possible debate..school supplies

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by Bumbles
Sharing because you want to share out of the goodness of your heart is one thing, being forced to share is quite another.

Exactly! I buy good supplies for my kids, and I see no reason why they should have to use something other than what I paid for.

 

[Bojangles]

Putting all of the pencils, glue sticks, paper, etc. together is a big time saver. If you have everything together in a basket on each table and you don't have to waste instructional time waiting for everyone to go rummaging through their desks, pencil boxes and book bags for supplies.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by Dcat2u
I dislike them putting out the list early then you buy everything, they get to school and they want a whole new list of stuff and half the other stuff is useless.

I agree. In Georgia we have a tax free weekend that always occurs right before the start of the school year. I have bought the things on the "recommended" list only to find that the individual teachers have a different list of school supplies they want the kids to have.

We have had to "pool" supplies for the past two years and I hate it. Why? The kids don't take care of them and we are constantly having to "replenish" the supplies. Pete takes care of his stuff and it ticks me off when I am having to buy boxes of crayons, pencils, etc. on a monthly basis because "Johnny" keeps breaking them or throwing them away. The worst part is most parents don't even bother to send any more supplies in, leaving it up to the teacher to spend out of her own pocket or other parents to pick up the slack. I am not talking about families who can't afford it, I am talking about the ones that are just lazy.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I have a question for those of you that said the poor kids may not have the needed supplies. Do you think that's because they can't afford them or because they know others will pick up the slack?

I find it hard to believe someone can't buy BASIC school supplies. Each year all of the Target type stores will have huge back to school sales. Spiral notebooks for less than 10 cents. Crayons between 10 and 25 cents. Notebook paper for about 25 cents for 250 sheets. Folders for 5 cents. You can take a few dollars and pretty much have the main things taken care of.

Now if someone missed all of the sales and/or waits to last minute to get supplies, I can see how cost may be an issue.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
I have a question for those of you that said the poor kids may not have the needed supplies. Do you think that's because they can't afford them or because they know others will pick up the slack?

Most kids will bring something. Even the "poor" kids. The kids who bring nothing are usually the ones with issues at home.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by Bojangles
Most kids will bring something. Even the "poor" kids. The kids who bring nothing are usually the ones with issues at home.

I sympathize with those situations, but why should I be providing their school supplies?

 

[Bumbles]

I sympathize with those situations, but why should I be providing their school supplies?

Because that's the core of socialism

Oops..we're not not socialistic, are we

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by peachgirl
In any case, you're talking about perhaps 1 or 2 students in an entire classroom who fail to contribute their supplies.

Hmm...
Last year my son's class started with about 23 students. His teacher said only about 10 parents sent in the requested supplies. There were others who sent in several items, but not the whole list. (I DO believe the list was far too extensive)
There were definitely more than just one or two who sent nothing.

Unlike the situation Talking Hands posted - I can't imagine it was a case of not being able to afford the supplies. At least one of the children who sent nothing lives in a million+ dollar home and I don't know of any areas in the attendance bounaries that are not at least middle class homes.

I remember when I sent supplies for my DD she would bring her things home at the end of the year looking like new. She prided herself on being careful and taking good care of her things.
You should have seen the crayon cans in DS's pooled supplies class last year - obviously not all children treat the items carefully.

Also don't expect to ever see anything back when it's a donate and pool situation. DD used the same pair of scissors several years in a row, I think we still have them. Now I have to send in a new pair every year. Where do they go?

Now after my lengthy diatribe... let me just state that although I prefer kids having responsibility for their own items - I can go with the flow if the teacher wants to have me donate and pool. It's not a huge issue for me.


Don't get me started on the whole 'team concept' in education though - which came shortly after the donate and pool idea in our school in CA. Not saying it's directly linked - but I can see how it could be an offshoot. I'll save that for another thread some other time though.

 

[NMAmy]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
I have a question for those of you that said the poor kids may not have the needed supplies. Do you think that's because they can't afford them or because they know others will pick up the slack?

In my case, I know there were students who could not afford the needed supplies. Some children lived in homes without electricity. Things can be different in rural areas than the suburbs.

 

[mudhen]

I don't think it's a matter of "can't buy" , it's more like
"won't buy" in many cases.

Leave it up to the teacher, some pool certain items for
class use, some don't, whatever works best for that classroom.

 

[cardaway]

IMO part of the learning process is taking responsibility for having the correct supplies to complete any task.

This includes learning the give and take of bumming a pencil or two along the way.

