Is it fair that the school holds a report card due to unpaid fines/fees?

At my daughter's high school, there are many things the students cannot do if they have unpaid fines/fees. In addition to what you mention about withholding their report cards, students are not allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities (like school dances or field trips) and I believe they also cannot sit for their final exams. There are so many parents that simply won't pay the fees - and in a majority of cases, it's not because they cannot pay (due to financial hardship, for example - the school board helps those who don't have the funds in full). They just don't think they should have to. Many parents believe the school is fully financially responsible for educating their children and that education should be free unless it's a private school. As much as I complain when I get a bill for $225 for "student supervision fees" or a hundred dollar invoice for workbooks that are most often packets of photocopies made by the teachers, I know that school budgets just don't stretch far enough anymore. Our school board has to send invoices to collection agencies to get payment sometimes. It doesn't seem fair to the student that misses the field trip or doesn't get their report card because his/her parents have not paid the fees but I also see it from the school's perspective. They rely heavily on that money and, if they don't exert some kind of pressure, much of it would be ignored and remain uncollected :(

My kids went to Catholic schools and they did the same things. They would not release report cards, if library books fee, tuition fees, church obligatory monthly amounts were not met and or any fee for that matter. It was disheartening for some kids at times as the teacher passed out report cards and some teachers went as far as saying out loud in front of the other kids that such and such was not paid therefore they did not get their report cards. Maybe it is the large numbers and a way to get some parents to respond, in the interim it really is hard for the kids to deal with.

My school did that. But it wasn't about unpaid fees for a library book. More towards unpaid fees for basketball iniforms or something. Actually, I don't see the big deal if they child and parent already know the grades. However, if they have no clue then I would be a little upset.

I think it is fair because it's the only hold the school has in order that fees/fines be paid. I don't think it would be fair if the school has to make extra effort to collect from the services that they give to students through collecting individually, right? Further, if there are impediments (such as students not returning books frequently) it's weird because most policy in libraries is that you can only borrow up to three and if you cannot return them, you cannot borrow anymore. Further, there is a system wherein you are reminded of your library books and fees every month and a letter given to parents about such, isn't there? Well, perhaps it's different in your area, but when I was younger and still in school as a kid, we'd have a lot of communications (mostly through letters) for the parents, we also have the getting of report cards every one and a half month. That way the teacher could tell the parents personally what books and stuff are not returned. Perhaps you could suggest that to the PTA meetings or when you could see the teacher in that particular school. I don't think we have problems with unreturned books because students were well-trained to take good care of their borrowed books and they know the value of such. Good luck finding the book though.

hi cream97 thats horrid so the school is not really thinking of what ideas like that due to a child';s morale. I think its unfair to derprive a child of seeing his grades. It makes him or her feel like they are outcasts. I would not like that policy either. we never had it in our California thank goodness. yes for a library book I think your idea is great. they should not punish your children just because you as parents need to pay fines or fees.That should be strictly between parents and the school and not taking it out on the children.I agree that your school does have some really stupid policies too.

I agree with you 1000000000000000%!!!! I mean the report card is very neccessary for communication between parent, teacher, and child. It should actually be illegal for a school to withhold such an important document over a library book.

Hi Cream, I think that a lot of schools have this policy and no, I don't agree with it. I think that the punishment should fit the crime and holding their report card has absolutely nothing to do with the library book. I think they should not let them check out more books until the fine is paid off and the fine should not be greater than the value of the book. It should be paid by the end of the school year. and lets not forget that while the librarians are very efficient, they do have students working in the library also and they all are human. Mistakes happen. I once got charged for a late book that I had returned. The library insisted that it was not returned. I KNEW I had returned it but began 2nd guessing myself and searched everywhere anyway. I finally went into the library. It was right on the shelf but somehow had missed the procedure that marks it as being returned on the computer and pulls the card.

I don't know that it is exactly something fair but i guess it is the only way the school can guarantee that they will get money is owed to them before the school year is out.

