Do schools not realize that times are tough??
By qmeyers
@qmeyers (42)
United States
November 17, 2009 2:12pm CST
Ok. I expect to have to shell out for the uniforms and school supplies, but all of the extras are getting out of hand... The first week of school, my son brought home a permission slip for a field trip to a farm that cost $20 for the chartered bus(why they couldn't ride on a school bus was beyond me) and I had to send a lunch with him. The following week they want me to shell out at least $30 for school pictures(that i can get a lot cheaper at Sears or JC Penney). He comes home with flyers advertising school spirit jackets and sweatshirts that I can purchase( the cheapest was $40)... Of course the book fair doesn't seem to sell a book that is less than $15(cheaper to go to Borders, Waldenbooks, Books a Million, etc...).. The school then turns around and wants me to send money by my child to donate to various charities(as if feeding, clothing and housing my 4 children isn't charity enough)... The sad part is that my son is only in kindergarten!!!! My oldest who is in 8th grade has only come home with one field trip permission slip that required some money($15 for the National Air and Space Museum)... Can anyone explain??
1 person likes this
2 responses
@JayShay82 (78)
• United States
17 Nov 09
I feel your pain! My daughter is in school for the first time this year. As a kindergartener, I knew there would be expenses but some are so unreal! Her second week of school they had a chili sale. The teachers told the kids that if they sold atleast $30, they would be allowed to go to the auditorium to watch a movie the following Friday instead of sitting in class. Then she had a field trip, they sent home a letter saying that the field trip cost $4, but they were going to take every child's fee out of the fundraiser money from the chili sale. I'm sorry, but I would have rather sent her the $4 for the trip than buy $30 worth of chili! Then a couple weeks later it was school pictures (hers were 38 for the minimum pictures. None of the other packages offered an 8x10). Then she had another fundraiser for cookies, pizzas,and soup. The school let the kids know that if they sold $60 worth of items that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving they could come to school in their pajamas and watch a movie for the day...no class time. They are pretty much telling the kids - you have to do this to get this. My husband and I have been unemployed for 10 months and most of our friends are also laid off because we live in a town where most factories are cutting everyone. Our friends are doing their best to buy from their own kids. So, 3 items from her fundraiser cost me another $63. And how am I suppose to look at my daughter and tell her - I know it sounds fun but I can't afford it so you will have to sit in the classroom while everyone else goes to watch the movie!? They are pretty much guilting the parents into doing it! Now has come the time for school spirit items. The cheapest sweatshirt for her age is $35! She is 6! I don't know if I even have a sweatshirt that cost me that much. But if they buy a sweatshirt they get to participate in a school spirit play that the high schoolers are coming in to help with...otherwise they will be staying in the classroom. I am all for helping the school, but it almost feels like I'm being blackmailed so my child won't be left out.
@qmeyers (42)
• United States
18 Nov 09
yeah, my son comes home telling me that i have to fill out this form or send this in so that he can do something fun at school. i think the schools are wrong for doing that to the children. we end up having to have a lot of hard discussions explaining why we are not sending money for this and that.
@twilightluver (26)
• United States
18 Nov 09
All of the things that you are complaining about is optional so you don't have to pay for it, so my advice is that you only pick the really good field trips.
