I got the kids' school supply lists today....

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Wow.

This takes all the fun out of the first day of school from when I was a kid. I remember how cool it was to go to school, find out what you needed for your classes and then go to the local drug store where all your friends would be so you could decide which Trapper Keeper each person would get.

Seriously though, what is up with schools not providing basic janitorial supplies? We never had to bring in tissues or stuff like that although usually your mom would arm you with those little travel sized packs of Kleenex. What's next? They going to tell you guys to drag in a 24 pack of Charmin for the bathrooms? Heck, even my company provides us with tissues and basic needs.

And a Poloroid camera? Holy Cow! On top of those things being like $30-$35, have you priced the film for them? It's like $10 for 8 pictures! By the time you get through the school year it would be cheaper to send the kids in with a cheap digital camera!

 

[MrsKreamer]

There was a huge editorial about school supplies in New Orleans inner city schools about 2 years ago. An elderly grandmother was shocked to see what her grandaughter's school required her to buy. Dry erase boards, toliet paer, hand soap, large amount of crayons. I can't remember everything odd that she listed but after everything was said and done she spent over $100 at WalMart just on school supplies for a kindergardner.

 

[ntburns22]

Wow~ I think we are getting off easy. Here is my DD's first grade list.

1 plastic school box
1 box crayons -8
1 pair scissors - Fiskars brand recommended
1 8oz Elmers ****e glue
1 roll paper towels
2 boxes tissues
12 #2 lead pencils -SHAPENED
1 large pink eraser
1 box quart size ziploc bags
1 ruler with inches and centimeters
1 2 pocket folder
1 wide rulled spiral notebook
1 set of headphones in a ziplock bag

 

[SC Minnie]

Our state has severly cut back the local districts budgets. According to the school superindent they have cut costs in supplies (copy paper, classroom cleaning supplies, basic classroom supplies) to keep from cutting programs. There thought was that they would cut the things that parents could supply. The company I work for makes copy paper and we donate a truckload/ year to our local school districts. This doesn't last long but every little bit helps.

DD is in middle school now and changes classes. But even when she was in elem I rarely sent 24 pencils, 20 green/red pens, 4 packs of paper etc on the first day. I would send in about half and then send some through out the year. I would also wait to send kleenex and wipes later in the year. For one thing the teacher didn't have storage space for all this stuff at one time.

 

[lovingthemouse]

As a 6th grade English teacher- my list is rather short compared to what you have been posting:
1. a 3 ring binder - can be old or new - we all keep portfolios of all our work
2. a package of top loading sleeve inserts _Walmarts 50 inserts at $3.97
3. pencils (with erasers on them) as it is much easier to make corrections
4. pen - for tests and final copies of work
5. spiral notebook for journal responses

I would estimate that I spend about $300 - $400. of my own money to keep supplies in my own classroom - have for over 25 yrs now.Bet there are tons of other teachers who do too!! The teachers in my system have had no raise/cost of living increase in 4 rs now and we still buy alot of our own things.
I teach in an urban area where money does not flow easily. Caroline

 

[Planogirl]

I send in the basics and then constantly ask DS what he's running low on. I used to buy everything on the list but he never used a lot of it so I don't do that anymore. Well, except for Kleenex if they ask for that. I understand the need there.

 

[Miller1412]

I have to say that as a kindergarten teacher, it's a little discouraging to read how irate people can be about providing kids with the supplies they'll need for 10 months. In my building, I get $150 to order supplies for the year. That's it. I'll have a minimum of 20 students.

Do the math...that's $7.50 for supplies for each student for an entire year. That's construction paper, glue refills, paint, playdough, art and craft supplies, food items for recipes in the year, markers...you name it.

I spend so much of my own money on my students. I'm not complaining...I've come to realize that's what it takes to make a quality program that's exciting for my kids.

I don't ask parents to send in cameras, but I do ask for wipes, tissues, and ziploc bags. I also ask for *donations* of other classroom supplies. My students bring basic supplies as well. This year I'm also asking each child to bring in 4 tennis balls. Why? Because I'm going to cut a slit in them and put them on the legs of the chairs so that they don't make so much noise on the floor. I'll be sure to let them know what they're for on my supply list.

It really bugs me to listen to people complain about giving their kids supplies that a teacher requests. I'll concede that some of these things (camera) are over the top...but people...this is your child's education! It's not a teacher conspiracy to make you spend needless money, believe me...teachers are spending plenty of their own cash too, on your kids!

Try this...don't send in any supplies, the teacher will spend no money on supplies and see how happy you are with the way the program ends up.

Thanks to those who support classroom teachers with a great attitude! You are sending your kids a great message .

 

[Planogirl]

I do send in plenty of supplies but as needed. The kids don't share supplies and the teachers at his school don't provide supplies either as far as I know. But he's in middle school and maybe it's different.

The problem is that our supply lists are generic and it really depends on what teachers he gets. Believe me, if the teachers want the parents to send something, they're not shy about asking.

