Back to school *vent*

[DawnM]

I haven't read through this entire thread so forgive me if this has already been mentioned.....

For those of you who are paying $200 or so per kid, could you start a fund NOW for next year? Put $16-$20 aside each month and then buy things when you see them on sale when you can to save?

Dawn

 

[phamy76]

The only thing my son needs for school is a hard backed 1 1/2" 3 ring binder.
We bought a reebok backpack last year, and it's still almost perfect, and his lunch bag from last year held up very well.

We have tons of pencils/pens/markers/highlighters, etc.

So, I think we'll spend about $3 on school supplies this year.
He's going in to the 5th grade.

 

[torinsmom]

Maybe this is the difference. What you see in your school (which is heartbreaking) we don't really see in our school. We have very few children that even get free lunch. We don't have a breakfast program either because there is no need for one. I would help any child that I could believe me I would. I do send in extra stuff when needed etc. I just don't want the stuff that I bought specifically for my child to be a community item. I want my child to learn to be responsible for their belongings. If they have no pencils 2 months into the school year I want to know why. Is my child losing them, chewing them, are they breaking, is someone stealing them? Where did the 12 pencils I sent in go? My children need to learn to be prepared. How will they learn this if they never have to be? You also keep mentioning raising taxes. Taxes are raised EVERY year no matter what. You can send in the supplies or not but they will still raise taxes here and still not give you anything.

Seriously, can your child make 12 pencils last 2 months? That's less than 2 per week. If so, you are blessed. My DS15 goes through about 6 a week. If it isn't lost, or sharpened until its too short to use, the eraser is gone. The 1 cent sale was a lifesaver for me. I went twice, so 200 pencils for home and 200 to supplement at school.

I don't think most classes are doing the community sharing thing after 1st or 2nd grade. Definitely by 4th or 5th, they need to have their own IMHO.

For those who refuse for your child to put their supplies in the communal supply, do you tell the teacher your child will use their own stuff? I am just wondering because I have never had a parent complain about the sharing in 11 years of teaching. Of course, we let parents know that certain supplies are communal and that pencils, crayons, etc should be plain and not the sparkly, scented, character decorated kind from the get-go. If any come in like that, we send them home. Most of the kids have no idea if they are using the supplies they brought in, because they are all so similar.

Oh and someone mentioned spending money on the Smartboards instead of supplies for the class. Most likely, those were bought with money slated for technology needs only, or from a technology grant. That's how our school got one. Also, they are not like regular white boards. They are interactive and you can project on them like a computer monitor. It is really nice for demonstrating programs so all the kids can see. In DS's algebra class, the teacher would project the problems onto the white board and then have kids come and work it out. It saved lots of time, because he did not have to write the problems and steps out, and then when he needed more problems, he did not have to erase the old ones and then write new ones. Best of all, he could print what was projected and his explanations and answers out for students who needed teacher notes. You obviously can't print out what is on a regular white board or chalk board.

Marsha

 

[Erin1700]

I am the only one who does not get a supply list for my child?

She is going to 4th grade at a public school and we have never gotten a supply list. sometimes teachers ask for help with tissues or hand cleaner.
I do buy her pencils for school but everything else is provided. Even if they need to do homework on a piece of looseleaf, it is sent home.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Oh and someone mentioned spending money on the Smartboards instead of supplies for the class. Most likely, those were bought with money slated for technology needs only, or from a technology grant. That's how our school got one. Also, they are not like regular white boards. They are interactive and you can project on them like a computer monitor. It is really nice for demonstrating programs so all the kids can see. In DS's algebra class, the teacher would project the problems onto the white board and then have kids come and work it out. It saved lots of time, because he did not have to write the problems and steps out, and then when he needed more problems, he did not have to erase the old ones and then write new ones. Best of all, he could print what was projected and his explanations and answers out for students who needed teacher notes. You obviously can't print out what is on a regular white board or chalk board.

Marsha

ITA! For someone uneducated about the process I can see how it would seem ridiculous. For example, last year my school had to eliminate 5 teacher positions and increase class sizes, yet every single classroom got a Smart Board. It was, like you mentioned, due to a technology grant from the state that was REQUIRED to be spent on technology and was not allowed to be spent on teachers, materials, or to reduce class size. From the outside looking in (and even from the inside ) I can see how it doesn't make sense. It's frustrating, as a teacher, to know that I have 8 additional students in my room, I can't afford to buy supplies and materials I need, we can't take field trips, but, hey, we have a Smart Board

 

[penn19]

I am the only one who does not get a supply list for my child?

