Anonymous
08/02/2025 19:16
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
I attended public schools in PG county and my parents struggled to buy school supplies for my siblings and me. I appreciate what our teachers did for us.
We are incredibly fortunate that we can afford to buy what my daughter needs and we buy extra. Spending an extra $50-100 for school supplies isn’t setting us back. We realize that not every family is as fortunate, and that’s why we go above and beyond. For us, the other kids our my daughter’s school are not some undeserving faceless moochers, they are our friends and neighbors.
So help your teachers out if you can. If you’re unwilling to, then don’t. But don’t bash teachers for asking for what they need - trust me, they’re not selling surplus school supplies on FB Marketplace to fund their extravagant vacations.
We are incredibly fortunate that we can afford to buy what my daughter needs and we buy extra. Spending an extra $50-100 for school supplies isn’t setting us back. We realize that not every family is as fortunate, and that’s why we go above and beyond. For us, the other kids our my daughter’s school are not some undeserving faceless moochers, they are our friends and neighbors.
So help your teachers out if you can. If you’re unwilling to, then don’t. But don’t bash teachers for asking for what they need - trust me, they’re not selling surplus school supplies on FB Marketplace to fund their extravagant vacations.
Anonymous
08/02/2025 18:23
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Im a 5th grade teacher. I long ago stopped buying school supplies for kids. This past year all the kids were in charge of their own supplies. There was no class crayon or colored pencil bin. Want to color? You need to have your own or borrow. I had a bin for lost and found pencils. None in there? Ask a classmate. I didn’t even have a classroom pencil sharpener—kids brought their own and shared. No tissues? Go to the bathroom and grab toilet paper to blow your nose. No Clorox wipes? We didn’t wipe anything down.
It was practical and logical consequences of not having your stuff. Kids figured it out and I didn’t spend my money. Was it a Pinterest perfect classroom? No? Did kids learn? Totally fine.
In FCPS? Every school has a list so I highly doubt that you were the only teacher in the school who didn’t want the families to have a supply list. I understand you not buying above what families bring in.
Anonymous
08/02/2025 18:04
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
Teacher here. I had to fill in for you. Yes, these supplies are pricy. When you and other parents sent just one box of Clorox wipes, I had to purchase tons of Clorox with my own money to make up the difference.
So you simply transferred the cost to me. I guess that’s okay, but it starts to add up when a lot of parents do it.
Nope. We found out the reason they wanted 3 Clorox wipes was because each teacher was giving one to the Art teacher. The school can pay for Clorox wipes. They can place team orders.
I’m a former FCPS teacher and I can tell you I had tons of leftover supplies at the end of the year. We don’t need 24 packs of pencils of 24 glue sticks whatsoever. I also ended each year with a ton of paper towels and tissues, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. It’s gluttonous.
What other way does the art teacher get classroom supplies for every student in the school?
Why did you ask for so much that you didn’t need?
Anonymous
08/02/2025 17:56
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Guess what many teachers will be doing in a week or two: Active Shooter Training, stop the bleeding course, and how to shelter in place. Buy the darn pencils if you can!
Anonymous
08/02/2025 08:24
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Im a 5th grade teacher. I long ago stopped buying school supplies for kids. This past year all the kids were in charge of their own supplies. There was no class crayon or colored pencil bin. Want to color? You need to have your own or borrow. I had a bin for lost and found pencils. None in there? Ask a classmate. I didn’t even have a classroom pencil sharpener—kids brought their own and shared. No tissues? Go to the bathroom and grab toilet paper to blow your nose. No Clorox wipes? We didn’t wipe anything down.
It was practical and logical consequences of not having your stuff. Kids figured it out and I didn’t spend my money. Was it a Pinterest perfect classroom? No? Did kids learn? Totally fine.
It was practical and logical consequences of not having your stuff. Kids figured it out and I didn’t spend my money. Was it a Pinterest perfect classroom? No? Did kids learn? Totally fine.
Anonymous
08/02/2025 08:23
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are none left over. Your children will break and lose all the pencils. They will let them fall on the floor and will walk over them instead of picking them up.
We use wipes snd paper towels probably for the same thing you do—cleaning things, wiping up messes, drying hands.
THIS! I am a sub and am constantly telling kids to pick up pencils from the floor.
Ok … so the answer is to have the kids pick them up and put them away no? Not ask the parents to send in 500 pencils.
They don’t pick them up.
Who's in charge here? Stand there and tell them they may not leave, may not go anywhere or do anything until they pick up the pencil they dropped. Get a backbone!
You ok with your kid missing lunch and recess waiting for a kid to pick up a pencil?
If your kid picks up the pencil they dropped then they can go. I never punished an entire class for the mistakes of one kid.
Anonymous
08/02/2025 08:17
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are none left over. Your children will break and lose all the pencils. They will let them fall on the floor and will walk over them instead of picking them up.
