just emptied my bank account (exaggeration) to prepare my 2 kids for another school year it is Mikayla's first year of secondary school so new uniforms and proper school shoes were required. I spent all day bargain hunting for these. School fees are voluntry but if you don't pay them your kids aren't allowed to go. Low income families are given a small allowance which covered these fees for my two I bought only the text books through the school and all else at discount stores and the supermarket Daniel is doing year 11 advanced maths (he is starting year 10) this was my biggest shock he needed a special calculator - $180.00. when paying I said I hope it covers year 12 too - they said no the one he will need next year is over $200 and buying second hand is not an option as they are changed every year as are most of the text books Daniel will go to senior college next year so am making him do with last years uniform as they have no uniform requirements. Mikayla leaves for an overnight camp on her second day of school - $120.00 I am $1000 poorer now than when I woke up this am and haven't started the food shop for lunches and snacks , Mikayla still requires a school skirt and special pe shirt and new bathers for swimming then when winter hits she will need winter uniforms trying not to think about them yet. we are considered low income and I could buy enough for them both - what of those who are considered poor how many of their kids are going to miss out on the opportunity to do advanced classes because there is no way they can spare that money for a calculator or miss out on school camps because they are required to pay so soon after buying everything else. As if the stigma of being poor isn't bad enough they will stand out even more. Free education ? Yeah right :o|