We are helping out with our grandkid’s (4 of them in various stages of primary school and one in first year secondary) school supplies for this year.    So far, just the basics for public schools is up to 1200, plus 1800 for a laptop for the 1st year secondary.  Of course, we could do it all on the cheap with some 2nd hand stuff and a lappy that doesn’t match what the school wants but why put that stigma on the kid?    We have managed to get them some good 2nd hand clothing and books, but the majority has to be new.

As I watched penny wong give away 21.5 million, I thought, geez, how about knocking the GST component of some of this and help us out?     How  about spending a bit back home to help us out Labor?   It is starting to get really desperate for a lot of families now, this is probably the worst I have seen it since the mid 80s.

America serves its own people and not the International.

Australia serves the International and not its own people.

That's the way it is.

Vic wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 7:39pm:

We are helping out with our grandkid’s (4 of them in various stages of primary school and one in first year secondary) school supplies for this year.    So far, just the basics for public schools is up to 1200, plus 1800 for a laptop for the 1st year secondary.  Of course, we could do it all on the cheap with some 2nd hand stuff and a lappy that doesn’t match what the school wants but why put that stigma on the kid?    We have managed to get them some good 2nd hand clothing and books, but the majority has to be new. As I watched penny wong give away 21.5 million, I thought, geez, how about knocking the GST component of some of this and help us out?     How  about spending a bit back home to help us out Labor?   It is starting to get really desperate for a lot of families now, this is probably the worst I have seen it since the mid 80s.

You're in Vic?

My 6 year old goes to public primary and we actually don't pay for much that isn't an optional extra,  there isn't even a tech levy and the actual fees are pennies.
The costs rise significantly when you want them to do co-curricular stuff.

This is what we pay in a term.

Swimming - $350
Chess club - $300
Music - $300
jiu jitsu - $300
Soccer - $600 (3 month season)

But that's chickenfeed compared to the private school fees of $45k+ we'll be paying when he starts year 5.

America exploits the rest of the world.

The world exploits Australia.

Don't forget to make a donation for the new rowing shed.

Jasin wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 8:26pm:

America exploits the rest of the world. The world exploits Australia.

Everybody exploits somebody ;)

Vic wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 7:39pm:

We are helping out with our grandkid’s (4 of them in various stages of primary school and one in first year secondary) school supplies for this year.    So far, just the basics for public schools is up to 1200, plus 1800 for a laptop for the 1st year secondary.  Of course, we could do it all on the cheap with some 2nd hand stuff and a lappy that doesn’t match what the school wants but why put that stigma on the kid?    We have managed to get them some good 2nd hand clothing and books, but the majority has to be new. As I watched penny wong give away 21.5 million, I thought, geez, how about knocking the GST component of some of this and help us out?     How  about spending a bit back home to help us out Labor?   It is starting to get really desperate for a lot of families now, this is probably the worst I have seen it since the mid 80s.

You're doing something wrong.  I doubt I'll spend $200 on each of my kids for school,  and that includes uniform for the youngest who starts high school.  Oldest already has uniforms,  ipad and laptop but he hasn't needed the electronics  in nsw as so far  the school hasn't used them (they both needed ipads / laptops in qld).  I suspect the oldest might need to dust off his laptop this year as he starts year 9 and has qualified for an accelerated learning programme. 
You don't actually need all the crap they tell you to buy on their 'lists'. As long as they have the basics,  the rest my boys will get as and if they need it.

Gordon,

Quote:

Soccer - $600 (3 month season)

What - when I was a kid my only soccer expenses were the boots and uniform
which were cheap.

Vic,

Quote:

$1800 for a laptop for the 1st year secondary.

So a school kid gets a top of the range laptop?    :-/

freediver wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 8:27pm:

Don't forget to make a donation for the new rowing shed.

Heated Olympic pool at the private school - I should talk - both mine got scholarships to a private college, don' cha know?  Didn't have a private pool but they had a great Akubra hat...

Bobby. wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 9:16pm:

Gordon, Quote: Soccer - $600 (3 month season) What - when I was a kid my only soccer expenses were the boots and uniform which were cheap.

