Questions for Teachers...

[Grandma Bear]

In my middle school, the students get a mail out list; but not all show up with their supplies. We get a small amount from our department chair;but I still buy a lot of our stuff. Walmart and Target have the best year round prices.

Our Parent group will send out a supply request twice a year. Some years I get a lot of stuff;but some years none. I have learned to get what I need and be glad if extras show up.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I must admit that this thread reconfirms how ridiculous the amount of money teachers spend each year on supplies. It is sad that taxpayers shell out so much for education yet teacher salaries and the basic needs of our students areignored.

Before I discuss how much I spend, etc., I want to address one poster in particular regarding actions taken to limit and control what is needed for the school year. Instead of running to the school board, principal, or superintendent, do what is expected in the rest of society --- confront the person you have an issue with. Don't run to someone and "complain" or make demands. All it does is label you as a "problem parent."

My school provides us with an amount to spend on supplies each year. Two years ago it was $800 and this past year it was decreased by about half. I do work in a very affluent community and parents are also very generous with donations...but you must ask, nothing is EVER given. I personally feel awkward about asking parents to supply extra materials for an activity I use in class.

I do spend well over $300 a year on extra supplies. But, I am a SUPER shopper and cut cost to maximize what I purchase.

 

[glo]

We get white lined paper, primary paper, Crayons for grades k-3 after that just pencils. Rulers are a thing of the past, as is glue, colored paper ect. In our school we do not even order workbooks, just textbooks. We can photo copy at school, but there is always a back log...90 teachers and only 1 copier Every year, since I started 19 years ago, I spend over $200 out of pocket. SOmetimes it has been as high as $500 when I had my own class and ended up buys gloves, hats and coats for students. We are not re-imbursed for higher ed, even though it is required. It is sad, when you hear we are overpaid for what we do, and blamed for everything wrong...Like someone said before, what other profession makes you buy your own supplies, and expects you to perform miraqcles with what you do get?

 

[eeyore kelly]

I want to address one poster in particular regarding actions taken to limit and control what is needed for the school year. Instead of running to the school board, principal, or superintendent, . Don't run to someone and "complain" or make demands.

This was a school wide problem in at least two schools. Several of us had talked to teachers and the administrator the year before. Even after doing what is expected in the rest of society --- confront the person you have an issue with. I still spent almost $400.00 dollars. It was time to let the school board feel as inconvenienced as we parents were.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Hopefully, the chain-of-commands was follower then. I cringe hearing someone gloat about how they complained, demanded, and in their minds..won. Tnat is ridiculous.

As for give them an inch, they'll take a mile....this is the type of attitude that hurts education. Give teachers a break, please. We work many unpaid hours...my total averages between 60-80 a week yet I am paid for a regular work week.

I forgot to mention that we too use a coding system for our copies. We are told that we have 800 per month and if we run out, that is it. But, we do have the option of putting larger amounts (multiple page packets, etc.) in for the office to copy. They are done within a few days without a problem.

We are reimbursed for continuing our own education to an extent. There is a cap of $25,000 that can be spent for the entire district so teachers receive a percentage based on a state university's rate and how many people take courses that year. What is not included must be paid by yourself. It is rough when my courses run $2000 a piece.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I am one of the few parents that have an insight to the plight of teachers, and I am the parent that usually takes up for teachers and explain certain policies.

I volunteer during the school year one day a week. It is an early day if I get out at 1 p.m. and I bring my kids to school that morning. Our teachers have a code too. They get 1000 copies a month. I have brought papers home to scan on my computer and have used my ink to run copies. I have also paid my money at office depot to make them copies. I have ran around and begged copies off of PE teachers, put in the office code (w/o permission). Secretly paid the office 10 dollars to cover the cost of copy overages so they would give the teacher 1000 extra copies, etc.

One year my DH and I supplied an entire thanksgiving feast to my DD's class because 2 parents volunteered to bring something.

If I see teachers are running low on stickers, candy or other rewards for the class, I donate some.

I volunteer sub for teachers so they can bring their own child to the doctor without having to take a 1/2 a sick day, and I volunteer every day during teacher appreciation week and leap testing as a hall monitor.

I am black listed by the PTO, because I took the teacher's side in a very public battle between the president of the PTO and her son's (also my son's) teacher.

My DM has been in education for 16 years, so I get it at home too.

However, 8 bottles of glue, 8 packs of crayons, etc. is excessive. It was, over the course of many years, a runaway train regarding the supply lists.

I am talking over $175.00 per child on supplies --not including uniforms, supply fees, etc.