School supplies....are the lists getting longer?

Jodi - posted on 08/21/2010

I don't even blink when there is a list of supplies for the class. I have always had to supply a couple of boxes of tissues at the very least, seriously, I don't see the argument. My kids go to Catholic School, and our fees include an allowance for class items. With my son starting high school this year, it has been the first year that he has had a book list of things that are HIS that I had to pay separately for. Up until now it has been common property for the class and included in the fees. I don't see the big deal.

Mary - posted on 08/21/2010

Sarah, I agree, we all benefit from educating the children of this world, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a parent to provide their child with a tissue for their runny nose. In fact, I think it's sad that the school system has to tell (some) parents that they need to do so.

Rita - posted on 08/21/2010

Thankfully Im not faced with that yet however I always have an opinion! I don't mind supplying my child with the tools he needs to learn at his best but I am not going to supply the school with things such as toilet paper .

My mother always refused to purchase the paint sets they required every year until we actually used them in class and guess what...we NEVER used them. What ever happened to the paint the other kids bought, only God knows. I also don't agree with the community bin of supplies. If Im going to spend the extra money on my kid to have the scissors he/she wants, then I want my kid to have them.

Now, I would be more than happy to sponser a less fortunate child and supply them with the school supplies they need.

Sarah - posted on 08/21/2010

To get back on topic, I have to take issue with the individualistic view that parents should be responsible for funding their own children's education. Surely the whole of society will benefit from having well educated and qualified people. Paying for education is everybody's resposibilty as it benefits everyone, not just those with children. After all, people without children still need educated doctors, lawyers etc.

Good Day! - posted on 08/19/2010

I'm sure she'll be just fine, and Eliza too. It's us that have a hard time!

Okay, I think I'm ready to start the teacher debate, but I'm worried the OP will be a bit one sided...lol. Oh well.

Chatty - posted on 08/19/2010

Nothing exciting.....she's actually doing fairly well but we're just in the beginning stages. She took her book into the washroom the other day and after about 20 mins she called me claiming that she had gone pee......on the contrary....I'm not sure why she insists that poop is pee but that's where we're at. I was trying to encourage her a lot more but she's been protesting a lot lately so I've decided to back off and she seems to be responding well. It's on her terms...

Good Day! - posted on 08/19/2010

Love to hear it Dana!

Chatty - posted on 08/19/2010

lmao. from school supplies to potty training......anyone interested in Roxanne's trials and tribulations? *giggles*

Rosie - posted on 08/19/2010

lucas is still having accidents and we've been doing it for awhile now, like april i think. grant picked it up so easily, and my last two took longer. it is a tedious process isn't it? *sigh*

Good Day! - posted on 08/19/2010

I'm glad Vinnie is going to have a great year!

About the potty training, she runs to the potty AFTER she's already started going. So she knows, but is not quite there yet.

Rosie - posted on 08/19/2010

my friend just told me that both her boys had him and he is an excellent teacher! i'm so excited to see how vinnie does. sorry i'm gushing about this, but my older boy has high functioning autism so really didn't get engaged or interested in his teachers or school. pretty much only his last 3 teachers i've had respect for for going above and beyond with my oldest son. the other 3 were asshats one of whom should've been fired. it's nice to see some positive change for a child of mine. :)

Charlie - posted on 08/18/2010

As a former teacher i think male kindergarden teachers are AMAZING .
They are so great for boys and all the ones i know are so positive and have great attitudes .

Mae - posted on 08/18/2010

Wow there are male kindergaten teachers? I don't think I've seen one lower than 9th grade. Awesome.
Sara take you time and don't crazy, whenever you get the new debate started we'll be ready. Just know that it is highly anticipated.

Rosie - posted on 08/18/2010

i know sara, i love it too, gqtm!! i was very pleasantly surprised, he seemed really engaged with vinnie, and vinnie just seemed to be drawn straight to him. very different vibe than what i have ever gotten from one of grants teachers right off the bat. i'm excited!!

and with the potty training, don't pull all of that beautiful hair out, lol!! is she going at all or just sitting on it, or refusing altogether?

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

I love that your son's Kindergarten teacher is a man! I wish there were more male teachers.

And sorry I haven't started the new debate yet. In the middle of potty training and trying not to pull my hair out! Hopefully it will be up tomorrow. I know some of you are my facebook friends so you may have noticed the little survey I had up about the topic!

