Voluntary School Fees in a Public School

If School Fees are "Voluntary", why do we get reminder notices sent home?

By definition, voluntary indicates you have a choice whether to "donate" or not, I dont need to be given a reminder of a choice I may or may not have made.

Public Schools should be that.. available to the Public.

Excursions, Uniforms, Electives, Stationery etc etc etc the list goes on!! These expenses are all paid by the parents, to get a reminder that you havent volunteered a contribution is, in the words of Rowan Atkinson, "like being shot through the neck with an arrow and finding there is a gas bill attached to the end of it!"

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Permalink Reply by Belinda Pryor on March 9, 2010 at 8:48

But i do also agree we should help our school since they help our children!

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn on March 20, 2010 at 16:47

If bullying goes on in the school and nothing much is done about it, to try and eradicate it, should we still pay the 'voluntary' payments' to help our schools since I don't think they would be helping our children to the extent that is expected of them?

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Permalink Reply by Violeta A on March 13, 2010 at 1:11

I paid my son's fees all $130 or all $3.25 a week when I think about it thats nothing I spend more on coffee. Is it worth it I would say absolutly. It means that the kids have more as we all know how much the schools get and what they need to do to get extra funding for this or that. My son is happy at the school, he gets all the help and suport he needs. The teachers and everyone at the school is great so I dont mind the fees at all. I suport the school in every way I can.

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Permalink Reply by Simona Coppin on March 17, 2010 at 10:03

I absolutely agree!!

We no longer pay the upfront excursion levy at the beginning of the year. We pay as the excursions come up.
Last year we were "required" to pay the $60.00 up front. Just as well we didn't, our son only had a couple of excursions and that totalled $21.50. So we would have been out of pocket, and would not be re-imbused till the following year when they would deduct the remaining total off the new years school fees.

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on March 17, 2010 at 10:15

Brilliant idea. I'm going to tell the RTA that I don't need to pay car rego because my husband pays taxes already. I get my electricity from a State owned electricity provider, so they're not getting any money either. After all, my husband pays taxes. And what about those pesky water bills, medicare levies, council rates and motorway tolls. My husband pays taxes so all that should be free!

Welcome to the real world sweetie. The Government doesn't provide enough money for education so the parents are asked to cough up the shortfall and the P&C has to sell chocolates and useless printed tea-towels to make up the rest. Those who don't pay their school fees are just being carried by the parents who do.

Jodie, "probably in the teachers pockets." you've got to be kidding.

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on March 21, 2010 at 18:51

Yes I am a teacher and I know exactly how much I earn and how much tax I pay and how many hours I work and how many weeks leave I get. One thing I do know is that I get to spend my own money on classroom supplies to teach your children and that comes to more than the school fees the parents are asked to pay.

If the job is so cushy why do so many new teachers leave after two or three years? I'll tell you why, because there's less hours, more money, more job satisfaction and more community respect doing almost anything else than one gets from trying to educate today's children. When we're all retired in 10 years time and you're left with 3rd world import teachers you'll be complaining much more loudly I'd wager.

Finally, I didn't call you "sweetie" Jodie, that was a general term for the many comments in this thread. In the line addressed to you I called you "Jodie", though I should have used something less respectful after your comment about teachers pocketing the school fees you refuse to pay. Do the other parents know that they're carrying you?

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on March 21, 2010 at 21:32

Tax package.... here we go again. For those of us who actually pay taxes, we know that any work expenditure is only a tax deduction, that means you don't pay tax on the money you've spent. This means that if I hypothetically spend $200 per year, I don't pay tax on that amount, and at 40 odd cents in the dollar that means I get back about $80 bucks from the payg tax I already paid the Government. So it still costs me about $120. There's a free lesson for you (I know how much you like free education).

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Permalink Reply by Violeta A on March 22, 2010 at 1:33

thats your choice but my child's school deserves a lot more than what I pay for his education. Everyone from cleaner to principal is absolutly wonderful I know for a fact that they give the kids from their own pokets. The money that they recive is a joke and they dont get money for everything. Excursions are voluntary in most schools if you dont pay you dont go and thats the way it should be. Why should I pay for another child as well. It costs few 1000's to educate each child each year so my $130 is nothing. I support the school in every way I can and will continue to do so. The $130 are used to buy all his books and everything he needs in class, newsletters, printing, fees for mathletics. Most schools have web pages and you can check where your money goes. They have full report. If they dont you can ask for one.
Its funny that you say your kids are keeping teachers in a job but these teachers teach your children and because of them your kids are where they are today.

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Permalink Reply by Violeta A on March 24, 2010 at 9:57

Oh Grow up. I am not here to argue like a 5 year old I would rather pay $130 and not worry about pens and pencils and note books and all that things as the school buys them I only buy uniform for my son the rest is paid by the school with the money I pay. To be honest I dont care where the money goes but we do get financial report from the school and we do see where every cent goes. If your school is not good then change it who is stoping you. And I dont do it so I can boast as 130 who am I going to boast oh and someone is not that well off there is always health care card and if they dont have it that means they can affort $130. And guys if public schools are so bad and teachers dont make difference then why do you send your school to school??? is it for the free baby sitting??? Send them to private school or home school them.
I said what I had so say you can write what you want to write I grew up ages ago I dont argue on the internet like a teenager. GROW UP it was my opinion right or wrong it is what I feel is right for me and my family

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Permalink Reply by Carolyn on March 24, 2010 at 12:48

Do you know what you're talking about Violeta?? By the way, you don't start a sentence with 'And'!!!

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on March 24, 2010 at 10:07

It's often the case that the 'better' public schools are the ones where parents put in a bit more effort and money into their children's education. Not surprisingly these 'better' public schools are in areas where the parents also put a bit more effort and money into most of their endeavours. The success example is modelled to the children and the children are successful because of it. (good parenting 101)

I can't believe that people make ridiculous comments like "And the principal is probably only happy because all your "voluntary contributions" are going straight into his bank account."

As far as being "fortunate" goes, the harder you work, the luckier you get. Schools need more money than the Government provides and most parents pay them to improve outcomes for their children. Those who can't pay them don't have to and they're helped along by those who do. Those who Don't pay them because they won't, are carried along by those who do. Some people are OK with mooching off others, most people aren't.

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on May 17, 2010 at 12:14

As a taxpayer, parent, teacher and voter I can worry about whatever the hell I want.

The truth is that people who refuse to pay school fees are carried by those who do. As a parent I know I'm carrying quite a few. Am I also carrying your burden Julianne?