specific school supplies frustration

[Jedana]

My niece goes to a PUBLIC school where they have to carry CLEAR backpacks.

They rip constantly and my sister gets so angry

Last year, DD's high school required clear or mesh backpacks. We went Mesh...it's still in great shape, and she uses to haul stuff back and forth from the pool.

 

[MidgeD79]

WoW! I am the OP and I never imagined this much of a response. I still have 2 kids at home (1 elementary/1 middle school) and they have never had any list of school supplies mailed to them. At the open house before school starts, the elementary school teachers haven't requested anything and the middle school teachers each have a very generic list of items for their class. Not one teacher has ever asked for specific brands. In Monroe County ( where we live) we have huge school supply drives and they have been very successful. The public would not be happy to be told what type of items to buy or find out that their donations wouldn't be used. As far as backpacks, no student in the entire county in both middle/high school are allowed to carry backpacks inbetween classes. The backpacks go into their lockers upon arrival and come out at dismissal.

 

[Jedana]

DS's list for this year:

2 12packs pencils (#2 sharpened)
2 3 hole zippered pencil pouch
2 16 or 24 count box crayons (no brand)
4 glue sticks
1 1" white Clearview 3 ring binder
2 black and white composition books
1 pkg wide line loose leaf paper
1 pkg assorted plastic binders
1 pkg 4 count dry erase markers
1 pkg clear 3 ring binder page protectors

Wish list
1 box Ziploc baggies (gallon)
Index cards
hand sanitizer
kleenex
Copy paper
Paper plates
individually wrapped candy
disinfecting wipes
band-aids
pencil cap erasers

NO TRAPPER KEEPERS/3 RING BINDERS UNLESS SPECIFIED; NO ROLLING BACKPACKS

I have to get all the binders, page protectors (I may have some somewhere), and dry erase markers (I thought it was Sharpies when I was at the store, and those were on sale B1G1 for the big containers, so I bought them--oops).

I bought huge packages of kleenex, disinfecting wipes and ziplocs at BJs to send. I get 2 bottles of hand santizer A MONTH from DH's clinic visits, so those get sent in as well. (I'm allergic to their santizer, but it's part of his supplies and they have to give it to him. Might as well send it somewhere useful).

I'm meh about the candy, but the teacher said she uses it for a good behavior reward on Fridays only, or if everyone in the class passes their tests or things like that. I'll go pick some up right before school starts (so I'm not tempted, lol ).

Band-aids are because they don't have a school nurse (budget cuts) and the teacher can hand out band-aids as needed. We'll send in a box of those, plus a box of alcohol wipes and a box of iodine pads. We purchase the band-aids, but the alcohol/iodine comes from Dh's clinic again--he gets 3 boxes of each a month, and we use 1-1/2 or so each month. We restock the Cub Scout troops First Aid kit every 6 months, plus our own personal kit (which is better than the troops!)--the only expenses to the troop are for Moleskin, ace bandages or instant heat/ice packs.

We're trying to get DH's company to donate a couple of reams of copy paper to the class, and then a ream to DS's scout troop.

 

[Jedana]

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.

DD's high school requires all fees be paid for incoming 10/11/12 prior to registration, or they can't complete their registration and get their school id. If the parents make arrangements, then they can register, but their id is a different color than everyone else's and they can't go to any activities, like homecoming or football games.

For the seniors, if their fees are not paid by the end of April, they get a letter sent home saying they cannot walk at graduation. All fees have to be paid within two weeks of the letter (by mid-May); once the deadline comes, they don't walk. Even if they pay the day after deadline. Good for them.

 

[aprilgail2]

WoW! I am the OP and I never imagined this much of a response. I still have 2 kids at home (1 elementary/1 middle school) and they have never had any list of school supplies mailed to them. At the open house before school starts, the elementary school teachers haven't requested anything and the middle school teachers each have a very generic list of items for their class. Not one teacher has ever asked for specific brands. In Monroe County ( where we live) we have huge school supply drives and they have been very successful. The public would not be happy to be told what type of items to buy or find out that their donations wouldn't be used. As far as backpacks, no student in the entire county in both middle/high school are allowed to carry backpacks inbetween classes. The backpacks go into their lockers upon arrival and come out at dismissal.

Things are so different in places LOL...we get our lists mailed home and posted on the school website as soon as school is over. There is no open house before school starts- the teachers, by contract, only have to come in the day before school starts for a staff meeting-they don't come in early for open houses.
In grade school the backpacks go in the closet after they empty the stuff into their desks each morning but in middle and high school most kids don't bother using a locker- they just carry their backpacks with everything in it all day long to classes.

 

[Jedana]

Yup

I was room mom last year in DD's 4th grade class and we were not even allowed to ask parents for anything! No collections for parties or teacher gifts, nothing. I would love to be able to ask other parents for help in the room, but the school won't allow it due to some kids' parents not being able to afford to send items or money in.....

