Thumbs down to activity fee in Montgomery

PACKET EDITORIAL, March 9

   If financial pressures can drive people to consider self-destructive acts, we probably shouldn’t be surprised when the same thing happens to public institutions.
   Still, it would be painful to see a school district with the reputation and relative affluence of Montgomery’s start billing students for participation in extra-curricular activities. The idea threatens to erode the system’s educational reputation as well as the community of parental and student affinity which helps sustain it.
   Montgomery school officials must certainly understand that performing arts, competitive athletics and other "after-school" activities are part of the educational experience and not expendable frills.
   We doubt that any of them would consciously embrace a commercial airline model of "economy" seats for students whose parents lack the discretionary income to "upgrade" them to "first class," where the fortunate elite get more opportunities for personal development, not to mention college admission.
   But that is precisely where the slippery slope of education a la carte could lead.
   At their best, public schools are great levelers, offering a good, well-rounded education to all who pass through their doors, regardless of their parents’ financial status. When they begin leveling down, instead of up, those who have the means may look elsewhere.
   We are not predicting a mass exodus to the many fine private and parochial schools in our communities. But more than a few parents and students may reconsider their after-school options before shelling out as much as $250 to participate in a school-sponsored activity. The commercial marketplace offers a cornucopia of dance, music, drama, sports, arts, crafts and other enrichment opportunities.
   Worse yet, some students will be priced out of extra-curricular activities altogether. In the process, much of the energy, affinity and sense of community that students and parents feel for their schools will be lost.
   "I put a lot of work into the marching band when my son was in it," one Montgomery father said last week. "And I’d hate to see a decrease in participation because of the fees."
   We fully understand the pressure that New Jersey’s dysfunctional school financing system puts on district superintendents and boards of education. We know that they must craft budgets that local voters will approve.
   But before the members of the Montgomery Board of Education resort to imposing student activity fees for relief, we suggest they consider what it will be like trying to win approval of their budgets when taxpayers with school-aged children have less reason to vote "yes".