School fees

Today I received the invoice for semester one 2010 of my kids -public- school. A public school in Australia does not mean children get free schooling. While the state provides for the building and the teachers salaries, the parents pay the rest. Mmmm. The invoice includes items such as a art levy, computer levy and a paper/photocopy levy. This is a big difference with the system in Holland where parents hardly pay anything for public schooling and private schools are almost non existent.

It's only a small amount (aud 142 for two kids) so luckily we don't have to stop sending the kids to school. I'll just prepare yet another envelope with money for the school. In addition to the school fees, parents organize a lot of fundraising events throughout the year to pay for school supplies. Tomorrow the parents of year three kids will sell all types of afterschool snacks and drinks on the school grounds to raise money. I wonder what the school will do with the money. Buy new toilet paper?