The cost of free education

To say I was surprised to find out that my friends are paying between $100 and $200 for their children to attend free public schools in Utah would be an understatement. Shocked and appalled would be much closer to to my feelings, throw in a good amount of anger at the utter stupidity of those in charge of education here, and that’s probably closer to how I feel.

I could not believe that a school could charge that much in fees, so I had to do some research. Turns out, a school can charge a whole hell of a lot more than that. The fees for public education make the fees I pay for graduate school seem piddly by comparison for the education being received. But I expect fees in college. Hell, I’m paying for college already. You shouldn’t have to pay for high school and junior high. The policy for the different districts’ fees and a list of just how much they charge can usually be found on the internet if you are interested.

Just what is the deposit fee for? Why would there be a refundable deposit? Are you putting a deposit on your child?

It makes me sick to think of the financial fiasco that is education in this state. I understand a bit better now how it is the state can justify spending so little on education, they make the parents make up the difference in what I would consider highly excessive fees. It shouldn’t cost $70-$100 to send your child to junior high, and it definitely shouldn’t cost around $200 to send your child to high school.