She is going to 4th grade at a public school and we have never gotten a supply list. sometimes teachers ask for help with tissues or hand cleaner.
I do buy her pencils for school but everything else is provided. Even if they need to do homework on a piece of looseleaf, it is sent home.

I did K-12 in PA a long time ago and this is how I remember it. The pooling of supplies drives me nuts every year. Yes, I want my kids to be responsible for their own stuff. If they need new supplies during the year, I will buy it. I want my kids to keep track of their own stuff. That teaches them responsibility. And if they want sparkly pencils then let them have them.
I think what it is, is that school boards/schools can send out these lists and they know parents (because we are now conditioned to do so) will send the stuff in, so phew......they can take buying tissues and other supplies out of the budget. It's like getting parents to volunteer. I don't remember ever seeing moms or dads in the classroom when I was in school. For sure not in hs. Ack!! It just wasn't expected, and they hired teachers/assistants. But now, hey if we can get a parent to do this job for FREE, well then we don't have to hire someone to do it.

 

[torinsmom]

ITA! For someone uneducated about the process I can see how it would seem ridiculous. For example, last year my school had to eliminate 5 teacher positions and increase class sizes, yet every single classroom got a Smart Board. It was, like you mentioned, due to a technology grant from the state that was REQUIRED to be spent on technology and was not allowed to be spent on teachers, materials, or to reduce class size. From the outside looking in (and even from the inside ) I can see how it doesn't make sense. It's frustrating, as a teacher, to know that I have 8 additional students in my room, I can't afford to buy supplies and materials I need, we can't take field trips, but, hey, we have a Smart Board

We are a magnet school and we also have magnet funds that have to be spent on materials that support our magnet curriculum, which is Montessori. Our classrooms are very well equipped for Montessori, but the money has to be either used or lost. It can't be used for anything else.

I did K-12 in PA a long time ago and this is how I remember it. The pooling of supplies drives me nuts every year. Yes, I want my kids to be responsible for their own stuff. If they need new supplies during the year, I will buy it. I want my kids to keep track of their own stuff. That teaches them responsibility. And if they want sparkly pencils then let them have them.
I think what it is, is that school boards/schools can send out these lists and they know parents (because we are now conditioned to do so) will send the stuff in, so phew......they can take buying tissues and other supplies out of the budget. It's like getting parents to volunteer. I don't remember ever seeing moms or dads in the classroom when I was in school. For sure not in hs. Ack!! It just wasn't expected, and they hired teachers/assistants. But now, hey if we can get a parent to do this job for FREE, well then we don't have to hire someone to do it.

The covering that goes on those novelty pencils ruins the pencil sharpeners, which is one reason we don't use them. The other reason is that it distracts the kids when they see someone with a Spider Man or Disney Princess pencil. They start chatting about the character and then you have to get kids back on track. They are banned from my classroom, along with those obnoxious silly bands.

My school does not ask parents to volunteer beyond things like volunteering for the book fair and other PTA events, and that is a general letter asking for volunteers. I actually don't like having parent volunteers during class time, so when they ask, I put it off and hope they forget. I find it just gets the kids overly excited and I spend more time explaining to the parent what they need to do than I would just doing it myself, and it still doesn't get done like I would do it. In addition, they tend to baby the kids, especially their own, and 4 and 5 year olds are not babies, at least not at school.I have sent home books when we were making the whole set of Reading a-z books, but only after the parent asked if they could help. I sent home directions and still had books come back put together upside down, etc. Parents also have to go through a complete background check before volunteering and many aren't willing to take the time to do that.

Marsha

 

[taylor3297]

Dry erase markers are used to write notes on the board(for students) at the least. Many classes actually use dry erase boards and markers for each child to do math problems, etc. This saves paper, which is always at a premium. Highlighters are used by the kids to highlight important points in the text. If the kids are using dry erase boards, it would make sense that they would need an eraser for them as well. We use ziploc bags for crayons(the boxes get ruined quickly), for guided reading books, for take home books, for small pieces of work that could get lost easily, dirty or wet clothing and other various uses in the classroom. Things like hand sanitizer, clorox wipes and kleenex are to prevent the spread of germs FOR THE STUDENTS. I see people(not you in your post) complaining about those all the time here, and don't get it.

