Anyone else get annoyed.. (School Supplies)

[bethy]

As a parent with a child in school I guess I don't have a problem with providing school supplies. Some of the other stuff - like mandatory t-shirts - and stuff puts a hardship on low income families and seems to be a bit over the top.

But in general I consider it to be a user's fee of sorts. I mean the taxpayers are paying for 99% of my childrens' education. I don't have a problem rounding that out with a few incidentals. And no matter what I do NOT want our teachers to have to pay for this stuff personally. I just don't see how school could be taught very effectively without essentials like binders, paper, pencils and kleenex and even calculators. And heck I'm all for Purell at school espcially during cold and flu season.

For families who have a lot of kids in schools I guess I am not overly sympathetic because I feel that having children is a choice and responsibility. I would give anything to have more children but DH resists because of the financial responsibility he feels (among other reasons.)

As for children whose families can't afford the supplies? I just send in extra stuff every year. It's no big deal at all to me personally. I care about those children just about as much as I do my own precious little darlings.

 

[Minnie_me]

THAT was very rude and it makes YOU sound unintelligent....IMO

How does it make me sound unintelligent? I'm giving an accurate perception of a poster who uses no uppercase letters, no punctuation, and whose posts are very difficult to read. She asked why she should bother to write correctly in an online forum, and I responded to her. I told her that she is PERCEIVED as being unintelligent by writing that way; I did not call her unintelligent. I don't doubt her intelligence at all. I was simply pointing out that her posts were difficult to read, and that they send the wrong message about her.

 

[noodleknitter]

For families who have a lot of kids in schools I guess I am not overly sympathetic because I feel that having children is a choice and responsibility. I would give anything to have more children but DH resists because of the financial responsibility he feels (among other reasons.)

Glad you didn't have any multiples...

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I haven't read all of the thread; just 1st and the last 2 pages- but is this seriously a debate over our kids sharing their supplies with less fortunate kids? I for one am a total believer that sharing with kids/people who are in need is right and proper! I always send in extra of all items; and all items requested throughout the year- clorox wipes; I'll grab an extra 2 sets @ BJ's and send in when teacher requests 1 container and glue sticks- I always send in about 12. This country is all about me-me-me. I think it's great to teach our kids to share and help others and it's school supplies OP- not an amount equal to your mortgage payment! Grow up! My DS is autistic and is in an 8:1:1 class and there are 2 kids in his class who I'm pretty sure are less fortunate; I even send in extra $$$ for field trips- I can't imagine being so cheap- yes, I said it! CHEAP as to complain about SHARING school supplies! Petty and SUPER-TACKY!

Hmm I did not think that my one little vent would turn into an 11 page debate, yes it annoys me to be told to give to others. I give to others all of the time. I have spent many hours helping out with Toys for Tots, I have paid for many field trips for less fortunate kids. I teach my children to share but they also get in trouble for demanding things instead of asking. I think your personal attack was uncalled for. Yes this country is me,me,me but I also think that getting things without working for them plays a part in that thought process. Let me state again I would gladly give if asked and not demanded.. THAT WAS MY POINT...

 

[frtchr]

The beautiful thing about the education system is that we all have a choice. We can send our kids to public school, private school, or ever homeschool. And before people jump all over me for not having a choice about where to go, I'm not starting a debate about which is best. I'm just saying if you don't like the requests of your school, there are other options.

 

[noodleknitter]

Hmm I did not think that my one little vent would turn into an 11 page debate, yes it annoys me to be told to give to others. I give to others all of the time. I have spent many hours helping out with Toys for Tots, I have paid for many field trips for less fortunate kids. I teach my children to share but they also get in trouble for demanding things instead of asking. I think your personal attack was uncalled for. Yes this country is me,me,me but I also think that getting things without working for them plays a part in that thought process. Let me state again I would gladly give if asked and not demanded.. THAT WAS MY POINT...

If that is the case, it sounds as though you are just looking for something to be crabby about. Fussing because a kid might get a pencil that he/she didn't work for just seems off to me.

