Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by deborah smith on April 11, 2010 at 11:38pm

I think Neridah original point has been missed...'voluntary' school fees should mean by 'choice'...and therefore children should not be victimised by teachers when their parents are slow in paying these 'voluntary' fees...imagine the stress a 6 year old feels when his teacher tells him he cannot participate in the easter concert because he has not paid his school fees?

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Permalink Reply by Katrina Smith on April 12, 2010 at 12:24am

In my experience, in public schools, a student would never be excluded from anything if their parents didn't pay school fees. I'd be mighty surprised if it did happen. In a perfect world public schools would have all the money they need, but they don't. So what do we do? We pay school fees if we can. We flog tea towels and chocolates. We hold walk-a-thons and fetes. We raise the money that Governments refuse to supply to improve the outcomes for our children. It sucks but it's the current reality. When some parents choose to exercise the option not to volunteer to pay school fees, the shortfall needs to be made up by the other parents.

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Permalink Reply by deborah smith on April 12, 2010 at 12:50pm

He was not excluded from the activity but he didn't know that when the teacher threatened to exclude him.

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Permalink Reply by Deb on June 12, 2010 at 1:35am

Uncalled for and unprofessional, what a disgrace to threaten a child!

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Permalink Reply by AJ on June 12, 2010 at 4:14pm

I'm sorry you've had a such a poor experience. In my experience teachers man fete stalls, collect and organise monies for various fund-raisers, always seem to be buying raffle tickets or chocolates or the like etc etc etc. They work (unpaid) to supervise discos, skate nights, crazy hair days (supervising children before school to have their hair done), supervise car washes (not as popular these days as automatic car washes seem to have taken over), supervise sausage sizzles, and perhaps most memorably of all volunteer to get dunked in "dunk the teacher" stalls at school fetes. Although the last one may not raise much- it's something that I'll always remember! The parents club (P&C) works closely with teachers- I'm sure they will appreciate any help that you can offer them so that you can see this partnership in action.

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Permalink Reply by AJ on June 12, 2010 at 10:38am

Who do you think should pay for your children to go to camp? I'm sorry if this sounds blunt- and I don't mean to offend- but I'd be interested to hear your answer.

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Permalink Reply by AJ on June 12, 2010 at 4:04pm

Who is they? (The "they" that rip parents off.) If you are able to get involved in the planning of school camps and get the costs down I'm sure your school would really appreciate it. Re-reading this thread I'm a bit confused- are you and Jodie the same poster (I'm not sure if that's what we are called- but we post on the forum so I'll call us posters until someone corrects me). It's just that I asked Jodie a question and you seem to be answering for her.

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Permalink Reply by Karen McCulloch on June 21, 2010 at 3:16pm

I have to do without uniforms and text books and shoes to pay fees, its great sending children to school in shirts that are so threadbear they are see through, shorts that have to be sewn back together when the fabric is so thin it can hardly hold a thread. I pay tax, and lots of it, it is the governments responsibility to make sure our public schools are public and abolish school fees. It angers me that I keep getting reminders to pay school fees that are voluntary, oh, and by the way, if you are having difficulties paying you can see the principal to make payment arrangements.

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Permalink Reply by AJ on June 21, 2010 at 8:02pm

Karen, if you are in the state of Victoria there is a fund available for uniforms- the Principal needs to fill in a form on your behalf and your child can be provided with a full (ie shoes, socks, underwear etc) plain uniform (may not have school logos on it- but will be appropriate colours) or money towards a "branded" uniform. You can find the info you need at http://www.ssr.net.au/About-Us.aspx. And yes, if you are having difficulties paying for the other fees schools will take payments whenever you can make them (I know of one family that pays $3 a week). I hope this helps with the uniforms.

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Permalink Reply by Geoff H on June 23, 2010 at 1:37pm

Don't blame the school. The Government has reduced the amount of money each school gets and schools are stuggling. While society expects schools to teach all the new and beaut things in life, they also cost a lot more money that years ago. Parents want robotics to be taught, well each kit cost quite a few hundred dollars, what about programs on the computers, once again getting a licence for these programs cost a lot of money also. Even excursions cost so much more money now, for example if a bus is required to travel on a highway they must have seatbelts. While this is certainly good, the bus companies then charge more for a bus with seatbelts.

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Permalink Reply by kim scharkie on July 15, 2010 at 3:23pm

I have a question, you're all saying about how it's only $3.25 per week for school fees. Can someone tell me if there's a limit/maximum public state schools can charge for fees in SA. The above rate works out a lot cheaper than what we pay at Mawson Lakes where it's around $275 per year and increasing $10 annually. Just for those who say it's easy just speak to the principal about a payment plan, I would have thought the Principal had more important work to do and Administration Staff would deal with this. Unfortunately my wife did try this and offered to pay $30 per fortnight only to have the Admin Staff knock this back and say it's not enough. All of this had to then wait until the school got the debt collectors onto my wife. Let's just say I wiped my hands of this school a long time ago, they will get nothing extra from us, I guarantee it.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on October 26, 2010 at 10:43pm

Hi Kim, Can you please tell me more info on the public school at Mawson Lakes?

We are relocating to that area from interstate within the next two months. Thanks to the wonders of the internet I've come across some 'not so great' comments about that school, such as it's an open plan school/ classrooms with many composite year levels, kids call their teachers by their first names & the school library is across a busy main road. I have not found one positive review/ comment yet!

I called the school recently to inquire about any food allergy policies ( I am aware of what the SA education 'guidelines' are on the matter but wanted to suss out to what degree they may have implemented them). I was informed by their main office that they have no such policy but through word of mouth she'd heard that some classrooms have a note on their door. When I inquired as to why they do not have a policy I was told apparently " it's just too hard to police". Which sounded when combined with her tone of voice that 'We just can't be bothered'. [Nevermind, the free training SA education department provides for all teachers, prepared example school policies and school allergy management guidelines! Plus, the school can be granted additional funding to provide a 'special needs' teachers aide to supervise 'at risk' periods such as morning tea (little lunch) and lunch....] As a parent of a child about to enter Reception next year who could die within minutes from nut allergy induced anaphylaxis I was pretty disgusted... It wasn't Mawson Lakes' lack of initiative- as a proactive parent I am prepared to do whatever it takes to get the school extra funding, to volunteer & assist in educating teachers, students & other parents. But, the 'we can't really be bothered' attitude and implied discrimination towards a child with special needs left me floored... Where else do they exhibit this attitude towards their kids?! I'm wondering whether a parent of another child with special needs, that lets say is restricted to a wheelchair, might be told "yeah we have got lots of steps around the place but its just too hard to put ramps in"?

I will still try to meet to discuss with the school whether they are open to accommodate new student safety initiatives, and whether they are willing accept our child. But it sounds like I shouldn't hold my breath! Any recommendations about other schools in the area would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you :-)

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