Is your public school free?

I dont understand what the deal is about the books being bought by the schools. When i was a kid, the parents bought all the books.....it wouldnt have even been considered that the schools themselves would buy the books. Whats with this anyway?

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If it were your book and a child wanted to borrow it, wouldn't you expect that it come back in the same condition that it went out! It isn't a policy it is a mere request that your children take responsibilty and accountability for their actions! It is also about respect! If I borrowed a book from someone and lost it or destroyed it (which is what happens when people do not care about anyone or anything but themselves) I would fully expect to replace it! And if you think $65.00 is expensive, try buying college textbooks!
If you taught your child responsibility and respect, you should have no problem signing the paper asking you to replace property that was lost or destroyed!

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I am so sick of teacher bashing. You really should read the satires of Juvenal, preferably in the original Latin. He had a lot to say about how teachers were preceived and treated, and not much has changed in 2000 years.

Have you considered that, when a textbook is destroyed, lost, stolen, missing, etc., the teacher has to justify to his/her administrator WHY? And, when an inordinate number of them turn up defaced, that is reflected on the classroom teacher? I thought not.

First of all, if parents weren't asked to sign this sort of contract, textbooks would be destroyed at the whim of the child, and that happens with far more regularity than you'd think.

School districts budget monies for textbook replacement based upon normal attrition. A certain number of books are going to be lost, or taken with a child who moves, or accidently dropped in a rain puddle. However, if parents aren't faced with just how much that textbook costs to replace, their little darlings will deface them faster than you can blink. Each time books have to be replaced that AREN'T budgeted for, a school doesn't get new computer programs, or other amenities. Have you considered THAT?

Mommy, single or not, will keep a much closer watch on what her fledglings are doing with the school books if she has to pay to replace deliberate, willful, wanton destruction of them.

This is especially true in the inner cities, where the children of welfare mommies and illegal aliens pay for NOTHING--not even a pencil or eraser. The teacher must supply it from a whopping classroom budget that usually is $250 a year or LESS. Try outfitting ONE child for that in a school year, let alone a classroom of 20 - 40.

These kids get it all for free--to them, not to the taxpayer, of course. Free breakfast, free lunch, free before- and after-school care (whether single Mommy works or not), free dental, free medical, free eye care, free on-site counseling with referrals to therapists if necessary, free tutoring by whatever iteration of nomenclature Sylvan goes by this week, free inter-session (summer school) and free intensive instruction (tutoring provided by the regular classroom teacher after school). Books are not valued by this culture. Mamacita's nino por este ano wets on them. The family hound gets to gnaw on them. They are cut up, pages are pulled out, pictures are defaced, and bindings are broken long before the last day of the school year rolls around.

Yes, having Mommy and Daddy--provided Daddy has stuck around to raise the progeny he has sired--sign a paper saying that, if the child destroys, loses, or otherwise mishandles a book that rightfully belongs to the taxpaying citizens of the USA (let's don't forget what a large portion of illegal aliens are being educated in our public schools who shouldn't even be here--and teachers may not, by CA law, report them to the authorities!), then they should have to pay for it.
That book is meant to be used by at least seven consecutive students, and sometimes more; it is not the sole property of the student who is only BORROWING it from the district for this term. In other words, he is borrowing that book from YOUR tax dollar supported school book depository.

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innerschool teacher,
If all teachers were as racist and vindictive as you are, than no amount of teacher bashing would be too much.

You do not speak for any of the teachers that I know, all of whom are compassionate and kind people.

The perspective of a teacher could certainly be useful in this post. It is unfortunate that you chose to contribute with nothing but stereotypes and insults.

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every one here is talking about costs of books what about basic supplies . in our school district we are expected to pay a school fee for our children each grade level is different i have to now pay $25-$35 per child for such things as print ink, copy paper and art supplies . is this free public school i make minumum wage. for a family with 3 children its hard. also there are add costs i do understand but for such things that are normal costs of teaching my child its not right.
if a book is lost by the child i can understand replacing it at parents cost. but what if it is stolen because your in a bad area such as myself my sons book bag was stole a few years ago it had 3 books in it should i have to pay because of this. my sons learning was stopped for about 2 months until i could pay to get him new books should his education suffer cause i dont make enough money.
it like telling the kid to fight just to keep your school books i dont want my child fighting.