I really don't believe that your list states that you are required to bring in extra supplies for those who do not have them. We have some families who bring in extra, but it is never even suggested on our list. We always end up with enough, because we are control freak teachers that do communal supplies. As I said before, we don't put out the cheap supplies, so noone's little darling will get slighted.

Marsha

I used the small dry erase boards in my math classroom all the time. Instead of buying dry erase erasers, I had the kids bring in old clean cotton socks. At the end of the week I would take the socks home and wash them. The old socks are great for erasing. The only thing is when you wash the socks, don't use fabric softener.

 

[mum4jenn]

I haven't read through this entire thread so forgive me if this has already been mentioned.....

For those of you who are paying $200 or so per kid, could you start a fund NOW for next year? Put $16-$20 aside each month and then buy things when you see them on sale when you can to save?

Dawn

That will never happen..people would have nothing to gripe about next year at back to school time!!!

 

[rainydayplay]

I used the small dry erase boards in my math classroom all the time. Instead of buying dress erase erasers, I had the kids bring in old clean cotton socks. At the end of the week I would take the socks home and wash them The old socks are great for erasing. The only thing is when you wash the socks, don't use fabric softener.

I still have chalkboards in my room (two were replaced with a whiteboard this year.) I have a microfiber washcloth that is waaaay better for erasing the board than the actual chalkboard eraser. I can definitely see how the socks or even an old, ratty towel cut up into smaller pieces would be better than the regular erasers.

 

[torinsmom]

I used the small dry erase boards in my math classroom all the time. Instead of buying dry erase erasers, I had the kids bring in old clean cotton socks. At the end of the week I would take the socks home and wash them. The old socks are great for erasing. The only thing is when you wash the socks, don't use fabric softener.

Great idea! We don't use them for the kids, but the erasers for our white board wear out really quickly. I will try the socks this year.

 

[luvmy3]

For those of you whose kids have to put their supplies into the share pile what grade are they in? My kids have only had to share supplies in K and 1st (and even that was dependant in what teacher you got) but it was just their pencils, crayons and markers. All other supplies like scissors, erasers, folders, comp books etc were their own and had to be labeled with their name. We also get all unused and half used things back at the end of the year. I don't have a problem sending in school supplies with my child, I can't stand having to buy cleaning supplies for the classroom because to me that falls under school maintenance and should be covered by the outrageous taxes I pay every year. I don't mind helping the teachers because I know its not their fault, but its just the principle of the whole thing that irks me.

 

[torinsmom]

Our school has janitors that clean the rooms. This includes the floors, the sinks and the bathrooms. I think once a month they do the baseboards and blinds as well. They don't touch the tables or chairs or shelves. If we didn't use clorox wipes or cleaning solution and paper towels, the tables would stay nasty and germy--yuck! The school supplies the minimum, I guess is what I am saying. Same thing for kleenex. They think kids can go to the bathroom and use toilet tissue or a paper towel, but chances are, if kleenex is not readily available, kids will use their hand or sleeve--again, YUCK! We have sinks in our room, but the institutional soap is really harsh and we have kids that can't reach the dispenser. I ask for non-antibacterial hand soap(its on my wish list, not the supply list) and also for hand sanitizer for when we can't all wash our hands quickly enough(usually before snack), and also for field trips.

Last year was the first year we consistently had the kids use sanitizer as the entered the room and cleaned every table every afternoon with the clorox wipes. It was amazing the number of absences we had vs. the other preK/K classes, even during the H1N1 outbreak! The last 3 months of school, other than family vacation absences, we had our full classroom every day except 5 or 6. I'm sure our parents were happy to not have to miss work for the child being sick.

Marsha

 

[MM27]

To all elementary school teachers on this thread:

Which would you prefer-a large box of school supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, paper, folders, scissors,erasers, kleenex, bandaids, etc) or $100 to use as you see fit?

Either one would be greatly appreciated. I would be thrilled if a parent brought me a box of supplies for my class to use.

