[stevenstwin]

A. is taking shop/construction. They have a variety of projects they can do - pretty basic, boring stuff that is included in their school fees, or they can plan their own and pay the extra. So A. has put together a pretty ambitions tv/stand wall unit design, AND wants to make it out of solid oak. The price tag for the materials is $536 and change. He asked if we'd pay for it and I said "no darn way. If you want to make it, pay for it yourself." (he has some money coming from the job he just got fired from. But he plans to spend it all on DVD's and Video games. Again.). SO... he asked the Social Worker for the money and the SW calls me back and says 'yes'. I asked if that wasn't an awful lot of money to just hand over, and he says "well, it's school supplies". I said "not really...this is optional and he's going REALLY high end on it". So the SW says to me..."What do you care? It's not like you have to pay for it!". My response was "Yes, actually I am, since I pay taxes!". anway - he doesn't care - get the poor foster child whatever he wants and don't say know or tell him that he needs to earn anything for himself.

[greenrobin]

You know A best, but...............

My dh is the shop teacher for our local high school. I've seen just about everything come through his shop. The funny thing is that you never know which kid is going to "get it" with shop. Some of the biggest doodle heads just do so well and then some just keep on doodlin'.

If he's ambitious enough and the shop teacher cares enough, it may work.

But, I'm with you on the $$$. Maybe he'd like to try willow--cheaper and just as pretty. Talk to the shop teacher. My husband has the "usual" price and then there's the "discount" that he actually has to get.

[stevenstwin]

Yeah, the issue here isn't if he can DO it or not. It is that he's chosen the most expensive thing possible and doesn't want to pay a dime out of his own pocket, so the social worker is going to pay it for him! That just kills me. No other kid of mine would have been able to do this project without paying for it themself. Kind of like how he got $750 worth of recreation stuff this summer - like a paint ball gun and all the gear to go with it. It really breeds an attitude of "gimme, gimme". My girls don't get that kind of money to just spend however they want! And he still got to do all our family stuff, like going to Disney World, so his "rec" money was over and above.

[oldenough]

I have to say, I'm with you on this one. I don't have any bio children-but there's no way I'd ever fork over that kind of money w/o them having to earn it. Bio or not! There's no way! It's unbelieable the SW doesn't see it~or maybe he does see it--it's just easier to throw money at the problem than try to instill any value.

Our niece wants a stuffed tiger she saw down town, she's been earning the money for it all summer! She just turned 5!

[mrsred]

It is really sad that the foster worker thinks that what he is doing is helping A develop an interest that could turn into a career. In reality he is showing A that he gets a free ride. Unfortunately, that is only true till he ages out of the system. Would be nice if he would have to somewhat deal in reality before that day.

[stevenstwin]

I never even thought of that as his motivation! Ironic if it is, since A. is determined to be a mechanic and has been all along.

Originally Posted by mrsred

It is really sad that the foster worker thinks that what he is doing is helping A develop an interest that could turn into a career. In reality he is showing A that he gets a free ride. Unfortunately, that is only true till he ages out of the system. Would be nice if he would have to somewhat deal in reality before that day.

[pogonorms]

I agree with the price tag... doesn't matter who's paying for it. And I certainly think that the CW should have taken your insights/feelings into account instead of just rubber stamping it.