Reply to School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]120 Ticonderoga pencils? You're exaggerating right? [/quote]

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. [/quote]

I’m a teacher. I have to spend my own money on others’ children all the time. When parents don’t provide, I have to purchase. Some years parents are generous and provide what’s on the list. Some years parents provide very little and I have to do bulk orders with my own money. It adds up. I’ve spend over $800 on supplies some years.

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Has it occurred to you that some parents can't afford the ridiculous lists teachers put out like the 120 name brand Ticonderoga pencils when their kids only see 2?

I could not afford it what did the teachers do? Shame me, time and time again. This happened in Fairfax county. I wasn't given anything I had to ask to borrow from other students a piece of paper, a pencil. I was not my fault yet I was chastised for it by EVERY teacher. Now you say you hand things out for those who don't. Well guess what? I never saw that. At all, ever. So I have a very hard time believing that to this day.[/quote]

Believe it or not, I think schools try harder to be fair/not humiliating to poor children now.  I live in a very mixed income district and the PTA and several charities give the principals store gift cards and gas cards to quietly give to needy parents at Christmas.  They also pay for field trips for some kids.  And there's a weekend food charity called Blessings in a Backpack so kids can get weekend food supplies.

I am surprised that schools need printer paper, towels, wipes and pencils.  However, what I've learned is that some parents like to contribute, some like to shop back-to-school sales, and some are germphobic.  So there are people who want to donate this stuff.  And my principal opened my eyes when she said she had to spend $10K of building discretionary money on printer paper one year.  She did like to ask for 2 reams of paper per kid because it allowed her money for other stuff.

For whoever is making a crack about communism, you need to stop and think again.  Do we really want to slander community public schools, teachers, and requests to share in that manner?

When I was new to the game, I questioned supply lists more.  Now I know it's more like going to church on Sunday.  You participate for the long term value and focus on community.  Not interested?  Don't participate.  Nobody is making you and nobody is really watching whether you do or don't.

I do like it better when teachers put notes on e-mails during the year regarding what they are out of.  If it's put politely, I don't mind how often they ask.  They are professionals and if they really want some unusual supply like 5 pink highlighters or red composition notebooks, I'm game.  I do distrust the quirky asks on a whole school beginning of the year list...because then that might be old info from a teacher who left or rotated.[/quote]

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