A post published by a mother from Bucharest triggered a wave of reactions on the Internet, after the woman said that for the “Celebration of the alphabet” organized for the students of a first grade, parents were asked 600 lei each for the participation of a child and an adult.
A simple post published on the Reddit platform triggered a broad debate about the ever-increasing costs of school events, after a mother from Bucharest reported how much she would have to pay for her daughter’s first-grade student at a state school, Click writes.
The woman said that since the beginning of the school year, the parents were informed that there would be a celebration dedicated to the alphabet, but without additional details. When it came to the actual organization of the event, the proposed costs caused dissatisfaction among several parents.
According to her, the celebration would be organized in a restaurant or in an event location preferred by the teacher, and the amount requested for participation is approximately 600 lei for a child and a parent.
“1st grade celebration. Neata! I’m extremely curious how you think the following situation. We have a child, 1st grade, in Bucharest, state school. Since the beginning of the year we were told that the alphabet celebration will be done and that’s about it.
Now is the time to organize it. We crossed paths! The intention is to do it at a favorite location of the lady (some restaurant, event location), where so far the cost is 600 lei (one child plus one parent) and includes renting the location for 4 hours, food and cake and non-alcoholic drinks, a gift for the child.
We voted not to go, but more than half want to go anyway. There will certainly be other expenses along the way. I don’t say anymore that, if we all want to be, 1000 lei would be fine. Is this how the celebrations got to this day? Are we downright stingy or…? It rains so much money on others and only on us, isn’t it?” the woman wrote.
“Bless the Saint where he has arrived!”
The message quickly became viral, with many users making crosses and criticizing the more than exaggerated costs for a school event intended for first graders.
“They’re going to end up renting halls and calling a band to play at the first class party,” commented a netizen.
Among those who reacted was a teacher, who harshly criticized the idea of organizing such an event in a private location.
“God forbid! There are teachers like that and some parents accept it, and I, also a professional teacher, was sued for not returning the Christmas tree to its original condition (1.2 m high). I find it extremely stupid what the lady is doing, but look at some colleagues who are “lucky” with their toupee.
I personally would not go and raise this issue at the meeting with the parents. If the child was in the 4th or 8th grade, maybe I would be open to something bigger, but that seems stupid and useless to me.” wrote this.
Other users suggested that behind the organization there could be financial interests or close relationships between the organizers and the administrators of the venue.
“In short, the teacher knows the owner of the restaurant, she gets a discount, and the rest they do for her. What crap!”, someone commented.
Many parents compared the current situation with the way school celebrations were organized in the past, saying that the events of the past had a much simpler character and were closer to the idea of a school celebration.
“Holy shit where he ended up. It may sound like a boomer, but in my time, 30 years ago, the celebrations were different. We dressed up, they threw us an award and everything had a ceremonial air, as much as possible. I felt the emotion and enjoyed those moments.
I’m a parent and I would have done exactly the same as you. With that money, I was taking my child somewhere. For the simple reason that such a manifestation of a celebration is wrong”, another user wrote.
Others recalled that, in the 2000s, alphabet celebrations took place in gyms or classrooms, without great cost to families.
“Back in the day (a little after the 2000s), we recited poems, acted out skits, and choreographed dances in the gym for the alphabet celebration. Some moments required flower costumes or other characters. I don’t remember even having cookies.” reported a netizen.
There were also comparisons with the events organized in the private environment, where some parents say that they pay less than the required amount in the case of this celebration organized at a state school.
“God forbid! We have the child at a private kindergarten and the celebrations cost about 300 lei, with some snacks, water/juices, photographer/videographer plus a gift for the child. And it still seems a bit expensive to us, but at least they let us come with the whole family, there was no problem charging us per guest. And they are held at the kindergarten headquarters.
At school, even more so, I think it’s extremely rude not to do the celebration in school, given that every school has a hall for festivities.
Probably the aunt (that I can’t call her madam) has an affair with the people from that event hall and they make money on behalf of the parents. And because of the greed of lepers like her, many children end up not being able to enjoy a normal celebration anymore, either because the parents cannot afford such exaggerated costs, or because they do not want to encourage such a senseless practice”. another user wrote.
“Maybe at the end it’s with a gift, you have to leave something in the envelope”, someone else completed it.
