is outside enrichment really unaffordable?

[Anonymous]

I work as a data center technician when I could be making three times working as a computer engineer. In hindsight, I was weak in math and that's what discouraged me from pursuing a four year college degree in a stem field. I dont want to make the same mistake with my child and would like to make sure they are confident with math from elementary grades itself. It's not that school math is bad, except child doesnt get it in one pass, and needs reinforcement. I tried supporting with evening math practice myself using free internet resources and workbooks, but child doesnt listen to me. After input from other parents, I got them started with Kumon, and was pleasantly surprised it costs just $150 per month, while I expected it would be much more and unaffordable. I am completely comfortable with this nominal investment into my child for what I see as necessary given my child's math learning needs.

When people here say outside enrichment is expensive and unaffordable, is there another offering from Kumon that costs much more for elementary math? Of are the rich people trying to keep us lower middle class people from accessing these affordable outside enrichment options to prevent our children from competing academically?

[Anonymous]

Some enrichment options I heard cost twice as much, but I also would like to know how much better they are from the ones like kumon.

[Anonymous]

Different parents choose different forms of math enrichment for their kids. Mine is pretty good at math, so I can help with anything she needs, if she cannot get clarity with help from YouTube videos or Khan Academy.

Some of my friends and relatives have used Kumon. What I have found is that especially as they get older, kids don't like Kumon and its 1000 worksheets, and will eventually stop, usually around upper Elementary. IME, Kumon kids get very good at arithmetic, doing it quickly and accurately, which helps them out in the long run.

Others go to Mathnesium or equivalents, where there is more one on one help, and I believe costs more. Still others go to AoPS and RSM, which are still more expensive. So, the expenditure depends on what resources you are using.

[Anonymous]

Kumon is drill & kill memorization worksheets proctored by high schoolers. If all your child needs is speed drills, it's fine. If they need support/advanced understanding/creative thinking then it's not the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Umm…how are rich people keeping you from accessing tutoring exactly?

[Anonymous]

It's cheaper per subject if student enrolls in multiple, like math as well as English

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm…how are rich people keeping you from accessing tutoring exactly?

By not sharing tutoring contacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When people here say outside enrichment is expensive and unaffordable, is there another offering from Kumon that costs much more for elementary math? Of are the rich people trying to keep us lower middle class people from accessing these affordable outside enrichment options to prevent our children from competing academically?

Lower middle class person here. I think there are a few things at play here:

1) Taking just one class may not cost so much, $150/month is fine but that only covers a few weeks. You have to continue the classes for many months or even years. Over time, the costs start to add up. For example, my daughter loves arts and crafts so she's signed up for learning to sew. Over three sessions of 7 weeks each, we've spent about $750 for her to get to learn how to use needle and thread 101. In retrospect, I think that's really f'ing expensive. But at enrollment time paying one session at a time, it is doable. So I think affordable or not is relative, depends on how you look at it, what your budget and priorities are. And then consider that most kids take multiple classes, not just 1 hr a week. This quickly adds to many thousands per year.

2) For many people, the enrichment is absolutely expensive and unaffordable. I think very much of the education gap between kids is due to access to these extra classes. It is tragic and shameful to see. Do I think it's because rich people are conspiring to keep poor kids out? No. I think it's a matter of supply and demand. Good classes are incredibly valuable, so people are willing to pay the price if they're able to, so costs go up. Providers can charge high and still fill to capacity and waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When people here say outside enrichment is expensive and unaffordable, is there another offering from Kumon that costs much more for elementary math? Of are the rich people trying to keep us lower middle class people from accessing these affordable outside enrichment options to prevent our children from competing academically?

Lower middle class person here. I think there are a few things at play here:

1) Taking just one class may not cost so much, $150/month is fine but that only covers a few weeks. You have to continue the classes for many months or even years. Over time, the costs start to add up. For example, my daughter loves arts and crafts so she's signed up for learning to sew. Over three sessions of 7 weeks each, we've spent about $750 for her to get to learn how to use needle and thread 101. In retrospect, I think that's really f'ing expensive. But at enrollment time paying one session at a time, it is doable. So I think affordable or not is relative, depends on how you look at it, what your budget and priorities are. And then consider that most kids take multiple classes, not just 1 hr a week. This quickly adds to many thousands per year.

