Kids School Expenses

[Diolla]

Re: Kids School Expenses

I disagree, my kid is in High School and using your list here would be his expenses-

Field Trip Money $32 ($0, he took $10 from his school money just in case)

Display boards $24
($6, on sale at Hobby Lobby, he lost 10 pts for not using the 'proper materials' and I raised he**)

Cheerleading Uniforms $240 (our balance after the fundraiser)
(Doesn't like sports $175 my portion after fundraiser for optional choir trip to Chicago, original cost $425. My kid is allowed to do TWO fundraisers per year and we go all out I refuse to let him bug my co-workers and church friends more often than that)

Volleyball socks $6
(Black pants, White Shirt and tie for under choir robe $25)

Special required gym shoes $60
(As in display boards if they don't like his shoes they can buy them)


Food ingredents to cook a food for international fair $36
(Did anyone else chip in? I fed 50 people at my church last weekend for less than this)

money for items for auction for school $48
(Sorry, not in the budget)

money for items put into operation shoe box $20
(I gave at work)

back to school supplies $75
(Last years backpack $0, two 3 ring binders $5, Paper, Pencils and pens $5, pocket organizer to keep assignments in $12=$22)

school uniforms $0 (all were able to wear last years uniforms)
Money to get into volleyball games $12
volleyball camp $35

school pictures $60 (got cheapest package at $20 each)
(skipped these this year, they are usually crummy anyway)

school pictures (in sports/cheerleading uniforms) $60
(okay, sprung for a yearbook this year $45 choir and activity pictures will be in there)

Most of the teachers understand where I am coming from and are reasonable once I lay it out. DS goes to public school as the private ones around here aren't any better. I couldn't homeschool even if I had the time because I am a lousy teacher and I don't understand most of the stuff he brings home. DS has learn't to plan ahead if he wants something special for school. He is not into sports but does alot in the performing arts. They go out alot afterwards and he has learn't that the money I give him for school is not infinite and I won't bail him out if he overspends and has to walk home from school after spending his bus money at Pizza Hut.

Cheerleading is expensive, always has been, when I went only the rich kids could afford it. Volleyball seems reasonable about what soccer cost when DS played. I had a friend who called around and got a bunch of things donated to her kids school auction, didn't cost her a dime except for some time and gas to go pick them up.

Except for the optional stuff and the shoes your expenses seem right in line with any of the private schools around here.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Kids School Expenses

Den, err, education is TOP priority in my house, but fancy shoes..nope, networking...for a 2nd grader? nope. reading at age 2? yep top priority and free.

as for not understanding the material, did it ever occur to anyone that the public shcool you are hoping will educate your kid is the same one that failed to help you understand? (or if you did understand it then it was a bit of a waste since you forgot it already.....)

[beebop25blue25]

Re: Kids School Expenses

I just plunked over $120.00 for my 9th grader to play basketball!! OUCH!!

It's for his shoes, uniform, sweats, and some other gear!

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Kids School Expenses

Scientific calculator for math class. All the extra books for English class. All the money for the class trips. The start up with binders, notebooks, etc....

Then of course there are the althletics....tennis racket and equipment. There are the clothes for the new school year. Sneakers for gym class.

There are extras like piano and viola lessons. Occasionally there are tutors for the rough spots in things like chemistry!

I am of the opinion that the only thing we leave behind that is valuable is our children. I spend whatever is needed. Just my .02 cents!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Kids School Expenses

Hmm, I bet most homeschooled kids read most of the classics 'for English class', and remember more, but they could easily borrow them from the library (or in many cases read mom/dads copy...)

I read animal farm, not because it was required, but because I liked it, re-read it once or twice too. I was required to read 'the scarlett letter' hated it, barely remember it (got an A on the test though)

Whatever is needed could be alot less...and for some would be better as less (think spoiled rich kid, some deprivation is good)

[RealLearning]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Kids School Expenses

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??)

[Goldy1]

I don't think a couple hundred bucks here and there for kid stuff is a big deal if you can budget it, but I don't know yet. My son is three. I decided to forgo preschool for now. He would be enterering nursery school which is 3 year old prek in the fall and then one ore year of 4 year old school which precedes the mandated full day kdg in public schools around here in Michigan.
I have a degree in education( but not working now) so I teach him and my kid does a lot of social stuff and teams etc so I decided to skip prek. It was more of being homeschool family minded than economic.

I have researched homeschooling in my free time, and decided it probably won't work for my family. We have a small family(only child) and the only family around is my parents an hour away, and despite having friends in the area it would be too isolating of an expereince for him. I know about coops etc. I think homeschooling in early elementary is fine, but there are too many advanced opportunites I can't offer. (robotics in middle school, cad cam in middle school, fifth graders taking advanced math at the junior high, and I could carry on and on) We have a specialized high school for engineering minded advanced kids, schools with professional theatre.


I'm against full day kidg but I know it works fo rworking parents and most people want it. However, some don't.
I might pay for a private half day kdg if I want that. That will mean roughly 4 k.

[cup of tea]

Are you a member of the PTA? Have you voiced your concerns to the principal? At my school teachers are allowed to plan two field trips a year. The supply list cannot exceed $20 for the elementary schools. Parents can donate items to the teacher if they want to. My school has many fundraisers but the parents don't have to participate in all of them.

I have two daughters and I would gladly spend money on swimming, dance, and soccer. They don't have many toys, but they have many books. My husband and I believe in educating our children so they can meet other children who value education and exercise.

[cschin4]

I do NOT buy school supplies. Why do i have to buy supplies? All they need is a pen and pencil and they get those at school. You don't have to bite on that stuff. But, i do buy them new clothes which they need anyway. And, a inexpensive backpack because part of the fun of going to school is going in with a new back. It is all what you make it. I decided to buy my sons some really nice Air Jordan sneakers. They dont' much care about their other clothes but they like those. It can be fun if or you can make it a chore. And, you don't have to buy everything that is recommended. And, there are cheaper ways to do things as well.
Kids are expensive whether they are schooled at home or not.