specific school supplies frustration

[Pigeon]

For example, do kids honestly need crayons, markers AND colored pencils in order to function in class? I really don't believe so. Do they really need tri-fold foam-centered presentation boards to do a simple report? Do they really need comp books in elementary and middle school, when a simple spiral would function just as well for journal time?

Everything needs to be turned into a big freaking arts and crafts project these days. Dh is a high school teacher and he gets pressured to give the kids completely idiotic arts and crafts assignments masquerading as earth science. My kid had to do a book report last year that had to be presented as an arts and crafts "sandwich," with the plot being written on fake bread, the setting on fake lettuce, etc. Endless $$$ trips to Michaels on my part.

While these were waste of time homework projects, a similar thing goes on in the classroom. Thus the constantly expanding supply lists.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

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

My school taxes this past year were just under $7,000.