she says aloud--not really caring who might hear--returning to her car after the cashier gleefully rings up her total:
$575.00
she writes, in color #660000, a.k.a blood red, symbol of the ink in which she signed her name on the credit card receipt.
That's how much it cost me today to register to send my two boys to their favorite public high school.
And that's without having ordered the yearbooks on the side. would you like some fry sauce with those?
(I might be able to afford them sometime next spring.)
But it could be worse.
If one of them would've been a cheerleader it would've cost me more than that just in cheerleading fees.
13 comments:
Holy crap. Why?
I see I must elaborate:
EXHIBIT A
Provo High School Fees 2006-2007
1 male student, grade 10
ACADEMIC:
*Instruct Materials..........................................$90.00
*Instruct Mts. Refund.....................................$10.00
(*denotes required fees)
German Workbook..........................................$15.00
(I paid for one of these last year too. Never saw it. Apparently the German instructor at Provo High just teachers right out of her head. Echt Mien....)
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:
Marching Band/Fall........................................$100.00
(only because they are doing the music from "The Nightmare Before Christmas and my young saxist son loves it intensely)
PARTICIPATION:
Band...............................................................$35.00
(Say wait a minute. Didn't I already pay through the nose for this?)
Cross Country.................................................$60.00
(Never mind that the practices for the above are held at the exact same time)
Note: I could've forked out another $60.00 today for track, but I need to recuperate first.
Also Note: The above student will also at some point this academic year require Drivers' Ed instruction, requiring another $140.00.
EXHIBIT B
Provo High School Fees 2006-2007
1 male student, grade 11
ACADEMIC:
*Instruct Materials..........................................$90.00
*Instruct Mts. Refund.....................................$10.00
(*denotes required fees)
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:
Choir Costumes/Boy.....................................$150.00
(I find relief in the fact that this should be the only time in my life when the required apparel for one of my boys is more expensive than equivalent required apparel for my daughter)
Concert Choir Robe..........................................$10.00
PARTICIPATION:
(I'm quite sure I will owe another $35.00 here for participation in the above "special activities")
OPTIONAL-FEE WAIVER-DO NOT APPLY
Parking..............................................................$5.00
Of course I also paid an additional $34 for school pictures that needed to be taken today in order for the kids to get their activity cards in time for next week's football game.
But that was a mere drop in the bucket...
Yeah Jake, I did think of you when I was considering how it could possibly be worse.
We'll be cheering for your kids! Hope they have a great season!
I'm not sure what high school rates are like here in Lubbock, but I do know that our property taxes are about triple the property taxes in Utah (I know, there are other taxes in Utah to help make up for it) and the majority of that goes to pay for public schools. It all bites!
Bleed us dry, kick sand in our face, squirt us with yellow liquid (that might be toxic), and anything else they can think of.
Yeah? Try paying out exorbitant school tax every year, finding the schools woefully lacking and destroying your childrens spirituality, then shelling out thousands of dollars for homeschool curriculum and activities.
I think I may have won the "Po Folk" Award here!
Lyle--at least your taxes go to some bitchin' Friday Night Football arenas and not to MARIACHI TEAMS. I would kill to be in Lubbock just to get away from the Mariachi teams.
Our mortgage payment is 3/4 less without the taxes attached. Hopefully we will not be in Tejas when Jooj starts school. If so, I might as well do private--it will cost as much.
I remember the days when paying over $100 for high school was expensive....are we getting old or what?...although I never played any sports, music or did the cheerleader gig (in public);-).
Yeah, Lyle, watch out for that toxic pee. I hear it's especially bad in the boys' locker room at the high school.
One of my fav phrases... like the title. ;-)
And... since I'm not to that stage yet in parenting... this is for a public school????
Yup Yup Yup!
But I also must clarify, we are mostly very happy with our public schools in my neck of the woods.
For the most part my kids have had great teachers, who have been good examples to them and helped motivate them to become good people, not just to have good test scores.
Also, a good part of those fees are for particpating in music and sports--I recognize these are things we choose and I am grateful my kids have opportunities to learn to work hard towards developing talents and to learn all the great life skills they learn when participating in something that is greater than themselves.
My husband is in public ed (he teaches third grade) so you may think I'm a little bit biased, but I wouldn't say that if that hadn't been my personal experience overall.
I feel very fortunate and although I'm still reeling from the sticker shock, I truly believe that much of what my kids gain from these experiences is invaluable. My kids go without a lot (mostly because we are employed in public education), so if there is something they are passionate about, I'm going to come up with the money to let them play.
Yeah cw, I just signed my kids up for Fall activities at the YMCA. Holy. Freakin. Cow. 50 bucks for each Tae Kwon Do unfiorm. It's just white pajamas, how can it be so expensive? Then my daughter's ballet class is specific. BLACK SHOES AND BLACK SKIRT. So, there goes her pink stuff that we already have. Even piano lessons from non-degreed stay ay home Moms are running 12-15 bucks a lesson, so we had to quit.
I have a plan though. My Mom plays the lottery and claims that my dead stepdad gives her numbers in her dreams. It shouldn't be long now before we're wealthy beyond imagination. :)
Has it gone up tremendously in the past couple years because I do not remember ever having to fork out that much money for High School registration. My mom made us pay for our own and I don't think I would be able to afford it at that rate. Maybe they are encouraging higher drop out rates???
just saw your comment, PHS Yearbooks are overrated, and the design elements jsut aren't up to par with other's our there (i did yearbook in Happy Valley... I'm a little judgemental of the other high schools out there.)
but thank you SO much for you comment, it's appreciated. I hope youre doing well!
and I'm excited for another person to follow my journey through life, I'm also excited to read more of your blog.
Mark aka AtP
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