2) For many people, the enrichment is absolutely expensive and unaffordable. I think very much of the education gap between kids is due to access to these extra classes. It is tragic and shameful to see. Do I think it's because rich people are conspiring to keep poor kids out? No. I think it's a matter of supply and demand. Good classes are incredibly valuable, so people are willing to pay the price if they're able to, so costs go up. Providers can charge high and still fill to capacity and waitlists.

Another lower middle class person here. Hourly tutors are expensive, as we all know. For not so educated parents who lack college degree, after asking around a lot, I found monthly enrichment programs are the best affordable option. Got into the routine of going there twice weekly, and keeps them away from TV and the dyamn phone, at least for sometime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different parents choose different forms of math enrichment for their kids. Mine is pretty good at math, so I can help with anything she needs, if she cannot get clarity with help from YouTube videos or Khan Academy.

Some of my friends and relatives have used Kumon. What I have found is that especially as they get older, kids don't like Kumon and its 1000 worksheets, and will eventually stop, usually around upper Elementary. IME, Kumon kids get very good at arithmetic, doing it quickly and accurately, which helps them out in the long run.

Others go to Mathnesium or equivalents, where there is more one on one help, and I believe costs more. Still others go to AoPS and RSM, which are still more expensive. So, the expenditure depends on what resources you are using.

RSM is not more expensive then Mathnasium and the like, I have seen the monthly bills for those programs. It is set up differently, it is a 2 hour class once a week with homework instead of 2 times a week drop ins. The programs are different, one is a class while the other is small work groups.

Look for the program that works best for your child and for your schedule. A lot of the programs have scholarships, I know RSM does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different parents choose different forms of math enrichment for their kids. Mine is pretty good at math, so I can help with anything she needs, if she cannot get clarity with help from YouTube videos or Khan Academy.

Some of my friends and relatives have used Kumon. What I have found is that especially as they get older, kids don't like Kumon and its 1000 worksheets, and will eventually stop, usually around upper Elementary. IME, Kumon kids get very good at arithmetic, doing it quickly and accurately, which helps them out in the long run.

Others go to Mathnesium or equivalents, where there is more one on one help, and I believe costs more. Still others go to AoPS and RSM, which are still more expensive. So, the expenditure depends on what resources you are using.

RSM is not more expensive then Mathnasium and the like, I have seen the monthly bills for those programs. It is set up differently, it is a 2 hour class once a week with homework instead of 2 times a week drop ins. The programs are different, one is a class while the other is small work groups.

Look for the program that works best for your child and for your schedule. A lot of the programs have scholarships, I know RSM does.

not many are aware. cuts the monthly fee to about three movie tickets and a popcorn bucket

[Anonymous]

There are kids at our elementary school who get the majority of their food at school because they don't have enough to eat at home. So yes, there are kids for whom enrichment is unaffordable. They're still trying to afford basic needs.

[Anonymous]

It's less the monetary cost than it's the time and individual attention. Kumon/RSM/AOPS are roughly in the same price ballpark and the curriculum and instruction is all fine for purposes of reinforcement. I find though that even though I send the kids to Kumon/RSM/AOPS, I still need to make sure the kids do the homework and I often need to work through problems with them. It's the keeping tabs on the kids and support that take up the most time and that would be expensive to replicate in that I suspect it would otherwise require some 1-1 tutoring.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of free resources out there. Parents just have to know where to find them, and both the parents and kids have to be motivated to use them.

Khan Academy is free and covers a lot of subjects. AoPS has many free resources as well as a message board where kids can ask for help if they didn't understand something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's less the monetary cost than it's the time and individual attention. Kumon/RSM/AOPS are roughly in the same price ballpark and the curriculum and instruction is all fine for purposes of reinforcement. I find though that even though I send the kids to Kumon/RSM/AOPS, I still need to make sure the kids do the homework and I often need to work through problems with them. It's the keeping tabs on the kids and support that take up the most time and that would be expensive to replicate in that I suspect it would otherwise require some 1-1 tutoring.

We are lower middle class as well, and the monthly fee was lowered to almost nothing. We made time to sit with the child as well, but our kid did not want to study. So we stopped, and child is back to TV and phone. We are looking for suggestions what we can do if child refuses to study.