Our school has one. I don't require my students to participate, but I do encourage it and I give extra credit if they do. My class (I only teach one science class) is really excited about it. They are planning already, what they are going to do (our fair isn't until spring).

On another note.....have any of you seen the movie October Sky? Great great movie and that's what inspired my class to want to participate in the science fair.

Now you have the opinion from the OTHER side (perhaps you might view it as the DARK side) lol