specific school supplies frustration

[Conservative Hippie]

I didn't miss the point and the $.56 you spend on the book covers certainly don't make them "fancy". In fact, they last for years so they are a good investment really. They also deter kids from writing on the books, which can seep through. I don't see an issue what so ever with a school having that policy. Paper covers get ripped and not replaced all the time. Again, no one has offered an alternate suggestion as to HOW to get the families to comply with getting their book cover in accordance to the policy at that school.

Have the teacher slap on the book cover of her choice and send a bill home with the student.

 

[luvsJack]

Our school's rule has always been--cover the book with something that doesn't harm the book. period. No specifications. The consequence for NOT covering the book? Well, if something happens to the book and damages it, Mom pays for said book. I really don't know why it would need to go any further than that?

No real reason for such extremes. How often does something really happen to the books anyway?

 

[golfgal]

Our school's rule has always been--cover the book with something that doesn't harm the book. period. No specifications. The consequence for NOT covering the book? Well, if something happens to the book and damages it, Mom pays for said book. I really don't know why it would need to go any further than that?

No real reason for such extremes. How often does something really happen to the books anyway?

All the time. When DS19 graduated last year, they sent home a list of all the outstanding fees owed to the school district for all the kids graduating. There were many, MANY kids on that list that had $100/s of dollars from damaged/lost books, etc.-going back to elementary school for some of them. One kid "lost" a video camera to the tune of $1000 too Stop by your local school some day and look at the books...

 

[luvsJack]

All the time. When DS19 graduated last year, they sent home a list of all the outstanding fees owed to the school district for all the kids graduating. There were many, MANY kids on that list that had $100/s of dollars from damaged/lost books, etc.-going back to elementary school for some of them. One kid "lost" a video camera to the tune of $1000 too Stop by your local school some day and look at the books...

They sent home a list with all the kids names and how much they owed?!!?? Oh, wow, talk about major no no!!

Our high school may have more of a problem but the elementary and middle school don't have that big of a problem with damaged books.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

They sent home a list with all the kids names and how much they owed?!!?? Oh, wow, talk about major no no!!

My thoughts exactly. I've never heard of such a thing. Yikes.

 

[golfgal]

They sent home a list with all the kids names and how much they owed?!!?? Oh, wow, talk about major no no!!

Our high school may have more of a problem but the elementary and middle school don't have that big of a problem with damaged books.

Yep, peer pressure is awesome...They publish names in newspapers for kids in sports, various academic accomplishments, send emails with kids' names recognizing them for various things, we got address and phone books up until high school. It's nice to be in a district that isn't so over the top with crap .

 

[Michelle67]

Our school's rule has always been--cover the book with something that doesn't harm the book. period. No specifications. The consequence for NOT covering the book? Well, if something happens to the book and damages it, Mom pays for said book. I really don't know why it would need to go any further than that?

No real reason for such extremes. How often does something really happen to the books anyway?

Exactly. This is how it was done when I was in school. We were told to cover our books, and if the books got damaged our parents had to pay for them. Once again, somehow we managed to cover and protect our books back in the day before stores sold pre-fab book covers.

 

[book_junkie]

B: Here are some more appropriate compliance plans to get the books protected, which is the only goal you've stated that you are trying to accomplish:

3. Call the offending parents and say "Hello Mrs. Soandso, I know it's a busy time of year, but we noticed that little Billy doesn't have his books covered. Can you please make sure to do that by tomorrow?"

Trust me, half the time, you're getting either a. a voice machine, not a person and no one will ever get/ acknowledge the message, b. a non-working number, c. they don't get the message until 9-10 p.m. at night and then the scenario doesn't work, or d. someone who really doesn't care.

You're lucky that you're getting your own book- around here a lot of the times they're sharing the book, and it stays in the classroom. Then again, we're also fighting the "good" fight against evolution in science class down here as well....

 

[spacemountainmom]

I work at a middle school and YES there are many books that get damaged and many parents who don't pay for them. We are not allowed to hold back anything due to outstanding fees. We call, email and send notes to parents and usually don't get dime one. I'd like to see them hold yearbooks, report cards....whatever it takes to get the money. However, the principal does not allow it.

Our school does not allow the fabric book covers, they must be of the paper bag variety. I make dh help the kids - I just cannot do a decent book cover. I wish they'd just do it at school. I'll even donate rolls of brown paper as long I as don't have to be involved!!!

I don't know who was looking earlier, but I did see the spiral bound note cards at Wal-Mart today. I didn't catch the price, but they were there.

 

[TwinsinCA]

regarding the book cover....

I actually have no problem with a kid missing recess for something like that ASSUMING they are given enough time to comply. One day isn't enough time IMO, but a week is reasonable.

 

[luvsJack]

Yep, peer pressure is awesome...They publish names in newspapers for kids in sports, various academic accomplishments, send emails with kids' names recognizing them for various things, we got address and phone books up until high school. It's nice to be in a district that isn't so over the top with crap .

sure they do--all of that is POSITIVE. There is a huge difference in publishing a kid's name for hitting a home run and sending his name home on a list of those who owe money AND how much! And addresses and phone numbers are in the phone book. You can bet that if one parent requested that their name and/or phone number not be given out--it wasn't. Privacy has to be respected.

