OK, in the interest of full disclosure
we homeschool. My oldest, who is entering sixth grade, did go to public school from first through third grade, but we've been homeschooling ever since. Additionally, while I went to public school for my last two years of high school, before that I was in a private Catholic school. I do have a degree in music education and did masters work in education as well, and took all the educational history classes, but my public school experience is somewhat limited.
A friend of mine was telling me about "textbook rental fees" her public school charges. They seemed outrageously high to me. Other friends then mentioned that they had to pay for things like using the school bus as well.
Now, I know that public school isn't "free" per se. I know when I was there, we had to buy school supplies, gym uniforms, rent instruments, pay entree fees to choral festivals, pay for AP exams, stuff like that. When my oldest was in school, we actually weren't allowed to buy school supplies for him-- everything was provided by the school district. Even when I was in Catholic school, I went to public school once a week for a pull out program, and they were legally required to let me because it was a program our Catholic school didn't have.
So, I guess now I'm curious-- what do you have to pay for to attend public school? And what if you can't pay it? And if anyone can clarify to me how public schools can charge when I thought all children in America were guaranteed a free education (although maybe I am misremembering that and it's not a guaranteed right?) I would really appreciate that as well.
A friend of mine was telling me about "textbook rental fees" her public school charges. They seemed outrageously high to me. Other friends then mentioned that they had to pay for things like using the school bus as well.
Now, I know that public school isn't "free" per se. I know when I was there, we had to buy school supplies, gym uniforms, rent instruments, pay entree fees to choral festivals, pay for AP exams, stuff like that. When my oldest was in school, we actually weren't allowed to buy school supplies for him-- everything was provided by the school district. Even when I was in Catholic school, I went to public school once a week for a pull out program, and they were legally required to let me because it was a program our Catholic school didn't have.
So, I guess now I'm curious-- what do you have to pay for to attend public school? And what if you can't pay it? And if anyone can clarify to me how public schools can charge when I thought all children in America were guaranteed a free education (although maybe I am misremembering that and it's not a guaranteed right?) I would really appreciate that as well.