The Price of a "Free" Education

by Susan Farrell

"School, School, The Golden Rule
Don't Be Late On The Very First Day ..."

Oh, how I remember the days of hop-scotch and jump rope.

I remember getting the list of school supplies the first day of school, and then merrily skipping off to the store that evening with my mother, selecting the yellow pencils, the coolest erasers I could find, Elmer's Glue, crayons (the big box of course, with the sharpener), the right notepad, and, of course, that box of Kleenex they also requested ... my parents were shocked to have the total of $7.50 for supplies: "Hmmph ... Some free education!"

It's a different ball game nowadays. There isn't just one generic list of supplies anymore. Each teacher seems to have their own specific preferences, everything from mechanical pencils with .5 lead and refills to college-rule/no-spiral/five-subject-with-pocket-dividers notebooks. And that's the "basic" items.

My daughter last year had to purchase a TI-86 graphing, "Only-$135.99-on-sale-with-rebate-at-the-office-supply-store" calculator. Was there an option on purchasing this outrageously priced supply, I asked? Yes, she could drop the advanced math course and take a regular class and purchase the $89.99-on-sale-at-the-office-supply-store (no rebate) calculator.

Sigh ... there went my paycheck. And the child support for that matter by the time I paid the $80 in book fees (for USED books, no less), the $30 yearbook cost, $10 lab fee, $25 activity fee, $30 debate class fee, $75 chorus uniform fee, and $10 Key Club dues (no, I was told, this is not covered by "activity fees", which I never did find out was for). And that was only for my daughter! Thank goodness we didn't have to pay for the Spanish class field trip to Spain ("Only $1200 — a great deal!"), and the debate teacher went into labor so she didn't take the class to the debate team competition in Berkeley, California, for $350 each after all. Though I know my daughter wished for them both but never said a word because she knew we couldn't afford them.

I dreaded going to my son's registration, which actually was not quite so bad... I only forked out $78 there. Of course, that didn't account for the $75 in fees I found out about over the next two weeks. They just like to "spread" their fees out so that you don't have to pay for them all at once ... they give you two weeks!

Let's not even talk about the price of the extracurricular activities like sports teams or cheerleading! My daughter tried out for a couple teams last year and, as much as I wanted her to succeed and make a team, I held my breath and sweated every moment of the try-outs quietly wondering how on earth I would be able to afford the uniform fees and travel costs. When she didn't make a team, I sighed with heartache and relief at the same time.

What ever happened to a free education system? There are some programs for low-income households to provide free lunches and perhaps even pay for some of the "required" book and class fees, but what about those children whose families simply cannot afford the additional costs? I somehow manage to scrape up enough to pay for my children's fees, but I sweat it out as I do, juggling bills and withdrawing from what little savings I have in order to pay for them. My heart aches for those children who aren't able to buy the yearbook, can't take the advanced math course even if they have the intelligence, will never even try out for a team because they know it is out of their financial reach, and can't even join a club after school because they can't afford the membership fees.

No, these are not required fees or necessary activities, according to the school administrators or the judges who order child support. Those costs are not calculated into child support-"You should not be living beyond your means," the judge says. I laugh at the figures that are used to calculate the standard of living at which one lives and how much is needed to maintain that standard of living. Show me a single mom who receives only the court-ordered amount of child support and who is still able to maintain the same standard of living as before the divorce, and I'll show you a true magician. Not necessary fees, perhaps, but the social weight that this inequity carries is felt only too well by those children who go without or who lose the opportunities that this so-called "free" public education system claims to provide equally and without bias.

Meanwhile, we try, and sometimes even manage to find a way to pay these fees, and provide for our children as best we can. For those who are struggling and unable to pay these fees, I urge you to contact your school district and request assistance for the fees and for school meals as well, if you can qualify. I urge ALL Single Momz to write letters to their legislators regarding the rising costs of the "free," public education system and the activities which all children should be able to participate in equally.

The inequity can carry deep scars for the children and cruelly mar the time of their lives that should be filled with laughter, friendships and fond memories of their school days and pals. We need to bring to the attention of our legislators that these fees should not be a social barrier, and also that fees such as these need to be calculated as a part of child support, in much the same way child care and health insurance costs are calculated. As a child grows out of the age of child care, the fees do NOT decrease or go away, they are simply replaced by activity and school fees.

I remember a judge telling me we were living beyond our means by expecting that my children should get to participate in extra-curricular activities and lessons much the same way they did prior to the divorce, and that their father should have to pay for half those expenses as well. Rather than explaining that to me, I'd like to see a judge try explaining that to a child when they are deprived of opportunities and are feeling the social pressures and prejudices.

We can make a difference if we only take the time to write our legislators and voice our dismay. Please do. See "How To Contact Your Legislators" for more information.

Susan Farrell is the single mother of two teenagers. Her many hobbies include writing, reading, gardening, cooking, traveling and camping, and trying new things with her children. Her motto: "Live, love, laugh." Life's just too short not to.