Not my problem. My child has a right, guaranteed under the state constitution, to a free appropriate public education. If the school said "we can't pay our teachers, so the parents of enrolled children need to send in a $500 check each month to cover the teacher's salary," the truth of that statement would not change my opinion that the request was inappropriate. Basic school supplies differ from the $500 check only in degree, not in nature.

I personally choose to buy a better school experience for my kid (by providing school supplies, including supplies that are for the teacher and/or other kids), because I'd rather just mitigate the consequences of the school's failure to provide a free appropriate public education than let her suffer to make a point. But that doesn't mean I don't agree with the point.

As a teacher, it's not my problem either. So where would the pencil come from? I guess the kid is entitled to a free education, so they could always sit and listen to me talk all day, but not have a pencil to write with or crayons or construction paper to do projects with. Maybe the principal will start supplying them.

Some of our childrens back to school list includes things for the teacher's use. example, dry erase markers, highlights, erasers for chalk board, Zip lock bags, and some other things that I know my child will not be using:. They are also required to bring in "extra" supplies for kids that may not have the supplies required. I also send in extra but with everything going on we have had to cut back significantly and providing extra supplies will not be a priority for us this year.

Um, did you ever consider that the kids would be using those things too? My students use dry erase markers every day in math. We have whiteboards that they write on and hold up for mental math exercises. I don't use highlighters in my class, but I know the reading teachers do use them for the kids to highlight parts of the text when finding supporting details and such. Chalkboard erasers could be for individual slate boards (I ask the kids to bring in a sock instead of an eraser and they just keep it in their desk). Zip lock bags are used to store flash cards, math manipulatives, etc. If you have a question about why certain items are needed, you should ask the teacher. Don't assume the teacher is just having you provide his/her supplies for the year.

I also don't believe that you are required to supply extras for kids that can't. Although it is a nice gesture if you are able to, I'm sure those kids would be taken care of by the teacher. I've purchased bookbags, notebooks, etc. for kids that didn't have them and I knew couldn't afford them.

I think it is a pretty safe bet that the people venting here on the DIS are talking about schools that don't have such serious issues. And I can understand the venting when it comes to typical middle class schools. Our schools are getting new smart boards in every classroom, but the classroom supply budgets are so tight that teachers find it necessary to ask parents to donate tissues and cleaning wipes. I'm sure I'm not the only parent wondering if maybe it would have been a better move to stick with the old "dumb" white boards and increase classroom budgets so that teachers can afford supplies.

My district has a different budget for technology and general supplies. Our new superintendent ordered Smartboards for all the classrooms in my school that didn't have them at the end of the school year and he said he got the order in just in time because the state was taking all the surplus money back from districts. Our general supply budget though was cut significantly, so we will be lucky if we even getting things like writing paper. Smartboards are so much more than a typical whiteboard if the teacher is using it correctly. I have seen such an increase in student participation using the Smartboard because everything is so interactive and the students love that. Even the kids that never participated before are eager to be involved when they can come up and move and manipulate things on the board.

 

[luvmy3]

Our school has janitors that clean the rooms. This includes the floors, the sinks and the bathrooms. I think once a month they do the baseboards and blinds as well. They don't touch the tables or chairs or shelves. If we didn't use clorox wipes or cleaning solution and paper towels, the tables would stay nasty and germy--yuck! The school supplies the minimum, I guess is what I am saying. Same thing for kleenex. They think kids can go to the bathroom and use toilet tissue or a paper towel, but chances are, if kleenex is not readily available, kids will use their hand or sleeve--again, YUCK! We have sinks in our room, but the institutional soap is really harsh and we have kids that can't reach the dispenser. I ask for non-antibacterial hand soap(its on my wish list, not the supply list) and also for hand sanitizer for when we can't all wash our hands quickly enough(usually before snack), and also for field trips.

Last year was the first year we consistently had the kids use sanitizer as the entered the room and cleaned every table every afternoon with the clorox wipes. It was amazing the number of absences we had vs. the other preK/K classes, even during the H1N1 outbreak! The last 3 months of school, other than family vacation absences, we had our full classroom every day except 5 or 6. I'm sure our parents were happy to not have to miss work for the child being sick.

Marsha

The bolded is what bothers me, not the actual cleaning of the desks and chairs but the fact that the cleaning supplies/paper towels to do those things are not supplied by the district.

