"Box Tops"... Hypocrisy?

I'm in agreement with Tracy-- this might not be the subject to bring up at the parent's group. Most schools are aware of the incongruities between home and school. (At least, when I was running my preschool, I expected certain thing such as no sweets, no media images coming into the school, knowing full well that the kids would be enjoying these things at home.) I would instead ask co-workers collect the box tops with you if need be.

My guess is that they are needing funding and trying to find some way to do it without raising tuition rates.

You also get box tops on ziplock products, certain brands of paper towels and TP, mead school supplies, etc. Much ado about nothing.

Yeah...a bit hypocritical and I might mention it in a joking manner, but this wouldn't be a hill worth dying on for me personally.

1) It's free money, and something parents buy anyway, so why lose a source of revenue?

Also... (Insofar as the moral high ground)

2) All paper products HERE either get recycled or composted. (Pur compost / yard waste pickup takes all paper (towels, napkins, Kleenex, plates, soiled nonrecycleable paper of any kind, right along with vegetation, cooking oils, meats, spoiled liquids, bones... All biodegradable products.,, for the worms and compost. City uses the resulting soil for its own planting projects, as well as sells it.)

3A) While most on the list may be xyz... I'm sure that there are also 'healthy' options in most categories.

3B) Just because the school is promoting certain things on school campus doesn't mean they think 'all things in moderation' is a bad thing, nor that Fruitloops are evil. They just don't want the kids hopped up on sugary treat food at SCHOOL / trust parents to make the best decisions at home, which may very well include treat food, or "fast" (out of a box) food from time to time if not regularly.

I don't really see it that way. Yes, a large number of the items that support the Boxtops program are items that are not necessarily healthy or "desired", but there are those that are. And, like you freely admitted, you buy some of the "less than perfect" items anyway... so why throw away the Boxtop off the item. It is throwing away 10 cents. Really.
Also, you may have friends or family that purchase items that have Boxtops on them that they might be willing to save for your child.

I WAS a Boxtops Coordinator for my kids' schools several years ago, and I don't and didn't buy a LOT of the items that carry the boxtops on them. BUT, if you pay attention, you can still find them on other things. Not just Ziplock BAGS, but on the reusable containers too. For awhile they were on Hefty kitchen garbage bags. They were on Huggies diapers/wipes. They are on other non-food items too, but you have to be "aware" and keep on the lookout, because the products change from time to time. Green giant's frozen veggies used to have them on their package, but I don't know if they still do or not. Kleenex tissues have them on their boxes, too, and some of the toilet papers do as well.

I don't see it as hypocritical so much as it is not wasting an opportunity that is right in front of you. Don't go buy items specifically to get the boxtop, that is just not smart anyway. But if you are going to buy the item, and there is a boxtop, take the time to cut it off and send it in.

Some brands of cage-free eggs have Box Tops on them. General Mills has a new organic brand too that also gives Box Tops. Land o Lakes butter has them too.

ETA: From time to time I buy some produce at Target--it is usually Green Giant, and they are also a Box Tops participant. I was pretty surprised when I saw the label on my cauliflower, and you better believe I clipped it for my son's school.

No, because there are plenty of things on the list that don't fall in the unhealthy category. Ziplocs are reuseable as long as they didn't have meat in them.

Personally I would be more concerned about how they dictate what you put in your child's lunch. A question I would be asking is whether or not the teachers/administrators follow the same guidelines for their lunches and if sweets are banned for them as well. Most teachers have a stash in their desks. Is THAT allowable? It SHOULD be okay and the kids SHOULD be allowed to have a small dessert if they want one. An important part of teaching kids to eat healthy is teaching them that sweets are okay in moderation.

Erika:

I am sorry - I don't "follow" what the school tells me to do with my private/home life. As to school lunches - yes - I will follow their guidelines.

The Box Tops program DOES have many healthy choices as well as products that are reusable. I reuse my ziploc bags on a daily basis - especially the snack size ones - i put my husband's pickles for his sandwich in them.

here's the official list from General Mills:
http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/clip/brands.aspx

We use the Land O Lakes butter.
Cheerios!!!
Yogurt!!!

If you feel that strongly about it. Mention it. Don't let it fester and bother you.
I personally think it's a GREAT program that gets schools money they need.

Buy only the "Box Top" products that you will feel comfortable using at your house. Don't buy the others (and don't buy products just to get the coupons). So you're helping your school, but also abiding by their lunch rules and your own convictions.

The "Box Tops for Education" campaign was not invented by schools, but by manufacturers and advertisers.

If your school said to its families, "If a good product you like has the Box Top coupons, please save them for us," it might be a better way to request them.

Lately, I've found those little pink things on dairy products and even on lettuce!

Hmm.
I do the ordering of office supplies where I work, and you'd be surprised how many things have Box Tops for Education labels. I rotate the box tops for the moms in the office whose kids schools participate in the program.
Paper products aren't "reusable", but they are recyclable. My office recycles everything possible. In that instance, the families aren't actually buying anything, but they are getting the box tops none the less.

