Anyone else get annoyed.. (School Supplies)

[noodleknitter]

Not trying to start the flames here, but I am so sick and tired of people playing the "property tax" card! You act like every penny of that property tax goes to the schools........well, it doesn't. It pays for other things too like the roads you drive on. Where I live the people want us to give their kids everything and build nice new schools, yet they won't even approve a quarter percent sales tax hike in order to pay for it! And yes, those who do pay property tax, do in part, pay for their child's education, but from my experience, the ones who complain the most about buying school supplies or don't even send them, live in government housing or apartments and don't pay property tax anyway!!!

Huh? My point was merely that people who pay property taxes do pay for school. Education isn't free to any parent who pays taxes. And, duh, yeah, other things, too. Mine are homeschooled but I don't complain about paying them, I even donate supplies to my local schools. That is why I am astounded that people are so greedy with their measly school supplies.

Not getting your drift at all.

Our property taxes are some of the highest in OH, btw, because we are a college town. Convince the students to vote for the levies, they pass, and the students leave. Not the best scoring. Just the most expensive.

 

[Minnie_me]

That the schools TELL you that you can not label school supplies that YOU buy so they can pass them out to other kids.. I will be the first to donate to others but do not tell me what to do with the things that I pay for.

These threads always amaze me. I've been teaching for over 20 years and have NEVER had a parent complain about having the supplies they send in being shared by the class. And believe me, I've had difficult parents! This particular annoyance just puzzles me.

If you were a teacher, with 25 five-year olds, would you REALLY give them responsibility for their own box of 24 crayons? That's SIX HUNDRED CRAYONS in your classroom, each one with a specific owner. So when someone finds a coveted red crayon on the floor, how do you determine who it belongs to? And what happens when a child loses a couple of crucial colors? Is s/he just out of luck until Mommy sends in a new box? I've tried having the parents label every single crayon --- it just doesn't work in the long run. It is SOOOO much easier to put a couple of baskets of crayons on each table for the kids to share.

Ever heard the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff"? You need to get over this. FAST. Or you're going to be doing a whole lot of sweating throughout the school year.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Guess I'm the only one who's job actually buys their employee's kids school supplies, huh? I work for the State government and they will pay for up to 2 of your kids supplies for the entire school year.

I pay 0.00.

T.

Well, no I take that back we have to buy backpacks and lunch boxes so I guess we don't get off scott free. This year I'm planning on buying my oldest daughter (10yrs) and only school age kid so far a backpack and lunch box from Lands End. They're more money up front but if I buy her one now and she takes really good care of them I shouldn't have to buy another backpack or lunch box EVER. They hold up really, really well; and they'll have her initails on it too.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

Do you ever plan on owning property?

own property now and i know what the property tax is



but my point is people complain about spending $35 on supplies and my parents never complained about spending $10,000


and property taxes goto a lot more then schools

 

[noodleknitter]

own property now and i know what the property tax is



but my point is people complain about spending $35 on supplies and my parents never complained about spending $10,000


and property taxes goto a lot more then schools

You went to a school that cost $10,000 a year, but you never punctuate are write a complete sentence. They had bigger concerns than $35 for supplies.

 

[noodleknitter]

These threads always amaze me. I've been teaching for over 20 years and have NEVER had a parent complain about having the supplies they send in being shared by the class. And believe me, I've had difficult parents! This particular annoyance just puzzles me.

If you were a teacher, with 25 five-year olds, would you REALLY give them responsibility for their own box of 24 crayons? That's SIX HUNDRED CRAYONS in your classroom, each one with a specific owner. So when someone finds a coveted red crayon on the floor, how do you determine who it belongs to? And what happens when a child loses a couple of crucial colors? Is s/he just out of luck until Mommy sends in a new box? I've tried having the parents label every single crayon --- it just doesn't work in the long run. It is SOOOO much easier to put a couple of baskets of crayons on each table for the kids to share.

Ever heard the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff"? You need to get over this. FAST. Or you're going to be doing a whole lot of sweating throughout the school year.

Minnie, I think that makes so much sense. Who wants their child's school day wasted finding crayons?

 

[Manda]

These threads always amaze me. I've been teaching for over 20 years and have NEVER had a parent complain about having the supplies they send in being shared by the class. And believe me, I've had difficult parents! This particular annoyance just puzzles me.

