Recently the financial advisor for our district decided that the school newspaper should be cut from the list of things students pay for in the dues described- that it should be optional, as is the yearbook. The problem lies in that in order for the school paper to comply with federal guidelines and be an open forum, the journalism students cannot charge the student body for individual papers. Many of our students receive scholarships because of their work on the school paper, so this decision was devastating to that program.
I would like to see our students pay a book deposit fee so that we would have some chance they would actually take care of their textbooks and maybe even return them.
I like that book deposit fee idea.
At least you're talking about a high school. You should see the 3 ring circus we put on for our 8th graders.
What is this? They charge to graduate in New York? That's bizarre.
Elementary students in some schools also pay dues towards graduation activities (Broadway show, picnic, prom etc.)
Same deal in my neck of the woods (I don't recall how much the Senior Dues are). Since I went to a non-public H.S. - with a tuition that now approaches $6k! - paying a hundred for a yearbook and a class cup and an education sounds like you're mugging somebody. (Plus, we had to pay separately for the yearbook, class photos, class ring, etc. etc.) 
Ms Cornelius:
It has always been a tradition to have the senior class pay dues for various senior activities. As nyc educator stated, it includes dances, the senior trip, the prom, and other special events. We allow the seniors to fund raise if they can't afford it, which many of them do.
In my school, the prom is well-attended and the various other activities are as well. Last year 95% of the graduating seniors paid their dues and very few complained.
In Israel the seniors run a "kiosk," snackbar. The aim is to have money to subsidize some of those expenses. Some schools have the kids work at "odd jobs" to subsidize their school trip to the Nazi death camps.
It is getting out of hand. I'm fed up with my elementary children coming home every other day (yes literally) with a money request for me or our closest friends/relatives. Even more irritating, they tempt the students with "prizes". This free and public education is going to break many.
I particularly hate when they send them home with requests to sell candy. I feel like they're making my kid into a beggar, or worse, and the prizes make it even more offensive.
I like the idea of making kids take genuine responsisbility for books they borrow. That's very reasonable.
I'd love to see the end of anything big and fancy before HS. Is it any wonder that kids don't want to be grown-ups anymore (check out the stats on 20-somethings living at home)?
If all of your childhood you see parents working hard to pay for all of your activities, up to and including broadway shows and limos and highly overpriced clothing and electronic equipment and and and and what possible incentive do you have to be a grown-up?
My kids are good and sick of hearing us tell them about all the privileges of being a grown-up -- staying up late, eating dessert whenever you want, going out with friends whenever you please, ordering your children to do household chores, etc.
They don't have to know that the first three examples are only true in the abstract, right?
Seriously, I think the best reward of being an adult is having my own kid.
But you'll certainly never sway the kids with that argument.
I always hate the start of the school year because it means night after night of kids coming by selling stuff,
"I want to got to college...buy the LA Times."
"I've never been to DC...buy some magazines."
"My teacher gave us an assignment to learn abotu other people....buy some candy."
Seems to me the kids time would better be spent being productive than trying to sell me stuff I don't want.
I agree. I hate having to buy things I don't want out of guilt.
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