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Government school (or any government service) is not "free", it is funded by wealth redistribution: forcing people who don't want a service to pay for it creating a bloated system of overpaid seat warmers.
Government school does not "educate". They indoctrinate into state worship, obedience to authority, conformity, consumerism, and the religion of secular humanism (the idea that men define what is right and wrong, among other things). This is very well documented by Gatto, Illych, Iserbyt, and many others.The idea that people should be further robbed when recipients of the "free" babysitting service don't care for their dubious "free" "textbooks" (most are worthless and full of errors) is immoral.Home educate or private school your kids, don't turn them over to government bureaucrats to mind-mold into cogs for the controlled economy. The "schools" are rapidly being identified by the sick and disgruntled as convenient target zones, anyway.

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When I was a child, some many odd years ago, my (financially poor)parents had to pay a fee every school year based on the class level. I remember them trying to figure out one time how they would manage to pay for all seven of us and how much it would cost (minus the eventual increases). I only ever attended public school as the only other option in our little Illinois town was Catholic school which not only cost more, we weren't Catholic, so didn't qualify.

We were taught to take care of our books, and to this day, it is a lesson I impart to our grandchildren. There is no excuse to destroy property that is not your own and even less to destroy a book, the means by which so many are educated. The single time my parents had to cover the cost of any books was with one of my brothers, who lost it, but then again, he lost his bus pass several times, among other items. In fact, we were always amazed that he didn't lose his way home, so one book being lost was not a surprise.

The one word that keeps showing up in those messages that agree with the policy mentioned is RESPONSIBILITY. Unfortunately too many parents coddle their children into believing they are not responsible for anything.....consequently the rise in juvenile crime.....and the outcry that "society has failed my child" when in fact the only ones failing the child are the parents. The have failed to teach responsibility to their child.....responsibility to respect their elders, the rights of others, and themselves, to be considerate, to use common everyday manners (a lost art), to obey rules and regulations, to respect property which is not their own and to treat their own property with care because it won't be replaced at their tempermental whims, and to accept the consequences of their actions.

By refusing accept the policy which is no doubt set by the school district, this mother is saying "Not only am I not a responsible parent, I have not taught my son to be responsible human being and society will just have to clean up after us".

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I guess... as a parent of a 9 year old... and someone who was once a child.. Im still not understanding the reasoning behind trying to hold the child liable for the book.

I think they just cant win no matter what... what they do hold the children liable for we yell.. FOUL that is the parent's responsibility... and when they hold the parent liable (which they should) then it is "I dont want that responsibility".

In reality, the parents should be liable for the children. Period. Especially one in middle school who couldnt possible pay for the book. Whether with the teacher or the school, there is almost always a contract saying that anything lost or damaged will have to be paid for. Seriously.. they hold the transfer records.

I cant imagine a teacher telling my child SHE will have to pay for a book... as far as I know the bill would go to me, so I better dang well be aware of it.

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First of all this teaches the children and sometimes even the parents to be more responsible. Many parents don't bother to teach their children respect for other people's property so the children don't care and do not see anything wrong with destroying their school books. I also think is not right that the government (state or federal)has to give more money to cover those losses because at the end, that money will be coming out of the taxpayers' pockets. I certainly do not want to pay for a book for a child who since he/she has not been taught respect for anything will end up destroying or, not taking care of whatever book he/she is given. This may sound harsh, but if my chidren take care of their school books why should I pay for anybody's children? Just because they don't have money? Believe me, I am no millionaire.

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I work in a public elementary school and it is amazing how fast a lost book is found once a bill goes home. I think if you lose or damage a book you should pay for it. Schools do not have extra money to replace them. If a school does have extra money it should be used to purchase interventions and materials to better your child's education. Teach your children responsibility and you will have nothing to worry about.

