Paying for education a burden for students

The state House Education Committee is considering a measure that would require public school students to pay fees and deposits to cover the costs of their education.

The committee would have schools impose a fee on students to cover lab costs, as well as a deposit to insure the safe return of all school-owned textbooks.

It is unethical to force fines on students and parents who have no other alternatives.

To ask for a deposit on school books is ridiculous. Many students will, without a doubt, be unable to afford this deposit. To punish the majority of students who handle their textbooks responsibility for the minority who do not is insane. If schools wish to recover funds for these books, they should pursue the students who lose them.

To impose a fee for education is even more outrageous. What are taxpayers paying for, after all? Every year, taxpayers pump out millions, trusting the state to spend it wisely toward things like education -- students should not have to pay further for the right to get an education.