School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

No
1. Teachers should not request janitorial supplies
2. Teachers should request only what each child needs for the year. One pack of 12 pencils is plenty. One packing 24 crayons is plenty why 4x24 packs

1. What if the school does not provide these supplies (as posters have stated)?

But that isn’t what the FCPS teachers said. They said they had to ask 2-7 days in advance for paper towels and the school provided spray and so they preferred that the parents buy them their selected wipes.

If the school genuinely does not provide janitorial supplies that message should come from the principal to the parents so the teachers have nothing to do with it.

If it's on the school supply list, then the principal or someone in admin has approved it, PP.

That’s not the same thing— the principal should say to the parents, at back to school night or in a public email, we do not supply the teachers with paper towels or any cleaning supplies. Then the parents can write their school board members, local media, etc. because it’s very absurd.

What’s much more likely is, as teachers posted here, they don’t like the cleaning supplies provided.

You seem to have a really good opinion of your child’s teachers. Do they know how little respect you have for them? Do your kids?

I don’t think it’s disrespectful to expect people to use the supplies available. It’s what I do at my office and every person who works for me (and I work for) is expected to do. Respect is not demonstrated by charitable donations in the professional world.

You assume that teachers asking for cleaning supplies are asking because they want something different than what is provided. Or that principals should do the asking, not the teachers. People are telling you that teachers often ask because nothing is provided or their principal tells them to or their principal just won’t ask. You are assuming your child’s teacher is not being straight with you when they say they don’t get these supplies. You are assuming they are dishonest. That’s disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

No
1. Teachers should not request janitorial supplies
2. Teachers should request only what each child needs for the year. One pack of 12 pencils is plenty. One packing 24 crayons is plenty why 4x24 packs

1. What if the school does not provide these supplies (as posters have stated)?

But that isn’t what the FCPS teachers said. They said they had to ask 2-7 days in advance for paper towels and the school provided spray and so they preferred that the parents buy them their selected wipes.

If the school genuinely does not provide janitorial supplies that message should come from the principal to the parents so the teachers have nothing to do with it.

If it's on the school supply list, then the principal or someone in admin has approved it, PP.

That’s not the same thing— the principal should say to the parents, at back to school night or in a public email, we do not supply the teachers with paper towels or any cleaning supplies. Then the parents can write their school board members, local media, etc. because it’s very absurd.

What’s much more likely is, as teachers posted here, they don’t like the cleaning supplies provided.

You seem to have a really good opinion of your child’s teachers. Do they know how little respect you have for them? Do your kids?

I don’t think it’s disrespectful to expect people to use the supplies available. It’s what I do at my office and every person who works for me (and I work for) is expected to do. Respect is not demonstrated by charitable donations in the professional world.

You assume that teachers asking for cleaning supplies are asking because they want something different than what is provided. Or that principals should do the asking, not the teachers. People are telling you that teachers often ask because nothing is provided or their principal tells them to or their principal just won’t ask. You are assuming your child’s teacher is not being straight with you when they say they don’t get these supplies. You are assuming they are dishonest. That’s disrespectful.

Literally what was said on this thread.

And having principals make the ask is *more* respectful. They, not the teachers, are the ones responsible for their being basic janitorial supplies in the schools. The teachers shouldn’t be out in the position of asking for charitable donations to cover that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

No
1. Teachers should not request janitorial supplies
2. Teachers should request only what each child needs for the year. One pack of 12 pencils is plenty. One packing 24 crayons is plenty why 4x24 packs

1. What if the school does not provide these supplies (as posters have stated)?

But that isn’t what the FCPS teachers said. They said they had to ask 2-7 days in advance for paper towels and the school provided spray and so they preferred that the parents buy them their selected wipes.

If the school genuinely does not provide janitorial supplies that message should come from the principal to the parents so the teachers have nothing to do with it.

If it's on the school supply list, then the principal or someone in admin has approved it, PP.

That’s not the same thing— the principal should say to the parents, at back to school night or in a public email, we do not supply the teachers with paper towels or any cleaning supplies. Then the parents can write their school board members, local media, etc. because it’s very absurd.

What’s much more likely is, as teachers posted here, they don’t like the cleaning supplies provided.

You seem to have a really good opinion of your child’s teachers. Do they know how little respect you have for them? Do your kids?

I don’t think it’s disrespectful to expect people to use the supplies available. It’s what I do at my office and every person who works for me (and I work for) is expected to do. Respect is not demonstrated by charitable donations in the professional world.

