It's tacky if you don't give anything!

How is this "tacky" if they are using the supplies to benefit their classrooms? Do you suspect they are, like, reselling Mr. Sketch markers on the black market for a profit? If it was easier to get the supplies through their admin don't you think they'd do that?

I am an admin in higher education and I have access to a basically unlimited budget for supplies. If I spend my own money and get it reimbursed (which I approve because I'm in charge) it's easy and fast. If I go through the proper channels that do not require me to front money, then it can take WEEKS to receive what I need. That doesn't work for most teachers.

Most schools don't let teachers buy anything, quickly, with autonomy, even if they're wealthy. Somewhere there are allocations but more often than not they're centralized and timed or involve complicated request or grants from the PTA/PTO.

Being a teacher is hard if you are not wealthy or well off enough to get a box of markers or cardstock or books or snacks at will to support your teaching.

yes very

Anonymous wrote:Asking on neighborhood listserves or on public social media profiles is not appropriate. Last year a couple of teachers did this where I live.

The wish list should go out to that year's parents, and the parents are free to buy as much or as little as they want from that list.

I feel like this is where the OP is coming from. If you’re working at a Title 1 school, not only are parents not getting anything off a list, they’re also not getting anything from the supply list. Teachers have to provide everything. I don’t like the social media postings, but at least I understand it for teachers in the low ses areas.

Asking on neighborhood listserves or on public social media profiles is not appropriate. Last year a couple of teachers did this where I live.

The wish list should go out to that year's parents, and the parents are free to buy as much or as little as they want from that list.

Ask how much money they get from school to set up their classroom. Ask which supplies the school actually provides.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this a little tacky? We all know your school and parents are likely to pay for everything.

How do you think those parents know what to buy?

No one is asking you to buy it, btw.

I’d rather buy stuff from a wishlist than attend any fundraising events.

It's not like they're asking you for cash. Ignore it if you think it's tacky.

Why don’t you find out what the classroom budget is that teachers get from the school? Typical classroom supply budgets are low, even at private schools. We shouldn’t be expecting teachers to sacrifice their salaries to meet families’ expectations for engaging activities and attractive classrooms.

No, because they don’t get money from the school system and it should not come out of their pocket. Some principals will not allow them to ask parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this a little tacky? We all know your school and parents are likely to pay for everything.

right, that's what the list is for, so us parents can buy the needed supplies.

I'm talking about teachers then posting their list all over social media.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this a little tacky? We all know your school and parents are likely to pay for everything.

right, that's what the list is for, so us parents can buy the needed supplies.

School administrators don't give teachers full cash stipends to buy what they need.

They wouldn't ask if they didn't need it.

Isn't this a little tacky? We all know your school and parents are likely to pay for everything.