School supply rant! Too much $$$

[canwegosoon]

I hate it too, for the following reasons-
1) Less than 1/2 send in the requested items.
2) The requested items include 8 boxes of tissues(Large size), 4 canisters of wipes, 7 text book covers(Jumbo), erasable pens, pencils,4 composition note books, 10 folders, 4 packs of looseleaf, art box with crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, sharpners, glue and glue sticks, rulers, cd disks and cases, a recorder, caculator, and a planner($4) from school. Yeah well over $100. I try to buy double for replacement in January of crayons, markers, colored pencils, sharpners, glue and glue sticks-and we also get a request for an additional 2-3 boxes of tissues and a wipes(about 10 dollars again if brought now-30 if brought later)
3)This is a private school(9,000 for 2 children)-I pay tuition, a registration fee, and participate in no less than "7 fundrasing opportunities"-2 of which raised $125,000 last year. Our school is well supported by a PTA and gives each teacher $250(in addition to the money the school gives($50)for school supplies, plus purchases one large ticket item per class room per year. They will pay for more if needed.
4)The parents pay for all parties, and the PTA pays for all buses to field trips, parents must pick up the entrance fee.

In this school teachers can get what ever they want-if they ask-there is no shortage of office supplies. And infact they are treated to a day off(at the school's expense to go to the theater/shopping/dinner) plus no less than 5 catered teacher apperication lunches. (I think there are a lot of teacher out there that would love a few of the perks the teacher in our school get-I know it is not the same everywhere. But there is no conservation of supplies or spending)


I am sorry I don't think it is fair(in a private school) for the same few to be picking up the costs of famlies that can't afford the supplies or are just too lazy to get them. I know I am ranting, so feel free to ignore me...but I live below my means, I do without, color my own hair, do my own mani/pedicures, clip coupons, have a garden etc.


The funny thing is that they had to offer a free dress day this coming school year as a reward so families would send in 50 boxtops for education(the .10cent ones), because only a few families were doing this(I sent in 400 last year from my extended family).... ....so OP I feel you pain big time!!!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Amen to that!

I kept track of my school spending a few years ago, and was SHOCKED that it was almost $1500 in one year! Yikes! And I was making about $30,000. And that didn't include purchasing clothing and xmas gifts for the migrant kids, and supporting fundraisers and stuff.

I don't think parents have any idea how much money teachers shell out. Not one of my friends in the "business world" have to buy things to do their jobs. Rather, they get cars (or mileage), expense accounts, trips, etc.

It's a different world. And I'm not complaining!!!! I LOVE my job.

I am already worried about this very thing. I am currently working toward my teaching degree. Teachers in my area start at 18,000 gross (for the first 3 years). (This is why I don't mind bringing extras for the teachers) I have seen the teachers specding hundreds and sometimes thousands a year.. now I know why they all have summer and night jobs.

 

[klineyqueen]

My sons 3rd grade list had TONS of stuff (maybe 20- 25 items....) I MAJORLY bargain shopped and still probably spent $ 30.00. I can't imgine what you'd spend if you just walked into a store and bought it all at once. My picking up an item here, and item there, painful as it was, probably saved me 70.00.

But, hey, as of the sales of yesterday we are all done!

I can't imagine 20 - 25 items! I am still amazed! I believe you...I am just glad it is not like that here.

 

[KayW]

Staples has a program for schools to create supply lists and then the students can order the grade level box and it will be delivered to the school. For my team our total order came to $26 for everything the kids would need. Not bad. And they will be at the school waiting for the kids. If they don't want to buy it then they can use the supply list as a guideline and scope out the sales. We included tissues and sanitizer as well. I buy my own dry erase markers, reg. markers, etc.

 

[SCQ86]

Doesn't get better in high school. My son's first year I spent $250 on books, then a calc for another $100....sophmore year was $300 on books and then he lost the calc....ugghhhh!

But senior year...$450 on books....$225 on school ring....that was the cheap one...and then school pictures...get this....$40 just for the sitting....WHAT????....Heck, if I wanted pictures it would of been another $200!

So now I'm looking forward to the $1,000 book purchase for college.

 

[klineyqueen]

I posted twice already amazed with the lists. Our school does provide. I am also a teacher (my kids are not in school yet.) I also spend a lot of money for things I want in my room. I hope everyone has a nice year and doesn't stress too much over sharing supplies.

