Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

+1

NP OK I'll give examples!
-chairs and cushions for the classroom floor for kids to sit on
-bags of stuffed animals so each kid gets a "reading buddy"
-organizing bins for every single surface
-things to make fancy murals on each bulletin board
-framed art
-shelves
-mini fridge
-carpets
-prizes
-different themed decor every year

Things schools SHOULD provide but aren't:
-benches. My teacher last year bought benches for the playground because the alternative was that teachers stand the entire time or sit in the dirt.
-reams of paper
-tissues
-cleaning supplies
-soap
-whiteboard markers for teachers

You seen wish lists for the things you’ve listed?

WTF! go back to first grade and learn proper English!

i thought this board was poulated with mostly UMC or better?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love teachers, but they have gone way way way too overboard on their classrooms. It's like an ADHD nightmare in most. The walls are completely covered in crazy colors, sayings everywhere, carpets galore, and clutter on every surface.

Teachers- you don't need to do so much! Kids actually don't like learning more in fancy decorated classrooms. They get overwhelmed. Minimalism is great. Please save your money.

I remember when I went from middle to high school and the classrooms were 100% bare. Those teachers don't GAF about aesthetics, particularly the male teachers.

Nonsense. If your office looked like that you’d be bringing in fridges, office chairs, lamps, pictures. Which is what most people do.

Hi- my office does look like that. Fridges and anything else that plugs in are banned. We also cannot hang or tape anything to the walls. Everyone does bring tissues and pictures, but they're for our own use on our desk. I buy my own pens because I don't like the cheap ones (I'm not even fussy- these are super cheap ones that don't work)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

+1

NP OK I'll give examples!
-chairs and cushions for the classroom floor for kids to sit on
-bags of stuffed animals so each kid gets a "reading buddy"
-organizing bins for every single surface
-things to make fancy murals on each bulletin board
-framed art
-shelves
-mini fridge
-carpets
-prizes
-different themed decor every year

Things schools SHOULD provide but aren't:
-benches. My teacher last year bought benches for the playground because the alternative was that teachers stand the entire time or sit in the dirt.
-reams of paper
-tissues
-cleaning supplies
-soap
-whiteboard markers for teachers

You seen wish lists for the things you’ve listed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

+1

NP OK I'll give examples!
-chairs and cushions for the classroom floor for kids to sit on
-bags of stuffed animals so each kid gets a "reading buddy"
-organizing bins for every single surface
-things to make fancy murals on each bulletin board
-framed art
-shelves
-mini fridge
-carpets
-prizes
-different themed decor every year

Things schools SHOULD provide but aren't:
-benches. My teacher last year bought benches for the playground because the alternative was that teachers stand the entire time or sit in the dirt.
-reams of paper
-tissues
-cleaning supplies
-soap
-whiteboard markers for teachers

Those are all appropriate. Who do you think pays for those things? Teachers. School system or school should pay and doesn’t.

Anonymous wrote: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.

As a decent admin you’d make sure teachers have what they need in advance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

+1

NP OK I'll give examples!
-chairs and cushions for the classroom floor for kids to sit on
-bags of stuffed animals so each kid gets a "reading buddy"
-organizing bins for every single surface
-things to make fancy murals on each bulletin board
-framed art
-shelves
-mini fridge
-carpets
-prizes
-different themed decor every year

Things schools SHOULD provide but aren't:
-benches. My teacher last year bought benches for the playground because the alternative was that teachers stand the entire time or sit in the dirt.
-reams of paper
-tissues
-cleaning supplies
-soap
-whiteboard markers for teachers

Anonymous wrote:I love teachers, but they have gone way way way too overboard on their classrooms. It's like an ADHD nightmare in most. The walls are completely covered in crazy colors, sayings everywhere, carpets galore, and clutter on every surface.

Teachers- you don't need to do so much! Kids actually don't like learning more in fancy decorated classrooms. They get overwhelmed. Minimalism is great. Please save your money.

I remember when I went from middle to high school and the classrooms were 100% bare. Those teachers don't GAF about aesthetics, particularly the male teachers.

Nonsense. If your office looked like that you’d be bringing in fridges, office chairs, lamps, pictures. Which is what most people do.

Our school is UMC , 10/10 gs rating but it has cinder block walls, rooms with no windows, uncomfortable fluorescent lighting, and contaminated lead water fountains. My kids spend 6 hours there. If the teachers are willing to decorate with ceiling clouds, soft reading areas, and fidget toys, I’m thrilled to help them make the days a little easier. The pta focuses on water filter stations and pe equipment which makes sense.

Stop expecting the school to be everything for your kids. Get involved and help make your kids school experience worthwhile. So tired of the entitled ‘I’m not buying this teachers school supplies’ mentality. You can’t throw taxpayer money at schools. Parents have to care and be involved. If you truly can’t afford to buy stuff then ask if you can help set up and clean up. If parents spent half the time and money of their Disney-etc vacations on supporting schools, our schools would be amazing. Kids pick up on your disrespectful attitude about your kids school. Teachers are doing Herculean things with way too many kids. Stop being lazy parents.

-mom of three who works but uses vacation time to volunteer in school.

I love teachers, but they have gone way way way too overboard on their classrooms. It's like an ADHD nightmare in most. The walls are completely covered in crazy colors, sayings everywhere, carpets galore, and clutter on every surface.

Teachers- you don't need to do so much! Kids actually don't like learning more in fancy decorated classrooms. They get overwhelmed. Minimalism is great. Please save your money.

I remember when I went from middle to high school and the classrooms were 100% bare. Those teachers don't GAF about aesthetics, particularly the male teachers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

+1

I am a teacher and I’ve never made a list. However, I don’t get enough money to cover all my supply needs. Usually about $200, but it depends on the year. That has to cover a year’s worth of pencils, art supplies, tissues, wipes, staples, paperclips, etc. (And anyone who has taught middle school will tell you that it’s easy to go through dozens of pencils in a week!) If I want something more expensive (like a paper sorter, rolling cart, class set of headphones, etc), that can eat up a huge percentage of my budget. And the previous posters are correct that there is a ton of bureaucracy. At my school we are only allowed to order from Office Depot, the order must be approved by the department head and the treasurer, and it takes forever for the supplies to arrive. If I order something in August I will probably get it in October. Usually at least one part of my order is missing. It is easier to buy things myself. Fortunately my husband makes more money than me, so we can afford it, but lots of my colleagues can’t. I think a wish list is a great idea. If you don’t want to contribute, just ignore it.

The Amazon wish list is just the easiest and quickest way for teachers to compile a list and parents to buy it.
The site keeps track of what is bought and takes it off, etc. so teachers who are busy don’t have to do it.

Previous PP’s are right that teachers have limited budget for supplies, sometimes it is very cumbersome the paperwork to get supplies, etc…

I was a room parent at my kids elementary school and helped to get a supply list out to families because the school did not want teachers to use Amazon, directly ask families, etc…

Also besides supplies, they requested stuff for classroom bulletin boards, seat pillows so kids can work elsewhere besides desk or for reading nooks, etc…. which we had no problems getting.

Everything they are asking, they are using it in some way for the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.

Like what? Give us examples.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Rich parents aren't going to buy everything, and teachers shouldn't have to pay for it themselves. Some of the wealthiest people I know are also the stingiest people I know.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because the “wish lists” are filled with a bunch of crap they don’t actually need.