Also, I didn't know that the privacy laws only pertain to certain districts. That would be no different than our college sending home a list of students who owe tuition. Not over the top, just respecting the privacy laws.

If they want specific book covers (and for the life of me, I can't get why, the paper bag variety are much better protection than the cloth ones), they should have them for sale at the school.

 

[punkin]

I would love to use fabric book covers but DD's middle school doesn't allow them....Only paper.

Luckily I didn't have this problem last year since they no longer even have books. Everything is online. I hate that too. DD12 seems to learn better out of a book.

 

[DopeyDame]

Again, no one has offered an alternate suggestion as to HOW to get the families to comply with getting their book cover in accordance to the policy at that school.

I gave you not 1, but 4 possible suggestions, and those were just off the top of my head. I would hope a trained educator could come up with something a lot more effective than I can.

How does missing recess address the problem? In the scenario I gave you, the book still isn't covered and now you have an antsy, miserable, angry kid in class! It does absolutely nothing to ensure compliance. Hardly a way to start off a productive school year.

ETA: When does the missing of recess stop? After two weeks, if the book still isn't covered, does he still miss recess? A month? The whole year?

 

[golfgal]

sure they do--all of that is POSITIVE. There is a huge difference in publishing a kid's name for hitting a home run and sending his name home on a list of those who owe money AND how much! And addresses and phone numbers are in the phone book. You can bet that if one parent requested that their name and/or phone number not be given out--it wasn't. Privacy has to be respected.

Also, I didn't know that the privacy laws only pertain to certain districts. That would be no different than our college sending home a list of students who owe tuition. Not over the top, just respecting the privacy laws.

If they want specific book covers (and for the life of me, I can't get why, the paper bag variety are much better protection than the cloth ones), they should have them for sale at the school.

I think if you looked up the privacy laws you would find that they don't cover everything you think they do too...

 

[DopeyDame]

Trust me, half the time, you're getting either a. a voice machine, not a person and no one will ever get/ acknowledge the message, b. a non-working number, c. they don't get the message until 9-10 p.m. at night and then the scenario doesn't work, or d. someone who really doesn't care.

You're lucky that you're getting your own book- around here a lot of the times they're sharing the book, and it stays in the classroom. Then again, we're also fighting the "good" fight against evolution in science class down here as well....

I completely sympathize with that problem. But with those parents, I doubt having the kid miss recess will get the book covered either.

 

[tlbwriter]

I gave you not 1, but 4 possible suggestions, and those were just off the top of my head. I would hope a trained educator could come up with something a lot more effective than I can.

Yeah, I notice my suggestions didn't count either.

How does missing recess address the problem? In the scenario I gave you, the book still isn't covered and now you have an antsy, miserable, angry kid in class! It does absolutely nothing to ensure compliance. Hardly a way to start off a productive school year.

Perhaps it would be more productive to publish the names of those non-book-covering scoundrels in the local paper.

 

[luvsJack]

I think if you looked up the privacy laws you would find that they don't cover everything you think they do too...

well, I work for a college and I know exactly what information can and cannot be given out; considering I am the one of the people that has to see to it that the wrong info isn't given out. My former supervisor in the business office attended several conferences that covered this kind of stuff and yes the amount of someone's account is information that you do not give out.

Most schools send home some type of alert to the amount a student/parent owes but not on a list with everyone's names and the amounts. For one thing, if they make a mistake (which is common) it can cause undue embarrassment and THAT can cause some serious issues. I mean seriously, a school is not supposed to even confirm or deny to anyone other than the parents and/or other school personnel without signed parental permission that a child is a student much less that they owe money.

BTW, I think it is very unfair to take away a recess for something like a book cover. They should either provide the cloth ones or have paper ones. There used to be boxes and boxes of FREE book covers every year to cover books, huge rolls of the paper that paper bags are made from is very cheap. I have also used butcher paper--very durabel and lots of fun to decorate.



EDITED TO ADD: Just got back from school supply shopping and spent $62 on just dd!!!!! And that didn't include a few things like hand sanitizer that she always has on hand from B&BWorks, kleenex, and white board markers or a back pack(using the one from last year)!!

 

[herdtoDisney]

Anyone still looking for USA made pencils? I just got them at Walmart, USA Gold brand, latex free eraser also-$1.44 for a 10 pk.

 

[luvmy3]

I don't think anyone has an issue with a policy, so much as they have an issue with what seems like a draconian punishment for the student in response to a minor infraction on the part of the parent.

I never said it wouldn't work, the point is, the policy at that school is to have fabric book covers-what do you propose be done for those that don't have them??

Actually, its not a school policy, it was decided by the teacher for her class.


ETA Kindle special order owners, there is a save $15 on $30 worth of school supplies coming up

 

[Pigeon]

Again-what would your suggestion be to ensure compliance???

The only reasonable response to this heinous crime would be the firing squad. Otherwise, there is just no deterrence, and you'll get other 7 year olds with uncovered books. Society as we know it will come to an end.