Author Topic: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?  (Read 108457 times)

Offline zale

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1456
  • Total likes: 406
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY
How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« on: March 18, 2020, 02:13:50 PM »
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?

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19764
  • Total likes: 16344
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2020, 02:19:02 PM »
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?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline TimT

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 23026
  • Total likes: 7569
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2020, 02:22:35 PM »
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

Offline zale

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1456
  • Total likes: 406
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2020, 02:24:58 PM »
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.

Offline aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 19764
  • Total likes: 16344
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2020, 02:51:08 PM »
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.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 9056
  • Total likes: 6895
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2020, 03:00:34 PM »
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.
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline skyguy918

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 4115
  • Total likes: 892
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Queens, NY
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2020, 03:10:14 PM »
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.

Offline zale

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1456
  • Total likes: 406
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2020, 03:12:26 PM »
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.  >:(


Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 70677
  • Total likes: 20212
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2020, 03:13:25 PM »
Meanwhile, my sons 3rd grade class does a 30 minute teleconference.  >:(
Same.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Online Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13158
  • Total likes: 988
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2020, 03:14:39 PM »
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 18561
  • Total likes: 8955
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2020, 03:15:32 PM »
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.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline zale

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1456
  • Total likes: 406
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2020, 03:16:33 PM »
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.

Online Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13158
  • Total likes: 988
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2020, 03:21:33 PM »
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
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline whYME

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3386
  • Total likes: 1246
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2020, 03:21:56 PM »
Meanwhile, my sons 3rd grade class does a 30 minute teleconference.  >:(
Same.
My 3rd grade son has 4+ hours of online classes today

Offline yitzgar

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2016
  • Posts: 3315
  • Total likes: 1376
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2020, 03:22:43 PM »


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

Offline SamCan

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 213
  • Total likes: 31
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #15 on: March 18, 2020, 03:46:13 PM »
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.

Offline lubaby

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 5391
  • Total likes: 736
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #16 on: March 18, 2020, 04:42:33 PM »
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.

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 18561
  • Total likes: 8955
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #17 on: March 18, 2020, 04:47:23 PM »
I’m not saying not to pay, but I think deferment should be reasonable for people whose cash flow has dried up.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline yos9694

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 1924
  • Total likes: 926
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #18 on: March 18, 2020, 04:47:45 PM »
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.

Offline Mootkim

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 673
  • Total likes: 130
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: How should schools and parents deal with tuition?
« Reply #19 on: March 18, 2020, 05:09:17 PM »
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?