What is the deal with back to school kits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be really pissed if I bought my child the higher quality markers and someone else bought the cheap ones that dry out quickly and then the teacher gave my child the cheap ones. I buy everything on the supply list, and specify my child is to keep everything I send them to school with.

I buy a box of tissues for the classroom and DH drops off a box of reams of paper within the first week for the classroom. We don't believe in hand sanitizer.

Our kid's supply list specifies brands to that this problem can be avoided. If your kid picks a dried out marker out of the communal bin he can grab a different one. Your kid isn't going to be screwed over because other parents are cheap.

Our school supply list also specifies brands but that's total bs. I'll get the brands I want my child to have. Sorry but in public school you can't BOTH not provide the school supplies AND dictate which brands to buy. You can say blue pens or black, but not Bic vs. Papermate.

Most parents aren't such pains in the ass that they would refuse to buy the suggested brand and then insist that the teacher go out of her way to make sure that Suzy have exclusive use of THIS pack of markers. All the other kids notice that Suzy does things differently, and god forbid her markers mix and mingle with the others on the table because the teacher has been given EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS that this not happen.

I hope you are putting Suzy's name on every pencil, eraser and marker because otherwise there's little chance that they will remain hers alone in a classroom where all those items are pooled. Aside from hers, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be really pissed if I bought my child the higher quality markers and someone else bought the cheap ones that dry out quickly and then the teacher gave my child the cheap ones. I buy everything on the supply list, and specify my child is to keep everything I send them to school with.

I buy a box of tissues for the classroom and DH drops off a box of reams of paper within the first week for the classroom. We don't believe in hand sanitizer.

Oh god, not one of these again. It's not even August! Maybe I'm just over sensitive bc my mom was totally like you and it was embarrassing as hell, especially bc i'm sure it was clear that my family was solidly middle-class and could have easily afforded a bit more generosity. PP, giving your child exclusive access to high-end school supplies and prohibiting sharing is not going to make a drop of difference in their academic education, I can promise you that. But it may teach them other lessons, like how to feel smugly superior to kids whose parents couldn't afford or wouldn't be bothered to buy the expensive stuff. With my kids we work on humility, generosity, and appreciation for how fortunate they are. I buy good-quality school supplies for them, as well as extras for kids who don't have them. They are KIDS for gods sake. They can't control what their parents buy, and they should not be made to feel embarassed about it. Experiences like that can be incredibly formative for children. And for absolutely no real benefit to your child anyway. Shame.

PP here. Before everyone starts jumping down my throat about how parents weren't required to buy school supplies until recent years, my experience was actually with camp. But same difference, I promise.

I hear you and I agree 100%. But this comes up in threads every year on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be really pissed if I bought my child the higher quality markers and someone else bought the cheap ones that dry out quickly and then the teacher gave my child the cheap ones. I buy everything on the supply list, and specify my child is to keep everything I send them to school with.

I buy a box of tissues for the classroom and DH drops off a box of reams of paper within the first week for the classroom. We don't believe in hand sanitizer.

Our kid's supply list specifies brands to that this problem can be avoided. If your kid picks a dried out marker out of the communal bin he can grab a different one. Your kid isn't going to be screwed over because other parents are cheap.

Our school supply list also specifies brands but that's total bs. I'll get the brands I want my child to have. Sorry but in public school you can't BOTH not provide the school supplies AND dictate which brands to buy. You can say blue pens or black, but not Bic vs. Papermate.

Most parents aren't such pains in the ass that they would refuse to buy the suggested brand and then insist that the teacher go out of her way to make sure that Suzy have exclusive use of THIS pack of markers. All the other kids notice that Suzy does things differently, and god forbid her markers mix and mingle with the others on the table because the teacher has been given EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS that this not happen.

I hope you are putting Suzy's name on every pencil, eraser and marker because otherwise there's little chance that they will remain hers alone in a classroom where all those items are pooled. Aside from hers, of course.

It's a total non-issue. This is what pencil cases are for. She keeps all her things in her desk. I do label her box of crayons, which she also keeps in her desk, as well as her bag of markers and her pencil case. It all stays in the desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be really pissed if I bought my child the higher quality markers and someone else bought the cheap ones that dry out quickly and then the teacher gave my child the cheap ones. I buy everything on the supply list, and specify my child is to keep everything I send them to school with.

I buy a box of tissues for the classroom and DH drops off a box of reams of paper within the first week for the classroom. We don't believe in hand sanitizer.

Our kid's supply list specifies brands to that this problem can be avoided. If your kid picks a dried out marker out of the communal bin he can grab a different one. Your kid isn't going to be screwed over because other parents are cheap.

Our school supply list also specifies brands but that's total bs. I'll get the brands I want my child to have. Sorry but in public school you can't BOTH not provide the school supplies AND dictate which brands to buy. You can say blue pens or black, but not Bic vs. Papermate.

Most parents aren't such pains in the ass that they would refuse to buy the suggested brand and then insist that the teacher go out of her way to make sure that Suzy have exclusive use of THIS pack of markers. All the other kids notice that Suzy does things differently, and god forbid her markers mix and mingle with the others on the table because the teacher has been given EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS that this not happen.

