Kids School Expenses

[RealLearning]

When I went to school, things were cheaper--but only marginally so. I was a poor farmer's daughter, and not in the "in crowd", so I didn't even try to participate in most of the activitites. The combination of no funds and the high probability of ridicule effectively shut the door on opportunity.

I went to church with a girl who was part of the popular crowd, and I remember her mom, who was a good friend of mine, often saying how the high school was constantly nickle & diming her. $10 this week, $35 the next. Almost every week for some activity or another that her daughter was involved in.

Elementary school was pretty much free when I went--the school provided paper and kleenex and pencils and crayons. If there was a fee for field trips (which were one per year, if that), it was less than $10. (The 5th graders always got to go roller skating for a day, and they had to pay their entrance fee, for example.) It wasn't until high school that we had a list of supplies--and even then it was a simple 3-ring binder with subject dividers, paper, and a pen. Calculators were handed out by the school before math class. Sports uniforms were owned by the school (or the AYSO) and used over and over.

The first time I saw a materials list for the local schools at Wal-Mart, I was shocked. Even kindergarteners had a list! (And it was just as long as the 3rd grade list.) I've been helping my children learn at home since they were born, and never had to buy from one of those lists, thankfully. I think it's a travesty that the schools are given so much money, and then they still ask parents to pay hundreds of dollars each year. But I'm not going to start on the rant about how tax funds are distributed to run the schools. That's something that can be saved for another day.

Long story short (even though I've already made this pretty long! lol) is that I seriously do not agree with all of the "required" parental spending for supposedly free public schools. And even when things were pretty much free (even a hot lunch, if your income was low enough), the schools' success rate as far as actual learning goes was still abysmal. Who I knew in school, even high school, has absolutely no bearing on my life today. Honestly, it only has bearing on the future of a child if that child allows it to be so. The world is full of stories of highly successful individuals (authors, political reformers, military leaders) who never finished high school. Learning is what happens in your head--experience and information that's important to the one learning it all--and that can be used to improve the learner's life.

If the school costs are appalling you, but you don't think you can allow your children to learn at home, try reading a few books about alternatives. Homeschooling doesn't need to be public school at home. It's an opportunity for real learning--which doesn't often happen in the classroom. (And this is more than 15 years of classroom learning to the tune of a 3.4gpa speaking here!!!)

And now, I'll quit. lol Good luck!

[froggie]

These expenses are unreal!!! I teach in a public school and for about the last ten years, our superintendent has prohibited schools from sending school lists home. Parents pay taxes, schools get money from the government, and students in the US are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. When classes go on field trips, the school pays. If we need specific supplies, we request them and the principal will either approve or decline the request.

I have had parents come to me and say that they are aware that we are not to send home supply lists but wanted to help out. I've had parents volunteer to send in school supplies, wipes, etc. but have never sent out a blanket request for these things.

[cicy33]

I don't have serious problems with the supply list, except for when they wanted us to buy I think it was like 40 pencils, and some other really overly large amount of stuff and so I asked why and the teachers said that it so that other kids that can't afford to buy stuff they have extras, well, I can afford what my child needs and while I am happy to help I just can't afford to support everyone else's kids too. I felt that I should buy a normal amount of supplies and then replace as they go. I remember the end of school last year, one of mine wanted us to buy a new box of crayons, this was with 3 weeks to go. Said the teacher was requesting it. Flatly said no, not wasting money for 3 weeks. Told him to bag up some of his play crayons, amazingly those seemed to work! We have 4 in school. The oldest boy is 11 and plays basketball. Now, I do not have a problem with the kids in sports but I did throw a bit of a fit when the coach required $75 for shoes that the school ordered or he couldn't play. Now, I understand that the kids need special shoes that are not on the streets but $75!!!!!! that is ridiculous. and when they came, one size to big. Mine are limited to one sport per season each period. Can't afford more than that! The good thing is that the shoes will also work for school once basketball is over.

[mom-from-missouri]

I agree with RealLearning 100%. The fact that the PE teacher requires my daughters to wear a certain brand and style of tennis shoe and sock on PE days....Really, is that brand of shoe and sock going to make them jump higher? run faster? be more successful in life? More than the $9 tennis shoe from payless? My children would have learned the same material if they had been allowed to use their 'homemade' display board vs the display boards we had to buy or I forget, but I think it was around $8 each. My children do go to a small private Christian School. However, when I compared their school list to the public school list, my daughters list was only 1/2 as long. (x 3 kids). The reason it is so much shorter is because parents and various companies donate surplus items to our school. (Right now they are using Sprint binders, since Sprint local has changed their name to Embarq). Rather than go to the trash, they were donated and used. We were told the local public school turned the binders down (from the public school parent who then brought them to us-about 300 of them). We didn't turn them down, and each child this year, and probably for the next 2 years has a binder. Next year when we homeschool, I already have a network of places we can get supplies and learning experiences from. I have been talking to business owners telling them of our plans. My daughters have been invited to come and tour the bank, post office, work part of the day with the vet, and learn how to measure feed (weights and measures) at the feed store. The feed store lady also gave us some calendars, rulers, pencils, pens and notepads from one of their vendors. Said she will give them to us every year if we remind her. She also said the vendor tried to give them to the school, but was turned down by all except the preschool class. I think that is so silly--a ruler is still a ruler even if it does say Purina on one side of it....

[RealLearning]

I find it ironic, mom-from-missouri, that the school absolutely requires a certain brand of PE socks & shoes, but turns their nose up at free school supplies that have a company logo on them. For pete's sake! Does that strike anyone else but me as strange on some level?

I've just been reading some things about how various parts of our country are functioning currently--and it just seems like the whole world is turned upside down.

[cicy33]

I agree that is plain dumb. maybe private school would be cheaper!! lol

[mom-from-missouri]

I think you mis read my post. My daughters school is a private school, It requires the shoes and socks for PE, but they did NOT turn down the logo'd school supplies. The public school turned down the loco'd school supplies. After the public school turned them down, the person (a public school parent who works for Embarq) then brought them to us.
In some ways, their school is cheaper--for clothing-all that is really required for the entire year is 1 uniform, PE shoes, socks, gym shorts. Since they all wear the same uniform, you could only have 1. For public school, I doubt many kids would wear the same outfit daily!!
My daughters tutuion is a little under $200 a month, each. So, really, I am sending 3 girls to a private school for around $600 a month for the most part (till a teacher requires some crazy thing we have to buy). I have friends who pay over $200 a week per child (4 little ones) for a total of $800 a week just in childcare & preschool(daycare) expenses alone. On the other hand, if you go to downtown Kansas City to one of the private schools there, tution is over $1500 a month per child. I am sending 3 for way less than that. Our neighbor told me her grandsons back to school supplies were almost $200, in addition to his clothing and shoes. When I went to school, I remember mom taking me into TG&Y to buy my supplies, with a $10 bill and we came out with change. (Did I just show my age??)