Back to school *vent*

[figment3258]

I was thinking the same thing!! We homeschool and this year, for four kids, we spent less than $800 for ALL our supplies (and that includes curriculum!). I was pretty proud of myself there! (We do, however, have one child in Community College, and that is not included in that amount. I include that in our college budget line!)

Same here i spent 480 this year all included i was so proud of myself!

 

[cm8]

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.

 

[katybugsmom]

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.

My 4K students use dry erase markers at our Whiteboard Center and erasers at our Chalkboard Center. I'm sorry parents are having to supply these types of items-my school supplies them for us! We do have zip-loc bags on our list-we use them for sending books home and art projects home.

 

[torinsmom]

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.

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

 

[Mouse House Mama]

If your child were in my class, I would tell you to keep your supplies and your kid can share the community supplies, if you have that big a problem. OMG, we TAKE THEM AWAY! What do you think, we are out there on the street corner selling them in the afternoon? And what if we let each child keep their own and your child loses her last pencil? Am I supposed to buy extras for the room, so when the kids break or lose something, they have a replacement? Its not like they can wait to do their work the next day after they bring more from home. And if the materials stay with your child, do you see them being used? No, they use them at school.

I don't know what kind of list you're talking about. Most of the lists I have seen posted here would come out to about $30, at least until middle school, when you have lots of classes. I have NEVER seen a class where you had to turn in a calculator to the teacher and since everyone needs a binder, I can't imagine them taking the binders either. I know a PP said that happened, but that seems like an exception to the rule.

It's just amazing how much people can complain about such a small thing. I mean, even if it was $75, that is around 40 cents a day using a 180 day school year for your child to have what they need. It's more like 17 cents if we are talking $30 worth of supplies. Most people spend 5 x that much on their morning coffee or midday soda.

Marsha

What did we do when we were kids? We asked a friend if we could "borrow" a pencil and then we returned it at the end of the day. I don't know about you but there were no community supplies in my classroom growing up. I was expected to keep track of my own stuff. If I didn't have a pencil the teacher scolded you. Oh- and since you are saying that most people spend that money on their morning coffee- well, I get to drink my coffee. I don't buy a cup and share with the ten people next to me. If I buy my kid school supplies I want my kid to use them. There are many parents who feel this way. I hate the whole community bucket stuff. It doesn't teach children to be responsible for their belongings. What happens when these kids get to junior high and now there is no more community bucket and they have to actually be responsible? Do they even know how? It is ridiculous and I hate when teachers do it.

OK- so buying ONE box of tissues is not bad but once they hit 6th and 7th grade they have 7 or 8 teachers a DAY---are we supposed to send in 8 boxes of tissues and 8 rolls of paper towels??
I am not pissed at the teachers for asking for the classroom supplies but at the district for not supplying them- taxes here are through the roof and for what we pay in school tax alone they should damn well be able to buy tissues and toilet paper for the kids!!! How can they expect you to pay 7,000-10,000 in school tax alone and not supply toilet paper and tissues!!!

AMEN!!!!!!!!
I live on the Island too and for what I pay in school taxes my children should not have to buy a thing for school. I am not mad at the teachers because it is not their fault but it does make me angry that our district can't supply things like tissues. Especially when other districts supply everything down to pencils! I have gone to BOE meetings and I have no idea what they could do at this point since everyone's budget is a mess. It is very frustrating though and makes moving out of state look better and better.

 

[torinsmom]

FWIW, here is my school's kindergarten generic list:

2 packs pencils
1 pack glue sticks
1 pack crayons
1 box washable markers
1 box Crayola colored pencils
2 folders w/ pockets(My kids don't need this, but it is a generic list; I bought my own color coded folders)
2 bottles hand santizer
2 boxes tissue
1 container clorox wipes
4 pkgs. Ziplocs--1 gallon, 2 quart and 1 snack(Okay, so I argued about this one, but the other teachers do stuff like individually bagging snack each day. We have plenty left from last year for what we use them for, so we will just let the parents take them back home to use)

Everything except the clorox wipes can be bought for $1 or less on sale, ziplocs at the Dollar Tree, same with hand sanitizer and tissue. Even wuth the ziplocs, it's about $18. They will need some kind of bag as well, but I figure they would need that anywhere.