This past year, for my DS (1st grade) we had the following requests from the room mom:
Sept--requests for snacks and drinks to be sent in throughout the year
Oct--candy, orange/black crepe paper, paper plates/cups
Nov--for the 1st, potluck lunch, Mexican themed (DH had his first posole; DS was in the Spanish immersion class, the class was split 9 native Spanish speakers, 9 native English speakers, and there was a lot of authentic cuisine, not the taco bar food. I know I can't make things the way the moms in his class can, who have been cooking that way for years, so I wussed out and brought a cheese/cracker tray and a veggie tray)
Dec--$$ for presents for the teacher, Class white elephant gift ($20 limit), holiday cards (to make for everyone), holiday decorations, holiday music, holiday movies/books, craft stuff
Jan--nothing
Feb--V day decorations, V day cards, food for a Vday party
Mar--Easter eggs filled w/candy, easter decorations, craft stuff
Apr--things for field day (ribbons, prizes, etc)
May--Teacher appreciation week:
++++ Monday: a flower (real, not fake); also $10-20 to get a gift card for the teacher (this teacher was horrible, and still ended up with $240 from 18 kids. I sent in $10)
+++++ Tuesday: a shape (they made a college from them, and had the kids write on their shapes what they liked best about their teacher)
++++ Wed: hershey's kisses (to refill her candy jars)
++++ Thurs: a card w/something nice in it about the teacher
++++ Fri: teacher appreciation lunch. We were asked to donate something specific, dependent on the teacher--for example, DS was asked to bring in vanilla pudding mixes, cool whips, instant vanilla cappuccino packets, instant hot chocolate packets, stone ground wheat crackers, cracked pepper crackers, hard cheese slices. Some classes had asparagus and crab legs, so I guess we got off lightly!

Not including the various requests for kleenex, sanitizer, wipes, etc.

 

[luvsJack]

I have never seen a pack of 12 pencils for $14.95 anywhere - and I love to browse around in office supply stores.. Where did you find those?

I'm still coloring at the age of 61.. Don't waste your money on junk crayons - you'll have to replace them and the coloring is awful.. Crayola crayons will be going on sale for next to nothing any minute now.. They always do this time of year..

Adult DD is terrified of what her DD's "list" is going to cost for the 8th grade this year.. She already knows that the special calculator is well over $75 - and that's just one thing! They may have to take out a 2nd mortgage on the house - LOL..

Oh, yeah, th $62 I mentioned before also did not include the graphing calculator. The cheapest I have found is $82. They have enough $200 calculators in the classroom for each student to use and any work that requires one is supposed to done in the classroom. I am going to wait and see how it goes before buying one.

ETA: Just found one on target.com for $50!!

 

[golfgal]

Oh, yeah, th $62 I mentioned before also did not include the graphing calculator. The cheapest I have found is $82. They have enough $200 calculators in the classroom for each student to use and any work that requires one is supposed to done in the classroom. I am going to wait and see how it goes before buying one.

ETA: Just found one on target.com for $50!!

Did the school give a recommendation of which graphing calculator they want? You might want to wait on that just to be sure. Any of them will work but many math books are written with tutorials for certain calculators and it is just easier to use those ones. Also, make sure your calculator is ACT/SAT sanctioned or they won't be able to use it on those tests-and that is VERY important.

 

[luvmy3]

DS's list for this year:

2 12packs pencils (#2 sharpened)
2 3 hole zippered pencil pouch
2 16 or 24 count box crayons (no brand)
4 glue sticks
1 1" white Clearview 3 ring binder
2 black and white composition books
1 pkg wide line loose leaf paper
1 pkg assorted plastic binders
1 pkg 4 count dry erase markers
1 pkg clear 3 ring binder page protectors

Wish list
1 box Ziploc baggies (gallon)
Index cards
hand sanitizer
kleenex
Copy paper
Paper plates
individually wrapped candy
disinfecting wipes
band-aids
pencil cap erasers

NO TRAPPER KEEPERS/3 RING BINDERS UNLESS SPECIFIED; NO ROLLING BACKPACKS

I have to get all the binders, page protectors (I may have some somewhere), and dry erase markers (I thought it was Sharpies when I was at the store, and those were on sale B1G1 for the big containers, so I bought them--oops).

I bought huge packages of kleenex, disinfecting wipes and ziplocs at BJs to send. I get 2 bottles of hand santizer A MONTH from DH's clinic visits, so those get sent in as well. (I'm allergic to their santizer, but it's part of his supplies and they have to give it to him. Might as well send it somewhere useful).