 

[ReggieB]

DS list has a specific brand of composition book, which you are supposed to be able to get from a particular store. Needless to say they don't stock it anymore, and I can't find it online. I've bought the regular ones, I have no idea what was special about the ones I was supposed to get.

It would have helped if they had expanded on that a bit so I could find an alternative. The school secretary was saying how she wished they left a sample of what the teachers are asking for, as it's her team that are getting all the questions at the moment.

 

[mrszrw]

I guess I got lucky DD only needs markers, crayons, and glue sticks for K this year oh yes she also needs a backpack

 

[AtlantaSue]

I have been following this thread and am also surprised that more moms haven't said they weren't bothered by the lists - I haven't ever been.

I never really looked at it as picking up the slack for other parents - I just figured I could pitch in a little extra at the beginning of the year (a box of wipes, kleenex, etc.) so that some poor teacher wouldn't have to keep reaching in her own wallet so the kids could wipe their noses!

 

[disneysnowflake]

You'd be surprised how many parents who can afford supplies simply won't buy them.

One mom I know has a beautiful house, nice vehicles, etc. When the list comes out she just flat out refuses to buy. Why? Her house and land are taxed by the school. She claims she pays more than any other parent in the school in taxes, so she shouldn't have to buy supplies. That's what her taxes are for. Since all the supplies are put into a general stash, the girl still gets all the supplies. It's just other parents pay for it.

Our school also requires parents to pay for field trips. The teachers decide and get approval for the trips then send a note home wanting the parents to pay.
This same mom who doesn't send in supplies refuses to pay for her daughter's field trip. Same thing. She pays the most in taxes, etc. If a child doesn't bring in money for a field trip then the PTA steps in to pay.

Last year our list asked each student in 5th grade to bring 4 pencil boxes.
Parents asked why 4. They were told the number of parents who refuse to buy supplies keeps going up. They ask for 4 per student to make sure those with parents who won't buy still get a pencil box.

We don't live in a very poor district. There are just parents who don't think they should have to pay for paper, pencils, etc.

 

[mickeyboat]

We do not have to provide any school supplies. I guess that is what our taxes pay for. We have to supply a backpack, that's it. We are asked to help with items for classroom parites / events, a couple of times per year. In K each kid got a pencil with eraser, a box of crayons, a pair of scissors and a glue stick that they labeled with their names and kept in their cubbies. These items were replaced as needed. All other supplies are provided by the school, and kept in a communal location. I asked the teachers if there was anything else I could bring in for them, and they said the school district supplies them with whatever they need.

Denae

 

[Tinijocaro]

I have no problem buying the supplies that a district can't afford to buy for the classes. The sales are remarkable so I buy lots when I find a really good sale. this year, I didn't have to buy crayones, markers, colored pencils, glue, glue sticks, paper, or notebooks- and I won't have to next year either. All you have to do is follow the sales in July and August.

 

[jen0610]

I guess I'll take our nice short list and be very happy with it.

DD's 3rd grade list:

Bookbag
1 set colored pencils - She will be using the set her brother didn't use last yr.
lg box kleenex
old shirt for painting in
pencil box
gym shoes
2 white gum erasers
2 wide rule spiral notebooks
2 glue sticks

DS's 5th grade list:

#2 pencils - quantity? will send in six at the start of school and he can ask for more.
eraser
Wide line loose lead paper - paper only no Trapper keeper
2 wide rule spiral notebooks
lg box kleenex
highlighter

I have already talked to DS teacher, YEA he has the one I wanted, and asked her about folders. She said that if I wanted, I could get him one for the loose leaf paper, but she would have a bunch if I didn't. I have plenty, so I'll send one in.

We already have everything on the list except for her gym shoes and the highlighter.

I am so glad DS is with the teacher that he is. I love this woman. I had her for 5th grade and know several of her former students kids that have had her, and they just rave about how great she still is and that the kids still have as much fun in her class as what we did. She is hands down the best teacher that I ever had. I can only hope that she keeps teaching for two more school years, so DD can try and get her.

 

[AtlantaSue]

disneysnowflake -

I AM surprised at your neighbor's attitude! I have never heard of anyone taking that stance, and thankfully, have never been asked to supply 4 pencil boxes!

 

[tw1nsmom]

I object to lengthy, brand specific supply lists in theory, not personally. What I mean by that is that I will always provide what's on the list for my children and would be happy to give more if the teacher needed it. However, I grew up in a poor family. I was quite aware when I didn't have the "right" brand product and that was before the time of supply lists. My mom would have had a true budget problem if she had to buy all the things I just bought for my children.

Even though I live in a wealthy school district, there are more than a few lower income families. I think some of the problems are...

-All of the products are requested at once instead of letting the parent know what the child needs and when during the year they'll need it. Some people can afford $5 worth of supplies every other week, but can't afford $75 worth of supplies all at once.

-Many parents don't realize what some of the products are being used for...More parents wouldn't have a problem with odd items like tennis balls if more teachers told us what their purpose was like a previous poster does.

-I wish schools with active PTO's would hold fund raisers for classroom supplies. We hold tons of fund raisers for some strange causes and products. I plan on talking to my PTO about this in the fall. I would much rather make sure that the basic supplies were being covered before we paid for ice cream socials.

