Be careful with this issue. I've found its best to buy exactly what's on the supply list, this isn't the time to make a stand about the issue.
First of all, your child will stand out. Second, and more important, the teachers don't like students who are "out of the mold". Believe me, I've seen it. When I was in school I saw children being belittled for bringing in the 'wrong' stuff, such as 2 boxes of 8 crayons, instead of the specifiied 16 count box. also, they were quite specific about the type of notebook, any child who brought in the "wrong" notebook automatically lost 10 points on whatever project went in that notebook. How did the teachers get away with such pettiness? Kids typically don't tell their parents about such issues, they feel its somehow their fault or will only blow up even worse.
Even if a teacher doesn't do anything so blantant as deduct an automatic 10 points for having the "wrong" notebook, a lot of the grading, especially in elementary school, is subjective. If they ask for 1.5 inch binders and your kid brings in an assignment in a 1 inch binder its bound to affect the grade.
Teachers can be petty , and they're always griping about how little they're paid, but they seem to have no consideration for the parents budget, like we have a money tree. It constantly bugs me, what they want us to send in, but I always comply, for the kid's sake, even though I probably make less than many teachers! (please, I'm not interested in the flames this one will bring, I don't intend to come back here anyways), its best to play their game, your child is caught in the middle.
Wow. I am sorry for whatever a teacher in school did to you or your child, but please realize that your perception is quite different than the majority of teachers. I hope very much that you will change your mind; I hope that a fantastic, dedicated teacher will enter your life, help your child and you will awaken with a new understanding.
1) Spending - I am a teacher and I spend about $500-$700 of my own money for school supplies every year. This does not count when I bring in breakfast for my homeroom or snacks for Christmas/Halloween, etc. Since I am also a grad student (getting my Masters to become a Reading Specialist so I can diagnose and treat reading disabilities and problems), I have very little money and if I lived alone, could qualify for food stamps. I'm only in my 5th year, so I know it will get better and I feel good about what I'm doing.
2) Large Supply Lists - I require a binder or 5 subject notebook, folder, pen, pencil and highlighter and highly recommend a pocket dictionary and white out.
3) Grading - I have never reduced a child's grade because of not owning supplies. I even state on the first day that if you have a significant financial hardship and cannot purchase some items, let me know. I have purchased supplies for three students so far who have contacted me. Now, once I know a student has items, if they choose not to bring them to class, then they are marked unprepared. They don't lose any points, but it is kept on their record and reported on progress reports and report cards. It is frustrating though, so see a child in $100 sneakers with a sidekick and an ipod tell you that they don't have money for SCHOOL supplies.
4) Art supplies - As a high school teacher, I do occasionally use art supplies in class. No, we do not color. We use this to help teach to multiple intelligences. For example, we did vocabulary work and used red for Latin roots, blue for Greek roots and black for parts of the word that weren't from Latin or Greek. Student felt this really helped them with the SAT vocabulary prep as many words are derived from Latin and Greek. Another way we used art supplies in class was to create maps of the island in Lord of the Flies using the descriptions given in the first four chapters. Students had to locate descriptive passages, write them down and then start sketching out details, adding things in and changing as they learned more. This was to teach chronological order, spatial perception, following directions, and moving items from text to visuals. It is a fact that students that visualize what they read are better readers and enjoy reading more so exercises like this are designed to help motivate an unenthusiastic reader and build confidence. Another way I've used art supplies is with grammar. Many students have a difficult time with the parts of speech and remembering diagrams like I did in school isn't really done anymore because we are so busy doing HSPA prep, SAT prep, interactive notebooks, writing lab work, etc. and I find it is easiest to color code. I give each part of speech a color and we just underline with that color. Students have a much easier time and they say that the colors help them remember. I've had students who said that they would close their eyes and see a word in red and remember it was an action word, a verb!
5)Taxes - Taxes, unfortunately, pay for many things before the remaining quarters and pennies reach the classroom. Schools pay for administrative offices with berber carpeting and cherrywood desks, huge salaries for board members, superintendents, three secretaries for each, etc. Schools pay for beautiful electronic boards, athletic equipment, and huge amounts for new programs that a school adopts one year and tosses to the side three years later. Less than 20% makes it to the classroom. If each school was required to cut the fat from the money spent outside the classroom, then parents wouldn't be asked to send in tissues and crayons. If this is the way things are in your town, don't penalize the teacher or the student - talk to your mayor.
6) Generalizing - I am certain that no one would like to see their profession or any aspect of their lives generalized, especially in a negative way. "Parents think . . . " or "Doctors always . . . " There are millions of teachers, some good some bad. Teachers on the whole, to me, are not petty or vindictive or out to get a child's grade lowered for random things. I don't understand why a teacher like that would *be* a teacher. But, I am sure there might be a few out there.
Yes, you can judge a teacher if you like, but please, do just that judge *a* teacher, not all of us. We are not all the same and we certainly do not run our classrooms all the same way. I've had a teacher who ruined a year of school for me, but I've also had many teachers who have taught me things I will always remember - about the world around me and the world within me and I will be forever grateful. That is why I stick around with the low pay and the low morale at work. I know how much I appreciated my teachers and for the students who yell out their car windows Ms. Disney (not my real name
) I love you! or who name me as their favorite teacher in the yearbook or in the school newspaper, I know how much they appreciate me, too. There are a few teachers where I teach who should be *gone*, so I don't see all teachers with rose colored glasses, either. But, it would be a shame to let the shadow of a few bad ones, cast itself long and dark over every teacher in the world.
Back on topic for the OP -
As far as school supplies go, buy what you can, even if it is store brand (however .50 boxes of crayons are usually just a waste of .50) and recycle still-good stuff (I'm sure 1" will suffice) and talk to the teacher. I am sure the teacher will be willing to work with you if you are suffering financial hardship. Honestly, if your child started a new notebook in June and only used ten pages, I can't see tossing it out to buy a new one just yet, either. I also try to recycle when I can and eliminate waste. I cut up old handouts for scrap paper and ask for double sided copies whenever I have more than one page being copied.
If every teacher in your district has these excessive supply lists I hear about that cost hundreds of dollars, then you need to have a meeting with a principal or superintendent to ask them why the school is not supplying teachers will classroom supplies.
Let me also add a big smile to all my fellow teachers. I am proud of the work we do and I am glad to see you are, too!
As soon as I get the list at the end of the year I start shopping. It's probably because school supplies are one of the few things I don't feel guilty about buying. Anyway...
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