Happy Bargain Hunting!!!!

 

[ZPT1022]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

 

[PaulaSue]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

I am interested too. I did this idea for Christmas and again for one DD (my artsy girl who used over 50% of her stuff I am betting) teacher end of the year present.

I also put post it notes in (free with coupons right now ) and hand sanitizer, teacher stickers to put on the kids papers (dollar store), computer paper, colored construction paper, glue sticks and tissues.

 

[Angela&Kayla]

My DD's school supply this year is even more ridiculous than in the past! The school secretary emailed it to me, and I cut and pasted the 4th grade list into Microsoft word. To get it to fit on one sheet of paper, I had to format it to single spaced (with a line between each item), size 12 font, two columns. If you are familiar with Word, you can probably imagine how many items this really is!

Now, I understand that maybe everyone is not able to purchase supplies at every school. But, I live in an affluent area and this is not the problem with our school district. Who knows what the problem is...and who knows why she needs 10 notebooks either...

I start student teaching this Fall, and hopefully will find a teaching job soon. Hopefully, I will be able to control the list of school supplies that I require children in my class to bring in. First of all, it is a hastle for all the children and their families to purchase and supply all the materials. Second, as a teacher in a small classroom, why on earth would I want 100 boxes of Kleenex and 100 things of baby wipes in the classroom? Seriously...

 

[Angela&Kayla]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

I am not yet a teacher (I will be student teaching this coming semester), but I think that this is a great idea! I hope I have families who would like to help the classroom in this way!

In my experience, a couple of things to include might be:
-Teacher computer paper - this is SO expensive, but a nice touch so teachers can send home a nice letter at the beginning of the year, for special occassions, etc.
-A nice stapler - I have been in over 10 classrooms and none of them had nice staplers. I am not talking about $100 staplers, but one of the one-touch staplers would probably be appreciated.
-Large post-it notes - I've seen them used by teachers writing homework assignments down for a sick/absent student.
-Correcting pens.
-Disposable cameras.
-An idea that I read on DIS...collect holiday paper supplies (cups, plates, napkins) throughout the year when they go on clearance, and send it in at the beginning of the year - I started doing this for my own classroom someday just to be prepared!

I think it is great that you are doing anything at all for the teacher - I am sure that s/he will appreciate whatever you end up sending!

 

[C.Ann]

Just keep your eyes peeled for those sales that are starting now and RUN to the store the second you see them!!

I'm glad I don't have kids in school anymore.. Everything has gotten SO expensive and the teachers seem to want more and more "specialized" items for each of the classes..

 

[mommyto3]

My 2 youngest go to private...7th and 4th grade. I bought the prepackaged school supplies in May and will pick them up at registration....for both grades $50 .

Now for my oldest .....11th grade is more expensive. Last year it cost me $130 just for the calculator she needed. She will come home with the list the first week of school, which I hate because by then the selection has gotten pretty slim and I end up running from store to store trying to find stuff.

 

[grlpwrd]

Just keep your eyes peeled for those sales that are starting now and RUN to the store the second you see them!!

I'm glad I don't have kids in school anymore.. Everything has gotten SO expensive and the teachers seem to want more and more "specialized" items for each of the classes..

Well, it won't end soon for many of us because most will move onto college. Yes, that is where they really get us. lol ( I know because I am back in school. )

I have 3 kids in grade/middle/and high school now and I have 2 littler one's who I homeschool. I just do my best in finding sales and price match with WalMart.

Required school supplies really are a YMMV kind-of thing because it depends on your local BOE, taxes and what they cover, etc. I can't say I love what I have to spend on all of us, but I am pleased with our school system here. It's all an investment, too...

 

[daisyduck123]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

Ohh....you sound great...can your DD come to my 1st grade classroom?

Things I'd love in that basket:
lined Post-Its (large size)
retractable Sharpie markers (no caps on these..I'm always losing the caps!!)
white lunch bags
teacher stickers
washable markers & colored pencils (great for our Writing Center)
colored copy paper

BTW, they are a nice thought...but I don't know any 1st grade teachers that allow those hand-held pencil sharpeners in their rooms.
They are way too messy...the pencil shavings get all over the kids' clothes & their desks & it's impossible to clean them.

