This time of year, though, that has changed a little in that parents likely run through a check list that includes some back-to-school clothes, running shoes, and the like. However, they also receive a list from school boards of items they need to go out and find for their children, so they can fully participate in the curriculum.

It's not just Niagara school boards, so there should not be thoughts they are being cited as "taxing" local parents more than any other board.

It is now a fact of life, after decades of government cutbacks and downloading, parents do pay the freight twice -- in the estimation of many -- on many fronts. Education just happens to be a little more blatant since it is an annual rite, and it gets more expensive as children get older.

Last weekend, for example, a discussion among four sets of parents was overheard where all were aghast at the quantity of items they were told to buy for their kids' school year.

Everything from crayons to compasses to construction paper was on their lists. All things that were included and expected "back in the good ol' days" when I was in public school. Yes, that would be the 70s.

Our family has not seen this, but these folks said, and recommended, that parents buy the cheapest stuff they can find because, when students get to school, items are sometimes pooled, then given out when needed. This would mean "Billy" did not necessarily get to use the items he was sent with, but would have use of things collectively brought in.

Even with something like that, the point is not to nit-pick what crayons, or whatever get used, rather, that it is the government that is double-dipping parents in the area of school supplies.

With public school and high school, to the age of majority, the government should still be on the hook for everything required to properly run a school. Our society has decided that access to public schools is a right.

That's great, but it comes with price.

I have done pieces before about university loans, tuition, grants and such, which I do not believe it up to the government to ensure it is cheap for everyone to attend. No, we don't want education to be an elitist element and, yes, we do need an educated population to maintain a skilled, intelligent workforce.

However, a university education is not a right. Elementary and high school education is, so that is where their focus should lie.

As government cutbacks have rolled through our society, virtually every group under the sun has been affected. A quick recollection of all the barbecues, car washes, penny sales, and requests for straight donations for school endeavours would confirm that from an education perspective.

One of the suggestions offered was to shorten the school year by a week and use a week of the teachers' salaries to pay for ALL supplies required.

Only problem is teachers aren't paid that way, really. Their pay is pro-rated over the whole year, so their payments are equal even over the summer months.....plus the fact the ridiculously powerful teachers union might have something to say about it.

As usual, the forgotten people in all this are those who simply don't have the money to run out and spend $50 or $60 on school supplies, and there lots of those people, too. Practically every community has a "back pack" program, or something of that nature, so I encourage you to support the one in your area. Lincoln Community Care runs a great one.