School supplies -- buy the best or is it just pooled for the whole class?

[Anonymous]

I've seen those microphones and also have wondered about the expense? as well as, other things the school pays for, but not supplies??

I believe there are quite a few fcps schools using those?

[Anonymous]

From an Alexandria school newsletter, but from many years back:

" we equipped our
music and first grade classrooms with audio enhancement systems; soon, our kindergarten and
second grade classrooms will also have this equipment. This system, which includes speakers set
throughout the ceiling, a wireless microphone worn around the teacher’s neck, and wireless
microphones passed among students, spreads sound evenly throughout the room so that students
in the back can hear just a well as those sitting close to the teacher. Research shows that
classrooms with this system scored 10 -15 percent higher on state assessments than students in
other classrooms. English speakers of other languages (ESOL) recorded some of the greatest
gains in test scores. We are so pleased to have these valuable additions to instruction."

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/weeklyword/CC%20Nov%2006.pdf

OMG, learn how to speak loudly! You are a professional public speaker as a teacher. But these are really necessary, as is the expense for them? But we are supposed to shell out more money than is necessary for the whole class supplies? Yes, WHY ARE we buying dry erase markers? That's not even something the kids are using, if you are going to talk about pooled supplies. That's for the teacher and the classroom!!

[Anonymous]

Found price info here. http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1230

"All these benefits come with a reasonable price tag, too. Merline notes that FrontRow’s classroom amplification systems range in price from $836 to $1,300. And Dobson said that Audio Enhancement’s products range in price from $600 to $2,000."

Hope everyone is happy shelling out for this in taxes.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe there are SIX pages on what to do with school supplies! I really hated adding one more comment but do need to say give a break if dry erase markers are on a supply list because in some classes ALL the students do use them at times. I have seen more than one classroom where the students have individual small white boards they can use to do math problems, etc. as part of their learning. It is also why some classrooms have old socks as they make excellent erasers for a student to use on their own white board.

As for whoever said don't send in tissues. Come on. You have no idea how quickly a classroom can go through those. If you only want to worry about your little Suzie or Joey, and send in only when they need them, guess you don't worry about where or on who the other students are sneezing if they can't share your stash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Found price info here. http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1230

"All these benefits come with a reasonable price tag, too. Merline notes that FrontRow’s classroom amplification systems range in price from $836 to $1,300. And Dobson said that Audio Enhancement’s products range in price from $600 to $2,000."

Hope everyone is happy shelling out for this in taxes.

Raise your hand if you've actually been in a classroom with the audio enhancement system? Oh this poster hasn't?? Shocking. I have worked in a school with it, and it is awesome. Not only does it help the teacher maintain a quiet talking volume while still communicating across the entire room, but it really helps kids share and be heard. Kindergartners can share their writing pieces so that the entire class can hear. The shy third grader who has a new way to approach a math problem can be heard by all of his classmates. I highly encouraging checking out a school that has this installed. Some schools that are undergoing renovation have opted for the audio enhancement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simply don't buy certain things. For ex: the dry-erase markers. Those are clearly for the classroom and not for your child. Same with tissues. Just send your child to school with tissues if they are needed. It does grate me throughout the year to get the notices "We are out of tissues; please send in more with your child."

There is nothing the school can do. They can't force you to send in common supplies. While they are busy cutting costs they are also outfitting teachers with, for example, around-the-neck microphones so they don't have to raise their voices. This has nothing to do with hard-of-hearing children; it is just a "benefit." There is a lot more fat in the budget than can be cut so that the SCHOOL can buy supplies. It is not, as stated upthread, a matter of "supplies or education, pick one."

Am I a bitter parent who is against teachers? Hardly, as I AM a teacher. But I'm not a sheep who goes along with everything the district decides. Enough is enough.

You go girl. It definitely makes sense to punish the kids and classroom teachers for budget excess at the district level. They can DAMN WELL USE THEIR SLEEVES. And those personal sized dry erase boards that are used to keep all kids engaged and practicing simultaneously are just another FRIVOLOUS WASTE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP--the supply lists are similar to the ones you would have had as a kid. Instead of each kid keeping his/her supplies in the desk, some supplies are kept in a communal area. It's not a big deal, really. And it's not odd.

What is odd is people spending too much energy on this. I was teacher in FCPS for over ten years. It just made sense to pool some of the supplies. It kept the desks neater and ensured that when it came time to use them, the supplies were there, easy to distribute and easy to clean up. That, in turn, meant MORE TIME FOR LEARNING. So when the kids needed to cut out something, seriously it was SO MUCH FASTER to have 2 kids pass out the scissors than wait for 24 kids to look through their desks to find them and then work through the 4-5 kids saying, "hey I can't find mine..."

Yes, oh yes. Another teacher here. "My" kids get to keep anything that is "special," such as the designed folders they'd chosen, but the "generic" stuff is put into a common pile.

Some parents get bizarre about it, writing their kid's name across EVERY glue stick, eraser, and pack of looseleaf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Found price info here. http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1230

"All these benefits come with a reasonable price tag, too. Merline notes that FrontRow’s classroom amplification systems range in price from $836 to $1,300. And Dobson said that Audio Enhancement’s products range in price from $600 to $2,000."

Hope everyone is happy shelling out for this in taxes.

Raise your hand if you've actually been in a classroom with the audio enhancement system? Oh this poster hasn't?? Shocking. I have worked in a school with it, and it is awesome. Not only does it help the teacher maintain a quiet talking volume while still communicating across the entire room, but it really helps kids share and be heard. Kindergartners can share their writing pieces so that the entire class can hear. The shy third grader who has a new way to approach a math problem can be heard by all of his classmates. I highly encouraging checking out a school that has this installed. Some schools that are undergoing renovation have opted for the audio enhancement.