If you were a teacher, with 25 five-year olds, would you REALLY give them responsibility for their own box of 24 crayons? That's SIX HUNDRED CRAYONS in your classroom, each one with a specific owner. So when someone finds a coveted red crayon on the floor, how do you determine who it belongs to? And what happens when a child loses a couple of crucial colors? Is s/he just out of luck until Mommy sends in a new box? I've tried having the parents label every single crayon --- it just doesn't work in the long run. It is SOOOO much easier to put a couple of baskets of crayons on each table for the kids to share.

Ever heard the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff"? You need to get over this. FAST. Or you're going to be doing a whole lot of sweating throughout the school year.

Somebody stole my red crayon in 1st grade and I still remember who did it (couldn't prove it to the teacher) and I'm still mad about it.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

You went to a school that cost $10,000 a year, but you never punctuate are write a complete sentence. They had bigger concerns than $35 for supplies.

im on an online forum. do i really have to use proper grammer

 

[Minnie_me]

im on an online forum. do i really have to use proper grammer

You write as if you're texting, and it does make your posts very difficult to read. It also makes you come across as ignorant and/or unintelligent. Just MHO.

 

[mjkacmom]

im on an online forum. do i really have to use proper grammer

GRAMMAR - sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[saratogadreamin09]

You write as if you're texting, and it does make your posts very difficult to read. It also makes you come across as ignorant and/or unintelligent. Just MHO.

sorry. i'm not unintelligent though, i went to BC on a educational schloarship.

 

[Minnie_me]

sorry. i'm not unintelligent though, i went to BC on a educational schloarship.

I understand. I'm just saying that, by writing the way you do, you *come across* as being unintelligent or ignorant. I don't know why you would want people to perceive you in that manner.

 

[JoiseyMom]

From what I gather from that list, the teacher has a community supply. That means, when your kid's glue stick is gone, another parent will have provided the replacement. When your kid's blue crayon is gone, another parent will provide the replacement. I don't want my childrens' teachers to have to send a note home to each individual parent when their child's supplies are dwindling - just have everyone contribute the same amount.

BTW, my taxes are over $10,000 - and I will be happy to contribute what the teachers ask, because no matter how much it will cost me (and with 5, it will cost me), it will still be less than what they personally contribute.

Edited to add that the reason she is asking for so many crayons and glue sticks is to cover for those who only send in one glue stick and 8 crayons.

This isn't a specific teacher list. This is the list for the entire district's 2nd grade. And when my son finished his glue stick last year, he told me and he got another one from our supply drawer. His supplies are to be sent and have to fit in his pencil case. His things are his..they are in his desk. I see that when I go to back to school night.

I wouldn't mind if they said you will need approx 12 glue sticks for the year, please be prepared. This is my youngest child, I never had lists like this for the older 2, and they were in the same district.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Not trying to start the flames here, but I am so sick and tired of people playing the "property tax" card! You act like every penny of that property tax goes to the schools........well, it doesn't. It pays for other things too like the roads you drive on. Where I live the people want us to give their kids everything and build nice new schools, yet they won't even approve a quarter percent sales tax hike in order to pay for it! And yes, those who do pay property tax, do in part, pay for their child's education, but from my experience, the ones who complain the most about buying school supplies or don't even send them, live in government housing or apartments and don't pay property tax anyway!!!

The majority of my property taxes goes toward school taxes. And yes I complain about how high my taxes are because they are!!

 

[Gillian]

We didn't get the lists yet, but I know when DS was in public kindergarten he needed replacement crayons once or twice for the box in his desk. Glue sticks were community and the teacher requested replacements about halfway through the year. This year I bought extras on sale for DD's Kindergarten to keep if they need them later on. I didn't know what else to get but it's hard to resist those cheap crayons!