For me, i think the school is just thinking that they will never be paid for it if they don't do that. Let's just be understanding to the school and pay for the fine or library fees, so that when enrollment comes there will be no more further hindrance.

the same thing happened to my daughter her academic report was not dispatched to home address as she study in a boarding high school.... when i called to school they told to me that school fees was due and due to non-payment of fees they are not sending the reports how shame about this schools govt should act strictly regarding this

I don't think it is fair and I'm going through the same thing.I told the school other years to not let him check out books because he doesn't bring them home because I look in his backpack everyday to see if there is anything important in it and I know when he brings a library book home and when he doesn't. Most of the time he doesn't. When he does bring books home I put it in a special place so I know where it is and can see when it needs to be turned back in because my son isn't very responsible. He is in the 4th grade so he is still young. The other years they ended up finding them at school but I would be threatened about the book fines which isn't fair to me when I already told them if they don't like there books not to be returned not to let him check them out. Well, this year it happened again but they later on didn't mention one of the books so that means they found one but they continued to mention one of them that my son said that he took to the art class since it was a drawing book and they said they never could find it at school so he had to of brought it home and since I won't return it I owe them money for the book. I don't think that is very fair to have to pay for a book that never came home and he wouldn't of got in the first place if he wasn't able to check them out since he isn't very responsible and will this continue every year. They insist on him to check out books to read when the other kids do so he does but that is such a mess. I know exactly how you feel. I don't think they should not give report card because of it either because we need to know what is on the report card. I feel exactly the way they do that the punishment needs to be more reasonable like not being able to check out books anymore and if a book needs to be checked out for a class situation that the teacher has to check it out for the student and the student has to give it to the teacher before they leave the classroom each day or something.

At my school if you have unpaid fines/fees they hold your diploma and refuse to let you walk at graduation as well. But, I mean if you owe the school money, why should they allow you to do anything until you pay them? I'm sure if you have fines that exceed a certain limit say $200 or more they should start consequences but if you owe just a few dollars they should let it slide. The schools will get their money when the time comes.

Also the miscellaneous fees which we do not understand where it is used. It is a type of corruption which can be found inside the school. It is unnecessary to pay those kind of illegal fees. time will come that schools will be close due to its corrupted policies.

We also experienced that kind of school policies. It is not necessary to pay the debts of every child if the child is not that rich. Now a days, many parents are not satisfied of the child's learning because maybe, they are focusing if the child can pay. It is illegal if the school will ask fees especially the principals who were the ones making that kind of corruption. A million peso cannot be completed if you lack a single centavo. Every now and then, money matters. That's what they only know as there defense mechanism to get rid off of "UTANGS" from their lending companies and also as their extra income.

Most schools all over the world have this policy of not giving the report card due to unpaid fees or fines. This is because according to them if the report card is given the parents do not bother about paying the fees. Many schools even stop the children from appearing from the exams due to non payment of fees. As a parent even I had never approved of this policy. But there was nothing we could do about it.

It really sounds silly , School should contact parents and can ask for reason of late payment and can get it done through many other ways but holding report card and denying other facility to student sounds silly and inhumane ......One should try to study in better school in such case Hare Krishna Ganesh

If they feel or have had this happen in the past they do have to be assured these fees get paid. They want to give the kids the opportunity to check out books and not take that away from them. They must have had some really silly things happen in the past for them to have to set up such policies.

When I was in high school, they would lose books that you turned in and then charge you a fee and they wouldn't let you get a yearbook until it was paid. Yes, schools have idiotic policies. No, I do not think it's fair to do things like that.

I think keeping the report card for a fine or unpaid fee is too much. Yes I believe that fine and unpaid fees should be paid but they can hold another things not the report card. I , too , experience it. Now it holds me back to have a good job because I can't have my Transcripts due to unpaid amount. Well, how can I pay them if I couldn't get a job... I feel terrible with my situation.

if it's because of an unpaid tuition fee, then it's normal for the school to hold the report card, but if it's because of a library fee thing, then i dont think that fair at all. my school has silly rules as well. but since i dont have a mom to defend me at school, im left with no choice but to follow their rules, pay for what they're asking me and the other students. because if i dont im afraid they'll suspend me or something...