Different school supplies required for boys vs. girls

[Anonymous]

OP, hilarious! Good one!

It is actually a sexist conspiracy. FCPS is very sly in that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. I didn't know they had communal supplies in kindergarten. When I was in kindergarten a few decades ago everyone had to bring their own supplies, and there was no communal anything. Thus why I didn't figure it out (to the PP who was alarmed that I couldn't figure this out -- sheesh). This is all new to me, as there is also no communal anything in my DCs' preschool either.

I also wasn't being sensitive to anything. I was simply curious.

Also, the logic isn't necessarily sound. If they really just want 50% of the class bringing some communal supplies, it doesn't follow that dividing the list by gender is the way to go. Classes are generally not evenly divided along gender lines, and often they are heavily weighted with more of one gender than the other.

You really are out of it. The schools spend a lot of time constructing class lists so the gender balance is pretty equal.

Really? Are you sure? My sons kindergarten class had 12 girls and 6 boys at the beginning of the school year.

[Anonymous]

The preschool doesn't have communal supplies???? You are completely clueless, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. I didn't know they had communal supplies in kindergarten. When I was in kindergarten a few decades ago everyone had to bring their own supplies, and there was no communal anything. Thus why I didn't figure it out (to the PP who was alarmed that I couldn't figure this out -- sheesh). This is all new to me, as there is also no communal anything in my DCs' preschool either.

I also wasn't being sensitive to anything. I was simply curious.

Also, the logic isn't necessarily sound. If they really just want 50% of the class bringing some communal supplies, it doesn't follow that dividing the list by gender is the way to go. Classes are generally not evenly divided along gender lines, and often they are heavily weighted with more of one gender than the other.

You all had your own stash of Kleenex and Ziplock bags? Really?

I brought my own tissues for my desk, yes. Never needed ziplock bags for anything other than lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just looked up the required school supplies for my DD's school, and I'm baffled by the list. Namely, I don't understand why there are some supplies that are required for girls only and others that are required for boys only. I could understand if they were boy or girl-specific hygiene supplies but this really makes no sense.

Here are the specific items. Anyone have any insight as to why these items are required for one gender or the other? I'm especially curious about the glue. WTH?


? BOYS: 1 bottle of Elmer’s WHITE glue
? GIRLS: 1 pack of baby wipes
? BOYS: ziplock bags: Gallon
? GIRLS: ziplock bags: Quart

Clearly they are equating girls with smallness and mommies....girls would have the baby wipes because they already have children. As for the white elmers glue, white, coming out of a tube with a boy. Clearly this relates to FLE (Family and Life Education).

The larger ziplock bags for the boys...well that is because we all know that boys are better, and larger zip locks are better.

They probably want the boys to bring in pencils, and the girls to bring in sharpeners...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so maybe OP just doesn't have street smarts - some of the smartest (academically) people that I know are just so clueless sometimes...

Oh yes.

My MD, PhD husband is so clueless sometimes it boggles my mind. I thought he did it on purpose so that I could do the work for him a la Raymond, but actually not...


OP,

It's fine
FWIW, I don't like that list either because I don't like singling out children by their sex for every little purpose - at that age they're already figuring out how to deal with the opposite sex, so anything that reinforces those gender lines is silly. The teacher could have figured another way to divvy up supplies.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for the teacher who has to deal with you. I can tell you are a real PITA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so maybe OP just doesn't have street smarts - some of the smartest (academically) people that I know are just so clueless sometimes...

Oh yes...
OP,

It's fine
FWIW, I don't like that list either because I don't like singling out children by their sex for every little purpose - at that age they're already figuring out how to deal with the opposite sex, so anything that reinforces those gender lines is silly. The teacher could have figured another way to divvy up supplies.

Ok, with your addition this thread has crossed the line into extreme silliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. I didn't know they had communal supplies in kindergarten. When I was in kindergarten a few decades ago everyone had to bring their own supplies, and there was no communal anything. Thus why I didn't figure it out (to the PP who was alarmed that I couldn't figure this out -- sheesh). This is all new to me, as there is also no communal anything in my DCs' preschool either.

I also wasn't being sensitive to anything. I was simply curious.

Also, the logic isn't necessarily sound. If they really just want 50% of the class bringing some communal supplies, it doesn't follow that dividing the list by gender is the way to go. Classes are generally not evenly divided along gender lines, and often they are heavily weighted with more of one gender than the other.

