Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Are You Kidding Me?: Textbook Fees Frustrate Parents
theindychannel.com ^ | 08/06/09 | Dan Spehler

Posted on 08/06/2009 1:17:29 PM PDT by Abathar

Indiana 1 Of 3 States With Public School Textbook Rental Fees

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the midst of back-to-school season, expenses for clothing, supplies, backpacks, lunchboxes and the like are expected, but some costs catch parents off guard -- such as rental fees for textbooks.

Indiana is one of just three states in which parents of public school students pay textbook rental fees, which typically run from about $100 to $400 each year, depending on the school district, 6News' Dan Spehler reported.

The additional expense is something that people who move into the area may not be prepared for.

Many parents don't understand why books aren't freely available in the state's public schools.

"It is a lot of money," said one public school parent.

The expenses are especially difficult for families with more than one child in school at the same time.

"I think the school should have to help out a little," said one parent. "They don't, so there's nothing you can do."

Asked if she thought it was unfair to charge rental fees for textbooks, Plainfield Community School Corp. assistant superintendent Mary Giesting said, "I don't believe it is. Here at Plainfield, I believe the average cost is about $100."

In some school districts, such as Carmel and Center Grove, textbook rentals for high school students cost up to $400 a year.

(Excerpt) Read more at theindychannel.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: backtoschool; education; educationfunding; homeschool; indiana; textbooks
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: Abathar

Wow. I never heard or even imagined of such a thing. Glad my youngest just graduated from high school. (Off to college next week. sniff, sniff-please pass the kleenex)


41 posted on 08/06/2009 1:52:37 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights (I piddy da foo if JimmyT zots you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: devane617

The fewer they print, the more each book costs. I’m not sure what a typical run of a textbook is, but I bet its less than the average hardback.
Probably costs more to produce them, too.


42 posted on 08/06/2009 1:54:53 PM PDT by Little Ray (Do we have a Plan B?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: blam

>It goes to the union teachers and ‘administrative costs.’ >The unions now have a strangle-hold on education.

This is the whole point of 0bamacare, to give
the unions a strangle-hold on health care.


43 posted on 08/06/2009 1:56:09 PM PDT by oldpass
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Little Ray

I spend on average more than $100.00 per book.


44 posted on 08/06/2009 1:57:25 PM PDT by devane617 (Republicans first strategy should be taking over the MSM. Without it we are doomed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: bannie
I’m bettin’ that the gov’t (you!) will be payin’ for those who claim that they cannot.

They already do. School lunches and breakfast too.

45 posted on 08/06/2009 1:57:42 PM PDT by Graybeard58 ( Selah.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: devane617

Yes, but the question is did you ever have to pay for your schoolbooks in high school, middle school, or in elementary? Parents do not include cost of books in the budgeting because that is what their taxes are supposed to pay.

Seriously, it costs my hubby and I the about the same ($600) to homeschool both of our children each year. It could cost us less annually, but I prefer owning our books to renting them from the library.


46 posted on 08/06/2009 2:00:28 PM PDT by Peanut Gallery (The essence of freedom is the proper limitation of government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Abathar
In some school districts, such as Carmel and Center Grove, textbook rentals for high school students cost up to $400 a year.

I averaged about 6 classes per year. At $400 that would be $66 per book. Enough high school texts are printed that their costs are lower than college texts. It would probably be cheaper to just buy the books from a discount place like Amazon and burn them on June 1st than to rent them for $400.

47 posted on 08/06/2009 2:03:36 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Obama's medical nationalization bill reads like Atlas Shrugged with doctors instead of railroads.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: devane617

Allowing for inflation, that sounds similar to what I paid for new books.

Needless to say, I didn’t buy many new books...

On the bright side, you get a little back when you sell them.

You can also get used textbooks at ABE:
http://www.abebooks.com/books/Textbooks/?cm_ven=homepage&cm_cat=sitestripe&cm_pla=link&cm_ite=TBC-Summer09


48 posted on 08/06/2009 2:04:07 PM PDT by Little Ray (Do we have a Plan B?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Abathar

Just another reason I’m glad to be able to homeschool my son.


49 posted on 08/06/2009 2:10:43 PM PDT by artsymom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Abathar

I haven’t heard of text book rental fees before? Must be to insure that the kid doesn’t destroy the book? Does it get retuened if the kid turns the book back in or does the school keep it and why if it is returned in good shape?


50 posted on 08/06/2009 2:17:36 PM PDT by chris_bdba
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Abathar

I think what hurts people the most is that it’s all due right up front when school starts in one lump sum.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What would happen if the parents bought the books over the Internet for half or a third of the price and refused to pay the rental?


51 posted on 08/06/2009 2:23:46 PM PDT by wintertime (People are not stupid! Good ideas win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Hoosier Catholic Momma

Hey, Hoosier Catholic Momma, you and your husband are amazing.

Keep up the good work. Anything and everything (moral) that you can do to keep your kids out of the public schools is great.

I no longer believe public schools should exist. If I shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s health care (as so many Freepers tell me - and I agree) then why should I pay to educate their child. The quickest way to place control of schools into the hands of parents would be to privatize all education K - 12.


52 posted on 08/06/2009 2:24:33 PM PDT by vladimir998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: JenB

Totally agree with you. We’re homeschooling our kids as well, and don’t have much sympathy for complainers who’ve delegated their parental authority to educate their children to the state.


53 posted on 08/06/2009 2:33:07 PM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Angry_White_Man_Syndrome

My point was we are paying twice. In taxes and fees. At a private school I would understand your position. In public schools only non-minority majorities are hit with these fees.


54 posted on 08/06/2009 3:11:08 PM PDT by edcoil (If I had 1 cent for every dollar the government saved, Bill Gates and I would be friends.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: edcoil

You are not paying twice. The taxpayers are paying for everything except the books. The parents are paying for the books. If the parents do not pay for the books, the taxpayers will have to pay even more.


55 posted on 08/06/2009 3:18:01 PM PDT by Angry_White_Man_Syndrome
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Abathar

Well, one person comented that he wasn’t allowed to march in his graduation or attend the prom, and he had to work to pay his rental fees in order to get a copy of his diploma.

$600 a year? — Pull your kids out and homeschool them. You won’t have to return the books either.


56 posted on 08/06/2009 3:30:16 PM PDT by goldi (')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Angry_White_Man_Syndrome

Public education is a right according to my state’s constitution. Most state constitutions state that their citizens have a right to a free public school education.


57 posted on 08/06/2009 3:37:46 PM PDT by goldi (')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: edcoil

You’re paying “twice” - only not really since the fees are trivial compared to the cost of educating your child - for a product you use. I’m forced at the risk of having my house foreclosed on to pay for a product I don’t want, don’t use, and don’t believe in.


58 posted on 08/06/2009 3:58:43 PM PDT by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: JenB
"I’m forced at the risk of having my house foreclosed on to pay for a product I don’t want, don’t use, and don’t believe in."

Move.

59 posted on 08/06/2009 4:45:30 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: blam

Is there anywhere that doesn’t charge property tax to support the failed government school system?


60 posted on 08/06/2009 5:25:26 PM PDT by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson