School costs and parent involvement

[jelli]

It's ridiculous to me at the number of teachers that spend their own money for supplies as well as ridiculous the amount of money it takes for field trips nowadays. I mean where is the balance.

My kids have gone on field trips to places that I haven't even been to yet. We used to go to the relatively close "park" for a field trip and my son goes to Disney? I am as guilty as the next person about not wanting to say "no" and for wanting my kids to have the experience that I never had and finding a way to send them.

[Rockinonahigh]

Yesterday I was at wall mart and already they have school suplies out,I looked at the suply sheet for the school my son had gone to ..OMG the stuff they needed was off the chart,im really glad im done with buyig school suplys for anyone cause I would have to take out a bank loan to do it these days

[jelli]

Together T(aka Cruel) and I have put 5 kids through school. We currently have one high schooler left - thank heavens.

[greeneyedgrrl]

Originally Posted by jelli

It's ridiculous to me at the number of teachers that spend their own money for supplies as well as ridiculous the amount of money it takes for field trips nowadays. I mean where is the balance.

My kids have gone on field trips to places that I haven't even been to yet. We used to go to the relatively close "park" for a field trip and my son goes to Disney? I am as guilty as the next person about not wanting to say "no" and for wanting my kids to have the experience that I never had and finding a way to send them.

my daughter's last school cut out just about all the field trips except for 2 to outdoor ed (one overnighter in 4th grade and 3.5 days in 5th) and a trip great america or six flags or some lame ass ish like that.

I am all for going on field trips...but so NOT down for spending mah hard earned $$ on crap trips to consumerville like disneyland. i want my kid to go to places i haven't, but i want the trips to have some substance too. i think it's important for our kids to get out of the box while they're still young. i plan on being on the school board next year to stir some ish up! i dunno how that's gonna work yet (being a single parent, a student and a commuter) but i'll fig it out!

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by greeneyedgrrl

my daughter's last school cut out just about all the field trips except for 2 to outdoor ed (one overnighter in 4th grade and 3.5 days in 5th) and a trip great america or six flags or some lame ass ish like that.

I am all for going on field trips...but so NOT down for spending mah hard earned $$ on crap trips to consumerville like disneyland. i want my kid to go to places i haven't, but i want the trips to have some substance too. i think it's important for our kids to get out of the box while they're still young. i plan on being on the school board next year to stir some ish up! i dunno how that's gonna work yet (being a single parent, a student and a commuter) but i'll fig it out!

OK, I'm old, but the field trips of my youth were related to our studies. For example, going to the state capitol and sitting in on state assembly or senate proceedings. Visiting the nearest CA mission, going to a planetarium for a science class.

I think it is great for all kids to get out of the box, too- but I think school field trips should be to enhance what kids are learning in school. When we went to government related places, our teachers taught us about how bills are put through the state legislature before we went and then we talked about the processes we observed.

[jelli]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

I think it is great for all kids to get out of the box, too- but I think school field trips should be to enhance what kids are learning in school. When we went to government related places, our teachers taught us about how bills are put through the state legislature before we went and then we talked about the processes we observed.

Wouldn't that be great if that is how it worked out, but the sad thing is so many kids are taught to take the fast, easy, etc way.

Look at the number of kids nowadays that do not know how to use a dictionary, a phone book, balance a bank statement(keep track of ATM purchases), write a formal letter/resume/etc.

And why if kids aren't learning these things don't the parents teach them.

[jelli]

Originally Posted by greeneyedgrrl

I am all for going on field trips...but so NOT down for spending mah hard earned $$ on crap trips to consumerville like disneyland. i want my kid to go to places i haven't, but i want the trips to have some substance too.

I know exactly what you mean about having substance vs. touristy travels. Our district has been trying to find some balance, but I am not sure if the balance is where the trips start getting costly.

We want to go to Disneyland, but we need our educational stuff too. So let's see what is all on the way down and back that we can integrate as part of XYZ curriculum.

[greeneyedgrrl]

Originally Posted by jelli

We want to go to Disneyland, but we need our educational stuff too. So let's see what is all on the way down and back that we can integrate as part of XYZ curriculum.

i get that some people want to go to DL, but i don't feel it's appropriate for education, especially when things that are important AND essential to children's growth and development are being cut, like outside time, creative teaching, music and the arts. i feel that the fluffy trips (those that lack substance) should be family trips, not school. the child who comes from a low income family isn't going to miss much by not going to disneyland. hiwever, denied the opportunity to leave their neighborhood and see something of substance (our government in action )or inaction as the case may be) or seeing one of our national forests, could be life changing. i also don't think that DL should in any way be funded by taxpayer money. ...and i've been there, really isn't all that. your $70 (just to get in?? really?? why??) or whatever it is could be spent better elsewhere. jeez you could take a family of four to the local aquarium for that. i want my kid to be out in nature, or learning how our government works, not learning how to buy more ish...she gets enough of that without adding it into the curriculum. it pisses me off that the 8th grade DC trip got cut in favor of GA or 6 flags...sad day for education--end rant

[cane]

Where I live all supplies are paid for by the school, and I have a special budget for that. Also we tend to make all our projects on school time, to compensate for absent parents and so on. I think that is a good solution to the problem.

One thing I wanted to point out though, is that I, as a teacher, of course I can see when a kid has made a project without any help.