Rosie - posted on 08/18/2010

ok, so i just got back from my kindergarteners open house at school, and apart from the fact that my sons teacher is INCREDIBLE already, lol! he wrote this 2 page cute little essay, in part of it he explained a little bit about the sharing supplies thing.

school supplies: one of the things that makes my class different from some others is our classroom SHARES supplies like scissors, folders, kleenex, crayons, watercolors, markers, pencils, glue, and only individualizes things like paint shirts, binders, towels and water bottles. i have used the shared supply method with kindergarteners for 11 straight years, and during this time i have noticed that it is a very effective way to build rapid social growth, and class closeness throughout the year. i have also discovered that it continually keeps our supplies fresh throughout the year and provides an equal opportunity for all students to use the same types of materials for each given assignment.

seems pretty reasonable :)

Chatty - posted on 08/18/2010

Sounds good! I'll be back later today

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

Oh yeah, budget cuts...blah. Teachers are expected to work miracles (and some do) but they aren't supplied with what they need to get the job done. I'm off to do some research on the average amount of money a teacher will pay out of pocket, the extra work they put in, etc.

Rosie - posted on 08/18/2010

i;m a cheap ass anyway, and wouldn't want to buy my kid the more expensive stuf. i know ONE time i bought a starwars folder or something, but they keep their folders anyway. i'm all about the 10 cent folder, NOT the $1 or more ones, lol!!

Mae - posted on 08/18/2010

I don't know if I will buy her that stuff when she starts school but just playing devils advocate, but that is a good Idea it I do.

Chatty - posted on 08/18/2010

Haven't their been a lot of budget cuts recently, Sara?

Mae - posted on 08/18/2010

Sara- it sounds good to me I'll probably read it tonight because I have to run errans but I am deffinately looking forward to it

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

Oh, and about the glitter pencils...why not just buy the least expensive brand for what's on the list for the teacher to pick up, then let your kid bring their own special pencils (on day 2 of school, so they won't get picked up) if they really want them. I don't know any teacher that would have a problem with that.

Rosie - posted on 08/18/2010

i like the way my childs school does things. we buy the supplies and things like markers and crayons, and wipes, and baggies, tissues and such are shared by the class. he keeps his scissors, pencils, protractor, ruler, calculator, folders, notebooks, binders etc.
i have NO problem buying something for the class as a whole, my kid still uses the items, jsut cause it's not exactly what i bought doesn't mean squat to me. i spent maybe $20 on supplies, if that.
i obviously don't remember how it was back when i was in school, but this system seems to work well for us. it also makes it so that the teacher doesn't have to end up buying a ton of supplies herself, which i find unfair.

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

Thanks, but I got the idea from much more experienced teachers in my school!

Now Dana and Mae, about the debate...I'm thinking it needs to be much more than "Do teachers work all year?" I'm thinking including teacher pay, the fact that so much of what they need for their class comes out of their own pockets, the unpaid overtime they work (yes, even in the summer), etc. Any other issues before I start a new thread?

Chatty - posted on 08/18/2010

You should start another debate, Sara!

I think that's a great idea....each kid has their own ziplock with THEIR supplies in it and I agree that it does need to be regulated. I also think by you regulating it, it teaches them to respect their things and take pride in their property...KUDOS Sara.

Mae - posted on 08/18/2010

The school district here only specify on the two pocket folders with prongs and they use a color coded system as you described. For everything else they do not it is the parents descreation. I know that they just do a mass collection and do not lable the children's items like you do if they did that would be wonderful, I was in college to be come a teacher and made it far enough to start student teaching before I had a change of heart on teaching, so I do know how at least the handful of teachers in the local area handled their classrooms. As far as teachers not working all year around here they do not, they are there for about 3 or 4 days after school is out and start back one week before the students come back. I know some places are different. I do look forward you starting a new thread

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

Mae, most schools that I've had experience with specify brand and color for supplies. So you won't be buying a pink glitter notebook for the teacher to pick up. That will be extra, on you. How it worked in my room...Kids got to keep the binders and folders they bought. They were specified by color because there was a green folder for homework, yellow for Spanish, red for Music, etc. Kept it organized. (Plus folders are less than 10 cents, unless YOU buy the Hello Kitty folder the teacher did not specify). For crayons, glue, and scissors I picked them up and put them in baggies with the kids name on them. So the kids used what they bought. But I kept it in a cabinet and passed it out when it was needed. This kept the kids from using the supplies at inappropriate times. Because each kid brought 4 boxes of crayons, I renewed the crayons in their bags every 9 weeks. If they got broken or lost, too bad. It was the kid's responsibility to keep up with it when it was in their possession. That way parents did not have to buy more crayons when the boxes ran out. I controlled it so that wouldn't happen. Pretty much the same with pencils. The brand and color and type was specified. Again, if YOU want to buy the more expensive glitter pencil with her name on it, it's on YOU. But you need to supply what was specified. I gave each kid two pencils each week. If they lost them, it was up to them to produce a new pencil. The pencils supplied by the parents at the beginning of the year lasted all year because I controlled it. Oddly enough, there was rarely a kid who didn't have a pencil, because they knew to keep up with what they were given. This SAVES parents money, because if I were to just let kids have free reign on their supplies, they'd be gone by Halloween. Then the parents would have to buy more stuff.