Also Crayola colored pencils (which neither of my kids needed for school so far) as so much better than the cheap ones! At 88c/box walmart they're a great deal for home.

im on an online forum. do i really have to use proper grammer

It depends on the forum. The culture of this one is to use full sentences and decent grammar. Because we don't know you, we make assumptions based on your posts. You come across as very young and inexperienced.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

My dd was in kindergarten last year and I have to admit I was a bit taken back that everything we bought was communal. Her supply list was so long!! We bought everything from crayons to Fruit Loops. My mom was reading my daughter's supply list and laughed while saying, "She is supposed to bring in Fruit Loops, paper bowls, plastic spoons....what are we doing here? Supplying this teacher's breakfast?". Last year we spent almost $75 in school supplies (just the ones on the list). This year we spent around $50. We too have fees on top of that to pay for the year.

I'm getting used to the communal idea although I remember the excitement of getting to pick out a new Lisa Frank folder and wish my daughter could share in that same back to school excitement. I know that's probably a silly thought but I remember that making school's starting time a bit more exciting.

I just want to know where all our non consumable supplies go at the end of the year? We don't get anything back and are not supposed to label anything. Take the scissors for instance. Every year each child is supposed to bring in a pair of scissors. Where are all these scissors going at the end of each year? Are they throwing them away? Can't they use the same pair one more than one year?

 

[wdwmaw]

Ever heard the saying "Don't sweat the small stuff"? You need to get over this. FAST. Or you're going to be doing a whole lot of sweating throughout the school year.

I have been reading this and I really do not think you have read all of the post. I hope you go back and read some of mine. The small stuff !!!! The small stuff in my opion in my childs education. I am being burdened with this cost because school districts here can not spend there money wisely. Think about it....
1. Clorax clean ups, teachers best friend. I could make them to last a year with a gallon of clorax mixed with water and 2 rolls of brown paper towell, but I am not allowed to use this in the classroom.
2.Pencils are dirt cheap right now but they cost me 3x that amount if I order through district supply companies. Big ex. $1200 for a computer that cost $400 at Wall mart, but the Wall mart computer is not allowed on district system.This is about more than just sweating the small stuff.I work in school and I know in my class parents are complaining. It is hard to see the football team receive a new fieldhouse and excercise equipment when my student has to share an AP textbook that he is not allowed to bring home.At the school I work at (I'm in Kindergarden so does not affect me), we will not use textbook's at all this year. We have opted to order 1 $50 workbook for each student and make copies and do 1 textbook and make overheads for each teacher to teach with.

I have to make my list so long because only about 3/4 of the parents are sending in items. I have to have enough to cover everybody. The majority of the students that do not bring in supplies are upper middle class. It's the parents that struggle that send the most in here.

Come on people the first post asked.....Anyone else get annoyed.. (School Supplies) I get that you are not annoyed but you also do not live or walk in my shoes or are in my boat. I am for everyone having there own stuff. If parents can not buy then get it donated. Children do not know how to take care of things and they do not know the value of things. I am tired of children breaking and tearing things up only to be given another brand new thing (pencil or whatever). I have student that will set and chew or just break pencils and there is nothing that can be done. When I was in school and that happened that child did not do work because they did not have anything to write with. The parents were called and the parents brought new pencil or child got a 0 on that assignment. Well those days are over. Parents your child need to have ther own supplies and they need to learn to take care of them. If other children harm those things, well thats a bully and bullies need to be stopped not rewarded with a new pencil. In your office you do not go to a community box each morning to get your pen or have to share your keyboard with 3 other people. Do you sit and wait your turn for the white out? Do you buy post its only for all of them to be gone before the days end ? That said I am for everyone having the same type of items and some brands are much better than others.It is amazing how different the school systems are, even within the same state.

I just want to know where all our non consumable supplies go at the end of the year? We don't get anything back and are not supposed to label anything. Take the scissors for instance. Every year each child is supposed to bring in a pair of scissors. Where are all these scissors going at the end of each year? Are they throwing them away? Can't they use the same pair one more than one year?

At my school everybody knows what each grade has on there list and all supplies are shared throughout the school. Boxes of tissues are shared with music, art, office, principle and so on so forth. Pencils for the most part are used throughout the year and horded day one for end of year testing. Grades 3-5 test off and on for 2 weeks in spring. Each student received 3 sharpened pencils every morning of there testing in a bag along with hard candies, tissues, erasers, baggie of cereal and sometimes a small treat.That adds up!! This is the same for some of the odd things in grade level requests. For my small reading groups we require a student to have a parent sign there log. I send several pencils home everyday (they are never returned) for parents to use to sign this log with. I do have to teach the kids to put a pencil in one hand and reading log in other, walk to parent and hold it while they sign. Yes, it wastes alot of pencils but it gets the log signed and the child is so excited and really thinks there parent is involved.This is my school and may not have anything to do with what you are doing. What is not used is placed in our community room and is grouped together for students that show up first day without anything.


