5 Hidden Costs of Public High School

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First of all, don't complain about how much money it costs to educate your own child. Give me a break. If you can't afford it, then you say, "NO". It isn't that hard. Secondly, if your kid wants to go to prom, fine, tell them to get a part time job. Next, did the article say that it costs the family $150 a week to drive their daughter to school? What? I drove 90 miles one way for work, with a large sedan car, and it only cost me $120 a week. Also, why should I continue to have to flip the bill for someone else's kids to play sports, be in a play, or any other extracurricular activity they CHOOSE to participate in. I suppose that every 14 year old needs an iPhone, too. What is happening today? Why are so many parents trying to be their kids' friend. You are not their friend, you are the parent. Say NO.

Liz of WI 9:06PM March 05, 2013

Might be time for homeschooling. I have not one damned bit of sympathy for thse metropolitan school districts. They were rolling in cash with property taxes during the real estate boom, and now they are hurting for money. All of these activities were offered when I was in high school in the late 1980s, and you did not have to pay fees for sports or academics, but you did for activiites like prom and homecoming. Somebody doesn't know how to budget.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703864204576313572363698678.html

Sim Yulatorate of VA 10:21PM November 22, 2012

5 hidden cost of High school

Nicholas Pozzi of NY 9:01PM October 07, 2012

nyeah

nyeah of AR 11:34AM May 15, 2012

I agree with SYLVESTER of CA. This article reads like it is....Propaganda to hand over business and profits to private enterprise...They who only have filling their pockets for profit!....
PROPAGANDA!!!

Louise Beane of FL 10:11AM May 12, 2012

In our District (Dallas), 88% of the students are economically disadvantaged (measured by being on free or reduced lunch). Forget $450 for team fees - that's rent for some families. To Dallas' credit, despite the severe budget cutting going on in DISD, the District still picks up the tab for almost all of the big ticket items like uniforms and buses. How long will they be able to keep it up, though? $35M is being cut out of next year's budget, and more projected for the year after that. If those things get cut, they just aren't going to happen. It's time tax payers decide what kind of education they want for their communities, and then fund it.

Rhonda of TX 1:21AM May 09, 2012

Is there a foundation a school can apply to for grant $$ for marketing the school?

Fran Caan of IL 5:43PM May 08, 2012

Extremely misleading title of the article! If I total up all the miscellaneous costs that this article touts with off the chart figures like $450 for lacrosse and $150 per week for bus, AND not comparing it against the fees for private schools, this article is disingenuous to say the least. What is the author's intention? Give up on public schools and hand over the profits to private enterprise? My son is going to a top public university this fall to study engineering after studying in a public school.

sylvester of CA 5:02PM May 08, 2012

$150 a WEEK to transport a kid to school when you can get a bus for $1500 for the full year? Do the math - the bus is cheaper. (Just where do these people live, or what do they drive?). Learn to say NO to the little princess who has to be in everything, or maybe said princess could get get a job to help pay for extra curriculars. $450 to play LaCrosse isn't so bad - cheaper than princess's data plan for her smart phone. Face a disappointed look in junior's face? It's not the first and it won't be the last. If they really want to do something, help them figure out a way - don't just hand it over. Gotta love the "We might not to do this or that, you know, 'cause I think the kids comes first in our lives." When does THAT stop? We raised two boys - one is a doctor and one is a teacher. Neither had cell phones until college, both bought their own computers, we helped with the first car and they were on their own with vehicles after that, both had jobs starting at 16, both were in one sport, band and scouts. If they wanted name-brand things we told the "We will buy the jeans, you buy the label." Get with it, people.

Rob Johnson of MN 1:01PM May 08, 2012