I hope you are putting Suzy's name on every pencil, eraser and marker because otherwise there's little chance that they will remain hers alone in a classroom where all those items are pooled. Aside from hers, of course.

It's a total non-issue. This is what pencil cases are for. She keeps all her things in her desk. I do label her box of crayons, which she also keeps in her desk, as well as her bag of markers and her pencil case. It all stays in the desk.

Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Oh PP, you really need to stop "specifying". Teachers' jobs are hard enough without all of the superior pRents "specifying" that their child's supplies are NOT to be shared. Really. Really.

[Anonymous]

PP with the special supplies, you're doing an awful lot to make sure that your kid won't have many friends. Sheesh. I think I'd rather have friends and a non-crazy mom than the best brand of markers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh PP, you really need to stop "specifying". Teachers' jobs are hard enough without all of the superior pRents "specifying" that their child's supplies are NOT to be shared. Really. Really.

It really shouldn't be a problem at all - I grew up going to schools where everyone got their own school supplies. All the kids (all 30 of them!) managed to keep track of their stuff without a problem.

[Anonymous]

Some of my fondest back to school memories were from the first day. First the new outfit and then afterschool supply shopping with my mother. There was nothing like a new three ring notebook (trapper keeper anyone?) paper, reinforcements, highlighters, new folders decorated with whatever was popular at the time (cabbage patch kids anyone?). To this day I love ofice supplies.

That said I will buy the kit, and will be happy to have the supplies shared but I am a bit sad to think my DS won't get to have the same fun back to school supply shopping experience I did.

And yes I know he will live. Please dont jump down my throat for recounting a sweet memory from my childhood.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher's wife and still get annoyed at all of the excess stuff I send to school. Even though I know that if I don't send it, some of it will come out of the teacher's pocket. I used to take kleenex to school when I had a cold. It seems nobody does things like that anymore.

I was a single mom for a few years. I struggled to send supplies to school. It baffled me that ds never brought home a single crayon at the end of the year. That's when I learned that the supplies were pooled. The next year I sent what I could afford, like a smaller package of pencil crayons, not as many glue sticks as they asked for etc.

Our list comes home with the final report card. I'll worry about it in August.

[Anonymous]

I live in San Francisco. The public elementary schools provide everything here. No school supply shopping, no back to school kits, nothing. The kids bring their own backpacks. That's it. And I bet if they couldn't manage that the schools would find a way to provide one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a massive amount if waste at public schools. So there is allegedly no money for basic school supplies, textbooks, or workbooks, but there is money for conferences, school counselors (I understand at low socio-economic schools but not where parents could afford to get their kids counseling), random worksheets, teachers to work out of the classroom on curriculum, etc.

Yes, conferences, school counselors, worksheets, teacher professional time -- what a waste of money.

No, wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be really pissed if I bought my child the higher quality markers and someone else bought the cheap ones that dry out quickly and then the teacher gave my child the cheap ones. I buy everything on the supply list, and specify my child is to keep everything I send them to school with.

I buy a box of tissues for the classroom and DH drops off a box of reams of paper within the first week for the classroom. We don't believe in hand sanitizer.

Our kid's supply list specifies brands to that this problem can be avoided. If your kid picks a dried out marker out of the communal bin he can grab a different one. Your kid isn't going to be screwed over because other parents are cheap.

Our school supply list also specifies brands but that's total bs. I'll get the brands I want my child to have. Sorry but in public school you can't BOTH not provide the school supplies AND dictate which brands to buy. You can say blue pens or black, but not Bic vs. Papermate.

Most parents aren't such pains in the ass that they would refuse to buy the suggested brand and then insist that the teacher go out of her way to make sure that Suzy have exclusive use of THIS pack of markers. All the other kids notice that Suzy does things differently, and god forbid her markers mix and mingle with the others on the table because the teacher has been given EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS that this not happen.

I hope you are putting Suzy's name on every pencil, eraser and marker because otherwise there's little chance that they will remain hers alone in a classroom where all those items are pooled. Aside from hers, of course.

It's a total non-issue. This is what pencil cases are for. She keeps all her things in her desk. I do label her box of crayons, which she also keeps in her desk, as well as her bag of markers and her pencil case. It all stays in the desk.

I feel really sorry for your kid.

[Anonymous]

I love the kits. At our school you can order online and even order a kit to donate.

And my kid has brought home different amounts of leftovers each year. This year she brought home a huge bag of markers, etc, which she happily added to her stash at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont know why schools don't have money for this but as a teacher, I can tell you I relied heavily on these parent contributions. And when they ran out I used my own money to buy cleaning wipes to clean the tables every day, tissue, pencils, erasers, printer paper and so much more, to the tune of over 3k for the school year.

Are you kidding me?
3K?

What a joke. We are so wasteful in this country. Go teach in a school in Japan, Korea, Europe - and then come back and tell me why a classroom needs 3k worth of printer paper and cleaning wipes.

[Anonymous]

I don't see the big deal. The kits were an easy fund raiser for the PTA, the teachers got the supplies before school started- so they could organize them as they wished prior to school starting, and I didn't have to go to Staples, Target or Office Depot. Win-win-win.