Marsha

 

[kirstenb1]

What did we do when we were kids? We asked a friend if we could "borrow" a pencil and then we returned it at the end of the day. I don't know about you but there were no community supplies in my classroom growing up. I was expected to keep track of my own stuff. If I didn't have a pencil the teacher scolded you. Oh- and since you are saying that most people spend that money on their morning coffee- well, I get to drink my coffee. I don't buy a cup and share with the ten people next to me. If I buy my kid school supplies I want my kid to use them. There are many parents who feel this way. I hate the whole community bucket stuff. It doesn't teach children to be responsible for their belongings. What happens when these kids get to junior high and now there is no more community bucket and they have to actually be responsible? Do they even know how? It is ridiculous and I hate when teachers do it.


AMEN!!!!!!!!
I live on the Island too and for what I pay in school taxes my children should not have to buy a thing for school. I am not mad at the teachers because it is not their fault but it does make me angry that our district can't supply things like tissues. Especially when other districts supply everything down to pencils! I have gone to BOE meetings and I have no idea what they could do at this point since everyone's budget is a mess. It is very frustrating though and makes moving out of state look better and better.

okay, you asked a friend to borrow a pencil. Suppose you are that kid that is stinky and icky, because his/her parents don't bathe him/her regularly. Frankly, they are the crap parents that he/she is stuck with. He/she has no friends. That is the exact kid whose parents dont' send in any supplies. Really, would it kill you for your child to have supplies combined into a communal pile?

I'm guessing from this thread, many of you would rather die, than share supplies. Fine, just keep raising taxes. In one way or the other, you will help pay for that kid. You are just splitting hairs as to how.

Finally, have you no compassion for that kid? Do you really think they live some charmed life? Agghhhh!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

okay, you asked a friend to borrow a pencil. Suppose you are that kid that is stinky and icky, because his/her parents don't bathe him/her regularly. Frankly, they are the crap parents that he/she is stuck with. He/she has no friends. That is the exact kid whose parents dont' send in any supplies. Really, would it kill you for your child to have supplies combined into a communal pile?

I'm guessing from this thread, many of you would rather die, than share supplies. Fine, just keep raising taxes. In one way or the other, you will help pay for that kid. You are just splitting hairs as to how.

Finally, have you no compassion for that kid? Do you really think they live some charmed life? Agghhhh!!!

This has nothing to do with having compassion for children. If the kid really is a stinky mess with parents who are just as bad then the school should be getting involved to fix that either way. My kids have been taught to share etc. I just don't see why I get to buy my child their own school supplies that they picked out and everyone else gets to use them and keep them. Sorry but I am not making donations. I am supplying my child with what they need to succeed. If there was a child that needed something I would be more than willing to help if I could but it should not be expected. Taxes will be raised no matter what. Even if I sent in 200 glue sticks they will still raise taxes. My point is that even though they are raising them up and up and up I still am expected to send in community supplies because the district doesn't supply anything. That is ridiculous.

 

[kirstenb1]

This has nothing to do with having compassion for children. If the kid really is a stinky mess with parents who are just as bad then the school should be getting involved to fix that either way. My kids have been taught to share etc. I just don't see why I get to buy my child their own school supplies that they picked out and everyone else gets to use them and keep them. Sorry but I am not making donations. I am supplying my child with what they need to succeed. If there was a child that needed something I would be more than willing to help if I could but it should not be expected. Taxes will be raised no matter what. Even if I sent in 200 glue sticks they will still raise taxes. My point is that even though they are raising them up and up and up I still am expected to send in community supplies because the district doesn't supply anything. That is ridiculous.

