heymammy.com

So sorry to hear this.
My friend had a similar battle regarding an expensive cost just landed on them with no discussion etc and had the same experience as you.
I echo everything you say. Well done on standing up.

Sorry to hear it has panned out like this. Well done for resisting for this long.

The BOM structure for running schools allows things like this to happen. The Dept of Education and Minister can make noises about how they "encourage" schools to keep costs down, but then wash their hands of it.

Just want to update you all on this saga.
So unfortunately looks like I've lost my battle, all the parents who were vocal initially still bought the laptop, so it has ended with very few of us standing up to the school. I am so broken over this. The department of don't give a shit, sent me back to the BOM. I contacted Norma Foley- I heard nothing back, no surprise there. So now my choice is remove my child from this school, (however I cannot get a place on TY elsewhere and they would not be ready for 5th year besides this is also not what my child wants. They do not want to move. ) Or give in and buy the stupid thing. They school have offered to waive TY fee for me (approx 50% of cost of laptop)which is nice of them but sticks in my craw.. We had to listen to a 40 minute Zoom talk last night about why they've introduced a crested tracksuit this year for the first time (cost of 65e)- to create equality so everyone is the same and no is under pressure on to have expensive be stuff- yet we all have to have this unnecessary and expensive piece of equipment. I am so mad as I really stuck. I can't expect my child to go in as one of three/four kids without it but I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY don't want to buy it. I am so done with schools. Roll on June 2024 when I am done with this shit show.

It is really crap that you have to go to battle against the school, but I will be shocked if you don't have a lot of support among the other parents.

You'll need to get back on to the other parents and fight it as a group. The more people who oppose the idea and refuse to pay, the less likely the school can go ahead with it.

Unfortunately as it is secondary school I don't have numbers for parents other than my ds's close friends and they are of the same opinion as me and have sent letters too. I spoke to one mum today who was oblivious to the whole thong. Hadn't attended the TY meeting as she has older boys and hadn't read the email Lol. I'd say she isnt the only one.
My nephews attend a private school which is part of the same religious order as my DS's school, his is not private. In the reply from the principal she mentioned that all xyz schools were doing this. I asked my SIL. They indeed have devices, but they were phased in, started with a 1st year class. They have iPads- not laptops but the cost was 120 less and included their books, ebooks and hard copy! So basically about 200 more that you'd normally lay for a first year starting. They do not have to buy a new device for senior cycle, her oldest is also going into TY. I cannot go to the media myself because of my job, but I have written to the department address on the circular that was issued around reducing school costs, and sent another email to school just telling them I cannot afford the laptop and will not be buying it. I did think the take up might be low as they sent a reminder on June 5th saying if we don't pay by June 7th there will be a late fee. But maybe I am wrong.
Thanks all for taking the time to reassure me I am not mad.

It is completely and utterly tone deaf. Not teacher-bashing for a minute (well, maybe I'm principal-bashing), but there's something about this that smacks of a blissful ignorance of the realities in some households since March 2020. They surely know that there are many parents in the school who have lost jobs or been on PUP for most of the year or been trying to keep businesses alive by the skin of their teeth (and from experience, it is the owner's salary that takes the first hit in these situations).

It really does beggar belief that they are persisting, even when objections are being raised. And it doesn't matter whether you can or can't afford it (although it does), but the high-handed way it's being done would really get up my nose.

I'd be sending this to the BOM to raise with the Principal. Is there a (dreaded) parents' WhatsApp group that you're part of? Also from experience, you can have a situation where everyone is fuming but nobody is actually saying anything, and you have to stick your head above the parapet and be told you are the "only" one with an issue (you never are).

I can't believe this. Are the school so blind to the year the country has had?? I would be fuming. I cannot believe that they expect patents to shell out huge monies for this, at such late notice (not even giving you a chance to change school). Returning to school is a huge expense as it is and often forces families to do without or borrow - and I really object to a loan being provided as a solution- it's not.
I'd get onto Barnardos- don't they campaign about school costs?

I don’t think you should have to pay it whether you have the money or not.

It’s not like a new copy or a fiver for something - it’s a lot of money with little advance notice

this is a dreadful situation and i think you need to contact other parents to see if they are onboard with you. the parents committee need to be informed that you have decided to go to the press about it too. let them know they will want this situation rectified asap.
The school cannot discriminate against a child that doesnt have the capacity to pay for such stuff and you are right not to buy anything on hp.
i think that TY shouldnt have to have it anyway.... and if you do suck it up and manage to buy it they may shelve it at the end of the year...... uh huh i dont think so mate.

My dispute is the 1. Cost and 2. No consultation with parents about "going digital" in that order.

I cannot afford the guts of 1k on top of 450 TYFee and new senior school uniform. That is only one child. I have two other, one starting college and another in secondary school. Their solution to pay for it on HP is not acceptable. I don't borrow money for things that depreciate- I buy what i can afford.

If they had iPads/laptops from first year I would have probably have gone with it or choosen a different school, but I'd have known about it before he started. Lots of schools seem to go back to books for senior cycle, we are being forced to do the opposite- at least if they were used to using them from first year the novelty might have worn off by 5th year but now having done no JC this is an added distraction going into senior cycle . I don't care how good Wriggle are at blocking apps etc. Kids can figure things out or find other ways of doing things they shouldn't.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will keep you up to date.

So at the end of the year they'll see how it has gone? So a chance all this could end up shelved?
I'd be inclined to leave him into school with the books, if he's happy to do that, and see how it is. I'd also inform the school that you don't have a bean to pay for it. Or else ask them for a loan if one.
He's doing TY? Not much needed for that tbh. Not the price of a laptop and all the rest anyway.
You can always get a similar laptop later and the software if it's beneficial.

Contact TD and DoE and media.it’s completely unreasonable to expect parents to fork out for this as an unexpected expense and a new policy change without prior consultation and agreement with parent body.
It’s too big of a a shift and should have careful consideration and collaboration.
I’d kick up a stink big time.

Personally, I don't mind it for 5th & 6th yr, dd has had the ipad since 1st yr anyway, but to request it at short notice for Ty is a bit ridiculous, my dd did not need to use the ipad for TY.

In my opinion, now it's time to contact the press. Go to the media.
You've tried to follow the game playing by their rules, now they have to play by yours.
Get other parents involved.
Have an end goal in mind (you don't mind the e-books but the additional cost at short notice is unacceptable so why can't we use whatever equipment we may be able to get at short notice, that kind of thing) and stick to that message.

That's what I would do. Mobilise the parent body, and go public with it all.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you find out later that someone in the school has something to do with the company providing the specific devices or the software installed on them or both.