I won $500

[EngTeach]

One of my students is going to China for a 2 week leadership program. To help offset the cost the kids were selling raffle tickets. I usually don't buy from them b/c it is unfair not to buy from all of them. Anyway ,I bought only one ticket and his mother called to say I won the grand Prize. The best dollar I ever spent.

Now I'll be fired and accused of running a gambling ring with a student!!!!

[banned-dot]

oooo that's about �250 in real money, you could splash out on a new summer outfit!!!

[Ice.Maiden]

Awwwwww!!!! Well...congratulations anyway! Would/could you give it to school funds, to help with future projects?

[banned-dot]

why should she feel obliged to donate it to anything? she didnl;t cheat, she had the saem chance as every other person in the raffle.

[EngTeach]

I will use half for a little scholarship in my mother's name and will probably give the other half back to the boy for his tuition for the conference.

[ELVIS68]

Good for you, you bought the ticket in good faith, keep the money

My village hall does a quiz night every month and whoever wins hands the �30 back to them

It`ll all change when I win it lol

[bigmamma]

Well done , what a lovely win EngTeach :-) xxxxxx

[EngTeach]

The leadership conference is not school related. It is a program his mom enrolled him in.

[EngTeach]

Thanks for the good wishes.

[Ice.Maiden]

I suggested that Dot, in case someone made a remark about "gambling", or that it was somehow a fix.
If I was a teacher and kids'd put their hard-earnt pennies or work into buying raffle tickets to help with a school trip, then I wouldn't keep any prize money for myself.

[123everton]

Well done teach, whereabouts in China are they headed? I've not long got back from Southern China and I'm going back in September for 3 weeks, Nanning (again), Chengdu, Lhasa, Guilin and Long Tou (Fu Sui county outskirts of Nanning) there was a great programme on B.B.C.4 about China called "Chinese School" I know you're in America but if you can catch it, it's really good, it's just about different children of different ages going to school in China the one about sports day was brilliant.
Life affirming stuff in an often despairing world.

[Slooow_Jo]

Well done on your win but its a bit naff if your not able to keep it :( is there a rule saying you cant buy such tickets? if not then you haven't done anything wrong so should be able to do what you want with it!

[EngTeach]

I'll look for it Everton. Sounds good. I am not sure where he is going. He's very excited and we've been working on getting him accepted since the fall. It was as bad as filling out college applications. He also is a reaaly good kid. He promises to send a post card.

[pastafreak]

Congrats eng teach....I think you have done the right thing. I myself would not feel right keeping the money in those circumstances----even tho I would want to!!! At least it will go to a good cause, and sets a good example for your students.

[EngTeach]

i was being "tongue in cheek" when I wrote about being fired because we as teachers live in fear of the next accusation we'll be faced with.

[pastafreak]

Ahhhhh-the dreaded 'PC brigade'-lol

[Ice.Maiden]

Lol - but I think what you're doing with your winnings is a good idea.

[banned-dot]

maybe some of the people who bought the tickets could have really done with the money and they would feel cheated out of a prize if it was given back.

[Ice.Maiden]

Lol - they'd probably feel more cheated if they thought teacher'd been out and blown the winnings on something frivolous.

[banned-dot]

A new summer outfit is not frivolous it is an essential!