| When I worked as the principal of a private | | | | received significant volunteer help that it didn't |
| elementary school, there was a debate going on | | | | have to outsource. More got done for less |
| before I got there, and it was still going on after I | | | | money. If the family didn't do the work, the |
| left. The debate centered on the issue of creating | | | | school got a nice financial boon. Really, it was a |
| a "mandatory parent participation fee". | | | | win-win for the school, they said. |
| Basically, for those of you unfamiliar with this | | | | The reason this group put forward the proposal in |
| concept, a mandatory parent participation fee | | | | the first place was to combat declining volunteer |
| would be levied on every enrolled family in the | | | | rates. With costs running so high, the school was |
| school. Let's say the amount was $1,000. This fee | | | | forced to rely on more and more volunteer help. |
| would have been over and above the regular | | | | When those volunteers weren't signing up for |
| tuition price. Even families on financial aid would be | | | | what the school needed, they came up with this |
| included. | | | | idea. |
| The fee would not be charged until the end of | | | | The group that opposed this fee claimed that |
| the school year, however. And the fee could be | | | | such a fee was insulting to the tuition paying |
| lowered if the family participated in certain school | | | | families of the school. By mandating participation, |
| sponsored events. For instance, if a parent served | | | | the school was taking away from the true spirit |
| as a chaperon for a field trip, the amount would | | | | of volunteerism, where people gave because they |
| be lowered by $150. Then if that same parent | | | | were moved to give. Under such a system, they |
| attended a board meeting, he/she could take off | | | | argued, people would feel like indentured servants, |
| another $100. Furthermore, if this parent | | | | and the joy of volunteering would be lost. |
| volunteered to work the school auction as a | | | | They also said that the system didn't allow for |
| committee chair, $500 could be deducted from | | | | families with special circumstances. For some |
| the bill. | | | | families, finding the time and the ability to |
| Eventually, with enough time invested, a family | | | | volunteer was next to impossible, due to job or |
| could completely eliminate their $1,000 participation | | | | family situations. Therefore, these people would |
| fee. If, however, a family decided not to | | | | be penalized at the end of the school year for |
| participate at all or only on a couple of items, they | | | | working the second shift or having multiple |
| would be compelled to pay either the entire | | | | children where babysitting was a real concern. |
| amount or whatever amount they didn't work off. | | | | This was a pretty passionate subject, but one we |
| OK. That's the general idea behind the concept. | | | | did not act on during my time at the school. |
| What follows is the chief argument we heard on | | | | I would be interested in hearing if any of you |
| either side of the issue. | | | | readers have experience with such a system and |
| Those supporting the fee said that no matter | | | | what your school decided. There are many more |
| what, the school won. If a family paid off the | | | | arguments both for and against, but the main |
| entire amount through service, the school | | | | positions, at least at my school, are listed above. |