As I typed in the title of this post I was thinking of the theme song from Donald Trump's show The Apprentice. Well, I'm certainly not Donald Trump -- I don't wear a toupee or do comb-overs and I'm definitely not rich by his standards nor am I poor.Back when I was in school, my parents didn't have to pay for school field trips, school supplies or for extra school supplies. A lot has changed since then.
Now, you have to buy your own school supplies or pay a student fee ($25) for the supplies and student planner. Not all school field trips use chartered buses. Most times they use public transit and then public transit don't like having 30 odd kids on their buses. But each time your child has a field trip, a parent is shelling out at least $10. Intermediate grades will go snowshoeing ($28) and they will also go on a 3 day camping trip and you will pluck from the money tree about $180. I went on a week long camping trip when I was in grade seven and paid nothing.
On top of that some teachers want your child to get extra school supplies, so you're shelling out some more money for a folder, flash drive, special pens etc.
Then there's the fundraisers. I completely understand the need for fundraising, but sometimes it's just way too much. It's like the school is constantly asking for money. One fundraiser leads to another and another. They just keep coming. And then the school and the PAC wonders why they aren't making that much money?? Well, Hello?! All the extra money parents already paid out for their child is now depleted. They don't have anymore to give. They are over their budget for the month!
Yes you can have all these fees waived if you really can't afford it (some are legit), but how many parents are already going that route?
When I was growing up I don't remember our PAC having fundraisers after fundraisers and my parents constantly paying out money. My parents just didn't because it was fREE.
I get that times have changed, but this constant "give me money" is crazy.
You can easily spend $100 in just one week and that's just for one kid!
So imagine if you have more than one kid?
4 comments:
This is all so true,,,and when they get older it gets even more expensive!
Sophia,
I know exactly what you mean. Jen has been out of school now for 6 years and I am very greatful for that!
As each year went on, Parents were required to buy more supplies, pay more fees and every year the school lunch price skyrocketed. I used to sit around and bitch about it as we also pay close to $400 a year in School Taxes (per adult living in household, total of $800 a year) which is a crock of crap.
Then every 2 to 3 months...Fundraisers! blah! Already this year...my 2 nephews have each had 2 fundraisers for school. One of the boys is in 2nd and the other is in 5th grade. I think this is excessive! Why do we pay so much for this BS?
I am so glad that I now only have one child in school because it was tough when we had three kids going to school.
I hear you very well about the fundraisers and the thing that would get me is the things that they would sell...things were not cheap! I am not interested in buying expensive wrapping paper, or over priced little gadgets or nor do I want magazine subscriptions and these are the things that some schools seems to push.
Back when I was in high school we sold $1 candy bars or small stuffed animals...something that kids and/or adults could easily afford. Also each grade was only allowed to have one fundraiser a year.
So far the fundraiser recently was coffee. Christmas is coming so that means it will be Purdy's Chocolates. Next year it will be pizza and cookie dough, bingo and movie night...
And everything in between with more field trips, more school supplies as they get depleted...
I wonder if you spend less in high school??
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