Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?
Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Personally I don't like it when people complain that they have to contribute school supplies for the whole class instead of just for their own first-grader.

Even better would be if school supplies were school-funded, but we don't get to have such nice things here.

Our schools and school system ARE well funded. Its how the schools and school system choose to use the money. I have no issue buying my child school supplies and buying extra. If you can afford it, is it really that hard to contribute a bit more for another child whose parents cannot or will not buy.

Compared to what?

If this is your biggest concern in life, then consider yourself very, very lucky OP. It sounds like you have been much more fortunate in life than many others.

Other than glue sticks and pencils and tissues and baby wipes, my children have always kept everything we have bought in their desks and/or put their name on it at the Open House.

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

Who cares? I probably wouldn't even know except I hear dcum kvetching about it. WHO CARES? Oh, my goodness, I bought him one brand of pencil but he's using another brand? Once again...WHO CARES?!

We have to share at my school because only half to 3/4 of the students bring in supplies each year. I don’t want to spend any more of my own money than I have to. I already spend a lot on classroom books, decorations, supplies for myself and teaching stuff since our curriculum is so lame.

Because when Larla loses her blue marker, she has trouble completing certain assignments the rest of the year. Hard to draw a blue triangle, or whatever without the blue. As a teacher, I cannot remember which Larlas have lost what supplies when I’m grading. Communal supplies are easier when the kids are younger and less responsible.

I always thought it was a logistical reason. Much easier to have, for example, 7 communal caddies of school supplies on each table, than 27 baskets for each individual kids.
Younger kids sit at group tables, not desks where there is storage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?
Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Personally I don't like it when people complain that they have to contribute school supplies for the whole class instead of just for their own first-grader.

Even better would be if school supplies were school-funded, but we don't get to have such nice things here.

Our schools and school system ARE well funded. Its how the schools and school system choose to use the money. I have no issue buying my child school supplies and buying extra. If you can afford it, is it really that hard to contribute a bit more for another child whose parents cannot or will not buy.

Anonymous wrote:I am fine with my kid sharing her gluesticks with everyone. So Larla who is a Farms kid can use glue too and not be embarressed at the age of 7 because she doesnt have markers or glue sticks.

Or, send in 4-6 or more extra sets of everything, especially when they are on sale so Larla can have her own set. Problem solved. That's what we do but I send in more like 10 sets.

Since school supplies are a teachable moment now, you use this opportunity to teach reusing/repurposing, and anti-consumerism.

Just round up whatever you have around the house and send it in.

Odds are, your kids will end up using shitty used off-brands, so why waste your time/effort/money tracking down the requested name brands.

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?
Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Because they are not "his" supplies. Public schools are inadequately funded, probably due to voters like you, so parents are asked to supplement the budget by providing classroom supplies, among other things.

Anonymous wrote:Why does my 1st grader still have to share his school supplies with all he’s “friends”?
Personally I don’t like it. Do you?

Personally I don't like it when people complain that they have to contribute school supplies for the whole class instead of just for their own first-grader.

Even better would be if school supplies were school-funded, but we don't get to have such nice things here.

I do not care in the least.

I am fine with my kid sharing her gluesticks with everyone. So Larla who is a Farms kid can use glue too and not be embarressed at the age of 7 because she doesnt have markers or glue sticks.