Back to school *vent*

[Chelley00]

Anyone else out there floored by this list?

I looked at it and thought "Is that all?" We have kids in private school, and our lists are obnoxiously long, especially when you consider who much tuition is. I spend almost $100 on supplies per kid per year

 

[stm61]

There's an easy way to end it... You just have to live far enough from any real retail development that EVERYONE shops at Kmart or the consignment shop because they're the only clothing stores within 20 miles.

I never really understood the focus on folders as an outlet for the classism/teasing. Is the difference between a 20 cent plain folder and a 50 cent folder with a picture really that upsetting to kids?

Lol we do live in area like that! Only thing in town is Walmart. Well, we do have Bi-Lo and a couple drug stores, but their prices are higher. Most of the kids in my kids schools get everything from Walmart, including my kids. Unfortunately, where I work they only have a Walmart, but the parents will drive 40 min. to the state capitol so their kids can have clothes from the mall. These are the same parents who claimed they couldn't afford a $1 pencil box, the only item I asked for last year.

The folder problem depends on the class. Some classes they could care less, some it's a big deal. I work with a 1st grade teacher who went out and bought all plain black folders because she just couldn't stand the fighting and teasing over the cartoon character ones. She bought black because then she didn't have to worry about what they were drawing on them (think gang signs and cuss words). Most of the time it's clothes, shoes, notebooks, and book bags, then they start in on who has the best cell phones, nintendo's, wii games, psp's, etc. The district I work in has about 6 elementary schools and, for whatever reason, it seems to be much worse at 2 of the schools then the other 4.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

As I said in a PP, my kids all do the shared supplies in elementary, and that is fine with me. And I buy what is on their list, fine. But one thing I was talking with another mom about today is we have to buy siscors and fine, then they get pooled, fine , but where do they go at he end of the year? We can't use them again the next year cause they don't get them to bring home. It's not the end of the world but I always do wonder.

 

[RitaE]

LOL!!

Some of these posts remind me of the Seagulls in Finding Nemo....mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!

I personally try to instill a bit of mine, mine, mine in my children over the $110 calculators that I've already had to replace once due to theft or loss depending on whose story you want to believe. As in "MINE" and if you wish to borrow it please make sure it gets back into my hands at the end of study hall before you take off with it or my Mother is likely to have a cow.

Labeling each and every crayon from a box of 24 crayons that cost a freakin' quarter or less to buy - as in A PENNY A CRAYON? Oh Good Lord. If they go missing my kids can color with the Rose Art cheapies, it won't kill them. After all I walked 5 miles to school barefoot uphill both ways and through snow drifts back when I was a kid. Adversity only makes us stronger -- right?

 

[MomToOne]

I'm fine with the "everyone must be equal" philosophy - at age 10, my DD and her friends live by it and will let you know the second they percieve something to be unfair. So I can generally go with the "shared supplies" philosophy.

But what I hate is the fact that I am not told we are doing shared supplies and I spend an extra $2 per binder to get the ones that won't fall apart in a week, when the other parents - who make WAAAAAY more than I do, trust me - buy the absolute cheapest thing they can find. And then because of the shared supplies thing my daughter ends up with the cheapie one and someone else gets the good one I bought! Then a week later I'm down at the store again, buying another good one to replace the one that just fell apart.

The same thing with pencils. I buy the good ones, because I hate trying to sharpen the cheap ones. But somehow my daughter always has the cheap ones in her desk to work with...

So, if you are going to go with the shared supplies concept then I think you should tell me you are doing pooled supplies and then dictate EXACTLY what it is I - and the other parents - need to buy!!! Don't just tell me "24 pencils" or "3-2 inch binders". Give me the store, the brand and the regular price so I know I'm not wasting my money on quality supplies my daughter will never see!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Add college/university tuition on top of the school supply list, as well as the books & you will really be venting! I think the K-12 schools do this to prepare you for what is ahead once they move on to college/university. I have on in the local University & 1 that "may" be starting the local community college this fall (she isn't sure yet if she wants to start fall or spring).

