Why are we forced to share school supplies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to volunteer in the classroom sometimes. Once you do that, it'll all make sense.

[Anonymous]

After a month the group pile looks like something you picked from the trash. Dirty, broken, scissors so dull they won’t cut paper, dirt from picking them up from the floor. Covered with germs. It doesn’t build self respect or responsibility; on the contrary it builds “someone else will take care of it”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I wish my DD could have and keep for herself are her left-handed scissors. She has trouble using right-handed scissors and people don’t always think to provide some left-handed scissors.

The beauty of being forced to use right-handed scissors as a lefty is at some point you learn to do that and you no longer need left-handed scissors, which is better because you can always find regular scissors.
Signed, left-handed woman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was surprised that the kids used their supplies communally, but my kid didn't care. However, his table-mate, Melanie had her own supplies. So it seemed like the teacher made space for all types of needs.

I too was surprised when I bought the prepackaged supply case and then when I started volunteering I saw that they were communal supplies. That said, I really did not care, there are plenty of supplies to go around for everybody. My child did not need to have her own and I never heard that she was missing anything in particular

Why would that bother somebody? Unless you are auto immune suppressed or have some sort of allergy, you don’t really need to have your own supplies And if you were auto immune suppressed or had an allergy, I am certain the teacher would accommodate that child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After a month the group pile looks like something you picked from the trash. Dirty, broken, scissors so dull they won’t cut paper, dirt from picking them up from the floor. Covered with germs. It doesn’t build self respect or responsibility; on the contrary it builds “someone else will take care of it”

Wouldn't you expect the government schools to indoctrinate the impressionable six-year-olds in socialism?

(I am not being sincere.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The only thing I wish my DD could have and keep for herself are her left-handed scissors. She has trouble using right-handed scissors and people don’t always think to provide some left-handed scissors.

The beauty of being forced to use right-handed scissors as a lefty is at some point you learn to do that and you no longer need left-handed scissors, which is better because you can always find regular scissors.
Signed, left-handed woman

Not to mention that it helps kids to become more resilient, and learn to adjust to situations rather than expect everyone to meet their specific needs.

[Anonymous]

If you've ever had a child with anxiety and had to have conversations with them (every.single.day) about how they should cope if they get the "chewed on" crayon or pencil, you might understand why some of us get a bit frustrated with communal supplies.

Forcing my child with anxiety to use supplies he considered ill suited to his needs did not build any "resiliency" in him that his normal day-to-day life dealing with his anxiety didn't already provide. However, having to deal with this, and the teacher also having to deal with the fall out, did perhaps make it easier to get him a 504. I don't think traumatizing a child should be a required step to getting a 504, however. Once he was able to have his own supplies, he was able to focus on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might get stuck with on a particular assignment.

I think communal supplies make sense generally. A child should be focused on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might not have when he needs to do a particular assignment. I appreciate teachers who can make room for both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The only thing I wish my DD could have and keep for herself are her left-handed scissors. She has trouble using right-handed scissors and people don’t always think to provide some left-handed scissors.

The beauty of being forced to use right-handed scissors as a lefty is at some point you learn to do that and you no longer need left-handed scissors, which is better because you can always find regular scissors.
Signed, left-handed woman

Not to mention that it helps kids to become more resilient, and learn to adjust to situations rather than expect everyone to meet their specific needs.

So would buying the whole classroom nothing but lefty scissors, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've ever had a child with anxiety and had to have conversations with them (every.single.day) about how they should cope if they get the "chewed on" crayon or pencil, you might understand why some of us get a bit frustrated with communal supplies.

Forcing my child with anxiety to use supplies he considered ill suited to his needs did not build any "resiliency" in him that his normal day-to-day life dealing with his anxiety didn't already provide. However, having to deal with this, and the teacher also having to deal with the fall out, did perhaps make it easier to get him a 504. I don't think traumatizing a child should be a required step to getting a 504, however. Once he was able to have his own supplies, he was able to focus on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might get stuck with on a particular assignment.

I think communal supplies make sense generally. A child should be focused on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might not have when he needs to do a particular assignment. I appreciate teachers who can make room for both.

Your child was traumatized by sharing school supplies? I'm guessing he's going to need more than a 504 as time marches on...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've ever had a child with anxiety and had to have conversations with them (every.single.day) about how they should cope if they get the "chewed on" crayon or pencil, you might understand why some of us get a bit frustrated with communal supplies.

Forcing my child with anxiety to use supplies he considered ill suited to his needs did not build any "resiliency" in him that his normal day-to-day life dealing with his anxiety didn't already provide. However, having to deal with this, and the teacher also having to deal with the fall out, did perhaps make it easier to get him a 504. I don't think traumatizing a child should be a required step to getting a 504, however. Once he was able to have his own supplies, he was able to focus on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might get stuck with on a particular assignment.

I think communal supplies make sense generally. A child should be focused on what he should be learning, not stressed about what supplies he might not have when he needs to do a particular assignment. I appreciate teachers who can make room for both.

But not all kids have anxiety to that level. It sounds like the teacher was able to make accomodations to help your child - and that is what should be done for children with special needs. The system appears to have worked for you, good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?

Because we're teaching kids not to be a$$holes?

Anonymous wrote:Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Don't care. If the biggest problem my child runs into in school is that she had to work with a broken crayon, or blunt tip pencil, then I'd consider her lucky. Honestly, barring some sort of serious issue that can be caused by sharing of resources, I don't see how it is anything but good to teach kids to share what they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?

Because we're teaching kids not to be a$$holes?

Anonymous wrote:Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Don't care. If the biggest problem my child runs into in school is that she had to work with a broken crayon, or blunt tip pencil, then I'd consider her lucky. Honestly, barring some sort of serious issue that can be caused by sharing of resources, I don't see how it is anything but good to teach kids to share what they have.

And to learn that using a broken crayon is ok. And to learn that if your pencil isn't sharp or broken, you need to get up and sharpen it yourself. And to learn to work with what's available, whatever that is.

The entitled snowflakiness of this thread is jaw-dropping.

[Anonymous]

Kids learn to share. Share. Share.
You could teach your child not to share. See how that goes.

[Anonymous]

Our school simply asks for a supply fee of $30, which covers supplies for the entire year. Teachers are able to purchase quality supplies in bulk at a discount and parents don’t have to worry about some of the issues discussed here. Certain supplies are communal and others are individual. It really works well all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I wish my DD could have and keep for herself are her left-handed scissors. She has trouble using right-handed scissors and people don’t always think to provide some left-handed scissors.

Sent my leftie to school with left-handed scissors and the teacher sent them home. Said that they weren't necessary.