If you could give me some idea about the book involved... Maybe at least part of the text is online? Be glad to try to help, anyway

OMG, Miki, there too?!  That is the only part of school that drives me crazy.  You nailed it to a T!  New cirriculum, not allowing them to bring home school books even though you pay school fees, and tons and tons of homework.  I thank my lucky stars that my sons are able to make do and keep up for the most part or they'd be left behind to fail.  I can't tell you how many times a year I have to google homework stuff and I was a great student who knew my stuff!  When they get sick and have to be home I panic.  I'm afraid they miss will how to do a new concept or have a boatload of reading and chapter questions.  stinks.

Yeah, that's BS!  And the first week of school to boot!  Is the teacher on crack?  Why in the world would she give that much hw?

Nope, tiff, public school.  It's $35 a piece for both boys and we just got nailed with football fees and pics too.  I just went school shopping yesterday and today.  I'm broke and pissed.

I don't pay fee's unless it's for sports, booster (PTA), etc. and believe me...they are always trying to sell or get $$ for something. I have to provide all materials and extra classroom supplies (paper towels, kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc.)

My son wants to play baseball but, that is not until Feb. and it's not through the school but, it will be $100 plus pics. He doesn't get to play on the school teams until next year since he is only in 5th grade.

I have my booster/pta money sitting on the shelf. I'm joining this year and they will hear everything I have to say too. The fundraisers are also something I cannot sell. They are those catalogs with over inflated items in there. I don't have anyone here I could sell to, if they did candy bars those would sell.

I love the school, don't get me wrong but, I get a little peeved at some of the things.

What I don't understand about this new curr. is that they are teaching things to the kids that I didn't even learn until high school. The kids are too far behind to learn this stuff so fast!

We've always had school fees for the boys.  We buy their supplies too!  I was asking hubby what exactly do these school fees cover.  He said the fees are to help with getting new books, stuff for the school, etc.  OK, but I thought public school was free?  Hubby shrugs shoulders. 

One year I tried not paying them all school year    Kids didn't get their grade cards until the fees were paid.  Never did that again.  Oh, and don't forget to have enough lunch money on tab.  If you're even short for one day they make the kids eat peanut butter and jelly.  No charging, no nothing. 

Oh, and don't forget to have enough lunch money on tab.  If you're even short for one day they make the kids eat peanut butter and jelly.  No charging, no nothing. 

Now I remeber that from back when I was in school. And the wierd thing is, they would freeze the sandwiches.

   If the kids can't bring home their school books, how are they to study for tests and do homework?    Not all families have computers and internet access, if the text is on line.  And of those that do have computers and internet access, very few would have a computer per child.  So how do you decide who gets the computer and when and for how long.  What if more than one child has gobs of homework?  My grandkids schools aren't the way you have described and it is a good thing cause one only has dial up access and the others certainly couldn't afford a computer per child, the router etc necessary to allow more than one computer on line at a time.  School is certainly different than when I or my kids went.  Sorry you guys are having so many problems.  I think I would probably in jail for murdering the superintendent, principal and teachers.  Good Luck!!

Mikki:
We are in school just down the road from you guys and I am so over all these fees already.  It's only the fourth day of school.  I had to buy a TI83 calculator that cost me $100.00 bucks!  This is for a 12 year old mind you!    Wow, maybe they will be building space ships in class, who knows.  Both my daughers made the dance team and that came up to a grand total of $4,000.00.  And no, that is not a typo - $4,000.00.  And if they make it to Nationals in Orlando, FL it will be even more!    Oh just shoot me now.  Maybe they are just trying to warm us up for what it will be like when they go to college.

Okay ~ do any of you guy have a sbdm council?  If so you might want to go to a meeting.  Parents have a right to voice your opinion on such things as homework and school supply lists!  You do not have a choice on school fees and school bus fees ~ they will be mandated by the district so you have to take them up at a district level.

I worked with the SBDM council for 5 years and I worked as a Parent rep!  One of the big things I did was make sure that we kept all of our school supply list to under $25 dollars.  The teacher could ask for wipes, erasers or whatever,  but if that list went over that amount then they had to split it up between the kids somehow to bring that price back down.  They also had the option to put a wish list on there that the parents could get if they wanted to ~ no pressure, just a option.  Parents LOVED it!  We made the lists available at the end of school year so the parents also had all summer to get all supplies in case they had more than one child ~ whatever to make it easier...

As for homework ~ each school should have a homework policy written in their bylaws and available to parents ~ ask to see it.  It should have a time limit set of how much homework in minutes a child by grade level can have a night.  This can vary a little per child, but it is a guideline ~ I think this is a mandate in all 50 states now.  If your child's teacher is going over this they can lose their job.  A quick little call letting the teacher know that you know the guideline will probably do the trick without anymore trouble!

Even though you can't change the fees, schools have to give you amble time to pay.  If you can't pay by the first grade card due to having more than one child in school, go to the school and let them know ~ I don't believe that they can withhold the grade cards in that case.  You have to be made aware of your child's progress.

Why does school have to be a headache for the parents?  We don't have school fees, but Caitlyn already has two fieldtrips lined up, plus football fees, plus I paid for pictures today that she hasn't even gotten made ~ that kills me!  What if she is sick...I think it is a bad policy to pay for pictures ahead of time!  They will see one 'bigger than a size 12 woman' having a hissy fit if something happens and I don't like these pictures for some reason!!

I know that a lot of school districts are discussing this but there is one thing that is holding them up and that is the bus drivers and cafeteria workers ~ if they go to a 4 day week there is no way for them to get their 40 hours in for the full time workers and they can't afford to lose their managers and such.  That is the only reason that we haven't went 4 days around here. 

Hopefully gas will keep on going down, or I am afraid that more districts will start doing like Traceys is ~ charging to let the kids ride the bus!

Nothing at all ~ each council is made up of the principal, teachers, and parents and it is their duty to do what is best for the KIDS.  That is what the main objective is really about, but some get carried away and make it about the wrong things all together.  That is why you have homework guidelines.  Each council meets on a certain day each month and it is open to the public that always have a time to voice their opinion.  You also have the right to call the parent rep. and tell them your opinion and find out what is going on.  All meeting minutes are available to the public. 

I would almost bet that your school has one being that you are so close to me...changes can be made, but it may take time.  All the parents have to do is ban together and really get involved.  It might not be easy, but it would be worth it!