Yes, the break. But for every box of 500 knick knacks, the school can buy textbooks. For every 5 video games, the library can add more encyclopedias.
Nobody says you have to let your kids spend money on these items. If you do not approve, don't let them. But in the overall good of the school, let the fundraiser make it's money.
| Asker's Rating: |
(1)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Reply
Other Answers (4)
October 19, 2009 10:40 PM
(0)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
See when I was younger the most distracting thing was a bookset that came with a little barn and some plastic farm animals...The Scholastic Book Fair is for...Books...go figure...I personally don't like the fact that all these little knock knacks are being sold with...I mean don't get me wrong, rubix cubes and educational toys are fine, as long as it truly is teaching the child something, but something random that has no real relevance to education should not be sold in that particular catalog. To me those catalogs are supposed to get children EXCITED about reading...not to distract them with toys... 
Helpful Answer?
(0)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Reply
October 19, 2009 11:01 PM
(1)
(1)
Permalink |
Report
It depends on the knick-nack.
Bookmarks and book lights are the most obvious.
Pens pencils paper and dice may be fine, depending on the books sold. For example if they sell Dungeons & Dragons or other similar game books.
Starting when I was an early teen had an interest in role playing games. These game books are rule sets for games that often required pens paper and dice to play the game. Some of the books were self contained choose your own adventures that allowed someone to choose a path in a story book. Most role playing games create rule sets to allow multiple people to play interactive stories that they create. I highly recommend role playing games to people who enjoy writing and improvisational acting.
The only knick-nack you mentioned that I oppose at a book fair would be video games. I am an avid gamer and I believe there is a strong benefit to playing video games, BUT there are plenty of places to get these games outside of a book fair.
Helpful Answer?
Bookmarks and book lights are the most obvious.
Pens pencils paper and dice may be fine, depending on the books sold. For example if they sell Dungeons & Dragons or other similar game books.
Starting when I was an early teen had an interest in role playing games. These game books are rule sets for games that often required pens paper and dice to play the game. Some of the books were self contained choose your own adventures that allowed someone to choose a path in a story book. Most role playing games create rule sets to allow multiple people to play interactive stories that they create. I highly recommend role playing games to people who enjoy writing and improvisational acting.
The only knick-nack you mentioned that I oppose at a book fair would be video games. I am an avid gamer and I believe there is a strong benefit to playing video games, BUT there are plenty of places to get these games outside of a book fair.
(1)
(1)
Permalink |
Report
Reply
October 20, 2009 12:17 AM
opinion Helpful Answer? (1)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
No. The book fair should be about books! I have a niece and nephew in school and they end up doing their christmas shopping for the adults at their schools fair. They have the book fair, but the also have a Holiday store to sell all the other stuff. It's great to have fundraisers for the school, but the book fair should be used to get them excited about reading. Not just another spending money on useless stuff fair.
Source(s):
opinion Helpful Answer?
(1)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Reply
January 26, 2010 05:53 PM
(0)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
I ran the book fair at my daughter's school last year and specifically asked them NOT to send the junk only send books. They were more than helpful in this request. They did send a few things which we put out at our family event night so that parents made the decision to purchase them or not. It is very difficult to say no to the children when they only are sent with 2 or 3 dollars and generally the books start at 2.99 and with tax included as well makes it tough. Last year when I wrote the letter announcing the bookfair to parents I did note that most books started at 3.00 this did help with student's bringing in enough money.
Helpful Answer?
(0)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Reply
Answer this Question
View All Shopping QuestionsAsk a Conundrum
Please visit these retailers to purchase Conundrum or find the wine at these fine restaurants:
-
1321 Main St
-
1115 Main St
-
699 St Helena Hwy
-
1991 St Helena Hwy
- Twitter currently unavailable