The important piece you’re missing though is that you office is probably consistently well-stocked with supplies of a reasonable quality— so comparing your “professional world” with a public school is comparing kiwi to red delicious apples that have been in storage for a year.

[Anonymous]

I pay insane property taxes. I’m not buying any supplies. What are they gonna do? Bill me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

Well isn’t that why teachers don’t want to buy the material for their classroom? They have other things they need to do with their money?

Believe it or not, that is also true of parents. Who have already “shared” the money for the supplies in question by paying our local taxes. So if the decision is: do I want to share more money with a classroom who already has cleaning supplies (but perhaps the teacher had to proactively ask for the supplies, or they aren’t the preferred brand) and sharing my money with my family, or any of the other people in our community who desperately need help right now and don’t have the privilege of saying they don’t want to have to wait two days for paper towels.

+1 this exactly. We are also on a budget (only one parent works). I’m not funding preferred brands of teachers when they can use what’s provided by the school for free. And I’m not donating 3 large containers of Clorox wipes - 1 will do.

If you’re financially stretched, nobody expects you to contribute more than your share. If you can’t legitimately afford school supplies, most of these teachers will provide for your child.

However, many if not most families in FCPS are not in that situation. There are families that are financially better off than teachers but they expect the teachers to pay for gaps in school supplies. They come up with all kinds of excuses and gaslight teachers for asking for help. I find these people petty and selfish.

What’s “our share” of supplies which are already provided for the teacher but she has to ask “2-7 days” in advance for?

This area just saw mass layoffs and more are coming. Perhaps read the room and clean with the paper towels you don’t like as much this year.

Don’t take it personally, if you can’t contribute beyond your share, don’t. Hopefully someone else will. Whenever my daughter’s teachers ask for support whether it’s school supplies or books for the classroom library, I give. I do it because I know there are families that can’t. It’s that simple.

Yeah, those families that “can’t” also likely have multiple $1200 iPhones. But can’t buy pencils?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

No
1. Teachers should not request janitorial supplies
2. Teachers should request only what each child needs for the year. One pack of 12 pencils is plenty. One packing 24 crayons is plenty why 4x24 packs

1. What if the school does not provide these supplies (as posters have stated)?

But that isn’t what the FCPS teachers said. They said they had to ask 2-7 days in advance for paper towels and the school provided spray and so they preferred that the parents buy them their selected wipes.

If the school genuinely does not provide janitorial supplies that message should come from the principal to the parents so the teachers have nothing to do with it.

If it's on the school supply list, then the principal or someone in admin has approved it, PP.

That’s not the same thing— the principal should say to the parents, at back to school night or in a public email, we do not supply the teachers with paper towels or any cleaning supplies. Then the parents can write their school board members, local media, etc. because it’s very absurd.

What’s much more likely is, as teachers posted here, they don’t like the cleaning supplies provided.

You seem to have a really good opinion of your child’s teachers. Do they know how little respect you have for them? Do your kids?

I don’t think it’s disrespectful to expect people to use the supplies available. It’s what I do at my office and every person who works for me (and I work for) is expected to do. Respect is not demonstrated by charitable donations in the professional world.

The important piece you’re missing though is that you office is probably consistently well-stocked with supplies of a reasonable quality— so comparing your “professional world” with a public school is comparing kiwi to red delicious apples that have been in storage for a year.

And this is why it’s something the principals should be addressing, not the teachers. I think most people would consider keeping basic cleaning supplies “of a reasonable quality” in schools to be part of the principals job, not something teachers are told to ask for donations of.

And I think you’d be surprised at what passes for “consistently well stocked with supplies of reasonable quality” in non-school workplaces. But when the pens break immediately we talk to the people responsible for office supplies (or bring our own). We don’t start asking clients to donate us a box of because we don’t like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:120 Ticonderoga pencils? You're exaggerating right?

Nope not kidding. 24 pack presharpebed pencils x 5 packs. Last year the teacher only let him have 2 pencils. This communal thing is crazy. We aren’t working hard to spend our money for other people.

I hope that your child is never in need then. Even the students whose families can afford supplies don’t necessarily send in supplies. For what it’s worth, I don’t use pencils communally. They have a spot to store extra supplies… students still run out. If they have supplies leftover, I send home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not bought my kid school supplies since 2nd grade. The lists are clearly unrelated to what any individual teacher needs. I wait for the targeted email from teachers asking for specific things. Otherwise I just send my kid with a pencil or pen daily.