 

[dijid]

I could have written the original post. This is something that has always annoyed me. And like a PP said, where are all those scissors and rulers going? I arrived at "Meet the Teacher Day" for my oldest DD's first year at school and happily placed her supplies in the appropriate places. Then I looked over on the wall and there was already a big plastic bin full of scissors. Another one full of markers, a third with crayons, etc. All from the previous years' classes. What in the world did they need 2 more boxes of crayons, etc. per kid for?

In 1st grade we had to label everything. DD actually got her stuff back at the end of the year. So in 2nd grade, when we had to supply notebooks, 3 ring binders and other things where a color choice is involved I let DD pick. She picked all blue (her favorite color) and actually cried when the teacher collected and re-distributed them and she got black and other colors she didn't like. I sent in nice, plastic folders so I could re-use them the following year. She got "issued" cheap paper ones with someone else's name in them crossed out in black marker that didn't make it through the year. If you were 6 or 7, how would you feel turning in really nice stuff that you took pride in picking out, only to be give ugly things that you didn't like in return? What a way to motivate the kids, huh?

I think it's gone too far. Like another poster - our football team plays in a new stadium with astroturf. Yet they charge a $50 general class fee for each elementary student just to attend classes? In addition to the $50+ list of supplies (brand names ONLY!) required each year. The fees go up every year and people are literally paying hundreds of dollars for their free education in my school district.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I didn't read the whole thread because I can't believe there are 11 pages about kids sharing crayons.

My son starts kindergarten in Sept. We were given a list of supplies and some were to be labeled with the kids name (scissors, notebook), others like crayons and markers were to be shared. Part of it may be just to make it easier for the teacher. Imagine if she had to try to make sure everyone was using their crayons and their markers and didn't the box with someone else's name on it...it would be a logistical nightmare.

It was the same way in pre-k. We had to send in a snack and drink every month that would be shared among the whole class - pretzels, goldfish, etc. Was my bottle of juice from Costco bigger than the one that someone picked up at the food store? Probably. Did someone not send in a snack this month? Probably. Do I have much more important things in life to worry about? Definitely. Just send in the crayons and save the angst for something important.

 

[noodleknitter]

I think it's gone too far. Like another poster - our football team plays in a new stadium with astroturf.

Locally, the stadium and turf are maintained by the boosters, not the school district.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have to say I am in the camp of "I will buy supplies for MY child."

DS is in middle school, going into 7th grade. Last year was our first year of middle school. He had 6 different teachers. EVERY teacher sent home a list of REQUIRED supplies. This was after the school year started, and the lists trickled home during the first week or so. One teacher required a REAM of paper. That ONE THING was like $6. Then they changed DS's schedule and he didn't have that teacher anymore, but she got to keep the ream of paper we bought.

There was quite a bit of duplication - red pens, spiral notebooks, etc. Some of the teachers required specific colors and sizes of binders, like a 2" RED binder for math. And none of the teachers put any sort of directions about what the students could keep for personal use and what they were expected to turn in. Obviously the million boxes of Kleenex, paper towels, etc. are to be given to the teacher, but the other stuff was more of a gray area.

I know specifically that DS took a huge bag of supplies in to his social studies teacher - pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. and the whole bag disappeared. He never got to use ANY of those supplies, so all year I was buying MORE spiral notebooks and MORE notebook paper and MORE pencils for him to use in that class. All of the stuff in that bag was clearly marked with his name because I intended it to be for his use and his use only. His locker was broken into, all of the supplies inside were stolen, the lock was stolen, and the school CHARGED ME FOR THE LOCK!

This year I am buying nothing until I have ALL of the lists. I will buy the bare minimum, send duplicates of nothing, and tell DS that ALL of his supplies except what he absolutely has to have in class each day will remain AT HOME. They got me last year but it won't happen again.

I also got very angry in elementary when I went to the trouble of buying nice supplies for DS and then he didn't get to use what I purchased. When he was in private school I made a very big deal about it, and they agreed that each student should use their OWN supplies. The school had colored pencils on the list that were $12 at the art supply store. I bought them. There is NO WAY I would have sat there and allowed DS to get stuck with some Dollar Store crap pencils while somebody else used the pencils I bought for him.

