Fake 10-cent fee to teach students lesson on taxes goes awry

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A modern lesson on taxation without representation turned sour in Orange County.

Some Orange County middle school students were sent home with a letter saying they would have to pay for all the paper given to them in their class.

It turns out, the letter was not from the principal. It was part of a class assignment, but the parents didn't know.

Channel 9's Racquel Asa found out what the school is doing to ease the concern and confusion.

More than 100 copies of the letter were handed out during eighth-grade social studies classes this week.

A letter that felt real to students, especially when the assistant principal came to read it to them, saying a new policy is in effect immediately. Each student in every social studies class would be required to pay 10 cents per page.

The letter said there would be no exceptions, and while it may seem like a burden and unfair, it is absolutely necessary. The letter was even signed by the principal on the bottom and had the school's emblem on top, but it wasn't real.

"Was your intent to rile your students?" Asa asked.

"My intent was somewhat to rile them so they can understand some what the colonists felt," teacher Shannon Yenor said. "I wanted them to experience that frustration, experience, that anger and unfairness."

Students were sent home with an apology letter Thursday explaining it was a hypothetical exercise and clearing up confusion over the fake 10-cent fee.

"You succeeded in teaching a lesson," Asa said.

"Thank you. Yes I did. I agree. I think I did," Yenor said.

WFTV