School Supplies Overload

[VintageJess]

I would love to hear your input on a recent experience I had. I went to my local SuperGinormous Store to pick up a few items, including some new pencils and computer paper. Wowzers--I went down the school/office supplies aisle and it was a feeding frenzy! Kids and parents everywhere, and most frantically scanning lists (two and three pages long!!) provided by their school detailing the necessary supplies for the year. They get so much stuff, they have to have rolling backpacks (think of a rolling carry-on for air travel) to carry it all!

Now, I am only in my late 20s, but I distinctly remember showing up at the first day of school each year with a pretty empty backpack, save for a few writing utensils and a notebook or two. Back then, I can recall that most everything else (crayons, glue, scissors, books, etc.) was provided. So what is going on? Are school budgets so bad or schools so overcrowded that it is necessary for each child to provide enough supplies to outfit a business office? Or has this just become another racket to soak money out of parents? I know we have some teachers and lots of parents on here, so hoping you might fill me in. (My little one is not yet two, so I have yet to encounter this. Please don't tell me that this goes on in pre-school too!)

Jessica

 

[Lady Day]

I think its a trend of the shopping season. If parents see enough comercials then they MUST think kids need all that crap. Also schools just cant buy anything anymore so out go the lists of endless supplies.

My mother was a teacher for over 25 years, and there was not a time when she didnt have to buy her own school supplies.

I think its disgusting that teachers have to do this. What is even more upsetting is that now parents have to pick up the slack. This goes beyond Mindy Sue saying she needs this super cute Trapper Keeper so she can outshine Mindy Joe, its "We need computers, and graphing calculators, and softwate and etc."

A lot of public schools dont have the budget for the expensive supplies anymore, so parents have to shell it all out, not to mention lunch as well. :rage:


LD

 

[Zach R.]

My brother and myself have found out from experience that we didn't need any of that crap at all.

Its ridiculous the things they put on his school supply list(he is in 7th grade this year), some of which were not intended for him to use anyway(they put things like hand soap, tissues, and paper towels for the class on there).

I found out long ago to disregard anything on those lists. Throughout my HS career, I ended up bringing less and less every day.

 

[scotrace]

Mine are 9 & 13. Two pages each, rolling backpack required to tote it all.

 

[DancingSweetie]

My kids go to parochial school, and no school supplies are provided, not even kleenex and paper towels. I got a list for my 4th grader 2 pages long, and it has always been like this. Now when I was in school, and I went to parochial school as well, the school provided most of the supplies, but that was back in the 70's and 80's. Luckily my oldest is starting public high school this year and we haven't received a list yet, but maybe they wait until the first day of school.

 

[Feraud]

(My little one is not yet two, so I have yet to encounter this. Please don't tell me that this goes on in pre-school too!)

Jessica

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but....
When my son was in the Montessori program we supplied kleenex, snacks, etc. It seems a burden but if everyone does their part things work out fine.
My son is going into the 7th grade at a parochial school. His supplies are provided with the exception of book covers.
Maybe it gets easier as the children grow older? [huh]

 

[LizzieMaine]

My nieces get the same types of lists, although they seemed to be longer when they were in grammar school compared to what they're expected to bring in for middle/high school.

When I was a reporter covering local school board meetings in the late 80s/early 90s, there was a lot of cutting budgets at the classroom level -- to the point where a lot of teachers were making up for the cuts by bringing in classroom supplies bought out of their own pockets, and there was a lot of resentment on their part about the school boards just assuming the teachers would -- and could -- be willing to pick up the slack at their own expense. As it turns out, the parents who complain now about having to supply all the stuff that used to be issued by the district are the same people who always vote down the budget at the polls. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

Back in my own school days, I never brought anything more than a novelty pencil box from Woolworths, a pack of Ticonderogas, a pinkie eraser, and a blue canvas ring-binder. Everything else was issued by the district. I never even had a backpack -- I don't remember any of the kids I knew having them. I brought my stuff to school in a little tote bag made out of an old pillowcase and was thought to be quite revolutionary for having thought of this...

 

[Willi_Goat]

When my children were younger, the teachers would send home sign up sheets for soap, hand sanitizer and the like. That on top of whatever personal supplies they needed.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

As i recall, i had to provide pencils, pens and erasers. All textbooks, notebooks, etc. etc. was provided. We had to purchase the school uniform ... ahhh polyester trousers and polyester sweater. Those were the days! And any sports uniforms if one managed to make the team.

