Who should pay for college?

The ex has told me that she doesn't plan to chip in because the girls are smart and can get a scholarship-I tried telling her that is not realistic since we are in a very rural area with less than stellar schools so a "B" avg w/no extra curricular activites is not likely to get major scholarships. She didn't attend college and was sure I was wrong when I told her what the tuition is currently at the shcool the oldest is interested in-she said that was for the 4 years not per year. Yeah-not kidding on that.

Also-the step dad, and to be frank myslef, don't feel compelled to pay any on the kids higher education. We each have our own children to worry about. To me, my hubby has put some money aside and never missed or been late on a child support payment (even when he was laid off for 6 months and it was tough on us) the burden should fall back to mom. She has also signed the girls up for summer camps w/o asking us and then told us we need to pay $600 for the camp in 2 days. She paid 0

Not trying to stop him if he wants to help her out with in reason, ok. But I also don't look to have our household go broke trying to finance higher education for his girls. To be blunt-I think that burden should reside with the biologicals and not negativly impact the new households. I pay for all of my son's toys, clothes, child care, and have a college fund for him. His sister's aren't made to do without because of that in our home. Now if thier mother didn't plan better on how to pay for all of her children that is on her-I just want it to be clear to the girls that they need to get a job or plan on loans etc so they don't look at us on graduation day and ask if we paid the bill for college. I also think it should be made clear to the girls that $1200 a month has been handed over for 16 years-$230,400-so why has mom not set aside any for higher education and why do we keep doing extras (trips, camps, etc) and mom isn't doing basics? What the heck has she done with that money?

And yes-it does irk me, the girls go without stuff if we get it for them the other kids in thier mom's home tear it up or it just vanishes. I would have no issue doing more for them if it went to them-but it seems more and more we are helping to finance their mom's new family not our girls. And when my hubby brought this up, she didn't let the girls come over for a month (untill he said he would call the lawyer and have the court review the shild support). If we could actually afford to send them to college with no negative impact on us, I would. They are good kids and deserve a better situation than the one thier mom has put them in by expanding her family beyond her means to provide the best for each child. Maybe I just have an unrealistic view that a mom should put the child first-not blow child support money for one child on say a new van or digital tv-heck, I do without stuff so my son can have a college fund.