I don't understand, maybe because we're in very different districts. My children attend a Title One school. By definition, X percentage of children meet free lunch standards. I fully expect that same X percentage won't have discretionary income for school supplies. No biggie. Our family is blessed that we are not Title One. We send in school supplies for our kids, plus some extra. It isnt' a hardship on our family. If it were, I wouldn't send in extras.

I volunteer a lot in the schools. Kids who are disadvantaged come in stinky, or even worse, smelling like pot on Mondays. Again, these kids have parents who aren't sending in supplies. Either families who are blessed, like mine, or teachers, provide supplies. Or we could all refuse, and just have our taxes raised commensurately, to provide.

 

[rainydayplay]

Finally read through the entire thread and saw a few things I wanted to respond to.

I hate to say it, but a child needing a netbook does not surprise me.

Our technology person wrote a grant proposal that went through. It is getting our English classrooms at 2 of our schools classroom sets of netbooks. Sadly, this means 20 per class. I have seen my preliminary roster for this year, and I will have 25+ per class. I'm still trying to work out the logistics of how I will get this to work. I have 2 desktop student computers. That still leaves me at least 3 short. But, we're excited about having what we'll have.

DD's list
1 solid colored folder
1 book bag
I love kindergarten haha

My DD's K list was HUGE. It included one or two disposable cameras. I would have been much happier if all parents could have donated $10 to go towards a digital camera -- if every student did that one year, there could be at least one digital camera per classroom, and it would never be a concern again. No, the students did not use the cameras themselves (and I say thank God to that because my DD is a terrible photographer), but the teachers used them to take pictures throughout the year, and they made a Kindergarten scrapbook for each student that went home at the end of the year. I was thrilled to be able to see a lot of the stuff that she got to do during the year that otherwise I'd have been relatively in the dark about.

What every happened to letting each student figure out how to organize there own stuff?

A lot of my 7th/8th grade students cannot organize their stuff, even after going through study skills and organizational lessons. They are pretty amused at keeping a messy notebook/binder/backpack. I hate it when it comes time to take up bellringers. I tell them at the beginning of the year to get a binder with loose leaf paper and have a section marked "bellringers". They get a 5 subject notebook and do English, Social Studies, & Math in the same book, page after page (meaning today's English assignment is on page two, SS on page three, Math on page four, then page 5 is English, etc.)

"your Mama shops at Walmart"...

This was something I never understood. Growing up, Mom worked (and still does) at Walmart. A lot (if not all) of our clothes and stuff came from Walmart (and still does...okay...maybe not the clothes, but still some does). My senior year, we had an Academic Banquet. Another girl was wearing a dress that looked old and faded and like she'd bought it from Goodwill. She was poor and that's probably where it had come from if it wasn't something her mother had had for years. She commented on my dress being really pretty. "Thanks, I got it at Walmart." Her response? "Oh, I'm so sorry! Really, you can't tell!" ???

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.

There is typically money in the budget that is just for technology. There may also be a grant or trust that has been given to the school/system that has to be spent a certain way. For example, the system I teach in was willed money in a trust. The money had to be spent on buildings, and they had to be "innovative". There were two or three buildings of open classroom "pods" constructed with the money, because in the 1970s, these things were all the rage. The one where my classroom is located is the only one in the county that hasn't had inner walls constructed or just been completely torn down. (The building is a dodecahedron with an entry on each side. Each door leads to a classroom. The outer wall is concrete. The side walls are like conference break out room walls -- they can be folded into the outer wall to open up the classrooms. The inner wall for the classroom does not exist. We have 2 or 3 large rolling cabinets in the space where that fourth wall would be, but the taller students can see over them. There is a hall in the middle of the building so everyone can get to the restrooms in the middle. I often have students from other classes pass my room and stand in my "doorway" and do things to distract my students. You can hear practically EVERYTHING that goes on elsewhere in the building. But there is a SMART, Promethean, or Mimio board in every classroom, plus ELMOs and other things. It's all in how the money has to be spent.