If I am being petty that's cool. I can handle being petty.

 

[wdwmaw]

Locally, the stadium and turf are maintained by the boosters, not the school district.

Yes, you are right but that is money raised within the community and through the students and it takes away from fundraising efforts for elementaries. That money could be donated/raised for books, teacher bonuses, breakfast for every child, school supplies for every child and on and on and on. All of that money does go through the board. I wish parents would spend as much time on there childs school than they do the field or donating there time to work in there childs school. Parents will set on a baseball field for 9 hours on a Sat. but I can't get them to work a carnival for 2 hours.

 

[Chelley00]

For families who have a lot of kids in schools I guess I am not overly sympathetic because I feel that having children is a choice and responsibility.

Yep, and I take responsibility for providing my four kids THEIR school supplies. I didn't know when I had four kids, I would be asked to provide school supplies for however many other kids in their classes whose parents do not take responsibility to provide those things.

 

[tammymacb]

I have complained for a long time about the same thing.

I am sick to death of getting back to school lists that say my DD needs, 5 packages of pencils, 5 packages of lined paper, etc. If my daughter uses 100pencils in a year of elementary school, I'll happily eat one!

Other people's children ( popular as my belief is or not ) are NOT my responsiblility. DH and I both work hard, have a nice home and are raising my DD well, however, we've had a few conversations about "just one more baby" and it always comes back to finances. I can't afford to have another one, and work the hours I do and raise another young child the way I'd want to.

If you can't afford the school supplies you SURE can't afford the children. And before I get blasted, I work in a downtown hospital and take care of the "underprivledged" every day. I can't say I have a lot of pity when health insurance, food, and housing are already provided to these folks are free ( not to mention cash for incidentals) while I pay over $1000. from each check into the till.

If my daughters teacher needs something to make her class better, I'll happily donate. If my DD needs money for a class trip, I don't send her door to door to sell crap. I am happy to just write the check. But don't TELL me to send 5 packages of pencils and then not to mark them with DDs name. It's not the cost. It's the principle.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I have to say that this has been quite the thread!

My DS goes to a Catholic school...we have always purchased supplies just for his use. The list is very reasonable. They have never done the community supply bit...if the kid on his left or right doesn't have crayons, they share. No biggie. He has shared pencils, no biggie.

I personally am thrilled to send in purell, clorox wipes and tissues...whatever it takes to keep my DS healthy! He also gets a personal sized purell for his desk to use throughout the day. I'm tired of STREP!

I would be truly upset to have a $200 school supply list though...our most expensive item was a Spanish Dictionary for $6.50...which he'll be able to use for many years to come.

My DS brings his pencil case home daily, I peek in it and remind him to sharpen pencils or grab a new one if necessary...check his glue sticks etc. I've got 12 boxes of the .22 cent Crayolas ready to go!

I so agree with this poster. We too are sending DS to a private Catholic school in the fall. Granted he'll be in pre-K and the list isn't that long. And yes I'm aware that I'm spending thousands of dollars in educating him. However, I did compare the school lists of upper grades to the lists in the public schools. The lists the public schools have out for a specific grade are almost a page long. DS school - not even a quarter of the page for upper grades. I spent my educational career in private school as well and the lists are the same length now as they were then, over 20 yrs ago.

The only community things that our school requests are: paper towels, kleenex, copy paper, anti-bacterial wipes. All other supplies are personal supplies. If you share a pencil or give one away, so be it. But you're not demanded to buy supplies for every kid in school or share.

I am cool however with schools who want to set up drives for supplies so that they can get what they need. If I'm out buying stuff for DS and I see a school with a box collecting supplies then I will probably buy something to donate. But to demand that Suzy's mom buys 4 boxes of pencils, 6 boxes of crayons, 12 glue sticks because Scott's mom won't buy him school supplies is asinine.