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What is wrong with you people???? When I went to school, my parents had to pay for all of my books and it was not a private school. It was a public school. When one has children, they take on responsibilities and educating your child is one of them. This may include some cost. I pay a lot of taxes and do not have children or grandchildren in public school. I expect the people who are getting the benefit of my taxes to be responsible. I am happy to share what I have worked so hard to get all these years and you should be willing to take care of the property you are using. Of course, if a single mother is poor, she may have to ask for charity but that is why marrying the right person, only having children if you can afford it and staying married when you have kids is so important. We gave up lots of things in order to provide for our kids. We paid for every dime they spent in college and they worked. Both my husband I worked too. We chose state schools and did with old cars, etc. Teach your kids to take cre of books. They are not disposable.

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First of all, I think referring to the mother in question as a "deadbeat" is grossly unfair -- she is a working (single) mother. Dumping on her because she, like many working families, is working paycheck to paycheck and can't afford unanticipated expenses is completely inappropriate. That having been said, I still think the policy is fair -- the schools need to know that they will have that book (or a replacement) available for students in subsequent years and cannot shoulder that financial burden by themselves. The comparison to library lending is appropriate -- if someone loses or damages a library book they are financially responsible for it.

The contracts are with the parents because they are the legal guardians of the children. Perhaps the children should also sign a statement indicating that they know they need to take good care of the book, but the ultimate financial responsibility to the school lies with the parents. Having the parents make the children pay or work off the cost of the book is their prerogative, not the schools'. It is not, and should not be, only the school's place to teach responsibility to the children.

At the middle school or high school level, if the student is unable to take the book home to work on homework, there are usually several other options -- going in before school, after school, during study hall, or during lunch are viable options in most cases. I feel those are reasonable compromises for students whose families can not or will not sign the contracts.

By the way, the idea that you have already paid for the books through your taxes is a non-starter because that's not how taxes work. Even if they did work that way, you would be paying for the use of the books, and not the books themselves. So unless you want your taxes to go up several hundred dollars a year, it's in your interest for children to keep their books in usable condition and return them at the end of the year so that the following year's class doesn't have to buy a new set.

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Free and public education doesn't mean you get unlimited books to tear up! I remember when I was in HS in the 1960's and I left my English book on the shelf outside the restroom. I ran back to get it and someone had thrown it in a toilet. Of course we had to pay for it! When children lose library books at the school where I teach they must pay for them. As for the tissues, soap, etc. students are asked to bring, the teachers get none of this from the schools. We just don't have the money to keep providing all these things for your children all year long. If everyone chips in it really helps. All those rewards, books, stickers and pretty much everything else your child brings home is coming out of our pockets. Rest assured that if you go to a private school you will be buying all your own books and when your child gets to college $65 will seem cheap for a book!

As for "Putting your child in the gifted program," I can tell you as a teacher of gifted students that you don't "put" your child in a program. When students show a need for advanced work or challenges they will be tested and assessed for gifted placement. The best thing parents can do for their children is to work with them at home and make their education the top priority.

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It is not unreasonable to ask parents to help defray the cost of books that are used, abused, destoyed and lost by students. Some, no many famiies literally make out like fat rats: Their children ride to school (free) on a bus, eat free breakfast( even those who are already receiving food stamps), are issued books which they destroy, have a free lunch; fail to attempt to learn anything, get out of school clueless and live off public assistance or go to prison and live free. Why not teach them that life is not a free ride, by making them responsible at least once in their lives.

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I say that the you should have to pay to replace it if its destroyed or unable to be used. I mean the kid is in Middle School time for a life lesson..one life isn't always fair and two take care of things that aren't yours and three you're responsible for you period. If the mom has ot pay make the kid fork over the money for it or take good care of it so it doesn't happen. I hate to sound mean but why whine over something that can easily be prevented.

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In the public school all my children have gone to it is a requirement to pay for any damage to a book. After all the government keeps cutting education budget to fund unnessary wars. Yes books are expensive but that's why as parents you have the responsibility to make sure your child doesn't damage them. That is why they require book covers and no writing in the books. In most school in Colorado they have more kids then books and they can't take them home. Classs room addition only and possible to check them over night only depending on the teacher. My high school child had to pay 75.00 for an AP Eurpeonan History book. But I had a lot of items I no longer used that second had stores will buy. CD's Books Clothing. When it comes to education shouldn't a parent try what ever possible to make sure they child gets futher then they did. That's why we have kids to make the world a better place.

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