Do not put words in my mouth. I most certainly have else I wouldn't have even brought it up. Bring your snark someplace else.

[Anonymous]

Simply don't buy certain things. For ex: the dry-erase markers. Those are clearly for the classroom and not for your child. Same with tissues. Just send your child to school with tissues if they are needed. It does grate me throughout the year to get the notices "We are out of tissues; please send in more with your child."

There is nothing the school can do. They can't force you to send in common supplies. While they are busy cutting costs they are also outfitting teachers with, for example, around-the-neck microphones so they don't have to raise their voices. This has nothing to do with hard-of-hearing children; it is just a "benefit." There is a lot more fat in the budget than can be cut so that the SCHOOL can buy supplies. It is not, as stated upthread, a matter of "supplies or education, pick one."

Am I a bitter parent who is against teachers? Hardly, as I AM a teacher. But I'm not a sheep who goes along with everything the district decides. Enough is enough.

I doubt you are a teacher. Obviously, dry-erase markers are for every child in the classroom and a lack of them (and thus an inability to write on white boards will negatively affect your child's education. As for thinking you can anticipate your child's tissue needs in advance and only send tissues only when that child is needs it...well, that is just silly. Stop complaining about the regular classroom supplies. They are needed and a lack of them means some kid (probably yours) will have to borrow what they need from kids with less skimpy parents.

That said, I do agree that the microphones are unnecessary and a silly expense.

[Anonymous]

I volunteer in my children's first and second grade classes. It is truly amazing how many boxes of tissue they go through in a week! I also help with sharpening the pencils and Tinderosa brands are so much better. The lead in the cheaper brands often break when sharpening and also when pressure is applied too hard when writing. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to have your pencil tip keep breaking when you are just learning to write? Some kids get so mad and some start to cry. Please don't skimp on supplies. They really do matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I've already bought the Expo markers and the name brand kleenex and such that are obviously for the teacher and class to use. I don't begrudge the plan to pool these items. The point of my original post was to ask if everyone generally goes along with the request for "preferred" brands on items that in my experience were bought and used by one student (i.e. pens, pencils, glue, etc., etc.). When I was growing up, I got to pick out the pens I wanted to use, and the folders and ruler and after my mom bought them, I brought them to school and they were mine. She knew and I knew that my choices on these items were for me alone.

Yes, there is a disincentive to buy the expensive "preferred" brands if I know they are going to be pooled. This is simple economic logic b/c there is a risk that few people are going to buy the preferred brands and then those few are the suckers. On the other hand, if it seems like everyone/most everyone agrees that they follow the request, then the disincentive/risk is diminished.

I totally get where the OP is coming from.
If it is something like pencils or markers fine.
But a binder or something you will keep and use the entire year and be handed crap, despite you having bought the recommended stuff at the beginning of the year would irk me.
I am wondering why the teachers don't collect money from all parents instead then, and buy all their preferred brands and pool as they see fit - and then everyone has the same good stuff. She would probably get a discount for buying in bulk etc, why is that not done?

That said though; Kleenex brand tissues, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer in my children's first and second grade classes. It is truly amazing how many boxes of tissue they go through in a week! I also help with sharpening the pencils and Tinderosa brands are so much better. The lead in the cheaper brands often break when sharpening and also when pressure is applied too hard when writing. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to have your pencil tip keep breaking when you are just learning to write? Some kids get so mad and some start to cry. Please don't skimp on supplies. They really do matter.

Hmm, back in my school days, we never used pencils, only fountain pens. Things are so different now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Simply don't buy certain things. For ex: the dry-erase markers. Those are clearly for the classroom and not for your child. Same with tissues. Just send your child to school with tissues if they are needed. It does grate me throughout the year to get the notices "We are out of tissues; please send in more with your child."

There is nothing the school can do. They can't force you to send in common supplies. While they are busy cutting costs they are also outfitting teachers with, for example, around-the-neck microphones so they don't have to raise their voices. This has nothing to do with hard-of-hearing children; it is just a "benefit." There is a lot more fat in the budget than can be cut so that the SCHOOL can buy supplies. It is not, as stated upthread, a matter of "supplies or education, pick one."

Am I a bitter parent who is against teachers? Hardly, as I AM a teacher. But I'm not a sheep who goes along with everything the district decides. Enough is enough.

I doubt you are a teacher. Obviously, dry-erase markers are for every child in the classroom and a lack of them (and thus an inability to write on white boards will negatively affect your child's education.

Because we were really underpriviledged when WE went to school and had to learn from -- GASP!! -- white chalk on chalkboards! Ah, first-world problems: No dry-erase markers and no white boards negatively affect education. I see!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer in my children's first and second grade classes. It is truly amazing how many boxes of tissue they go through in a week! I also help with sharpening the pencils and Tinderosa brands are so much better. The lead in the cheaper brands often break when sharpening and also when pressure is applied too hard when writing. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to have your pencil tip keep breaking when you are just learning to write? Some kids get so mad and some start to cry. Please don't skimp on supplies. They really do matter.

Then the school can go ahead and buy them. Period.

[Anonymous]

For the schools to buy everything needed to educate the children requires an increase in taxes. People to not like takes, and complain and insist on more efficiencies. The schools come up with ideas, implement them, and people complain about the cuts.

The solution is to properly fund government so it can provide the services we demand.