Sorry for the ramble but as I stated in earlier post, this really pushes my buttons. It is hard for me to buy these things and watch the miss use of money spent within my district. The commioner of education within my state sent me emails last year daily about this years budget cuts and legislation wanting me to rally and get involved. This very man was indited in June for the purchase of a top of the line Caddy. He stated that to fight on behalf of the common man her needed to travel to be involved and with that travel he has medical neccisity for the comfort, well I need to see your IEP for that.

I'm done. Sorry, so long and know up front that I can not spell.

 

[DevilDuckie]

I have no great issue with sending extra school supplies for community use. In fact I like to do it. The only thing I get a little perturbed with is the specific brands we are required to send. And even then... I think it is great idea to have a specific brand so that every child has the same. However I find the most expensive brand of everything is required.
That irks me. I don't need to have Kleenex brand tissue in my own home .. I am perfectly content with a store brand.
Or even if I am going to be required to buy multiples of all the most expensive brands.. give me the supply list prior to the end of August so I have a little time to comparison shop or find a sale. It seems the school supply contribution could stretch a lot further in our school if they'd ease up a little on the name brand everything.

I agree with pretty much everything you just said. Our first year in this district we didn't get the list until orientation (4 days before schools started) and I was in agony over the sales I had missed.

I ignore the brand requests. I will buy quality products but I will not be told which brand.

I spent a LOT of time in my son's class last year as room mom. Pencils and tissues ran out before the school year was over and we had to send a letter home begging for more.

One of the reasons that people don't think of for the communal supplies is the "play" factor. Kids have special personal supplies and they mess with them constantly and it creates a disruption. If all the crayons and scissors and glue are in the cupboard rather than in 30 desks they are less distracting. I cannot count the special pencils, funny erasers and digital gizmos that the teacher and I confiscated because the owners just couldn't stop fooling with them in class. There was very nearly an across the board ban on "Smencils". Keeping the individual stuff streamlined helps younger kids focus.

 

[DevilDuckie]

It is hard to see the football team receive a new fieldhouse and excercise equipment when my student has to share an AP textbook that he is not allowed to bring home.

A story from my youth to make you happy.

My high school had a terrible football field. I mean, this thing was in such poor shape that the players were not allowed by their coach to practice on it because it was a hazard. All games were played "away" and practice was at the University half a mile away.

So my Freshman year, money was found in the budget. There were initial plans to resurface the field. Foo'ball! Yay! Go team! (Go lose. They were 0 for 13.)

Then the debate team won regionals. They were invited to go to Washington DC and compete at a national level. This is expensive. It costs, in fact, roughly what resodding a football field costs...

I wonder if they ever *did* get around to fixing that field? I lost track. I was distracted by one of my best friends and her debate team's win at Nationals.

 

[wdwmaw]

A story from my youth to make you happy.

My high school had a terrible football field. I mean, this thing was in such poor shape that the players were not allowed by their coach to practice on it because it was a hazard. All games were played "away" and practice was at the University half a mile away.

So my Freshman year, money was found in the budget. There were initial plans to resurface the field. Foo'ball! Yay! Go team! (Go lose. They were 0 for 13.)

Then the debate team won regionals. They were invited to go to Washington DC and compete at a national level. This is expensive. It costs, in fact, roughly what resodding a football field costs...

I wonder if they ever *did* get around to fixing that field? I lost track. I was distracted by one of my best friends and her debate team's win at Nationals.

Yah , go debate team. I wish we had a debate team .Our football team playes its games on the same field that the NFL Bengals hove their training camp on. The field house was for the practice field .

I do think that these kids need to have a good place to play. Kids are leaving high school with injuries that will stay with them for the rest of there life and in most part the D average to go with it. Why can't communities and corporations pitch in some. Here local banks donate thousands of dollars to shoot fireworks off when our team scores a goal. Hey, I would rather have sod than fireworks (thats what cheer section is for).