How should schools and parents deal with tuition?

[zale]

I'm hoping life will resume back to normal after Pesach, but assuming it (C"V) does not, how should tuition be dealt with?

If schools are making a serious effort to have classes online for several hours a day, that's one thing, but what if they don't have online classes or only have classes for one hour or less per day?

Is it fair for parents to keep paying tuition for their children who are not in school and not being properly accommodated online? Yes, I understand that the school needs to survive, but why should that be the parents' burden?

[aygart]

Yes, I understand that the school needs to survive, but why should that be the parents' burden?

Whose burden should it be if not the parents?

[TimT]

Was thinking this over a lot. Why should I pay if they’re closed ? OTOH they need to pay the melamdim/teachers, otherwise they might be forced to look for work elsewhere. As someone who’s very happy with my kids teachers, when this is all over & the yeshivas reopen I’d want them to still have the same ones in place & not have to start looking for new ones & having subs all the time. Maybe there should be some sort of split for the time closed. Dunno

[zale]

Whose burden should it be if not the parents?

Parents should pay tuition for nothing? Many parents are out of work now.

Like the virus, people aren't yet feeling the pinch. Wait a few weeks and attitudes will change very quickly about this.

[aygart]

Parents should pay tuition for nothing? Many parents are out of work now.

Like the virus, people aren't yet feeling the pinch. Wait a few weeks and attitudes will change very quickly about this.

Parents should pay for what is needed for the chinuch of their children. How that is a very good question but you still haven't answered whose responsibility it should be if not the parents.

[Something Fishy]

My wife is a 3rd grade teacher and is working harder these days with the teleclasses than she does on a regular day. Just saying.

[skyguy918]

Nobody is gonna be refunding tuition, that's for sure. But schools are going to have to be accommodating regarding any unpaid balances, and even next year's tuition as many families won't be able to pay as much (or at all). The schools that are doing minimal distance learning (my kids' school included) will obviously have a harder time justifying it.

[zale]

My wife is a 3rd grade teacher and is working harder these days with the teleclasses than she does on a regular day. Just saying.

Meanwhile, my sons 3rd grade class does a 30 minute teleconference. 

[Dan]

Meanwhile, my sons 3rd grade class does a 30 minute teleconference. 

Same.

[Ergel]

Same.

More than we have

[ExGingi]

Here's a serious question: a lot of schools get major funding from "after school vouchers". I guess they can't bill for that now.

[zale]

Nobody is gonna be refunding tuition, that's for sure. But schools are going to have to be accommodating regarding any unpaid balances, and even next year's tuition as many families won't be able to pay as much (or at all). The schools that are doing minimal distance learning (my kids' school included) will obviously have a harder time justifying it.

I predict that if schools are not back in session by May, many parents will be calling their cc issuers and putting a stop on the monthly charges. Head-checks will be cancelled.

If I were in the schools' position now, I would be doing everything in my power to set up serious online classes to accommodate the students, so that at least they can say they are doing their best.

[Ergel]

My read is that is why the seminaries haven't "closed". They need to rationalize not returning tuition. You pulled your child out, we were still running. Not our problem.
You also don't have the same set of students coming year-to-year, so less of a feeling of achrayus on the parent body to support the school

[whYME]

Meanwhile, my sons 3rd grade class does a 30 minute teleconference. 

Same.

My 3rd grade son has 4+ hours of online classes today

[yitzgar]

You also don't have the same set of students coming year-to-year, so less of a feeling of achrayus on the parent body to support the school

This

[SamCan]

Part of the reason we pay tuition is for the babysitting aspect of it not only the learning, which they can't accomplish. Is it the parents job to pay teachers? Why it in different than any other contract that can't be fulfilled which should be up to dinei torah to decide.
If halacha does not require tuition to be paid than it should be up to the community to try to put together funds for them.
Besides maybe we put all teachers are unemployment and try to have them live off these government programs Trump is proposing.

[lubaby]

Part of the reason we pay tuition is for the babysitting aspect of it not only the learning, which they can't accomplish.

Especially with younger, preschool age kids..

The art & crafts and Yom Tov songs are great, but main reason for sending them is to have them out of the house for 7+ hours a day.

[ExGingi]

I’m not saying not to pay, but I think deferment should be reasonable for people whose cash flow has dried up.

[yos9694]

Especially with younger, preschool age kids..

And also especially for the elementary school through high school kids.

Kids are in school to keep them occupied, get educated, and for social immersion. None of those 3 things are any less than the other. Online sessions at home that only take up a few hours of the day accomplish very little compared to what school is meant for.

[Mootkim]

Definitely gonna be debating what to do when payment for April is due for playgroup. They don't have any school at all. my kid in kindergarten has a 15 minute teleconference a day.

To play devil's advocate though, why does it differ from snow days if it is a very snowy winter?