I’m sure that teachers and counselors are then scrambling to find correct supplies for your child. Teachers ask for specific things, especially at the elementary level, in order to set up a specific organization system- different colored folders and notebooks for different subjects, binders with specific tabs. By not following the list, your child sits there while the rest of the class gets organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pay insane property taxes. I’m not buying any supplies. What are they gonna do? Bill me?

LOL teachers and principals also pay “insane property taxes”. What do you want them to do? Spend their own money?

[Anonymous]

I have zero problem in doing charity in the classroom and donating janitorial supplies. I understand that many people are quite poor in this country.

[Anonymous]

The teacher who refuses to purchase supplies a few pages back has it right. You don't bring in supplies, you don't have supplies at all. That's it. None of this pooling supplies nonsense. If I'm paying $15 for trbfjdndnrid pencils, then my kids should be the ones using them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher who refuses to purchase supplies a few pages back has it right. You don't bring in supplies, you don't have supplies at all. That's it. None of this pooling supplies nonsense. If I'm paying $15 for trbfjdndnrid pencils, then my kids should be the ones using them.

Do you send Kleenex just for your child? Each child has their own box? Is the teacher emailing each parent of each child who uses up their box of Kleenex?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teacher who refuses to purchase supplies a few pages back has it right. You don't bring in supplies, you don't have supplies at all. That's it. None of this pooling supplies nonsense. If I'm paying $15 for trbfjdndnrid pencils, then my kids should be the ones using them.

Do you send Kleenex just for your child? Each child has their own box? Is the teacher emailing each parent of each child who uses up their box of Kleenex?

Yes. My kids have Kleenex in their bookbags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher who refuses to purchase supplies a few pages back has it right. You don't bring in supplies, you don't have supplies at all. That's it. None of this pooling supplies nonsense. If I'm paying $15 for trbfjdndnrid pencils, then my kids should be the ones using them.

So a 10 year old, whose parents either don’t have funds or aren’t with it enough to purchase correct supplies, just sits there? Do you think any teacher will allow a kid to just sit there because their parents didn’t send a notebook and pencil?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I gather from this thread, some parents do not want to send supplies to school because:

1. I don’t want to share my money with others.
2. Teachers should supply the materials
3. Teachers should put up with whatever quality supplies the school can give them. If they run out, too bad.
4. Teachers should do a better job of keeping track of pencils, instead of preparing and delivering quality lessons.

IMO the only reason parents shouldn’t send supplies is if they cannot afford them.

No
1. Teachers should not request janitorial supplies
2. Teachers should request only what each child needs for the year. One pack of 12 pencils is plenty. One packing 24 crayons is plenty why 4x24 packs

1. What if the school does not provide these supplies (as posters have stated)?

But that isn’t what the FCPS teachers said. They said they had to ask 2-7 days in advance for paper towels and the school provided spray and so they preferred that the parents buy them their selected wipes.

If the school genuinely does not provide janitorial supplies that message should come from the principal to the parents so the teachers have nothing to do with it.

If it's on the school supply list, then the principal or someone in admin has approved it, PP.

That’s not the same thing— the principal should say to the parents, at back to school night or in a public email, we do not supply the teachers with paper towels or any cleaning supplies. Then the parents can write their school board members, local media, etc. because it’s very absurd.

What’s much more likely is, as teachers posted here, they don’t like the cleaning supplies provided.

You seem to have a really good opinion of your child’s teachers. Do they know how little respect you have for them? Do your kids?

I don’t think it’s disrespectful to expect people to use the supplies available. It’s what I do at my office and every person who works for me (and I work for) is expected to do. Respect is not demonstrated by charitable donations in the professional world.

The important piece you’re missing though is that you office is probably consistently well-stocked with supplies of a reasonable quality— so comparing your “professional world” with a public school is comparing kiwi to red delicious apples that have been in storage for a year.

And this is why it’s something the principals should be addressing, not the teachers. I think most people would consider keeping basic cleaning supplies “of a reasonable quality” in schools to be part of the principals job, not something teachers are told to ask for donations of.

And I think you’d be surprised at what passes for “consistently well stocked with supplies of reasonable quality” in non-school workplaces. But when the pens break immediately we talk to the people responsible for office supplies (or bring our own). We don’t start asking clients to donate us a box of because we don’t like them.

You are not understanding the public school environment. There are schools where individual teachers are given few or even no cleaning supplies. The principal doesn’t ask for them. Sure, it would be nice if teachers got whatever they needed from the school or the principal created a school-wide supplies drive. But that is not the reality for many teachers. Do you want your individual child’s classroom to be clean? Do you step up at PTO/HSA mtgs to say you aren’t sending in cleaning supplies until they implement your system?