 

[kaw1218]

We have lists too, it gets more expensive every year.

To look on the bright side back in the day you didn't get your supply list until the first day of school. Now you can get the list early and look online in our district. Gives you time to search for deals and also to by a little at a time so you are not hit at once.

I just look at it as part of the back to school budget.

I won't get my kids list until the first day of school. Last year all the stores by us were sold out of alot of items like loose leaf and compostition books. I had to dig through return carts at Walmart to find my DD a specific pencil case.

 

[shortbun]

Well, I guess I'm in a minority here. I don't mind supplying whatever the schools ask for. We are in a large urban school district with very little money and I want my son to have tissues, hand gel, paper, pencils and whatever else. Yes, some families can not afford these items. I buy more than my share and often replenish things throughout the year. I spend this much on cable and internet for my home monthly. I'm glad to do it for the kids. I have a big pile of stuff already for the 1st week of school. I buy it when it's on sale.

 

[shortbun]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

Gallon zip locs are great for individual project, collections, things that get loose, photographs. Also, printer paper is a huge commodity. Schools always run out and teacher love to have their own stash.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I never minded buying the supplies that my kids used. Or even sending in the Lysol wipes, Kleenex or other "housekeeping" supplies that the teachers need for their classrooms. I figure that if it means choosing between financing the school supplies or the 4th grade band program, I'd rather see my taxes support the band and I'll buy the crayons and markers myself.

More recently, the Home & School Association has been doing a School Store in the fall. They buy the items on the teachers' lists in bulk and then resell to the parents on "Sneak-a-Peek" nights for a small profit. They then use the "profit" to pay for supplies for the less privileged kids in the school. We have a small number of kids from a women's shelter who attend our elementary schools. It helps a lot for them to have the same supplies that everyone else is carrying.

 

[Aliceacc]

Slight hijack, but teachers, I have a question for you. My DD is in first grade this year at a private school. I am making a basket to send in to her teacher, preferably soon as we go back in about 5.5 weeks. So far I have 30 folders, 25 boxes of Crayola 24 packs of crayons, packages of pencils, bottles of glue, pencil sharpeners and clorox wipes. What would you want to see in a basket full of school supplies? I am just trying to do this as a nice gesture for DD's teacher, and hopefully if there is something she cannot use, someone else in the school can. I've been stocking up at the sales but is there something that you, as a teacher, would really love to see parents send in??

For my daughter's 1st grade teacher last year, here's what I did: I went to www.vistaprint.com and ordered ONLY their freebies. (They change on a weekly basis... go to "specials" and see what's free.) I made up personalized stationary, post its, (return address labels "Miss S thinks this paper is COOL" with a picture of a snowman), free magnets for her to give the class and so on. You do pay for shipping and handling, but it's still a deal. Just DON'T order any of the popup offers after you place your order; some people have gotten weird charges and had problems there.

As a HS math teacher, all I require of my kids is a $12 calculator (for Juniors and Seniors), something to write on, something to write with, and a folder. The individual choices are up to them

For my own kids, I've been hitting the Walmart/Target/Staples sales and stocking up on whatever is on sale. I have quite a bin full and it grows by the week.

 

[kathi29]

I have no problem buying the supplies for my child. My problem is that they are pooling the supplies. I bought crayola stuff for my DD because that is what the teacher asked for but if half of the other parents bought supplies from the $ store my DD is probably going to get stuck using those. I understand that they are little and they may loose stuff but having their own supplies will also help teach them to be responsible for their own stuff. I couldn't get the stupid Dora glue sticks because my DD won't get to use them anyways.

Yes I know I could take it up with the teacher but I don't want to start the year fighting with the teacher.

ITA. Some of the teachers at DDs school collected all the supplies that were brought in, then handed them out randomly. Fortunately it wasn't her teacher, or I would have had a fit. Like you I don't want to start out the year fighting with the teacher, but if I buy my kid specific folders, I expect her to be able to use those folders.

This year the "basic" list (from the school, we will get a "specific" list from her teacher if she needs anything else... calls for 5 plain folders, some pens, paper and erasers. I'm not too worried about that stuff being pooled, and if I need to I will buy her more sturdy folders after I see what she ends up with. But I will put her name on the composition books, because she picked out the color covers she wanted and as far as I am concerned she owns them so nobody has the right to take them away.