 

[princessmom29]

I have to say I am in the camp of "I will buy supplies for MY child."

DS is in middle school, going into 7th grade. Last year was our first year of middle school. He had 6 different teachers. EVERY teacher sent home a list of REQUIRED supplies. This was after the school year started, and the lists trickled home during the first week or so. One teacher required a REAM of paper. That ONE THING was like $6. Then they changed DS's schedule and he didn't have that teacher anymore, but she got to keep the ream of paper we bought.

There was quite a bit of duplication - red pens, spiral notebooks, etc. Some of the teachers required specific colors and sizes of binders, like a 2" RED binder for math. And none of the teachers put any sort of directions about what the students could keep for personal use and what they were expected to turn in. Obviously the million boxes of Kleenex, paper towels, etc. are to be given to the teacher, but the other stuff was more of a gray area.

I know specifically that DS took a huge bag of supplies in to his social studies teacher - pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. and the whole bag disappeared. He never got to use ANY of those supplies, so all year I was buying MORE spiral notebooks and MORE notebook paper and MORE pencils for him to use in that class. All of the stuff in that bag was clearly marked with his name because I intended it to be for his use and his use only. His locker was broken into, all of the supplies inside were stolen, the lock was stolen, and the school CHARGED ME FOR THE LOCK!

This year I am buying nothing until I have ALL of the lists. I will buy the bare minimum, send duplicates of nothing, and tell DS that ALL of his supplies except what he absolutely has to have in class each day will remain AT HOME. They got me last year but it won't happen again.

I also got very angry in elementary when I went to the trouble of buying nice supplies for DS and then he didn't get to use what I purchased. When he was in private school I made a very big deal about it, and they agreed that each student should use their OWN supplies. The school had colored pencils on the list that were $12 at the art supply store. I bought them. There is NO WAY I would have sat there and allowed DS to get stuck with some Dollar Store crap pencils while somebody else used the pencils I bought for him.

If I am being petty that's cool. I can handle being petty.

I teach in a public school and I resent the implication that this is what teachers are like. Mabye, you got as bad teacher or two, but we are not all like this. I rewquire my high school students to have pencil, pen, paper, a notebook and a book it order to enter my classroom. If I did not do this do you have any idea how much I would be spending out of my own pocket to supply these things??? I have 120 students at a time. I CANNOT supply them with all they need. I do not get paid enough. It is a common misconception that schools have budgets for these things. Most do not! I have zero money at my disposal untill at least Nov 15th to spend in my classroom. Even after that point I am very limited. There are things like paper to run off worksheets, toner for the copier that i hve to buy to keep the class going. I would like to spend the rest on things to enhance the classroom experience like dissections for biology, chemicals for lab ect. I cannot do this if I have to provide pencils and paper to the whole class. Is it really that much of an inconvinence to buy and extra pack of paper, or a few pencils so that I am able to provide the kids with these kinds of experiences without stretching my personal finances? I have bought things my students need withy my own money many times b/c parents have this attitude!!!!

 

[HeatherSue]

I have complained for a long time about the same thing.

I am sick to death of getting back to school lists that say my DD needs, 5 packages of pencils, 5 packages of lined paper, etc. If my daughter uses 100pencils in a year of elementary school, I'll happily eat one!

Other people's children ( popular as my belief is or not ) are NOT my responsiblility. DH and I both work hard, have a nice home and are raising my DD well, however, we've had a few conversations about "just one more baby" and it always comes back to finances. I can't afford to have another one, and work the hours I do and raise another young child the way I'd want to.

If you can't afford the school supplies you SURE can't afford the children. And before I get blasted, I work in a downtown hospital and take care of the "underprivledged" every day. I can't say I have a lot of pity when health insurance, food, and housing are already provided to these folks are free ( not to mention cash for incidentals) while I pay over $1000. from each check into the till.

If my daughters teacher needs something to make her class better, I'll happily donate. If my DD needs money for a class trip, I don't send her door to door to sell crap. I am happy to just write the check. But don't TELL me to send 5 packages of pencils and then not to mark them with DDs name. It's not the cost. It's the principle.