 

[mom3sonstt]

I'm almost done with all this My youngest is going to be a senior and my middle one graduated last year - he was in the Life Skills program, so is going to go back to school one more year. In his case buying supplies was a breeze - because he stayed in the same room year after year. At the beginning of the year they sent home a list of what was needed, at the end of the year you had the option of leaving the remaining supplies at school or having them come home. I always left his there. So then in the summer we would get a letter from the teacher trying to get the kids excited about school starting back up and a list would be enclosed. She would mark off of the list any supplies that he still had there. Scissors, 3 ring binder, grooming supplies (toothbrush, fingernail clipper, etc - it *is* Life Skills...) All we would have to purchase was the stuff that got used up. When she first started she would ask for X number of kleenex boxes from everyone. I don't know if she just kinda knew who sent how many (there is always someone who will send the smallest, cheapest.....and someone else who will send the jumbo packs - I'm sure teachers know which ones are which after awhile) but eventually she didn't ask for more each year. Same with hand sanitizer.

My younger one - he wants all his stuff color coordinated..the teachers never asked for it that way. it's ok at the beginning of the year, but not so good in February when he has used all the paper in is purple notebook and the only thing at the store is red, yellow and blue.....


And earlier somebody said they didn't like suppling things for the teacher - then listed kleenexes (their kids never get a runny nose?) and paper towels (again - the kids don't wash their hands?) and red pens. When I was in school, and now my kids, there were some subjects where you would check homework in class - and use a red pen to check with. Granted - 12 per child is excessive.

This is also the last year for my oldest - who is studying to be an elementary teacher. So while this may be my official last year with public schools - I am sure he will be asking for help stocking some extras when he gets a classroom....

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I don’t mind the school lists WHEN they are for learning purposes. But the year when DD was in 3rd grade we had to buy 3 boxes of bandages, a large bottle of hand soap, 4 rolls of paper towels, and pool in money for a gold fish …. I almost lost it.

I totally disagree on the bandages, paper towels and soap. The school is a business and it paid by through OUR TAXES. This is the reason that they care about raising test scores, if they didn’t they would be out of business or have their funding cut even more. Every business has to supply (incidentals) I was upset due to principle.
I get the teachers points of view and that why I just bought the items requested. The question should be why are we over paying city employees when we could use that money towards supplying our schools with the basics.

My sister is a teacher in an inner-city school. About a month or so before school was over, there was no soap in any of the bathrooms in the entire school. Should the school have provided the soap - yes but they waited days to do so. Actually it took a call to the health department to even get soap into the building. This is why my sister carries around hand sanitizer with her at all times.

I don't think asking for a bottle of soap or a roll of paper towels is too much to ask.

This is similar to my 7th graders list. What I have a problem with (here I am living in the past!!) is that when I was in middle and high school, you didn't get a list. You knew you had to bring a notebook, any kind of notebook, whichever kind YOU liked, some pencils, pens and be a big girl or boy and figure out how much loose leaf paper you need. When you ran out, you went to the store and picked up some more. Glue sticks and crayons? IF they were needed the schools supplied them. And yes I get that is not how it is done anymore. Thats the part that bothers me. When exactly did it become the expectation that the school districts would expect the parents (and teachers) to foot the bill for this stuff?

Exactly! When I went back to school shopping, I knew what I had to buy - a notebook for each class, pencils, pens, binders, my 64 box of Crayola crayons (from when I was little), colored pencils, etc. When I needed the expensive calculator for class, my parent's bought it and I used it until it died. I'm not sure why things have changed so much in just a few years.

Add college/university tuition on top of the school supply list, as well as the books & you will really be venting! I think the K-12 schools do this to prepare you for what is ahead once they move on to college/university. I have on in the local University & 1 that "may" be starting the local community college this fall (she isn't sure yet if she wants to start fall or spring).

That is what I was thinking! Wait until their kids get to college and the books are $500 for one semester! Plus they will need all of the regular school supplies too - college truly isn't cheap! LOL!