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.

I asked for 2 postage stamps from each of my 8th grade students last year, but we wrote letters and mailed them. I still had to pay for stamps for at least 50 of my 63 or so students.

The book thing bothers me, too. Each year my elementary school kids keep bringing home various subject workbooks that haven't even been written in because "the teachers don't like them" (that's what the kids tell me). So why does the school keep buying these books that aren't being used??

AS others have said, the textbook companies tend to send one per student for the life of the contract. (Or, one per textbook purchased.) Sometimes, we can ask for different things from year to year, then we can get a set of different types of workbooks. If it's not renewable, teachers will have students write the answers on their own paper so they workbooks can be reused.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I don't understand, maybe because we're in very different districts. My children attend a Title One school. By definition, X percentage of children meet free lunch standards. I fully expect that same X percentage won't have discretionary income for school supplies. No biggie. Our family is blessed that we are not Title One. We send in school supplies for our kids, plus some extra. It isnt' a hardship on our family. If it were, I wouldn't send in extras.

I volunteer a lot in the schools. Kids who are disadvantaged come in stinky, or even worse, smelling like pot on Mondays. Again, these kids have parents who aren't sending in supplies. Either families who are blessed, like mine, or teachers, provide supplies. Or we could all refuse, and just have our taxes raised commensurately, to provide.

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.

 

[rainydayplay]

This is how it is at my kids' schools. The city sends a generic list to the local stores (which give out copies) and sometimes the teacher will send a 'welcome' postcard with maybe a few items on it...

At my DD's school, the teachers on that grade level get together and make a grade level list.

OK- so buying ONE box of tissues is not bad but once they hit 6th and 7th grade they have 7 or 8 teachers a DAY---are we supposed to send in 8 boxes of tissues and 8 rolls of paper towels??
I am not pissed at the teachers for asking for the classroom supplies but at the district for not supplying them- taxes here are through the roof and for what we pay in school tax alone they should damn well be able to buy tissues and toilet paper for the kids!!! How can they expect you to pay 7,000-10,000 in school tax alone and not supply toilet paper and tissues!!!

I have 60-70 or more students at a time. Now, my DD is supposed to take 3 boxes of Kleenex and 3 rolls of paper towel at the beginning of the year (1st grade). Halfway through the year, I will have to send more. Her class last year (K) had less than 15 in it. If 1/3rd of my 60+ students would bring a box of Kleenex or a roll of paper towels per semester, I'd certainly be able to get through the year. If they brought 3 like my DD has to for elementary school, that would be one for me, one for math, and one for social studies. PE is usually the other class in there, but even if every student brought one box of Kleenex and we put it in a communal pile for the teachers, that would work, too. (~500 students, ~ 30 teachers = ~18 boxes per teacher. Couldn't that work?) Instead, I buy a 4 pack of Angel Soft (it's cheaper than Kleenex and lasts WAY longer). I'll have to pay more attention to how often I buy.

The point of public school is that all children have equal access to education. Some parents don't have the money to feed their children properly so we have free or reduced lunches available and yet we expect parents to supply these same children with supplies that may run more than a bag of groceries? We feed the children at school, but we don't think the school should supply pencils and paper for the children? Sorry, that makes no sense to me.

It's not "advertised" (probably because those that don't need it would abuse it) but kids who don't have basic supplies can ask for some in the office at my school. They get a backpack with notebooks, a binder, pencils, pens, and folders. We have kids who leave clothes and jackets behind and never pick them up, so we take them to the office when no one claims them (and I TRY to get them claimed). When a student comes in without a jacket on a cold day, there is usually a sweatshirt or jacket that can be handed to them.