My kids have to bring in boxes of kleenex, but they stay on their individual desks, and their own personal hand sanitizer. I don't have an issue with supplying items that my child will be personally using (or even pooled). I wouldn't expect the school to make sure my kids have tissues when their nose is runny, or hand sanitizer if they want to clean their hands, I do expect that the school supplies items (like clorox wipes) that keep the classroom clean and germ free overall since my child is required to be there, because that is part of what my taxes should be covering, KWIM.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Ok. The quote you highlighted was mine, though. It's the list of fees, both required and optional, for the high schoold district in which I live.

I think you need to figure out what is actually a need and what is a "extra". If you choose to purchase the extras than you can not complain.

Sports, clubs, drivers ed. are all extra's in my book.

Why should the school (or community of tax payers) pay for your child to play say vollyball. If you want they to play you pay. Same for drivers ed. I would bet many would prefer if less teenagers took drivers ed and got thier licenses (less teens on the road). But if you want her to take it great - pay for it.

The other fee look inline with everyone else.

 

[nicki.momof3]

The teacher thoughtfully gave the families no lead time on this wild goose chase. The assignment came home on a Friday and was due on Monday.

In that situation a well stated email should have been sent that evening along with a note on Monday morning. Once adjustments were made to the assignment you daughter could complete it later in the week. Or have your daughter do it with copies of her stuf not the originals and send it with a note explaining why.

 

[MouseLover]

I used socks for erasers one year, but they grossed me out -- just looked like dirty socks!


Now I buy black felt squares and cut them into smaller pieces. They are very cheap and nobody tries to make a puppet out of them.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Seriously, can your child make 12 pencils last 2 months? That's less than 2 per week. If so, you are blessed. My DS15 goes through about 6 a week. If it isn't lost, or sharpened until its too short to use, the eraser is gone. The 1 cent sale was a lifesaver for me. I went twice, so 200 pencils for home and 200 to supplement at school.

I don't think most classes are doing the community sharing thing after 1st or 2nd grade. Definitely by 4th or 5th, they need to have their own IMHO.

For those who refuse for your child to put their supplies in the communal supply, do you tell the teacher your child will use their own stuff? I am just wondering because I have never had a parent complain about the sharing in 11 years of teaching. Of course, we let parents know that certain supplies are communal and that pencils, crayons, etc should be plain and not the sparkly, scented, character decorated kind from the get-go. If any come in like that, we send them home. Most of the kids have no idea if they are using the supplies they brought in, because they are all so similar.

Oh and someone mentioned spending money on the Smartboards instead of supplies for the class. Most likely, those were bought with money slated for technology needs only, or from a technology grant. That's how our school got one. Also, they are not like regular white boards. They are interactive and you can project on them like a computer monitor. It is really nice for demonstrating programs so all the kids can see. In DS's algebra class, the teacher would project the problems onto the white board and then have kids come and work it out. It saved lots of time, because he did not have to write the problems and steps out, and then when he needed more problems, he did not have to erase the old ones and then write new ones. Best of all, he could print what was projected and his explanations and answers out for students who needed teacher notes. You obviously can't print out what is on a regular white board or chalk board.

Marsha

No- I never went through 12 pencils in 2 months. My pencil case kept things where they needed to be. My kids also are not tearing through pencils either. Please understand that it is not about the money spent. It is simply the principle of the whole thing. If my kids want sparkly pencils or ones with their name on them (like I had!) then they should be able to. We all had stuff like that growing up and it wasn't a big distraction at all. If they are tearing through supplies or losing them I as a parent want to know. This way I can help them become better organized and more responsible so it will prepare them better for their future. Kids don't magically become organized. They have to be taught that.
Oh- and the parents all complain about the communal supplies. Just last night I was with some other parents and they all said they are fed up with it. (We were talking about who started buying yet) Nobody wants to complain to the teacher because there isn't really a nice way to say it. One class one year the teacher stopped the communal supplies because all the kids kept passing strep around. Once everyone got their own case with their own stuff in it the class stopped passing around every sickness that little ones get. For that reason alone I hate the community bucket nonsense.

 

[Erin1700]

There is a teacher in my daughters school that makes the kids use the school supplied pencils and folders and only after earning so many stars can the child bring in the character kind! It is really big with the kids and they try so hard to earn their own supplies!

Seriously, we send a backpack and that is all.