 

[nicki.momof3]

High school English teacher and parent of 3 elementary children:

This is a tough one. With the economy the way it is school are losing funding hand over fist and teachers are losing pay (I am taking a 17% pay cut this year).

As a teacher I get $40 a year for classroom supplies. If I don't ask parents to cover their childs supplies who is supposed to pay for them - ME?

Every year I spend $300+ dollars on classroom supplies for students who do not purchase their own (is that fair). I also buy everything my childrens teachers ask for.

As a high school English teacher I think it is VERY important for my students to write everyday, stay organized (binders - dividers) and so on. Supplies are needed.

If you shop early you can buy everything at cheap prices - the deals out there are great. Hit Walmart (notebooks are .25, folders are .17, glue is .25, markers and crayons are .75-1.00)

It puzzles me that parents can spend a TON of $$$ on cell phones and video games (my children have neither) but complain about school supplies and books.

Some people really need to look what is important inlife and what is a "extra" that should come second.

 

[torinsmom]

I've never heard of putting supplies like binders and calculators in the shared category?

As far as crayons, markers, pencils and glue sticks, my class shares. We have colored pencil holders out on the shelf with multiples of each color. When a child needs one, they get it, use it, and then return it to its holder(actually, we allow them to take 3 colors at a time. I only put out Crayola of Prang pencils and replace them when they get short. If someone brings in another type, they are usually donated or taken back to a store like Target and traded for copy paper, which we always need. Crayons are put in small baskets for the art shelf, as are markers. Same thing with the brands, although there are more brands of markers that are fine. Same with glue sticks; they are in a small basket on the art shelf. Pencils are in a large jar on the writing shelf. Kids use them, and I sharpen them every morning. When the eraser is gone, I either toss them or put on the pencil top erasers. Dollar Tree brand pencils never get put out, because they don't work as well. Sharing works for us, and I haven't ever had a parent complain to me about it. I HAVE had parents that put their child's name on every pencil and crayon, but they still go into the community pile.

DS's school has calculators the kids check out each day and I have found that my 25 year old TI-36 works fine for homework, or we google online scientific calculator.

Marsha

 

[luvthemouse71]

I looked at it and thought "Is that all?" We have kids in private school, and our lists are obnoxiously long, especially when you consider who much tuition is. I spend almost $100 on supplies per kid per year

Difference being, the supplies you buy are usually for your kid. The private schools don't usually do the shared school supplies nonsense.

 

[luvthemouse71]

LOL!!

Some of these posts remind me of the Seagulls in Finding Nemo....mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!mine!

Nothing wrong with not sharing every little thing...we do not live in a communist country. If I drop $100 plus on supplies, you can bet my kid would be saying "mine".Well maybe ,"back off, get your own stuff".

There's always a hyena or two in every class, notice that? The kid who borrows stuff from everyone, begs to have some of your snack or lunch etc. And it's not necessarily the needy kid either. These are the ones who grow up with no boundaries. Today, it's notebooks and pencils, later they're the neighbor who's a PITA, always asking to use your pool or lawnmower. I say, put a stop to it early.

 

[mousebymarriage]

DS9 is going into 4th grade and his list is as follows:

4 pencils
4 pens (blue or black eraseable)
2 Red pens
2 erasers
1 highlighter (yellow)
4 one subject spiral notebooks( labled:Math, English, NJ ASK, Spanish)
3 one inch binders (labled: Reading, NJ ASK, Science/Social Studies)
6 Folders (labled: Homework, Math, English, Health/Spelling,Tests, Spanish)
5 Book Covers
1 pkg index cards
1 soft pencil case

*not bad at all (although I was surprised that there were no markers or crayons listed so I am buying them anyway just in case).

DS9 and I went shopping yesterday and he bought some of the things on the list because he is COMPLETELY anal and wants all sports related items(notebooks, folders, binders etc.). We went to Target and they had some sports stuff but, not alot because they were still stocking the shelves. I told DS we would go back and check tomorrow or Friday and see what else they have. He did buy a few of the sports items that were out and some plain ones for later in the year(extras).

