Purpose of school supply lists?

[luvsJack]

You know, I have no problem with the lists, even the ones with specific brands listed. I know that many of the supplies I buy for my DD will likely be used by other kids that may not be able to afford some of the items (they pool everything in her classes).

What I think is extremely inefficient and stupid is that they require each family to go out and shop for these items. So for each class, that is 25 individual trips to a market, which across the whole grade / school, adds up to a large macro waste of fuel / time /etc.

The school system should contract with a school / office supply company to buy all this in volume (at a discount), then either include the costs of these items in local taxes, or better yet, impose a "supply fee" or something similar.

Just my $0.02

Our school tried that. No one bought the packets because the supplies were higher than what they could get on sale, and it was supposed to be a discount.

I don't know about everywhere, but here they cannot charge a "supply fee". Public school is supposed to be "free education" and so they cannot make everyone pay it. Same thing with the old "workbook fee" that a lot of schools used to charge.


As for the whole "sink or swim" thing. A lot of kids were actually sinking. Organization is a habit that has to be taught to most people. So if kids are taught to be organized in the lower grades, the hope is that they will remain organized later on.