Anyway, I'm not doing a good job explaining this in the character limit, but the point is: YES, it is deeply awful when wealthy public schools simply expect parents to fork over money for, say, a class trip abroad. I have spent a lot of therapy unpacking my feelings about money because of it.

(God, now I'm remembering how hard teen!me tried to find cheaper alternatives, only to have friends still want the pricier option. For example: I couldn't afford to go to Lisa's Tea Treasures, so suggested we all dress up and make our own scones/tea sandwiches and do our own. They noped that. Sigh.)