I'm meh about the candy, but the teacher said she uses it for a good behavior reward on Fridays only, or if everyone in the class passes their tests or things like that. I'll go pick some up right before school starts (so I'm not tempted, lol ).

See, this kind of stuff on a supply list bothers me. If the teacher wants to give a reward to her students for their good behavior, or passing a test, then she should be the one to supply that reward. I know its just candy and less than $5 but its the whole principle of it, its not a necessity, so it shouldn't be asked to be supplied by the parents.

 

[luvsJack]

Did the school give a recommendation of which graphing calculator they want? You might want to wait on that just to be sure. Any of them will work but many math books are written with tutorials for certain calculators and it is just easier to use those ones. Also, make sure your calculator is ACT/SAT sanctioned or they won't be able to use it on those tests-and that is VERY important.

No they just said "graphing calculator". May have to do with their not being able to say they prefer the more expensive ones. The one I looked at is ACT/SAT approved.

I know both my sons had to have very exact ones in high school (and they were far from cheap) and they used them through high school and into college. Not sure I am ready to make that investment in 8th grade though!

We meet the teachers on Tuesday, I will ask the math teacher then.

 

[punkin]

No they just said "graphing calculator". May have to do with their not being able to say they prefer the more expensive ones. The one I looked at is ACT/SAT approved.

I know both my sons had to have very exact ones in high school (and they were far from cheap) and they used them through high school and into college. Not sure I am ready to make that investment in 8th grade though!

We meet the teachers on Tuesday, I will ask the math teacher then.

DD18 (going into second year college) is still using the one I got her for Algebra in 8th grade. Granted, I did not pay for it (thank you Grandpa), but considering she's used it for 6 years and it is still going strong, I think it's worth the money. I bought DD12 the same one last year. Yes, it was expensive, but I am hoping to get as much use out of it as her sister had.

 

[monsterkitty]

If your SIL was mentally ill why wasn't there some sort of court order in place that prevented the school from releasing the kids to her?? Every year we have to sign something that states both parents can pick up their children unless a custody order dictates otherwise. That could have prevented the situation as well.

Schools "cannot publish" names without consent of the parents. Only they do. I signed a form that stated I didn't want my children's names listed on any sort of online source. I am fine with pictures and names being in the yearbook but NOT the school website. That was fine until they reached the age where they were eligible for the honor roll. They both made it, their names were put in the school newsletter (fine), and then that newsletter was posted online (NOT FINE). And there is no way now to get rid of that. My kids now come up on a google search. To say I am ticked would be an understatement.

There was a court order that the school had a copy of. They ignored it. Just like they ignored my BIL's request that the childrens' pictures and names not be published online or in the school newsletter because he was afraid the information would fall into his ex-wife's hands. It did and she took the children.

Once again, this was a private school, not a public school. The school secretary stated that the privacy laws did not apply to them. I guess she didn't think the court order did, either.

 

[golfgal]

No they just said "graphing calculator". May have to do with their not being able to say they prefer the more expensive ones. The one I looked at is ACT/SAT approved.

I know both my sons had to have very exact ones in high school (and they were far from cheap) and they used them through high school and into college. Not sure I am ready to make that investment in 8th grade though!

We meet the teachers on Tuesday, I will ask the math teacher then.

Our kids' math books actually use one of the older models so they were "only" about $79 --times 3 kids . They do get good use out of them though.

 

[azdizzymom]

I have hopped in and out of this thread for the past few days. I think everyone needs to stop and remember that most schools and school districts are cutting budgets. In Indiana where I am the governor sold the toll road...privatized it. Great...money for schools. NOPE that budget gets cut more and more per year....money goes to ROADS...actually a bypass around a bypass to save drivers (I believe) less than 10 minutes. CRAZY.

I sub in our district elementary. One teacher told me she budgets and extra $40 of her OWN money to buy supplies for her class monthly. I am sorry no teacher should have to do this.

Sports programs are being cut, art is being cut, physical education is being cut, students are asked to pay for riding the bus, etc. and here people complain about the school supplies they have to buy.

I can't tell how much I spent on school parties because people refused to send stuff in---it was ALWAYS the same parents supplying the stuff. Some people look with blinders on and think that the school and teachers or others should supply the stuff.

I do understand where people get upset when asked for specific brand names, other people don't supply, the supplies are pooled and their kid gets off brand (Rose Art vs. Crayola, etc). I saw someone mention they bought an extra name brand for their child.

We all need to remember that budgets are cuts, teachers ask for the sanitizer, etc. for a reason. Why should they have to out of pocket pay for it. There is a reason for specific brands...the cheapie pencils are a pain in the butt, the cheapie crayons are a mess, the cheapie glue takes so much extra and the kids make messes when having to use more, etc.

I honestly don't enjoy sending in the stuff (we are high school now) but we still have to do Kleenex. I send in the boxes. Even in elementary my kids didn't use Kleenex and so many just wipe corner of nose and throw away....just to get out of seat.

