Anyone else get annoyed.. (School Supplies)

[luvsJack]

I have always had an issue with buying supplies and them being put in a bin to be used by the whole class or being given to other students. Its not the expence of the supplies. Its the fact that every time they run low, its my child that gets the note that says, "we need more folders, crayons or whatever", because they know I will get the stuff. I do not go by a store on the way home from work, it takes a special trip to go and get these things.

The problem is that its always the same parents that are expected to purchase everything for the class, not the expence of the items. And I know for a fact that in our school there are parents who most certainly can afford to buy supplies, they just know that their child will be allowed to use the "class supply" and they don't have to be out a dime.

 

[smidgy]

I just buy what's on the list and buy things each month that the classroom needs and I don't think beyond that. It's a contribution to the classroom and they can do whatever they'd like with that. I don't worry that i bought 5 boxes of tissues and other families didn' tbuy any, i just don't care. I have much bigger things to worry about in life....

the OP didn't say whe was "worried", she said "annoyed". I think parents should be able to choose if they want school supplies to be the charity they choose. I have purchased an extra Awana vest for a child whose family couldn't afford it, and I have lent money to a single mom so her daughter could register for high school. but this was MY CHOICE.
when my kids were in school, I chose not to sent extra supplies To the classroom. one reason why: I clean houses, and over the years 3 dif. teachers I cleaned for had tissue boxes in their home with kid's names written on them in marker.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

Our school district has lengthy class lists, but instead of shopping around town, we have the option of buying a "school tool box". This is a BRILLIANT solution.

For a very low fee (around $40), some company fills the box with EXACTLY the supplies, brands, and colors required. On the first day of school, every kid's supplies are waiting in a cardboard suitcase on their desk. It even comes with pre-printed name labels for the items you use right away, like workbooks.

The boxes contain the top end merchandise: Prismacolor art pencils, Crayola crayons, Ziploc quart-size bags, whatever. It isn't store-brand junk.

The best part? Every kid gets exactly the same supplies. There is no fussing about spiderman notebooks or bratz pencil erasers. So when it's time to put all the glue sticks in a bin on the shelf, no one is sacrificing their personalized WWJD glue stick.

 

[smidgy]

we LOVE Hamburger Helper!

 

[Asellus]

we LOVE Hamburger Helper!

Neither of my kids will eat any meat besides an occasional chicken nugget. and the sodium in it makes me literally sick. (granted I loved it as a kid)

 

[perkinsrose]

Anyone else have the problem of getting the list, buying the stuff and then showing up for school and the teacher says you don't need the stuff on the list for her classroom? Or there is a completely different list? I always end up buying binders and such that they won't even use! UUGHHH!

I haven't been able to read all of this thread but I do want to say first off that I don't mind giving extra for kids in need. BUT I am also not spending money on high end pencils (the ones that don't break so easily and that sharpen good) for my child to not be the one using them. Also they ask for all pencils to be turned into a classroom bin and then they all get sharpened and then kids can use them again. Problem with this is that my son complained about getting ones other people have chewed up. YUCK! For sanitary reasons I will not let my child use the community class room pencils. They also ask for 60 pencils to be sent in. My child would never use that many so I don't sent them. If they want to come out and ask for donations that is one thing but the way they are doing it is just wrong.

Hadn't thought about this but sharing items unnecessarily probably contributes to quicker spreading of viruses. Handwashing is single best preventer of viruses. All that handling by so many kids probably not best idea. I don't think my Dkids wash their hands too many times/day at school. I'm not a germophobe but would certainly appreciate one or two less colds per school year.

 

[perkinsrose]

the OP didn't say whe was "worried", she said "annoyed". I think parents should be able to choose if they want school supplies to be the charity they choose. I have purchased an extra Awana vest for a child whose family couldn't afford it, and I have lent money to a single mom so her daughter could register for high school. but this was MY CHOICE.
when my kids were in school, I chose not to sent extra supplies To the classroom. one reason why: I clean houses, and over the years 3 dif. teachers I cleaned for had tissue boxes in their home with kid's names written on them in marker.

As a parent and former teacher, I'm horrified! I thought such supplies would stay in the school building to carry over to next year!

