Inappropriate Fees Present an Opportunity

By Frances O'Neill Zimmerman, La Jolla

This stigmatization is alive and well as an executive principal made it clear in an article by Emily Alpert in which he stated if poor kids come to him and tell him they can't pay, he will put them to work picking up trash. So the kids cleaning up others' garbage are the poor kids and don't think their peers don't pick up on that! So the lesson is, if you're poor, you're going to pick up trash. That Hartzel v. Connell was on to something when it made fees and charges illegal.

Posted by Sally Smith | reply to this comment
October 30, 2009 12:50 pm

Giving kids custodial jobs to work off the cost of extra fees for supplies or uniforms is reprehensible and certainly could stigmatize a person. There oughta be a law that covers such a practice.

Posted by Frances O'Neill Zimmerma | reply to this comment
October 30, 2009 3:16 pm

If picking up trash is the short term solution to not cutting school programs-- and "extracurricular" does not mean "unnecessary" or "unworthy"-- Then every kid should be required to do that job without waiver if he/she wants to participate in the program. Still, though, there is plenty of money available through the mandatory taxes paid that is supposed to be used for necessary, supplies, and not for unintended wasteful purposes including administrative/ors or other fees or expenditures. This includes the idea that working with these kids does not have a money or garment or material price on it; i.e., the "profession" of this work

Posted by John E. Quest | reply to this comment
November 18, 2009 9:38 am

Does having to pay for a cap and gown count as an extra fee? My stepson received the notice in the mail that if I order the garments by December 15, they will ONLY cost $36.00. You have to pay this or you don't get to participate in graduation ceremonies. Is participating in graduation exercises an extra curricular activity? It's $36.00 that I don't really have at the moment; overall, it's the principle of the matter. This is the same high school district that is getting another $100.00 out of me in property taxes! I guess that FAPE doesn't include graduating from the government institution that isn't really "free" from my perspective. Here's the "perk" in this matter: you also get to "keep" the cap and gown. Who needs one after graduation? Future Halloween costume?

Posted by Kelly Donivan | reply to this comment
November 4, 2009 3:37 pm

Well said. In my day here in San Diego County at a public high school, the gowns were provided for the event, and then returned to be used by others the next year. This appears to support the growing out of control trend where too many administrators and politicians are focused on money and raising it and spending it imprudently and frankly foolishly, instead of investing in our future for the better, or of course our students/children who are not so valued

Posted by John E. Quest | reply to this comment
November 18, 2009 9:48 am

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