It's communal in Kindergarten. I think many of the schools split it by gender because it's usually half boys and half girls. You're not going to necessarily get half are last name A-M and half are last name N-Z.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, that will teach me to ask a simple question. I'm not out of it nor stupid. I have a doctorate and run the product development department of a software company, so I've got some brains. I am just new to this and don't know anything about the way Fairfax County runs their schools now. I went to FCPS 30 years ago, so yes, things have changed. This is not something they explain on their website, and I don't know anyone with kids in elementary school. I have no idea they try to balance the composition of classrooms along gender lines, and I also wasn't crying sexism. I was simply curious as to why boys would need white glue and girls wouldn't.

Geez.

No, the point is that you DIDN'T ask a simple question. You asked a pointed question. A simple question would have been:

"Our Kindergarten class is asking for different supplies for boys and girls. Why?" and then the list of supplies.

You had to add the conjecture:

Namely, I don't understand why there are some supplies that are required for girls only and others that are required for boys only. I could understand if they were boy or girl-specific hygiene supplies but this really makes no sense.

That implies that you think there was some gender bias going on here and that they were somehow slighting your child. You added the gender inequality accusation and that is what people responded to. When you ask a pointed question, people will respond a lot more heatedly than if you ask a simple question.

For someone who is supposedly so smart and has business sense, you should understand the difference between directing a conversation or discussion vs asking for general input on a topic. If you really don't understand this then I would think that you may be considered an abrasive manager by many. I've seen many managers who essentially force people into certain directions with little wiggle room for individual contributions and suggestions. Whether they get results is beside the point, those are the managers that the staff really dislike working for. Learn to recognize when it is appropriate and when it is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Oh yes.

My MD, PhD husband is so clueless sometimes it boggles my mind. I thought he did it on purpose so that I could do the work for him a la Raymond, but actually not...


OP,

It's fine
FWIW, I don't like that list either because I don't like singling out children by their sex for every little purpose - at that age they're already figuring out how to deal with the opposite sex, so anything that reinforces those gender lines is silly. The teacher could have figured another way to divvy up supplies.

I was with you up until the last paragraph. Really, you do know that a girl has a vagina and a boy has a penis. The teachers aren't making up a difference between boys & girls. The vaginas aren't bringing items that are considered stereotypical for vagina owners.

What would you have been okay with? Blue eyes bring large ziplock bags, brown eyes small ones? Better be careful that seems racist.

[Anonymous]

I'm a mom who runs the school supply program at our school and the reason it's devided by boys and girls is because the supplier cannot handle it any other way. The teacher only needs half of a product and normally you would devide the class list alphabetically but the supplier cannot handle it in their system. Their system finds it easier to separate by sex. No big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so maybe OP just doesn't have street smarts - some of the smartest (academically) people that I know are just so clueless sometimes...

Oh yes.

My MD, PhD husband is so clueless sometimes it boggles my mind. I thought he did it on purpose so that I could do the work for him a la Raymond, but actually not...


OP,

It's fine
FWIW, I don't like that list either because I don't like singling out children by their sex for every little purpose - at that age they're already figuring out how to deal with the opposite sex, so anything that reinforces those gender lines is silly. The teacher could have figured another way to divvy up supplies.

I gave you the benefit of the doubt until I read this last paragraph. You have issues. Also, the kids aren't shopping for school supplies - the parents are.

[Anonymous]

Feel free to buy all of the items on the boys and girls lists so that your child doesn't feel slighted or pressured by being on lists segregated by gender.

I feel sorry for your kid's teacher because you can't even look at the supply list without criticizing and looking for nonexistent problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. I didn't know they had communal supplies in kindergarten. When I was in kindergarten a few decades ago everyone had to bring their own supplies, and there was no communal anything. Thus why I didn't figure it out (to the PP who was alarmed that I couldn't figure this out -- sheesh). This is all new to me, as there is also no communal anything in my DCs' preschool either.

I also wasn't being sensitive to anything. I was simply curious.

Also, the logic isn't necessarily sound. If they really just want 50% of the class bringing some communal supplies, it doesn't follow that dividing the list by gender is the way to go. Classes are generally not evenly divided along gender lines, and often they are heavily weighted with more of one gender than the other.

You really are out of it. The schools spend a lot of time constructing class lists so the gender balance is pretty equal.

Really? Are you sure? My sons kindergarten class had 12 girls and 6 boys at the beginning of the school year.

All they want to make sure is that they don't end up with(If there were 25 kids in a class) that they don't have 25 boxes of kleenex. They might just need 8-12. Everyone is soooo no need to be literal. If a teacher ends up needing more supplies THEY WILL ASK FOR THE PARENTS HELP later to chip in and purchase a few more boxes. Most parents are willing. Overall point is that NOT just the girls use the darn kleenex!