Our school has 18-20% free/reduced lunches. It's also why the teachers don't utilize a lot of the technologies available to Fairfax county kids because a decent portion of the study body wouldn't be able to access it at home (unlike people in say Vienna).

Aside from that the SCHOOL should really be providing the classrooms with everything they need. That includes all these supplies. Teachers shouldn't pay for it. Parents shouldn't pay for it. But this is where we are. I have no issue buying them for my child, and always send the teacher a supply "cake" on meet the teacher day.

Until the country starts prioritizing education this is where we are. Don't get me started on school lunches...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Socialism is alive and well. Next step, distribute my kid’s lunch among 30 kids.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Let's be outraged about something that doesn't happen.

Although, to be honest (and this is a real shocker, I know), I would not have a problem if the kids participated in pot lucks for lunch. I think it would actually make my picky eater more inclined to try new things.

Oh man... if it weren't for allergies, that's such an awesome idea! Once a month or once a week or something have a class pot luck and ask kids to bring in their family favorites. What a great way to incorporate everyone's culture and expose kids to new foods.

Anonymous wrote: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.

This. And it's fine with me.

Anonymous wrote:


Socialism is alive and well. Next step, distribute my kid’s lunch among 30 kids.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Let's be outraged about something that doesn't happen.

Although, to be honest (and this is a real shocker, I know), I would not have a problem if the kids participated in pot lucks for lunch. I think it would actually make my picky eater more inclined to try new things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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 label everything down to markers and crayons. I donate extra to cover list supplies. Give out the extra donated supplies or email the parent.

As an ES teacher, rest assured that those items are the FIRST ones I redistribute! I’ll either remove or cross-out the labels, or tell the kids to disregard any names they see.

Socialism is alive and well. Next step, distribute my kid’s lunch among 30 kids.

Guess what? I’m a Republican. But I also can’t stand your entitled mindset that says you don’t have to follow the directions that everyone else has to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Individual supplies is actually less time-consuming. Also, students learn to take better care of their resources and less things for a student having a temper tantrum to readily throw at you.

- signed, teacher who works with first graders.

Maybe you need to work on your classroom management skills if first graders are throwing school supplies at you.

Maybe I should transfer to a UMC school and let other people deal with the poor brown kids who are basically raising themselves while their “parents” use drugs and either ignore them or abuse them. Kids who are throwing things have deeper issues that has nothing to do with classroom management.

DP Why do equate "brown kids" and "poor"? There are plenty of poor non-brown kids and plenty of rich brown kids? And plenty of poor kids who respect others'/shared property and plenty of rich kids who don't ('cause mom/dad can always replace things).

Some things make sense to pool sometimes, and sometimes they don't.

PP is talking specifically about her actual classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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 label everything down to markers and crayons. I donate extra to cover list supplies. Give out the extra donated supplies or email the parent.

As an ES teacher, rest assured that those items are the FIRST ones I redistribute! I’ll either remove or cross-out the labels, or tell the kids to disregard any names they see.

Socialism is alive and well. Next step, distribute my kid’s lunch among 30 kids.

Anonymous wrote:Hate it. Shares germs and colds. When they get in older grades it’s better.

Because 20 little kids in a classroom together all day wouldn't share germs if they all had their own special crayons? Sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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 label everything down to markers and crayons. I donate extra to cover list supplies. Give out the extra donated supplies or email the parent.

As an ES teacher, rest assured that those items are the FIRST ones I redistribute! I’ll either remove or cross-out the labels, or tell the kids to disregard any names they see.

This is definitely in the category of things I am grateful to pay for an never think about again. Whatever the teacher prefers is fine with me.

By all means, buy your child the luxury pens he has to have and send a note that these are the only kind he wants to use and no other child can borrow them. I appreciate knowing from the first day, exactly what type of person you are.

Just made sure not to. Arggg

Anonymous wrote:

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?

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.

They actually are his supplies. This is not tax funded, this is a directed purchase that I made for my kid. People can get their own supplies for their kids.

Change your perspective. They ate CLASSROOM supplies. There, now you have no need to worry as they aren’t his supplies.

Haha. My daughter had to share supplies with another girl who literally “ate” everything and loved to gnaw at the pencils. She just made sure. Or to touch them and move on...

Anonymous wrote:I happily donate classroom supplies to be used by everyone.

But when I buy supplies for my kid specifically, I don't want them to be shared with everyone mainly because I will never get it all back. Same concept as pool toys. We bring some, other parents don't, they walk off with them and I'm left buying more things I cannot afford since everyone did not pitch in. I'm not talking about FARMs kids.

I really think perspective needs to shift. EVERYTHING you buy are classroom supplies to be used by everyone, including but not limited to your child. That is why it is not the same as your family’s pool toys. Or is it but your family is analogous to the classroom. You aren’t buying supplies for your kid specifically. You are buying th teacher what she has requested for the classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Individual supplies is actually less time-consuming. Also, students learn to take better care of their resources and less things for a student having a temper tantrum to readily throw at you.

- signed, teacher who works with first graders.

Maybe you need to work on your classroom management skills if first graders are throwing school supplies at you.

Maybe I should transfer to a UMC school and let other people deal with the poor brown kids who are basically raising themselves while their “parents” use drugs and either ignore them or abuse them. Kids who are throwing things have deeper issues that has nothing to do with classroom management.

DP Why do equate "brown kids" and "poor"? There are plenty of poor non-brown kids and plenty of rich brown kids? And plenty of poor kids who respect others'/shared property and plenty of rich kids who don't ('cause mom/dad can always replace things).

Some things make sense to pool sometimes, and sometimes they don't.