Schools don't supply soap???

bk

 

[funneman]

We have four kids in the public school system here in South Florida.

Part of the reason for the long list of supplies is that due to budget cuts, school boards are supplying less and less to the schools themselves. If our teachers don't get if from the school board, they have to pay for it out of their own pockets.

My wife and I both have made countless emergency runs to the office supply stores for tape, batteries and all sorts of things the teacher needed but was not supplied with.

Meanwhile, we see our school board members flying "first class" on business trips and taking "fact-finding missions" to exotic places like Europe and the Caribbean.

Shame.

 

[Andykev]

Way back in my day it was provided, in the 60's

Today, the teachers often have to buy out of their own salary classroom supplies. DUH?:eusa_doh:

What gives? Every year another bond issue, every year begging for donations, teachers strike last year which went on for months, yet the LOTTO and the TAXES for schools are the biggest ever!

The school buildings are shopworn, peeling paint, not updated since built. Staff cutbacks, no maintenance personnel.

Where is the money going? Administrators!:rage:

 

[Lancealot]

I have 3 younger girls rangeing 6-8 and it drives me crazy the list of material they have to have for school. I just don't understand it. When I was in school everything was provided. Has Lady Day said I don't understand them having to pay for lunch either. Our supposed school lottery is through the roof and taxes keep going up but the schools have less and less supplies. I agree it has to going to the Admin because it sure isn't going to the kids.

Didn't mean to get on my soapbox but this is something that just drives me crazy.

 

[Rosie]

Teacher here

We don't like to give out those lists but sadly, it's a reality. Usually every year, I buy needed supplies for my classroom. Some parents chip in, the ones that can afford to but for the most part, it's me. In the beginning of the year this is what my school gives me

ONE box of chalk
FOUR markers
TWO classroom size tablets, one big, one small, that's it.

I buy markers, crayons, construction paper, writing paper, looseleaf, glue, glitter, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpener, staples, copy paper (two cases, 30 packs, throughout the year), four cases of classroom size
tablets, decorations and posters for my classroom (according to the No Child Left Behind Act, each classroom must be decorated in a manner that is conducive to learning), additional library books as every summer more than a few grow feet, books which contain additional lessons, and homework sheets as well as workbooks, additional learning aids such as counters, and manipulatives which also grow feet, chalk, board erasers, lesson planning books, role book, grade book, stickers, note pads and extra pads to send notes home to parents. Tissue, hand sanitizer, napkins, cleaning supplies, broom, swiffer refills and bulletin board things which always are ruined by the end of the year. Then there are school plays, where I always have to buy fabric for costumes, which I make, school trips where there is ALWAYS some uncovered cost at the last minute, there are little parties thorughout the year and, little treats all teachers give their kids. Remember, this is for 34-36 children thoroughout the year. I'm sure I'm forgetting some tings but, you get the picture.

My school district reimburses teachers up to 200 dollars with receipts and I can claim I think up to about 500 on my taxes but last year, I believe I spent about 1700 or so. In addition to all of this, I have to renew my licence yearly
which after paying for city and state, puts me to about 250 a year plus whatever tests the district makes up and feels I have to pass to prove what a good teacher I am.

A friend of mine is a Speech Pathologist working in public schools and she has it far worse than me. Because of budget cuts, few schools have a full time Speech therapist on staff anymore so she spends her time driving from school to school rushing to see students and not being reimbursed for gas. Also, she does different activities with students and has to buy district approved aides (toys, dolls, games) to use with the students. One month, she spent about 1,000 dollars on aides and two months later, she was moved to different schools servicing different aged children, she had to buy all new things because what she had was no longer age appropriate.

It's sad but if if you need it you just buy it. Last year, when Staples saw that I was having paper and supplies delivered to a school, they gave me a free case of copy paper. Also, Pearl Paint gave me a tiny box of art supplies. The local McDonalds is owned by a man who attended my school as a child and so he donates things every year but, with over 35 classrooms, there isn't ever enough to go around.

In my school at least, I don't think money is going to the adminstration. I've been there through two principals, both great people and I've personally seen them both pay for things. My old principal paid for a much needed reading program out of his pocket that the district would not pay for. He also has given the "good" children parties, and paid for a few of the children's uniforms. My current principal paid for books the fourth grade needed desperately.

