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 ...
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)
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.
>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.
I spend on average more than $100.00 per book.
They already do. School lunches and breakfast too.
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.
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.
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
Just another reason I’m glad to be able to homeschool my son.
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?
I think what hurts people the most is that it’s all due right up front when school starts in one lump sum.
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Move.
Is there anywhere that doesn’t charge property tax to support the failed government school system?
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