Of course, this is why I donate supplies. I have bought a ton of stuff already for my own classroom. I bought everything requested on DD's list for 1st grade, including at least 1/3 of what's on the "wish list" for the teacher. (And I'll probably pick up some more stuff this weekend.) I've sponsored one child that I'm not sure what school he will go to or if he'll be in 1st or 2nd grade but he and his family have absolutely nothing. Did I get everything? No, but I bought a brand new backpack with coordinating lunch box, notebooks, folders, loose leaf paper, crayons, glue, markers, scissors, ruler, note cards, etc. General enough that it should be useful things regardless of what grade he's in, but not everything because I didn't know some of the specifics. I will buy extras for my DD's class and add to the community school supply donation list. Is it wrong that this stuff needs to be bought and isn't supplied by the school? Seems normal to me. And if my child needs it, I will buy it.

If we really want to complain about money, how about the stuff they send home to buy? Last year, there was the PTO fees, then t-shirts (5 tshirt sales within the first couple of months!) There was a monthly snow cone sale, plus a bake sale or two. They did penny wars to raise $$ for clasroom supplies, since the teachers didn't get instructional money last year (and won't this year, either.) Pictures were absolutely outrageous (including Kindergarten cap and gown pics, and they didn't wear cap & gown for their graduation). We had fall pics, spring pics, class pic, and cap and gown. There were 2 poses for each set, and you had to buy a package to get the ala cart for the pose, and the cheap package was $35 for one pose. In November, they sent the stuff home with the wrapping paper and other expensive items and wanted each child to sell at least $50 worth of stuff. The yearbooks were $25 or so (for paperback!). Scholastic book orders every 6 weeks. A book fair. More tshirts. The field trip was only $4, though. Then there was a Kindergarten graduation DVD.

Plus, they'd been (and still are) doing construction to the school. In May, they asked for donations to allow the teachers to get stuff for their classrooms. They wanted at least $25 per student, and requested that you ask friends, family members, businesses, etc.

Now, that all seems incredibly excessive! Optional, yes. But still excessive.

 

[palavra]

I have 4 children and the lists used to be as detailed a those that have been posted. The school would post a basic list, but then the teachers would "enhance" that list. Last year, the BOE squashed the enhanced lists - the teachers were limited to the basic list only. Guess what? My kids still came home with unused items. I just hit Target....marble composition books for .$50, spiral notebooks for $.15 (yes, fifteen cents and my highschooler was told to put back the fancy ones for $1.50 and get the plain ones), glue sticks for $.25, colored pencils for $.94. I didn't purchase folders because they bought the Mead plastic ones last year. At the end of the school year, they were in great shape, so they're waiting in the backpacks for a second use. DS13 was required to get a TI calculator (he attends the American Boychoir School), so I took the hit on that last year. DS14 was issued one from her teachers in middle school, and I'm assuming she'll get one in high school.

As for the tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels mentioned, we were only asked to send in a box of tissues in the beginning of the year. That stopped last year as well. If they had a stuffy nose, I send them with their own tissues.

I think these lists have gotten out of hand, but I'm glad my school district restricted them. Maybe if enough parents complain, your district will do the same thing.

The teachers most likely put out their own money for the "enhanced" items that you didn't have to pay for.

 

[palavra]

I really think teachers and parents and adults in general don't give kids enough credit. By 7th grade I bet most of them can be organized all by themself. Espeically if you just give them alittle advice but let them work it out.

I had a system that worked for me. Other kids wouldn't have been able to do it my way. Why do we coddle them so much to the point that they really start meeting our (lack of) expectations because they aren't used to doing anything?

Oh honey, I've taught middle school for 11 years, and yes, more than half of the students can figure out some sort of system that works for them, but you wouldn't believe that mess we see with at 25% of the kids. Organization is a skill that just doesn't come naturally for some kids.