Unfortunately, a lot of the money is being wasted on stupid things. Last year for example, for summer school, each classroom was given every supply they could ever wish for, never seeing this before all of the teachers were shocked just blown away but at the end of the summer, we couldn't keep the supplies for our "regular" classrooms. All unused items had to be returned to the district. [huh] Also, the past three summers, for summer school, the district gave us one reading and math program that we were required to use then, the city gave us a program we were required to use, then, the state gave us a program we were required to use. All three sent books, guides, for each summer school classroom. It was nuts. All of this money was wasted because they had to spend money on all of these supplies not to mention the money they had to pay McGraw Hill or whatever companies they paid to use their systems. We only used one program and then, all the stuff goes back at the end of the summer. Where does this stuff go? I have no idea. ANother year, we were sent three different types of report cards, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE CITY! This stufff costs LOTS of money. When they decided which report cards we would use, we were told to destroy the other versions. That's lots of tax dollars down the drain.

 

[Rosie]

Oh, and I have NO idea where that lottery money is REALLY going. With all of the people I see buying tickets and the jackpots they are able to give away, no classroom should ever want for anything ever.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

It's really great that the teachers are concerned enough about the student that they spend thier hard earned money, but it seems that the more you do it, the more the school expects it. Can't we have some kind of organized revolt and not buy anything (teachers or parents) just to see what happens? I guess it wouldn't be very fair to the students but this can't be kept up forever!

 

[Lancealot]

Oh, and I have NO idea where that lottery money is REALLY going. With all of the people I see buying tickets and the jackpots they are able to give away, no classroom should ever want for anything ever.

AMEN!

 

[jamespowers]

Rosie is completely right. The schools all over this country have what they call structural problems. Sometimes the left hand doesn't know that the right hand is doing so you get duplication of books, services and tons of other things. I have seen this here locally. Its not the money its how they budget it. They have no means of cost control and one of the idiot School Bored (my term) members here said that the budget is like your credit card. You don't check every last line item. :eusa_doh: Yep, definitely a structural problem.

Reghards,

J

 

[Twitch]

Sorry VintageJess but I can remember a time before the ubiquitous "backpacks" and their spine-numbing future effects. In grade school we had permanent desks that we kept our book in. If you carried some of them home you tucked them under your arm!

In high school we had lockers but no metal detectors. The schools supplied most of the educational materials to students. Seems yuppy-ish that some elite school is actually printing up a list of supplies.

Sounds as though the school is making up for actual substance with "supplies that will guarantee your child's educational success in the forthcoming school year."lol

All the rest of my family work in school districts out here and I can tell you without doubt that there is plenty of money.

 

[Air Boss]

School Supplies

Rosie -

My wife goes through the same thing you do here in PA. Her district is in the top 5 growing districts in the state (can't remember exactly which number) and the money we put out (as parents and as a teacher) is considerable. The amount of items goes down as the grades go up but with projects and reports, there is usually at least one trip a week to a store for a binder, blank CD's, art supplies, etc.

The bacpacks get bigger and bigger because of the stuff they are forced to carry; the kids are restricted from the lockers between classes and can visit them when they arrive, before/after lunch and at the end of the day. So, if you are in band, you get to lug your instrument, on PE days, your dirty gym stuff, etc.

School boards cut budgets but still require the items (just like unfunded Federal mandates; states must comply but DC doesn't send any money) so parent pay the burden. I don't believe a revolt will occur - all it takes is a very small minority to comply and the rest of the kids get in trouble.

 

[Phil]

Student

I have noticed that the lists get longer and longer as the years pass. When I was in fourth grade, I rember getting the supplies sheet in the mail (I always freaked out because I thought it was a letter saying I did something bad and it just got there really late) and it was only half a page. It just said to get basics like pens/pencils, markers, notebooks, binder, and folders. Now, I'm a senior in highschool, I just re-use stuff from last year and that works for me. But, I was at Office Depot getting some drafting supplies, and I noticed the grade school supply lists hanging around the pens area. I felt a little nostalgic for a simpler time when I was more worried about my baseball cards and getting "cooties". I took a look at the list, and I was a little astounded. I don't rember needing half the stuff that's on the list today. The first page, it was somewhat understandable. The second was just rediculous though. Since when is some kid in elementary school going to need highlighters, a graphing calculator, some of the same drafting material I need for my HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL class of drafting. It's insanity. I really think there should be something of a revolt.

To help some of you parents out there, get your supplies at the dollar store or from your office if you can. The dollar store supplies are just as good for a fraction of the cost, and buissneses always have plenty of freebies that can be taken, just be sure to ask first. Try and figure out what is needed and what you child won't actually need. Just be practical.