When I was president of the Board of Realtors® we decided to do a community project, and the suggestion was to give school supplies to the school children in the area. We solicited donations and paid for supplies not donated, using a suggested list provided by the school for each child. We then paid several hundred dollars to provide individual "pencil bags" with holes so they could be clipped in a binder, and we had our logo imprinted so folks might appreciate the gesture. We also had volunteers spend several hours sorting supplies and filling each bag.
After the second year, I found out that the teachers would take the supplies out of the bags, dump everything in one huge box, and throw the bags in the trash. They never bothered to ask if it was alright with us to throw away our donation. Worse than that, I found out that if I bought supplies for my own child with my money, those supplies would be dumped in the same box. The box is used to provide children who need them most. I assume if a box of crayons were all broken in one day by the same child, he would merrily go get a new box the next morning, not learning to take care of his possessions, and not knowing or caring who had to pay for them.
I'm sorry, but I don't agree with teaching fundamental Marxism to grade school students! I have not donated one "red" cent to that project since. Call me a curmudgeon if you like.
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