Unfortunately, we live in Maryland and The Washington Post has said that "school fees are justifiable" for our students, even though those fees violate our state constitution.
No social justice here in Montgomery County.
“Most state constitutions, in fact, guarantee all students a sound, basic public education. These constitutional rights cannot be put on hold, even in tough times. It is unconstitutional to call on parents to pay for textbooks and lab fees for required courses. And art, music, sports, basic educational support services and many extracurricular activities that promote learning, creativity and character are not luxuries; they, too, are essential features of a sound, basic education.”NYT: When Schools Depend on Handouts
Below is the first Section, under Article 8 in the Maryland Constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe General Assembly, at its First Session after the adoption of this Constitution, shall by Law establish throughout the State a thorough and efficient System of Free Public Schools; and shall provide by taxation, or otherwise, for their maintenance.
As noted previously, I am a teacher of MCPS and a proud one at that. The fees charged for sports and other activities in other states seem outrageous to me. I also brought up before about lists that elementary students are given of supplies to bring with them in the beginning of the year. Shouldn't tissues, hand sanitizer, glue sticks, etc also be supplied? If we are truly giving students a free education, shouldn't field trips also be covered by each school? I also mentioned before that I didn't believe a $5 fee was outrageous, given the experience and resources that students would be bringing home. I am also a tax payer of Montgomery County, but also believe that if teachers knew they were "breaking the law" they wouldn't charge such fees. The problem seems to be more of a systemic issue than teachers charging frivolous fees at will. Just my opinion...
Field trips are free in other public school systems in Maryland. They are part of the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteIn MCPS - according to MCPS top admins - field trips are not part of the curriculum! Apparently, they are just fun outings so MCPS is more than happy to charge students for those non-curriculum related trips.
In Maryland, extra-curricular fees are allowed, curricular fees are not.
Why don't teachers know they are breaking the law? This issue has been in the news for the last 4 years.
Please cite the actual constitutional, statutory or case law that specifically states fees are not allowed in Maryland.
ReplyDelete9:21 - see first comment. The Constitution was just cited.
ReplyDeleteWe have devoted an entire web page to this topic:
http://parentscoalitionmc.com/Guide_to_Fees.html
And here is the very specific letter from the Maryland Attorney General's office stating the law and advising parents that they can appeal a course fee to the State Board of Education:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18771202/KameenOAGLetter
But the MCPS Superintendent has got that all covered. Any one that disputes a fee has it waived!
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2009/04/no-resolution-on-curricular-fees.html
How nifty is that! Those that know the law, don't pay the fees because they know they are illegal.
Only those that are ignorant of the law are paying up.
What a great lesson in extortion for our students.
I see no reference.
ReplyDeleteThe Constuitution does not specifically state all educational opportunities are free.
The MD Attorney General's letters is a legal opinion of the Constitution that does not have the force of law.
You cite no statutory or case law that specifically states what you claim it does.
In essence, your statement that "teachers are violating the law" is a legal opinion of the MD Constitution. You may very well be right. It's also possible that the MD Court of Appeals would read this differently.
Until then perhaps you should write that's it's your opinion of the law and not the actual law.
@6:48 Of course, if you don't read, you won't see anything. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
ReplyDeleteAll of the legal citations have been made available to you. If you refuse to read them, well of course you won't see them.
Question is, why is it so important to continue extorting money from students? What's in it for you?
The money extorted from students does NOT end up in the MCPS Operating Budget. It does not pay teacher salaries and does not contribute to school construction.
If you are so convinced that these fees are legal - and refuse to read any of the legal opinions on this topic - then please point everyone to the page in the MCPS budget where there is an accounting of these fees. Then point everyone to the action where the County Council approved the appropriation of these fees.
We'll all wait while you find that non-existent chapter and page in the MCPS budget, and the non-existent County Council appropriation votes.
The Howard County Public Schools Superintendent had no trouble understanding Maryland law and ceased charging students to attend classes when he was made aware of the violations in his county.
The entire state of California has stopped charging students fees that violate their constitution when the issue was brought up there.
Obviously, social justice does not exist for Montgomery County Public School students. Their civil rights are violated on a daily basis.
Anonymous @6:48am, you used the phrase, 'educational opportunities.' Are you saying this is distinct from public education? That MCPS(a quasi-state agency, not a county agency)is offering 'educational opportunities' rather than a public education? Can you please explain what you mean? Are you saying the MCPS public school curriculum is broken out into educational 'opportunities' that need to be paid for by parents, and 'education' which I would say is the public school system curriculum?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
And just look how fabulously that has worked out for the California schools...
ReplyDelete@2:45 - You are right. Charging students fees that violated the California Constitution for all those years did nothing for the school systems. They are still in big trouble now. There was no benefit to the system to violate the law.
ReplyDelete