Decent soccer boots will cost $300

Here's an article featuring the now token man teacher:-

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/what-can-be-done-in-schools-where-teachers-are-treated-like-punch-bags/ar-AA1ncat5?cvid=cb1df3f66abf436dade0e1b9b1631f79&ocid=winp2fptaskbar&ei=7

Bobby. wrote on Jan 18^th, 2024 at 9:16pm:

Gordon, Quote: Soccer - $600 (3 month season) What - when I was a kid my only soccer expenses were the boots and uniform which were cheap.

That's in a team and comp run buy a club so not for profit. There are private teams that charge double that.

gordo

you have more of a clue, more passion and more investment in your kids future then teachers and trainers  so dont outsource too much.

if you get kids in things like cricket, you have to spend a whole day at sport with them

i like the jui jitsu but do it at as well or at a gym where you can get in a workout.

i got my kids into bushwalking clubs where we could all go and socialise
fishing clubs and maybe even nippers for the life saving and you can hit the beach yourself


minimise commute and have them doing stuff with you and other families is the aim

as for school fees,  they are really just a barrier to keep out the riff raff.

you are paying to have a good group of humans around  much like you pay a premium to live in an exclusive suburb.
you are paying for the contacts and peer group, not so much for the education

“riff raff” meaning “chodes” wanting better for their kids?


Why do you have such VERY LOW self esteem, horse boy?

John Smith wrote on Jan 19^th, 2024 at 7:43am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 18th, 2024 at 9:16pm: Gordon, Quote: Soccer - $600 (3 month season) What - when I was a kid my only soccer expenses were the boots and uniform which were cheap. Decent soccer boots will cost $300

OK - prices have gone up since I was a kid.     :-[

aquascoot wrote on Jan 19^th, 2024 at 12:52pm:

as for school fees,  they are really just a barrier to keep out the riff raff. you are paying to have a good group of humans around  much like you pay a premium to live in an exclusive suburb. you are paying for the contacts and peer group, not so much for the education

Partly correct.

In NSW, the HSC mark is effected by the average mark of others in your school so you get a small bump from being in a school with lots of smart kids.

Being in an expensive school does filter out the worst kids.

As for teachers, you can get good and bad teachers in both public and private, but the bad teachers in a good private school won't last unless they improve but in public, they can be poor teachers but won't loose their job apart from actual misconduct.

Another cost which is actually subsiding both public and private schools is private coaching and it's become an arms race. If you want your kid to be in with a shot for a selective school, coaching from year 2 is needed. Some parents with kids in selective schools spend close to the amount of a private school in coaching fees.

Don't forget the 'Social' aspect of educating your kids.
People Skills.
Kids who go through the Public (Hard Knocks) system face a greater social adversity, but when they get through it - they emerge with a greater sense of self and social esteem.
Unlike kids who are mostly taught Home School or spend the majority of their time after their (usually) Private School with one-on-one Tutors - rather than socialising after school.
Sure, they may become more 'educated' than other kids - but their lack of Social skills creates the usual 'arsehole' or 'idiot' in the workplace that can't communicate properly or behave properly (let alone 'think for themselves').
I have Cousins in NZ who went to a really affluent School and were always Privately Tutored after school.
As kids, they wondered why the other kids were playing in the park on the swings, etc.
They went through Uni and found themselves 'isolated' mostly. Found it hard to form a relationship and get married.  Found it hard to work with Co-workers and more.
Things are better for them now, but for most of their childhood and into their early 30's - they were 'aliens' among humans.
Might as well have been Ophans in an Institution all their lives where 'education' was just a job.

Private tutors and private schools are not the same thing.

Yes, we know that... and? :-?

Private school kids are not lacking in self esteem or social skills. At least, not any more than public school kids.

Didn't say that.
Saying that the Social Skills of a Public School kid comes out superior than that of a Private School kid.
Public kids (hence the word 'Public', compared to 'Private') know how to make their own fun and initiate more social connection. Private kids tend to keep to themselves and wait for approval and funding before they socialise.

Jasin wrote on Jan 21^st, 2024 at 9:43am:

Private kids tend to keep to themselves and wait for approval and funding before they socialise.

You live in a fantasy world.

Gee FD. What kinda world do you think we're all living in?
Of course its a Fantasy World.
Show me, even in this country - where something isn't existing in some 'make-believe' state of being.