 

[palavra]

A huge part of this thread seems to be a bout of "attack the teacher". This bothers me because, as a teacher, I see the merit in EVERY item I request. You know how much money I get for start-up supplies? NONE
I suggest Papermate pencils and Fiskars scissors, but do I get bent out of shape if I get another type? No - I'm just glad that I have families making an effort.
I have three children of my own to buy supplies for, and I will purchase extras for my classroom. I will buy every item on my kids' lists unless I am specifically told by their teacher to disregard something.
With all the people griping about supply lists and teachers, I wonder if these same people are the ones who don't acknowledge a teacher's hard work or ever say thank you?? We are dealing with your most precious commodity (your children) and spend as much time with them as you do. Crying and moaning about a few extra supplies seems pretty pitiful.
Ann

I couldn't have said it better

 

[palavra]

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.

Now this post needs to be recorded for posterity! BTW, I get no money for school supplies. Everything extra comes out of my own pocket. I estimate that I spend $300.00 to $500.00 every year for materials for my classroom that we actually use that I do not ask parents to buy.

 

[palavra]

What did we do when we were kids? We asked a friend if we could "borrow" a pencil and then we returned it at the end of the day. I don't know about you but there were no community supplies in my classroom growing up. I was expected to keep track of my own stuff. If I didn't have a pencil the teacher scolded you. Oh- and since you are saying that most people spend that money on their morning coffee- well, I get to drink my coffee. I don't buy a cup and share with the ten people next to me. If I buy my kid school supplies I want my kid to use them. There are many parents who feel this way. I hate the whole community bucket stuff. It doesn't teach children to be responsible for their belongings. What happens when these kids get to junior high and now there is no more community bucket and they have to actually be responsible? Do they even know how? It is ridiculous and I hate when teachers do it.

Do you know how difficult it is to teach a class when 7-8 kids don't have a pencil or paper with them? Is it appropriate to take away class time from kids who do have supplies while I help several kids find supplies? This happens almost every day. If every student came to class with a pencil and paper every day, I would think I had died and gone to heaven. last year, I gave approximately 150 pencils to kids who had nothing to write with, and almost none were returned. I know the parent in you is thinking, "Well, if the kid has no supplies, let him or her just sit there." And in a few days I will get a call from a parent wondering why Johnny doesn't have the notes he needs for the next test. And it will be all my fault.

 

[AZMermaid]

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. .

You would be surprised. The school I teach at is very high income. Like, I had the daughter of the owner of a large multi-state organic grocery chain in my class a few years ago. But, within my 24 3rd graders, I still had 2-3 free/ reduced lunch kids. You wouldn't really know, unless you "knew." I can understand being upset about the sharing thing if like half the kids bring stuff and those who do bring are significantly covering the others. If 22 of my kids bring their full supplies, we pool them so they last longer, and no-one knows that the 2 kids didn't have any. The stuff still lasts all year and I offer back anything in good shape. The kids rarely take it though.

I do agree that after 3rd grade, sharing doesn't work as well. After teaching Title 1 where maybe 2 kids bring supplies, I can also second how hard and distracting it is when 5 kids every day don't have pencils. We did get pencils, crayons and paper from the school (nothing else), which were purchased through Title 1 funds. But, I would pass them out and the kids would take them home to do their homework (no pencils at home- seriously). They would get lost or the kids would forget them (2nd grade) so the next day, they needed more pencils.

So, I guess if you really want free supplies, you can always send your kids to Title 1 schools. They may not all have free supplies, but it is more likely as they get extra money to provide a more "equal" education. The Kindergartners came in usually speaking little English, never having read a book, knowing no colors, shapes, numbers or letters. They are the sweetest kids, but the disadvantage they start with is so hard to overcome.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

The teachers most likely put out their own money for the "enhanced" items that you didn't have to pay for.

Then why don't the teachers all get together and go to their school board and let them know that they cannot teach without classroom supplies? I get that they can't just demand it but if enough teachers get together and try to change it maybe they will succeed.

Oh honey, I've taught middle school for 11 years, and yes, more than half of the students can figure out some sort of system that works for them, but you wouldn't believe that mess we see with at 25% of the kids. Organization is a skill that just doesn't come naturally for some kids.

