Oh Puhleeze.

[nwhiker]

Went to the boringboringboring Parent-Professor Committee meeting at the kids' school last night. (Remember that stupid move of mine, signing up to be class parent? Part of the duties...).



They had a guest speaker, a women from the firm that is "assisting" the school in fundraising.

I understand the need for fundraising. I know we need a middle school.

BUT!

This gal was there, trying to persuade us that we were all "philanthropists" because we'd be donating to the school's Annual Fund and its Capital Campaign.

Bzzzt! No. We're not philanthropists. We're a bunch of privileged people who can afford to to send our kids to a private.... pardon, independent school and who will, for the most part, donate money to make the school and our kids' education, better.

That's not how I define philanthropy.

She talked about how the goal of philanthropy was to help the community and all that, and went on to talk about our school community, all 275 kids of it. Puhleeze. I think the term I'm looking for is "circle jerk".

I know I'm fortunate to be able to send my kids to a priv- sorry, an independent school. I feel some guilt about it, at times. I could be saving for their college educations, I could be donating more money to the causes we already support, (I could go on vacation). I don't need anyone to pat me on the head, so we can play "let's pretend that donating to a school fund that greatly benefits the choices I've made" is philanthropy.