We use wipes snd paper towels probably for the same thing you do—cleaning things, wiping up messes, drying hands.
THIS! I am a sub and am constantly telling kids to pick up pencils from the floor.
Ok … so the answer is to have the kids pick them up and put them away no? Not ask the parents to send in 500 pencils.
They don’t pick them up.
Who's in charge here? Stand there and tell them they may not leave, may not go anywhere or do anything until they pick up the pencil they dropped. Get a backbone!
You ok with your kid missing lunch and recess waiting for a kid to pick up a pencil?
Anonymous
08/02/2025 08:02
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
Teacher here. I had to fill in for you. Yes, these supplies are pricy. When you and other parents sent just one box of Clorox wipes, I had to purchase tons of Clorox with my own money to make up the difference.
So you simply transferred the cost to me. I guess that’s okay, but it starts to add up when a lot of parents do it.
Nope. We found out the reason they wanted 3 Clorox wipes was because each teacher was giving one to the Art teacher. The school can pay for Clorox wipes. They can place team orders.
I’m a former FCPS teacher and I can tell you I had tons of leftover supplies at the end of the year. We don’t need 24 packs of pencils of 24 glue sticks whatsoever. I also ended each year with a ton of paper towels and tissues, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. It’s gluttonous. [/quote
I wouldn’t judge all teachers based on your experience. Just because you had easier access to supplies doesn’t mean the teachers of your children do.
I worked in a high school (different district) in which I was given the following to last the entire year:
- 1 box of copy paper
- 4 individual boxes of tissues
- 1 container of Clorox
- a stick of staples, two white board markers, and a pen
Needless to say, I purchased a ton that year.
Anonymous
08/02/2025 00:55
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
Teacher here. I had to fill in for you. Yes, these supplies are pricy. When you and other parents sent just one box of Clorox wipes, I had to purchase tons of Clorox with my own money to make up the difference.
So you simply transferred the cost to me. I guess that’s okay, but it starts to add up when a lot of parents do it.
Nope. We found out the reason they wanted 3 Clorox wipes was because each teacher was giving one to the Art teacher. The school can pay for Clorox wipes. They can place team orders.
I’m a former FCPS teacher and I can tell you I had tons of leftover supplies at the end of the year. We don’t need 24 packs of pencils of 24 glue sticks whatsoever. I also ended each year with a ton of paper towels and tissues, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. It’s gluttonous.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 23:21
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
120 pencils? Each?
I teach third grade and we ask for 24 (2 packs of 12). We don’t pool supplies.
I teach third grade and we ask for 24 (2 packs of 12). We don’t pool supplies.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 21:52
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
Teacher here. I had to fill in for you. Yes, these supplies are pricy. When you and other parents sent just one box of Clorox wipes, I had to purchase tons of Clorox with my own money to make up the difference.
So you simply transferred the cost to me. I guess that’s okay, but it starts to add up when a lot of parents do it.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 18:58
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
We notice.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 18:56
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are none left over. Your children will break and lose all the pencils. They will let them fall on the floor and will walk over them instead of picking them up.
We use wipes snd paper towels probably for the same thing you do—cleaning things, wiping up messes, drying hands.
THIS! I am a sub and am constantly telling kids to pick up pencils from the floor.
Ok … so the answer is to have the kids pick them up and put them away no? Not ask the parents to send in 500 pencils.
They don’t pick them up.
Who's in charge here? Stand there and tell them they may not leave, may not go anywhere or do anything until they pick up the pencil they dropped. Get a backbone!
LOL, you must be a master teacher! I’m not wasting class time arguing with a kid who’s refused multiple times to pick-up a pencil.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 18:53
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
The last few years of my child’s elementary school I stopped donating the crazy amounts of things and no one noticed or cared. They collect a lot at the open house and no one actually sees what you donate. For example, they wanted 2 packs of dry erase markers. Nope. We just got 1. Kid never used even one marker from it all year. They also asked for a dry eraser. I didn’t buy that at all - I will buy if my kid tells me they need one. She never asked the whole year. 10 packs of pencils? Nope. One pack, and we took out a few already to add to her pencil pouch and donated the rest of that one pack. 24 glue sticks? Absolutely not. We bought 6-12, kept 2 in her pouch and donated maybe 4? The rest we keep at home. 3 boxes of Clorox wipes, 75 count. Hell no. We donate one box only. They are pricey. 2 boxes of tissues? Nope, just 1.
Easy.
Easy.
Anonymous
08/01/2025 18:52
Subject: School Supplies lists and Janitorial Supplies
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:120 Ticonderoga pencils? You're exaggerating right?
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.
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.
Just don’t buy it. You’re part of the problem here. The school will provide it if you don’t.
No they won’t.