 

[TheRatPack]

It used to irritate me that they wanted all this stuff for themselves (bulbs for the desk lamp, refills for their plug in air fresheners, clorox wipes, post it notes...etc)plus the supply fee, plus a list of required supplies and donations. But, nothing you can do about it really. I guess what really irritated me was that most parents don't send anything at the schools where my 2 oldest went. Not even the 1.00 per student fee for a end of the year pizza party.....seriously the teacher got I think maybe 7 dollars out of almost 30 students!!!! So I realized that she needed the extra pencils, paper...etc to supply those students with some. About mid way through the year though, my kids would come home needing more paper, pencils, markers...etc and I thought WHY? They didn't have that many projects that required markers, and didn't use that much paper or pencils in 1/2 a year....so then I'm required to RE-buy all that again!!!! So again, it was very very irritating but again, what are you going to do.

We had to stick to plain pencils, certain brand of notebooks, a specific brand of soap, binder tabs...etc. And if you sent anything in for them to keep in their desk, it usually got stolen before the year ended so again...why send it. Now that we homeschool they get all the cool stuff and I've even ordered them personalized pencils before , and the new cute 'croc' type notebooks with the little things that pop in the front that are like Jibbitz...my oldest dd got one of those for her agenda....we actually enjoy BTS shopping now

 

[perkinsrose]

This whole thing made me realize something. My kids already know how to share. They have a strong sense of empathy. We donate as a family.

What i hope they learn from home AND in school is how to debate, disagree, and have a different opinion respectfully and with tact without attacking or berating and not having to use expletives to get their point across.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Well- if you're going to WDW in August and can't afford you're kids school supplies maybe you should think of giving up your internet service? But I; and my DS would be happy to share with your kids even if their parents made unwise financial decisions!

Of course I can afford school supplies for my child. Just like I afford the $4k tuition, the $200 book and computer fee, the $150 registration fee, uniforms, etc. (and not easily BTW). My point is, I personally have been surrounded by too many parents who do this exact thing -- drive huge SUVs, own huge homes, take vacations multiples times a year, buy jewelry like it's candy, and then don't have money when it comes to their children. If they don't feel they owe it to their children, then I sure as heck don't. Priorities -- that's what I'm talking about. If you're kids aren't a priority, then don't expect them to be a priority to everyone else.

 

[livie1205]

yep and so are verbal attacks....that little sign in the left bottom of the post is to report a post when someone is doing this.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I don't mind the whole buying extra supplies thing since I now take the paper towels, kleenex, ziploc bags, and copy paper in on registration day and then each child takes one pack of sharpened pencils, one box of labeled crayons, one package of filler paper, labelled scissors ect on the first day of school.

This isn't so much of an issue with DS's middle school. Everything is their own.

Then I send in more paper every few weeks and it works like a charm.

I also buy extra for when stuff is stolen out of their desks. It happened alot last year in my DD's 2nd grade class. Her personal pencils disappeared, her erasers went missing, even her favorite comp. notebook. Totally strange.

I do hate the community sharing thing though. Kids were just passing around the cold germs last year with all the marker, scissor and pencil sharing going on. I had to tell the teacher that I wanted DD to have her own items and not share any longer because of the germs.
The teacher said it wasn't possible so I supplied DD with her own little pencil box with everything in it again (good thing I had extra stuff at home) and made it happen.

Ah school - I just hate it.

 

[jessica52877]

Yep, totally annoys me. It annoys me more for a few different reasons. One being the sharing of all these items in such close proximity spreads germs, kids sneeze and then touch the item. Yuck! Secondly, I would have DIED if I had a broken smashed down crayon when I was kid. I took care of mine and expected nothing but the best to work with, I know my DS5 is the same. I teach him to keep his items nice and respect them. Also, he is left handed so the scissor issue comes in there!

I am sure there is much more to be annoyed about but this does just rub me the wrong way!

And don't get me started on the nap mat and the change of clothes! IF my son's clothes need changed then I need a phone call, obviously there was an issue. If the kids are going to nap, send them HOME! I am tired of all day K because parents don't have daycare. And yes, that is exactly why alot of the schools in my area have gone to it!

 

[perkinsrose]

Yep, totally annoys me. It annoys me more for a few different reasons. One being the sharing of all these items in such close proximity spreads germs, kids sneeze and then touch the item. Yuck! Secondly, I would have DIED if I had a broken smashed down crayon when I was kid. I took care of mine and expected nothing but the best to work with, I know my DS5 is the same. I teach him to keep his items nice and respect them. Also, he is left handed so the scissor issue comes in there!

I am sure there is much more to be annoyed about but this does just rub me the wrong way!