I grew up in a 'have your own' system and I can't recall any kid ever going without for too long. No kid was ever left out of a project, or didn't do the assignment, because he or she didn't have some supplies. However I do recall a couple times where I learned a lesson about being prepared given the embarassment of having to ask around for supplies due to nothing but my own stupidity.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

As I stated in my public school we cannot ask for supplies and must either make due with what we get OR I provide them which is pretty much the case. For the poster who did not want to send in the dry erase markers for the teacher do not worry, she will probably buy them for him/her self.

I do not believe in pooling items either. I buy the kids their own supplies. However, my room works on what is called a token economy. The kids earn a pre arranged amount of money per day (play money but a copy of the real thing). I give them the basics like crayons and pencils etc BUT if they want markers or special fancy erasers they need to save and "buy" their own from my store (yes I do buy all the store items too). If they lose a pencil guess who pays?? They do out of their earned money. If they decide that they want to buy markers then they need to save for school store. There are also lots of great items they can purchase in school store beside school supplies so it gives them a little bit of responsibility. They do not want to "waste" money on a pencil or new folder if they are saving for bigger and better things.

My school system is considered low income. Once I was in the lunch room and I saw a couple of kids go to the lunch counter, take a lunch and just thow it away with out even trying it!! When I confronted them one said,"it is free what is the difference". Well, in my room they learn nothing is "free" and they soon learn both the meaning of earning and the meaning of responsibility.

I think pooling supplies does not teach them that in the real world not much is given to you without hard work. It also levels the playing field there are no haves and have nots but rather those who work, earn and take responsibility and those who have nothing to spend.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
I sympathize with those situations, but why should I be providing their school supplies?

Because you're nice?


Some teachers pool supplies just because they find it makes their classroom run a little smoother. I don't think they set out to be socialists.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by Bojangles
Because you're nice?

Because I'm nice, I've worked my *** off for the past four years for the school auction, raising tens of thousands of dollars. They can take some of THAT money and buy school supplies for the kids whose parents can't or won't send them in. Or raise the tuition $10/month and have the school provide the supplies.

 

[cats7494]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks


Because I'm nice, I've worked my *** off for the past four years for the school auction, raising tens of thousands of dollars. They can take some of THAT money and buy school supplies for the kids whose parents can't or won't send them in. Or raise the tuition $10/month and have the school provide the supplies.

AirForceRocks - In most schools - there is a PTO or PTA that usually has the funding for the purchase of school supplies for the children who can not afford them. Churches are also well known for supplying the school needs of the children.

Why don't you check with them or your local church if you are concerned about paying for the supplies.

That is great you worked to raise money for the school - why don't you check with the school to see where the money goes?

And to answer a previous person's post -YES!!! Some people do not have enough money to pay for the supplies! School is expensive for some - they may have more than one child, have clothes to buy, have registration fees, have to buy books, pay for lunches...etc... Please do not blame the child for the mistakes of the parents!

 

[AirForceRocks]

AirForceRocks - In most schools - there is a PTO or PTA that usually has the funding for the purchase of school supplies for the children who can not afford them. Churches are also well known for supplying the school needs of the children.

Our school is a private Catholic school and we do have a PTO type organization.

Why don't you check with them or your local church if you are concerned about paying for the supplies.

I'm not concerned about buying supplies for other kids, because I simply won't do it. My response was to the question why should I have to.

That is great you worked to raise money for the school - why don't you check with the school to see where the money goes?

I'm on the board of the organization, so I know where the money goes.

 

[cats7494]

Ok then....I see you feel very strongly about this AirForceRocks -

Yep - It is your choice on whether or not you help the other kids as it is mine...I choose differently - I simply WILL do it.

Choice is such a wonderful thing.


As for pooling supplies - as the original post was asking - I know my child is definately more comfortable having her "own" supplies and not come from a supplies pool.
I do understand the point of pooling them... but prefer that my child has her own and if there is need for other students - our PTO purchases extras for each classroom as needed.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Ok then....I see you feel very strongly about this AirForceRocks -

Yes, I do. There is absolutely no reason for schools to ask for and expect parents to buy school supplies for other children in addition to their own.

 

[NMAmy]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
Yes, I do. There is absolutely no reason for schools to ask for and expect parents to buy school supplies for other children in addition to their own.

I've never had a school ask for or expect this. Some of us simply do it on our own. I've been poor. I've had money. Money is definitely better. People helped me when I didn't have anything so I like to pass that on to other people. If you feel differently, that's your right. Did someone say you had to contribute? You mentioned tuition--do your children go to private school? If I was paying for my child to attend private school, I might feel differently.

I feel really weird defending doing something charitable.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
There is absolutely no reason for schools to ask for and expect parents to buy school supplies for other children in addition to their own.

I don't think they pool classroom supplies as much to help the "have nots" but to improve classroom efficiency primarily in the lower grades. There are a lot of school supply charities out there that can add to the pool for students who don't contribute so you won't have to.