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School registration ain't what it use to be
Posted Thursday, August 7, 2008, at 10:05 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Today I went with my high school senior to register for his last year of high school. Up until two years ago, students each registered at the school they were attending. Now, every student in the Greencastle school district reports to Deer Meadow between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
That's about 2,000 kids with at least one parent all converging in one day. The schools each have their own areas and are pretty efficient at moving you through the lines, but still it's a lot of people in one place and it takes some time. It actually reminds me of my college years when registration took place in Assembly Hall at IU by class. You stood in course line after course line including the one where you wrote the big check at the end of about three hours. Actually his book fees were close to what it once cost me to register for those16 college credit hours. In 1972 I paid $350 for my 16 hours of college credits. By the time we pay book rental, student fees, a parking pass, sports pass, a yearbook and put lunch money in his account, and add to that the Alpha class from DePauw (in which we did choose to participate), my son's last year of high school will cost more than my first year of college. That doesn't include school supplies like notebooks, binders, backpacks, etc. or clothing or new shoes. I don't know how families with multiple kids do it. Just having one left in school has nearly depleted my life savings. When my daughters were in first and second grade we lived in Florida and did not pay any book rental fees. They went to good public schools and had excellent teachers and staff members and it only cost about $25 for supplies. Moving back to Indiana when they entered third grade was a real shock. They graduated from Warren Central in 1997, a mere eleven years ago and we didn't pay as much for both of their senior book fees as we are paying for my son's last year of high school. I wish I had paid more attention to how things were done in Florida back in the 80's so I could make some recommendations on how to lower the cost of book rental fees. Sadly, I don't know. Indiana schools need a lot of changes and there isn't any money in state or county coffers to help. Any ideas? Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Maribeth Ward began working for a community newspaper right out of college. Within a few years she moved to marketing and spent most of her working life as a marketing manager. In 2006 she came back to her first love--writing.
She attended Indiana University and is the mother of three--identical twin daughters and a son. She is also the Nana of three wonderful grandchildren--Matt, Riley and Emma.
She and her husband Faril share their home with their cat Sunny and dog Roadie.
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Wow Molon how do you really fill?
I asked the same question about the lottery money. My children's school cost hasn't gone down yet.
Indiana is one of just a few states that still does book rental. A few of the books that our children have brought home should have been thrown out a few years ago. Torn pages, marked up with notes, etc.
It is ruff paying these fees and the "back to school stuff". I was so glad when we didn't have to buy the elementary supplies. Yes, I miss that age but 2 boxes of kleenexes, hand sanitizer, markers, crayons, pencils and all the different folders and binders........AAAAAHHHHH. Chills me thinking of it.
Maribeth this is your last year count your blessing because it could get worst. Every election year we set back and wonder what changes are coming about. People need to be looking more Closely at the people running all the way from School Board to President of the United States. Stop and think what their idea's years down the road will effect everyone.
The jobs are scarce now days, I wonder how many had to sign up for the reduce books and lunch?
Is "ain't" your Florida free education or Indiana schooling? Ah.....the entitlement mentality abounds.
To davgreeencastle...
Dictionary.com talks about the use of the word "ain't" with the following:
"Ain't occurs in humorous or set phrases: Ain't it the truth! She ain't what she used to be. It ain't funny. The word is also used for emphasis: That just ain't so! It does not appear in formal writing except for deliberate effect in such phrases or to represent speech...it is nonstandard except in similar humorous uses;"
I think it was used for effect here.
As to the "entitlement mentality" remark... Indiana has made a conscious commitment to universal education but not to "free" education. However, I believe we ought to be allowed to question that commitment since 42 states do provide text books while Indiana does not.
The only mentality I see in your comment is "snide." (Look that one if you want.)
Using improper English in a headline while lamenting about having to pay for a small part of your own child's schooling is quite ironic, wouldn't you agree?
Hey dude! You need to be a little less condescending! If you think she's the only one complaining about the textbook rental fees, you weren't at registration that day. I personally think she's right-on.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been living with the idea that as taxpayers -- you know... property, income, sales etc. -- were paying all of of our children's educations. I thought that's how public schools were funded. Those are tax dollars, aren't they? And if you got a job and own property, you pay taxes.
With your narrow minded look at the world, you ought to get yourself a job teaching or on the school board. You'd fit right in.
While you're at it You need to look up "Irony" in a thesaurus yourself. My literature teacher taught me that it's saying one thing and meaning another... like, "I love some Putnam County folk." (Losses something on the printed page, don't you think?)
So to answer the question, "How much more should taxpayers pay?" is " mo, till ya aint got no mo"