DD13 is starting high school and we didn't get a list. She will be attending a public HS but, it is a school that you have to test into and her major is Engineering. I am sure she is going to need some crazy expensive calculator. I am hoping that we get some kind of a list during parent/student orientation in August (3rd week) but, I have a feeling she won't know what she needs until the first day of school which isn't until September 7th. I am planning to buy a bunch of basic stuff (notebooks, binders, pens, pencils etc.) because I know that they school supplies are slim pickins after Labor Day.

 

[GJM]

I looked at the 5th grade list and no binder there...hmmm...wth? Why does 4th grade need a 3 inch binder... it is so big he cant fit anything else in his backpack

This is the same with my DS - no binder needed for 5th. grade but he also needed 3" last year, I hated that thing, it was too big for his backpack, so one day I went and got a 2" binder - nobody cared! I just hate all the stuff I buy and comes back not used, as someone mention the black & white notebooks, what is it with these! He needs 6 this year and some of them he has used a page or two and that is it.

Last year he needed 12 glue sticks - this year none! But a friend of mine has a daughter going into 6th. grade and she needs 10 glue sticks. Don't the kids glue in 5th grade!!!

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

holy cow!! I just went school supply shopping over the weekend and spent $120 with a $15 off coupon AND using a lot of their BOGO sale items!!

and I didnt even buy loose leaf paper yet....

I have 2 boys, in 3rd and 6th and my 6th grader is starting at a Charter school, not a public school, so his list was a little longer and more detailed..

but I have to agree with those Ticeronda's being the bomb! they are AWESOME!! and they were part of the BOGO sale..so I got enough to carry us through the entire year..

and I also like to buy extra supplies for the classroon - like pencils, dry erase markers, etc..Im on our school's PTA Board, and I know how much the "budget cuts" effect the school, and it wont kill me to buy an extra package of markers for the teachers..

Who has the Ticeronda's BOGO as I would like to try them. I agree the cute ones don't sharpen.

 

[New Wave Dave]

we try to buy extra and send it in to our child's teacher. Budget cuts are such that many teachers are spending their own money or the class is doing without. We only have one child so we can afford to buy a little extra.
It helps to make up for the ones who can't.

Tissues, hand sanitizer, and paper towels are used in the classroom and it makes for a cleaner and hopefully less germy environment

 

[*BTMRR*]

Our public elementary school has a very long list for every grade. Multiples of every basic supply (brands specified), plus reams of copy paper, baby wipes, ziploc bags in multiple sizes, soap, paper towels, cleaning supplies, postage stamps, and so on.

Last year a couple of parents were very vocal about the fact that they would only send their child in with paper, pencil, and crayons. They said the school should be supplying all the other things. Well, maybe so, but guess who ended up supplying their children with everything else? All the other parents, including ME. We had a few children in the class whose families probably couldn't afford the supplies and I don't mind helping out with that, but when parents just refuse to do it (knowing full well that others will cover for their kids) just to make a point...

 

[Avery&Todd]

Who has the Ticeronda's BOGO as I would like to try them. I agree the cute ones don't sharpen.

The were at Office Max - but they were the "antibacterial" ones - who knew..
but kids have gerns, so I thought .."why not"??

but LOVE THOSE PENCILS!!

I hate the ones you sharpen, then try to use, and the break, you sharpen again, and the lead tip falls out..ARGH!!

I'd rather pay a little more than sharpen a cheap one down to a nub!!

 

[MomToOne]

I've never heard of putting supplies like binders and calculators in the shared category?

My daughter's teacher took ALL of the supplies from each child as they brought them to class, then distributed them out as she wanted. Binders included. That meant the good stuff I bought for my kid went to someone else, and she got the cheap stuff.

Difference being, the supplies you buy are usually for your kid. The private schools don't usually do the shared school supplies nonsense.

Private school parent here. Yes, they do the shared school supplies nonsense too.

 

[apnep]

Trapper Keepers are strictly forbidden in our district. I'm not even sure what they are. But every single school supply list always has "NO TRAPPER KEEPERS" written in 30 pt font. I thought they were the crack cocaine of office supplies.

Wow, really?? I love them!!