LAKES: Raise money but don't hurt kids

Lakes Magnet Middle School charging kids money to wear their own clothes and not their uniform? Last Friday for a “Social” and three days later again. The principal stated that “the kids do not have to pay any money at all, and they can choose not to participate and wear their regular uniform.”

He went on to say, “the monies are going to charity, and that Lakes Middle School made the biggest contribution to American Heart Association last year.” That’s nice, but what about the kids who want to participate but cannot?

I called the Coeur d’Alene School District as well and they too had a concern for the kids who cannot participate.

My stance on this issue is that we pay taxes to cover the schools’ expenditures. We also pay more than $30 for our kids’ school supplies at the beginning of the year. The demographic area for Lakes Middle School consists of many families who are financially hurting. What adolescent kid would not want to “participate” and be able to wear their own clothes for a day to impress their peers? So they go home and pressure their parents for the money.

Some may say, “It’s only a dollar or two and it’s going to a good cause.” Yes, giving to charity is good… The problem is that many parents, including myself, need that money for a gallon of milk or our next gallon of gas. Continue fundraising? Yes. But not charging our kids to wear their own clothes!

CONNIE URBIN

Hayden