As far as the teachers not working all year comment...I would comment, but I think I'll start another debate in the future.

Chatty - posted on 08/18/2010

Shannon - you mentioned that you spent about $30 on your daughter for Kindegarten. Other moms of school aged children from the article and on the news estimated that they spent b/w $50 - $100 per child......one lady had 4 school aged children.....THAT is a lot of money, some of which is not necessary and are considered community items.

Mae - posted on 08/18/2010

my daughter is only two but I have friends that have school aged kids. I think is longer than it used to be. I don't mind buying things for my daughter but the local school district here collects everything up and puts it in a cabinet and then hands out what is needed when it is needed so children don't get what their parents bought for them and I think that is wrong. If I buy my daughter a pretty note book and glitter covered pencils then I want MY daughter to use them not some one else.

I have no problem buying extra stuff either for other children whose parents cannot afford it but if you say you can't afford it then you better not be drinking a beer the next time I see you on you front prouch or smoking a cigarette.

Also my father is a school teacher and they don't make much but he and his collegues knew going into it that the pay was crap and that they would be expected to provide some things. I will not buy copy paper or electronics or waste my money on sanitizer (when soap works just as well). My husband also work for the schools district as an IT Technician and he makes even less than the teachers who are always complaining about what they make (more than 50% less so that teachers don't get paid enough complaint just ticks me off they have an entire summer off while he works all summer you want to get paid more work all year! Sorry went off on a tangent.)

I live in Texas and the local school district wastes millions of dollars on football stadiums that are way over the top that is money they should be using for other things. I am seriously considering home school or private school





To sum it all up I will buy klenex, baggies, notebooks, ect. I will not buy handsanitizer when studies have show soap works just as well, I will not buy electronics that my child will not be using. and anything I buy for my daughter better be used by MY DAUGHTER not some one else. Plus before they go looking for handouts the school better cut back it's sports buget a little and stop spending on crap!

Shannon - posted on 08/18/2010

I only had to buy for my daughter that is starting Kindergarten, so the list wasn't large at all.
Markers, colored pencils, glue, folders....Also things like tissue, paper cups, hand sanitizer, crackers... I think I probably spent about $30.00

Good Day! - posted on 08/18/2010

Teachers do NOT make enough money to supply the entire class with kleenex/baggies, etc. Parents should be responsible for some supplies. Binders, paper, pencils, crayons, scissors, glue, folders, kleenex, baggies, hand sanitizer was what was on my list. Not unreasonable because it all got used by the kids. There was only one child whose parents could/would not bring supplies so the school's PTA (Parent Teacher Organization) supplied him. They have fundraisers every year for that purpose. As far as things that teachers use...dry erase markers, file folders, etc. students should NOT be required to bring that. The school supplied me with that, except they bought the cheap brand of dry erase. I ended up buying some out of my own pocket.

To sum up: Parents should take some responsibility in their children's education and it is not unreasonable to ask them to bring a few supplies that their children will use. And schools should have a plan and make allowances for those children whose parents can/will not do it for them.

Mary - posted on 08/18/2010

It's a bit of a toss-up.



Way-back-when, when I went to school, most of these things were not on the "list". However, I also remember that if I had a runny nose, my mom sent me to school with my own tissues. There was no expectation that the school would provide them (I kind of remember the teacher having a box on her desk, but I'm pretty sure she, not the school system, paid for that). My point is, some of these things may have been expectations of parental expenditures - there just was no formal "list" spelling it out. A part of me thinks it is just that the school systems have become more organized in delineating everything a child may need throughout the year.



While I am sympathetic to those families who will struggle financially to pay for these items, I do sort of think it is a reasonable expectation. The only other way to fund these expenditures is to raise taxes. If you do that, then EVERY citizen is outraged, and some not unjustly so. Taxes are already used to fund the public schools themselves...and these taxes are being paid by a lot of people who do not have school-aged children (and some never did, or never will). On some level, the cost of having a child, and educating that child, does need to fall on the parent. I'm not sure it's fair or reasonable to expect your neighbors to pay for your child's tissues or hand sanitizers. After all, they are already paying for his books, desks, teachers, etc.

Johnny - posted on 08/17/2010

I have no experience as of yet, Michaela is only 2. And with foster kids, the province pays for those things.

But, it concerns me when parents are having to pay out of pocket for school supplies outside of the traditional pens, paper, and pencils, etc. Not all parents have the financial means to set aside money for these things. Taxes should be levied at a rate that will allow for the basics to be financed for the school system. Otherwise, we will just end up like a 3rd world country where only people who make enough money can afford to send their kids to school, because supplies are too expensive.

Brittanie - posted on 08/17/2010

I think the lists are definitely getting longer! I do not mind buying my kids "supplies" but as for kleenex and baggies...the school/teacher imo should provide those.