-For teachers on this thread, please consider making classroom supplies wish lists. I buy teacher gifts every Christmas and end of year. I would much rather give a teacher something they need for the classroom than some unneeded gift. It would also help those kids who come from families who can't afford the supplies or come from families who refuse to buy them on principle.

 

[golfgal]

You'd be surprised how many parents who can afford supplies simply won't buy them.

One mom I know has a beautiful house, nice vehicles, etc. When the list comes out she just flat out refuses to buy. Why? Her house and land are taxed by the school. She claims she pays more than any other parent in the school in taxes, so she shouldn't have to buy supplies. That's what her taxes are for. Since all the supplies are put into a general stash, the girl still gets all the supplies. It's just other parents pay for it.

Our school also requires parents to pay for field trips. The teachers decide and get approval for the trips then send a note home wanting the parents to pay.
This same mom who doesn't send in supplies refuses to pay for her daughter's field trip. Same thing. She pays the most in taxes, etc. If a child doesn't bring in money for a field trip then the PTA steps in to pay.

Last year our list asked each student in 5th grade to bring 4 pencil boxes.
Parents asked why 4. They were told the number of parents who refuse to buy supplies keeps going up. They ask for 4 per student to make sure those with parents who won't buy still get a pencil box.

We don't live in a very poor district. There are just parents who don't think they should have to pay for paper, pencils, etc.

Don't you just want to refuse to share with her children when she does things like this? I know it isn't fair to the kids that their mom is a dork but it isn't fair to the other families that have to pay for her kids. I also want to know how she knows she pays more in taxes then anyone else? Any family that owns a business in your district pays WAY more in taxes then she ever will.

 

[mytwotinks]

I have to say that as a kindergarten teacher, it's a little discouraging to read how irate people can be about providing kids with the supplies they'll need for 10 months. In my building, I get $150 to order supplies for the year. That's it. I'll have a minimum of 20 students.

Do the math...that's $7.50 for supplies for each student for an entire year. That's construction paper, glue refills, paint, playdough, art and craft supplies, food items for recipes in the year, markers...you name it.

I spend so much of my own money on my students. I'm not complaining...I've come to realize that's what it takes to make a quality program that's exciting for my kids.

I don't ask parents to send in cameras, but I do ask for wipes, tissues, and ziploc bags. I also ask for *donations* of other classroom supplies. My students bring basic supplies as well. This year I'm also asking each child to bring in 4 tennis balls. Why? Because I'm going to cut a slit in them and put them on the legs of the chairs so that they don't make so much noise on the floor. I'll be sure to let them know what they're for on my supply list.

It really bugs me to listen to people complain about giving their kids supplies that a teacher requests. I'll concede that some of these things (camera) are over the top...but people...this is your child's education! It's not a teacher conspiracy to make you spend needless money, believe me...teachers are spending plenty of their own cash too, on your kids!

Try this...don't send in any supplies, the teacher will spend no money on supplies and see how happy you are with the way the program ends up.

Thanks to those who support classroom teachers with a great attitude! You are sending your kids a great message .

I think that most parents don't have a problem sending the supplies that their child will use during the 10 month school year. My problem is that I don't want to supply the other children (supplies put in comunity stash) and I don't want to purchase things that the teacher doesn't really even want. I am totally against the "comunity" school supplies, but I can understand why a teacher would do this. It solves their problem of little Billy whose mom is too lazy to get them, never having supplies.

I am not talking about those kids whose parents can't afford to. I live in an area where that is not the problem and I still supply about half the class with markers and dry erase markers every year! I have started telling my dd to keep the supplies I send with her in her own desk. I sent about 10 dry erase markers to school in one month last year. Still, my dd came home and said that she didn't have one. Apparently after I got the note from the teacher that they were needed, they went directly to the stash. The next week when she needed one they were already gone.

 

[disneysnowflake]

-I wish schools with active PTO's would hold fund raisers for classroom supplies. We hold tons of fund raisers for some strange causes and products. I plan on talking to my PTO about this in the fall. I would much rather make sure that the basic supplies were being covered before we paid for ice cream socials.

ITA. Last year our PTA had 4 fundraisers, but when it came time to tell what the money went to no one said. I guess it's a secret? Anyway, this school year the board said the PTA has to disclose what funds from fundraisers come in, how much is spent, what it's spent for, and how much is left over.

-For teachers on this thread, please consider making classroom supplies wish lists. I buy teacher gifts every Christmas and end of year. I would much rather give a teacher something they need for the classroom than some unneeded gift. It would also help those kids who come from families who can't afford the supplies or come from families who refuse to buy them on principle.

ITA again. When volunteering in our school I'd regularly hear complaints by teachers about all the gifts they were given that were useless to them. I know it's the thought that counts, but it would be more realistic for the teacher to mention classroom wishlists at holiday time. The teachers appreciated the gifts, but one teacher got 3 mugs all with school designs on it. She said in the past 8 years of teaching she probably has over 20 teacher themed mugs. lol.