And don't get me started on the nap mat and the change of clothes! IF my son's clothes need changed then I need a phone call, obviously there was an issue. If the kids are going to nap, send them HOME! I am tired of all day K because parents don't have daycare. And yes, that is exactly why alot of the schools in my area have gone to it!

I remember being so happy with a new box of sharp crayons to create with. Simple pleasures.

 

[Minnie_me]

And don't get me started on the nap mat and the change of clothes! IF my son's clothes need changed then I need a phone call, obviously there was an issue. If the kids are going to nap, send them HOME! I am tired of all day K because parents don't have daycare. And yes, that is exactly why alot of the schools in my area have gone to it!

Even if your son spilled juice or paint on himself, and just needs a dry set of clothes? Our extra clothes aren't always used for potty accidents. But you must be a SAHM, or work close by with a flexible job, because most moms would NOT want a phone call if their child needed a change of clothes, even for a potty accident!

And as for rest time, it's not usually a "nap". The kids have a break from mental/physical activity for about 20 minutes. We call it "brain rest" -- it's very important!

My district has had full day Kindergarten for over 25 years, and it's never had anything to do with daycare.

 

[jessica52877]

Yes, I would want to be contacted no matter what the case of needing a new set of clothing items was. Even a spilt juice I would want to know why if it needed a change, in 4 years we have had 3 spilt drinks (no, we don't use sippy cups).

Around here all the private schools have gone to full day PreK and K for the reason of daycare. I have no idea about public schools.

 

[kcromley]

You must live a long way away from me. My child's school did two-digit addition and Spanish verbs during the afternoon of kindergarten. Hope your educational system improves wherever you are and good luck.

 

[tfiga]

Actually I do not mind buying the supplies, but I do not like the way it is handled in the classroom. Last year the teacher sent home a request for a note pad and a couple of folders. I sent the requested items plus a couple extra, as Wal Mart had a sale, on Thursday in a fairly large bag that my son took to his class and gave to his teacher. On Monday my son came home with a note pad that was different from the type we bought so I asked him why. He said he was given a note pad that Sarah's mom donated and his teacher told him he should say Thank You... What? So I asked him if he told her that he brought in the items and he said "no" she lead him to Sarah's desk to say thank you... I was livid and this has happened more than once. I have never not sent in the required supplies and the teachers are getting so much stuff in they apparently do not know where they are coming from... I stewed on this one for a week, debating if I should say something and decided I was being petty and should let it go, but quite honestly I still haven't... And I did see one of the pads I purchased on a desk on curicullium (Sp?) night.

 

[perkinsrose]

Actually I do not mind buying the supplies, but I do not like the way it is handled in the classroom. Last year the teacher sent home a request for a note pad and a couple of folders. I sent the requested items plus a couple extra, as Wal Mart had a sale, on Thursday in a fairly large bag that my son took to his class and gave to his teacher. On Monday my son came home with a note pad that was different from the type we bought so I asked him why. He said he was given a note pad that Sarah's mom donated and his teacher told him he should say Thank You... What? So I asked him if he told her that he brought in the items and he said "no" she lead him to Sarah's desk to say thank you... I was livid and this has happened more than once. I have never not sent in the required supplies and the teachers are getting so much stuff in they apparently do not know where they are coming from... I stewed on this one for a week, debating if I should say something and decided I was being petty and should let it go, but quite honestly I still haven't... And I did see one of the pads I purchased on a desk on curicullium (Sp?) night.

I am usually very reserved and non-confrontational...but i would have had NO problem asking teacher why child was asked to thank another child for a notebook when i had sent in supplies!!!

 

[Minnie_me]

Yes, I would want to be contacted no matter what the case of needing a new set of clothing items was. Even a spilt juice I would want to know why if it needed a change, in 4 years we have had 3 spilt drinks (no, we don't use sippy cups).

Around here all the private schools have gone to full day PreK and K for the reason of daycare. I have no idea about public schools.

LOL - you know exactly how many spilled drinks you've had in 4 years??? WOW! So your kid doesn't spill things on himself. What if another child spilled a drink on your child? Or he got too wet while washing his hands? Or he spilled applesauce or veggie dip on his shirt? When kids spill like that, they often get upset, and don't feel comfortable in the wet/messy clothes. Most parents would be highly annoyed if they were contacted for such a petty, easily-taken-care-of situation.

How do you know that's the reason your schools went to full day? Did they publicize it as such, or is it just your assumption?