I'm not sure how the whole program was presented, but I would venture a guess that the school isn't actually encouraging families to buy things they normally wouldn't or to ONLY buy things that have the box top labels. Besides, the school's policies have nothing to do with what a person purchases at home. My kids might not be able to take sweets to school, but that won't stop me from baking a cake for my own family. What the school hopes to accomplish isn't going to stop me from buying ziplocs to store or freeze things in.

I don't know if I see the hypocrisy in it. Like I said, moms in my office get lots of box tops for things they didn't have to purchase at all. My office is going to purchase those things whether the box tops are used or not. Why not let the respective schools benefit from it?

You don't have to buy anything you don't want to and you don't have to participate in the program if you disagree with the principle of the thing.

Just my opinion.
No offense to anyone.

If you wanted to be "helpful" you would check the category list and find the things that you know are more acceptable than others and make sure everyone got a copy. Mom's would be keeping an eye open for those specific products and could ignore the rest of things that you find non essential.

I don't see it that way AT ALL. I see it as "this is what we strive to do, and while you're in the school you will be fed healthy foods and work on striving for your best", but the fact is that almost everyone is going to probably use something on that list at some point and if you do, hey keep that box top for us will ya? I would consider it hypocritical if they give rewards and contests on who can bring in the most sugar cereal tops, but if they're just saying they're joining the program to get money (or whatever benefit they get from them, I don't know), then it's just another way to benefit the school. I'd be perfectly fine with it.

I don't think they're "encouraging" you to buy these products but are sending the message that "most of us buy some of these things anyway, so lets have our school benefit from the free money the company gives away that you would otherwise be tossing in the trash or recycling bin."

Very interesting for you to notice. I would only mention it in the parent's group, or to the school, if you are ready for a debate. I'm sure the school is participating b/c it is basically "free money" for the school. Who wouldn't want some extra spending money for school supplies? I would highly doubt that they expect to rake in thousands with the program, since as you pointed out, they encourage fresh/reuseable. Keep in mind that Ziplock also makes washable "tupperware" containers. And I've seen them on Kotex brand pads too!

I think it would be interesting to see if indeed teachers adhere to the strict meal guidelines. I was a teacher before I became a mom. I remember being totally pissed when they took away the soda machine out of the teachers lounge. That was our treat for the day! The children didn't use it!

Our elementary school also collects the box tops for the teacher day care.

We sent the list out and reminded people that they could ask, grandparents and neighbors to collect them for the school. Our daughter just graduated from college and I still am collecting them and am given them by my mom and some of the older neighbors..

It is a community thing.. They do add up..

We do try to purchase the cereals we like that have box tops, for my business I use a ton of ziplocs, but I am amazed how many people purchase and use those boxed skillet dinners.. I do not judge I just collect and pass them along.

I agree with what others have said. There is a long list and a wide range of products on the Box Tops program list. Many of these products are already used in homes. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase something with a boxtop we don't normally use. They automatically add up with the seemingly few products we do use. If you fee you want to do more and know a business owner(s), ask if they can save them from any Avery products they use.

This made me curious so I walked to my kitchen and gave a quick look in my cabinets. I found the box tops on Cheerios, Kix, and granola bars that boast all natural ingredients. So, no I do not see the hypocrisy.

I agree with you. Our family eats REALLY healthy, (homegrown, unprocessed food and mostly organic). We get about 1 box top a month.

Just send in the box tops from what you use personally.
I would think all others can do the same.
Regardless of the school, I think we all see the potential for hippcrosy in the box top situation and our desire to live simply, right?

Yes, it's hypercritical of them, but it's an easy fundraising activity. I don't know if I'd say anything. The list of products is extensive, so I like Grandma T's suggestion of creating a list of products that are more in tune with the Montessori mindset and distributing that instead of poo-pooing it out right.

You don't have to buy anything that you don't want. What I like about Box Tops is that I get the choice, I don't have to buy some awful cookie dough or cheap candy.

I think you are over thinking it. Not a battle worth fighting, in fact, not really a battle, at all, IMO.

I would definitely mention it. It is sending mixed messages to your kids. What are you going to say to them when they say "mom, we shouldn't eat this; it has all kinds of sugar in it!" Are you going to tell them that they're eating it for the benefit of the school that teaches them NOT to eat it?

You should mention it. But remember that these are products used in YOUR home, not the school. Plus it helps raise money for the school.

I just cut two off Avery Labels. Just send in what you can.

My school brings in between $1,000 to $2,500 per year from box tops. I personally DON'T go out of my way to buy what I don't already use, and I don't think most of the parents do either. It only takes the effort of cutting it off the box & sending it to school.

Last year the PTO bought all new smart boards for every teacher, balls for the playground, and a number of other things to help the school. The money is worth it for the school with very little effort on your part.

Is it hypocritical? I don't think so. And it's worth it!