[jelli]

Originally Posted by greeneyedgrrl

i get that some people want to go to DL, but i don't feel it's appropriate for education, especially when things that are important AND essential to children's growth and development are being cut, like outside time, creative teaching, music and the arts. i feel that the fluffy trips (those that lack substance) should be family trips, not school. the child who comes from a low income family isn't going to miss much by not going to disneyland. hiwever, denied the opportunity to leave their neighborhood and see something of substance (our government in action )or inaction as the case may be) or seeing one of our national forests, could be life changing. i also don't think that DL should in any way be funded by taxpayer money. ...and i've been there, really isn't all that. your $70 (just to get in?? really?? why??) or whatever it is could be spent better elsewhere. jeez you could take a family of four to the local aquarium for that. i want my kid to be out in nature, or learning how our government works, not learning how to buy more ish...she gets enough of that without adding it into the curriculum. it pisses me off that the 8th grade DC trip got cut in favor of GA or 6 flags...sad day for education--end rant

I am all for the students creating ways to raise the money or at least a portion of the money. This will not only ease the burden on parents, but also (hopefully) teach them about working and saving towards something they truly would like to do.

We have 5(4 that lived full time) kids and in no time would $70 have taken us to a local aquarium, zoo, fair, or out to a decent dinner for that fact, but I get what you're saying.

Did anyone see where I talked about kids not being able to use a dictionary, phone book, balance monies, etc? Yes, a said day.

[luv2luvgirls]

I must comment I have been ranting about this since my kid started school...Why do I need to buy the tennis balls for the chair and table legs? dont they have funding for that type of supply ...further more the older my kid gets the more it seems that they corner you into buying the "ice cream parties for good behavior or meeting some goal,my problem with it is this...first off w/o a heads up I get my kid coming home telling me what I need to purchase for w/e thing they are doing...and its needed the next day...so then I get an email from the teacher telling me if I could help as most of the parents cant...then to find out the next day that its not just her class but the whole pod I need to bring ice cream for....if your gonna reward kids for meeting a goal ...why am I the one doing it? and if I tell my kid I am not doing it this time I do it everytime let another parent do it...she comes home after not getting the said party and now its my fault as the teacher states sorry but no one brought stuff...grrrr

next subject,projects..I dont know about you guys but the parents here get graded for involvement I have to sign this and initial that after checking her work to show i do..and from what I have been hearing, from other parents and teachers is if you are not involved to thier expectations you get a visit from dcf or w/e it may be called im not sure...but the projects,at the beginning of 3rd grade last yr she had to do a power point presentation...I was like huh!!!I wonder how they heck is my kid going to do that?amazingly she does with guidance

I think im the only butch parent there anyway lol and I want to know what is going on in the school so I go to all the meetings.. the fund raisers are much more different then when I went to school,it says dont go door to door,parents take it to work and get donations or sell the suff. doesnt that defeat the purpose of teaching kids about fund raising? school is so changed.
in a way it is looking like its going for the better only in the fact that they are holding parents responsible more now and that I think needs to be done. but what if thier perception of "parent involvement" isnt what I thought...am I going to get a visit because you think I should have paid for all the parties? its kinda worrisome

[jelli]

Originally Posted by luv2luvgirls

I must comment I have been ranting about this since my kid started school...Why do I need to buy the tennis balls for the chair and table legs? dont they have funding for that type of supply ...further more the older my kid gets the more it seems that they corner you into buying the "ice cream parties for good behavior or meeting some goal,my problem with it is this...first off w/o a heads up I get my kid coming home telling me what I need to purchase for w/e thing they are doing...and its needed the next day...so then I get an email from the teacher telling me if I could help as most of the parents cant...then to find out the next day that its not just her class but the whole pod I need to bring ice cream for....if your gonna reward kids for meeting a goal ...why am I the one doing it? and if I tell my kid I am not doing it this time I do it everytime let another parent do it...she comes home after not getting the said party and now its my fault as the teacher states sorry but no one brought stuff...grrrr

next subject,projects..I dont know about you guys but the parents here get graded for involvement I have to sign this and initial that after checking her work to show i do..and from what I have been hearing, from other parents and teachers is if you are not involved to thier expectations you get a visit from dcf or w/e it may be called im not sure...but the projects,at the beginning of 3rd grade last yr she had to do a power point presentation...I was like huh!!!I wonder how they heck is my kid going to do that?amazingly she does with guidance

I think im the only butch parent there anyway lol and I want to know what is going on in the school so I go to all the meetings.. the fund raisers are much more different then when I went to school,it says dont go door to door,parents take it to work and get donations or sell the suff. doesnt that defeat the purpose of teaching kids about fund raising? school is so changed.
in a way it is looking like its going for the better only in the fact that they are holding parents responsible more now and that I think needs to be done. but what if thier perception of "parent involvement" isnt what I thought...am I going to get a visit because you think I should have paid for all the parties? its kinda worrisome

Parents purchase the tennis balls? Please tell me you are joking???

Butch parenting can be one of the hardest things in my opinion. Especially if you live in the Bible Belt like we do. Between the responses from faculty and the response of peers towards your child(or in our case children) it can be maddening. "Here be involved, but can you do it invisibly?'

fund-raising has to be done sometimes, but the door to door stuff I refuse to let my kids sell. I'm sure it's the profit return on that over priced wrapping paper, trinkets, etc that is the appeal for the school. What happened to bake sales, car washes, cake walks, you know, the good times, old school, community involved, fund raising. And if a child has a parent that can not afford to be involved then perhaps let their involvement be in trade... like making signs for the event or volunteering time. Don't punish the kids for their parents level of involvement to me that just promotes guilt/shame or a damned if I do mentality(depending on the age level of the child).