Spectacular Social Studies

Today's class started with a re-cap of the Presidential election.  One of the Assistant Principals stopped in to let the students know that the Principal would be back later that afternoon and reminded the teacher about the important school wide announcement the teacher needed to make.  The teacher said, "I won' forget." 

Later, another staff member entered with the same reminder.  "Yes, Yes, I won't forget."  He proceeded on with the discussion of the election results.  The classroom phone rang, "Ugh probably another reminder."  The students are getting anxious and curious.  The teacher said, "I'm getting to it.  But it is not a fun announcement."

Then the teacher approached me, the students can hear him as he tells me that "as a parent in the district, I was going to be upset but to try not to show it to the kids."  I wondered about the announcement....what was it? 

Today's quiz was handed out but was not to be started.  

A copy of a letter to parents that would be distributed today was shown on the document camera.

               "....due to severe educational budget cuts the district has initiated a new policy effective immediately.  Students will be charged a fee of $0.10 per page for every page distributed to the students for the rest of the school year.  ...Fees would be collected in class and any student not paying the fee would receive a zero for the assignment."

Consequently, everyone owed the teacher $0.10 for the quiz just handed out.  They could pay the fee now or the teacher would accept an I.O.U. since they had just been notified of the fee.  The teacher then handed out papers that could be used for I.O.U.s (free of charge).  Another paper was handed out, so now the students owe $0.20.  "What about if I don't accept the paper?" one student asked.  "Then you will receive a zero.  There is nothing I can do about it.  This is the new rule," stated the teacher.

Questions??  Questions??  And another paper - $0.30 now.  "Would someone help me hand these out?"  A student volunteered, "Thank you, I will waive your fee for today."  "Oh, shoot, I was supposed to hand out all the papers for this unit.  That will bring your total to $1.50."  Two students confer and make a deal because one doesn't have any money.  The other student will cover his fee for the day.  The teacher is handed a 5 dollar bill.  Several other students ask if they can go to their lockers for money.  Still another student wonders if a fundraiser could help pay for copies?

"Who decided this?" 

"Administration" 

At this point students are clearly angry. Some are looking for money.  Some are wondering what their parents are going to say.  One is on the verge of tears.  Another asked, "Why wasn't there an assembly about this?"  The teacher said, "That is a great question.  Do you think you should have had something to say about this fee?"  "Yes!" 

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Welcome to................Taxation Without Representation!!!!

By the way...the whole thing was fake...How did it make you feel?