I agree with you but never making them responsible for their stuff is not going to help them. If a child never has to even have a pencil all through elementary school how on earth are they supposed to all of a sudden become responsible for such things? Wouldn't it make more sense to actually teach them to be accountable and prepared for class from the beginning of their school career?

I couldn't have said it better

I actually do thank our teachers quite often and do appreciate what they do.

Now this post needs to be recorded for posterity! BTW, I get no money for school supplies. Everything extra comes out of my own pocket. I estimate that I spend $300.00 to $500.00 every year for materials for my classroom that we actually use that I do not ask parents to buy.

Again- this is something that you need to take up with your school board.

Do you know how difficult it is to teach a class when 7-8 kids don't have a pencil or paper with them? Is it appropriate to take away class time from kids who do have supplies while I help several kids find supplies? This happens almost every day. If every student came to class with a pencil and paper every day, I would think I had died and gone to heaven. last year, I gave approximately 150 pencils to kids who had nothing to write with, and almost none were returned. I know the parent in you is thinking, "Well, if the kid has no supplies, let him or her just sit there." And in a few days I will get a call from a parent wondering why Johnny doesn't have the notes he needs for the next test. And it will be all my fault.

Then you need to send a note home stating that Johnny is not prepared for school. If you are not getting your pencils back then make them leave something on your desk that is theirs that they can't get back until they return what they borrowed.

You would be surprised. The school I teach at is very high income. Like, I had the daughter of the owner of a large multi-state organic grocery chain in my class a few years ago. But, within my 24 3rd graders, I still had 2-3 free/ reduced lunch kids. You wouldn't really know, unless you "knew." I can understand being upset about the sharing thing if like half the kids bring stuff and those who do bring are significantly covering the others. If 22 of my kids bring their full supplies, we pool them so they last longer, and no-one knows that the 2 kids didn't have any. The stuff still lasts all year and I offer back anything in good shape. The kids rarely take it though.

I do agree that after 3rd grade, sharing doesn't work as well. After teaching Title 1 where maybe 2 kids bring supplies, I can also second how hard and distracting it is when 5 kids every day don't have pencils. We did get pencils, crayons and paper from the school (nothing else), which were purchased through Title 1 funds. But, I would pass them out and the kids would take them home to do their homework (no pencils at home- seriously). They would get lost or the kids would forget them (2nd grade) so the next day, they needed more pencils.

So, I guess if you really want free supplies, you can always send your kids to Title 1 schools. They may not all have free supplies, but it is more likely as they get extra money to provide a more "equal" education. The Kindergartners came in usually speaking little English, never having read a book, knowing no colors, shapes, numbers or letters. They are the sweetest kids, but the disadvantage they start with is so hard to overcome.

I totally get where you are coming from. I can only imagine how difficult it must be. The thing is though- it is not about me wanting free supplies. I just think that if the teacher wants a community bucket at the very least state on their list that they need X items for community bucket. Don't give me a list and my kid picks out what they want only to find out that the whole class gets to use it. I have no issue with sending in supplies as I want my children to have every advantage that I can help with. However- I also do not want to fund the whole class.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, that would be hard.

A friend in OH told me they get their list the day school starts. Since I worked in the schools, I was a stress case with the first week of school too and would have had a hard time with that.

Here in NC the lists come out about NOW, 4 weeks before school starts.

When my kids went to school (they now Homeschool), I got a lot of extra during the Staples 1 cent sale since I had a teacher card and could get 25 of everything each day....I would go multiple days so I could donate for my classroom and my kids' classroom.

Really, in the grand scheme of things....even $200 for school supplies is nothing for the year.

Dawn

I just found the list from last year. It does say suggested, you're right! But honestly I have no complaints about buying supplies. I find the process fun. Takes me back to when I was a kid, I guess. My gripe is that we get the lists so late that we have to scramble so that our kids are prepared for school.