Emmons 1

How Americans Would Slim Down Public Education

Farkas, Steve, Ann Duffett, and Institute Thomas B. Fordham. "How Americans Would Slim
Down Public Education." Thomas B. Fordham Institute (2012): ERIC. Web. 27 Mar.
2015.
Synthesis Question: Should public schools charge fees for registration, instruction, classroom
supplies, and/or extracurricular activities due to financial stress?
Abstract
According to a national survey, the American people are hesitant to cut sports and
extracurricular activities. A thin majority support fees for extracurricular activities if low-income
students are not required to pay the fees or receive assistance paying the fees. 23 percent say fees
are a good way to save money. A larger portion, 32 percent, says fees are a good way to save
money if financial assistance is provided to low-income students. The largest portion, 39 percent,
opposes any and all fees because students gain a lot from extracurricular activities. Instead of
fees or to prevent students from having to pay fees, most extracurricular activities engage in
fundraising to cover all of the expenses the school will not cover. The students, parents, teachers,
administrators, and extracurricular activity coordinators come together to decide how costs can
be covered without fees or how money can be raised to cover the fees.