Remember that schools and teachers are being cut and budgets cut.

 

[spacemountainmom]

DD's high school requires all fees be paid for incoming 10/11/12 prior to registration, or they can't complete their registration and get their school id. If the parents make arrangements, then they can register, but their id is a different color than everyone else's and they can't go to any activities, like homecoming or football games.

For the seniors, if their fees are not paid by the end of April, they get a letter sent home saying they cannot walk at graduation. All fees have to be paid within two weeks of the letter (by mid-May); once the deadline comes, they don't walk. Even if they pay the day after deadline. Good for them.

I wish! We sent out a huge stack of letters to parents at the end of the year looking for payment for lost or damaged textbooks, library books, flash drives, sport uniforms and will get very little money. The only area where they really hold people accountable is in the lunch room. They cut off students with negative balances with two weeks left in the school year. No money - no lunch.

I believe at the high school they won't let students walk at graduation if fees are not paid up. My understanding is that the outstanding fees from middle school do not follow them.

It is really frustrating in light of all the budgetary issues that people won't own up and pay for items that their child lost or damaged.

 

[luvmy3]

I have hopped in and out of this thread for the past few days. I think everyone needs to stop and remember that most schools and school districts are cutting budgets. In Indiana where I am the governor sold the toll road...privatized it. Great...money for schools. NOPE that budget gets cut more and more per year....money goes to ROADS...actually a bypass around a bypass to save drivers (I believe) less than 10 minutes. CRAZY.

I sub in our district elementary. One teacher told me she budgets and extra $40 of her OWN money to buy supplies for her class monthly. I am sorry no teacher should have to do this.

Sports programs are being cut, art is being cut, physical education is being cut, students are asked to pay for riding the bus, etc. and here people complain about the school supplies they have to buy.

I can't tell how much I spent on school parties because people refused to send stuff in---it was ALWAYS the same parents supplying the stuff. Some people look with blinders on and think that the school and teachers or others should supply the stuff.

I do understand where people get upset when asked for specific brand names, other people don't supply, the supplies are pooled and their kid gets off brand (Rose Art vs. Crayola, etc). I saw someone mention they bought an extra name brand for their child.

We all need to remember that budgets are cuts, teachers ask for the sanitizer, etc. for a reason. Why should they have to out of pocket pay for it. There is a reason for specific brands...the cheapie pencils are a pain in the butt, the cheapie crayons are a mess, the cheapie glue takes so much extra and the kids make messes when having to use more, etc.

I honestly don't enjoy sending in the stuff (we are high school now) but we still have to do Kleenex. I send in the boxes. Even in elementary my kids didn't use Kleenex and so many just wipe corner of nose and throw away....just to get out of seat.

Remember that schools and teachers are being cut and budgets cut.

Remember that household budgets are being cut too, and in part due to rising school taxes.

 

[krcit]

Remember that household budgets are being cut too, and in part due to rising school taxes.

 

[MM27]

See, this kind of stuff on a supply list bothers me. If the teacher wants to give a reward to her students for their good behavior, or passing a test, then she should be the one to supply that reward. I know its just candy and less than $5 but its the whole principle of it, its not a necessity, so it shouldn't be asked to be supplied by the parents.

But the candy is listed under Wish List, meaning it's something the teacher would appreciate, but doesn't necessarily expect people to send in. This year I had about 5 kids that brought in bags of Halloween candy to put in my candy jar. Some said their parents bought too much and didn't have a lot of people come to their doors and one girl brought her trick or treat bag with a note from her mom that said she didn't want all the candy in the house. I didn't ask for it, but it was certainly nice to add all of that to my candy jar. My students appreciated the fact that there was candy in there that I don't normally buy, like chocolate.

 

[punkin]

I am against candy as a reward, but around here it seems all the teachers use it.

 

[luvmy3]

But the candy is listed under Wish List, meaning it's something the teacher would appreciate, but doesn't necessarily expect people to send in. This year I had about 5 kids that brought in bags of Halloween candy to put in my candy jar. Some said their parents bought too much and didn't have a lot of people come to their doors and one girl brought her trick or treat bag with a note from her mom that said she didn't want all the candy in the house. I didn't ask for it, but it was certainly nice to add all of that to my candy jar. My students appreciated the fact that there was candy in there that I don't normally buy, like chocolate.

I realize it wasn't required, but by putting it on a wish list, the teacher is still asking for parents to supply it. If that is a reward system she is choosing to use in her classroom, then she should be the one to supply it and not wish for parents to.
Of course I don't believe students should be rewarded in class every week for behaving and doing well on tests. That behavior should be expected in school, its shouldn't be "an accomplishment" that gets rewarded IMO.