THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
CAPITALISM IS alive and well in public schools. Just ask any high school upperclassman.
With expenses ranging from class dues and student pictures to the cost of a school ring, yearbook, prom ticket and football games, the last two years of high school can be anything but cheap, say six Lakeland High juniors and seniors.
``Whenever I need money, my mom tells me to clean the house up,'' said Cherie Brown, a 17-year-old senior. ``She'll give me $25 to clean the house, so every week I have at least $25 in my pocket.''
How do her peers cope?
Some work part-time. Others have money left over from summer jobs. Others routinely hit Mom and Dad up for money. A few take the high road: They do without a lot of the stuff.
Ernest Reid Jr., a 17-year-old senior who works part-time for an ice manufacturer, said students should help carry the load for things that make school fun, or at least memorable.
``The school is what we make it, so I believe we should share in some of the financial burden,'' he said. It's up to students to spend their money wisely, he added.
But 17-year-old Amanda Biittner, a senior, said students shouldn't always fall for the hype.
``A lot of (the expenses) aren't necessary,'' she said. ``You just have to figure out what it is that you want and what is really important to you. You have to learn how to manage your own money.''
But are things such as yearbooks and athletic events really important? Sixteen-year-old junior Ellen Brown responded with a strong ``yes.''
``It's not crucial to learning, but you can't get a group of teenagers and sit them in a room and say, `You learn this, you learn that' . . . without putting any fun in it,'' she said. ``The kids have to have something to look forward to.''
Digging into one's pocket can be burdensome at times, the students said. Nonetheless, several also emphasized the need to cover school-related costs. That's because some of the money spent goes back to the school in the form of cold cash for equipment and supplies, or it helps pay for student events, they said.
``You have to take responsibility for things you want to support,'' Anson Morris said. The 16-year-old junior works with his father, a farmer, and also works at a Richmond flea market one weekend each month.
Kristen Chavis, 17, had concerns about those who can't afford to carry the load.
``I think there is pressure,'' said Kristen, a senior. ``Everybody wants to participate whether they can afford to or not, and if they can't afford to, they feel left out.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos on page E1.
Cherie Brown
Ernest Reid Jr.
Anson Morris
Photos
My father is very generous . . . but it's impossible to get
everything you want so people have to sacrifice and they have to be
realistic.
Ellen Brown, 16, junior
You have to save the money you do get. But at the same time, you
have to remember that focusing on schoolwork is what's really
important.
Kristen Chavis, 17, senior
Summer jobs and baby-sitting throughout the year (keeps money in my
pocket). You have to save up.
Amanda Biittner, 17, senior
by CNB