Activity Fees and Community Support

Whenever I have the opportunity to visit another high school I read the walls. That provides an interesting look at the educational culture of the place. In some places that walls read of the best of this and that, hall of fame winners, trophies and looking all official. In other places the walls read of student activities and clubs and happening - sometimes even stuff about what is happening in that classroom - you know, student work.

I have noticed the increase in student activity fees over the years. Minneapolis has chosen not to directly charge fees for students activities. But I quickly point out that without parent, friend and student support most clubs could not exist. The school pay the coach and club advisor stipend but that represents a very small percentage of the total cost of the program.

The range of student activity fees in our surrounding schools range from $60 - $200. Yes, that is for the Math team, Chess Team and Fine Arts Clubs. I am sure that they have some type of sliding scale for those in financial difficulties but those are the listed amounts for participation.

On the one hand I can say - we don't do that. On the other I must acknowledge that our volunteer parents provide significantly more support than that. In many ways i am glad that we ask our parents (and community ) to be involved. We want them to know and be proud of what their kids are doing. We want our parents to be invested in the doings of their children. We appreciate them being around and knowing first hand the wonderful things our kids do on a regular basis.

Is is great to have the ability to whip out the checkbook and cover the expense. It is another to time from your busy schedule to work with and for your kid and many of those other friends and acquaintances. To be involved in debate and speech I have the privilege of working with numerous and wonderful parents who are supporting their kids and the children of our community.

I know I could include in the description of our parents, the many proud parents who worked behind the scenes and counters during the current musical. There are many others involved in PSTA and various parent-school committees. Without our sports booster parents we would not be able to field the number of teams that we do. And the list goes on for pages.

I think I am very happy that we don't have fees. We ask our parents and community friends to take part in the important task of preparing our kids for the future. We work together. And, yes, our halls are messy and alive. We appreciate excellence and I hope we honor the outstanding but the real heroes at Southwest - I want to believe - are the young people who show up each day and give it their best. Without each and every one we would not be the same.