I agree that you shouldn't have to pay for other kid's school supplies.

But, please don't insinuate that people who can't afford to spend $100 or more in school supplies is "underprivileged" with everything handed to them on a silver platter. My brother works hard to make $8/hour and they barely scrape by. He does not qualify for health insurance, or assistance with housing and he gets a few $$ a week in food stamps. My sister in law just had to have a mastectomy and they aren't sure if medicaid will step in and help pay for it because they don't really qualify.

He can't afford to pay a lot of $$ for school supplies for his 2 daughters and I hope people don't look down their nose at my nieces because of it.

My brother had a better job a few years ago, but the economy in Michigan isn't exactly booming, so he had to accept a much lower paying job. Should he have gotten rid of his 2 daughters at that point? I don't expect you to feel sorry for people like my brother, but please don't bash them either. I'm sorry if I misread the tone of your post. I know that can happen online.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I am always happy to help supply the classroom with anything they need. I understand that times are tight, and for some meeting the demand can be difficult. I find it absurd that people who have been privileged to visit WDW (some several times) are bickering over shared supplies.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

when the time came to fill my twins K list. i bought 22 of everything..

markers
scissors
crayons
12 pack pencils
colored pencils
22 glue sticks
22 school glue
erasers
purell
clorox wipes
tissues
12 botles of liquid soap?/ can't recall the exact number.

Anonomously delivered it. enough for each and every child to be provided for.
apparently the teacher asked around figured out who delivered it.
she said thanks. I wad a bit uncomfortable since charity is supposed to be anonomous. (SP)
She siad thanks and I asked about volunters in the classroom. and she responded with well.. not sure about that yet.. But I have a supply list.
I was so stunned I did not know how to even respond. I just stared a for a few minutes thinking did she just have the nerve to ask me for MORE??????
I was even more annoyed when cleaning the classroom in january to find all of the things stacked under the sink. PACKED away. uuuhhhmm ok... why? yet she kept sending home wish lists for the same stuff.. never again I tell you!
I will buy for my kids own use and call it a day.

 

[dreamin_disney]

its just getting way out of control .I think if kid need supplies then they should bring in what they need but its not fair to have to provide for others. So far dd hasnt came home with a list and she will be in 4th grade.
Teachers have asked for donations
tissue
purell
wipes
glues etc
her fieldtrips have been about $20-$30
PTA 10.00 a person
school shirt $10-12
yearbook 16.00
lunch 1.75 per day
plus theres always dontate $$ for spell a thon, school swing set etc.

luckily i'm able to pick her up after school(i work partime) otherwise public school bus transportation would cost me about $80- $100


I know teachers do pay out of their pocket and they should but the district dont have budget for stuff I'm an aide at a public school and many time i buy things out of my pocket and it can get expensive and i dont quailfy to write it off on my taxes


with things getting so expensive everywhere we look for bargins and cut down on some of the fundraisers that are ridiculous

 

[noodleknitter]

Yes, you are right but that is money raised within the community and through the students and it takes away from fundraising efforts for elementaries. That money could be donated/raised for books, teacher bonuses, breakfast for every child, school supplies for every child and on and on and on. All of that money does go through the board. I wish parents would spend as much time on there childs school than they do the field or donating there time to work in there childs school. Parents will set on a baseball field for 9 hours on a Sat. but I can't get them to work a carnival for 2 hours.

People are funny about sports stuff! I always have to remind myself "their money, their choice." My neighbor teaches 3rd grade, and she has parents that are either over the top helicopters, or don't show up at all.

What is even crazier, is when there is brick and mortar money, but not supplies!

Maybe I have read the feelings here wrong (it is easy on the net) but I just can't see getting up in arms over school supplies. (Unless they are abused like twinsmomom!)

Our Community Action supplies the school supplies for anyone who is in need in our area. Our church is supplying two classrooms. What is our world like when it is all about "me?"

LOL, it is tough being a Republican and a Socialist at the same time!