Kids school supplies

[laila]

Originally Posted by clothdiapermom I bought every single thing on both of my kids supply lists! I also followed the brands they wanted. Believe me there is a reason they ask for specific brands, many of the generic or off brand things are low quality and the kids don't want to use those because they just don't work as well. (ever compared RoseArt Crayons to Crayola, huge difference in quality!) For those of you who think your kid should get to use his/her own school supplies and not have communal supplies, please go volunteer and see how difficult it would be for teachers to have to have the kids keep track of individual items!! I have volunteered in my daughters class the last 2 years. I happily get what the school asks for as far as brand and quantity because it is worth it to me to make my childs teachers day a little easier by giving them what they want! My daughters classes go through lots of pencils, crayons, markers, and glue sticks. There was not much if anything left over at the end of the year last year.

Thank you. That is exactly right! Low quality crayons don't work as well, off name erasers tear the cheap paper we have to use, cheap pencils break often or don't sharpen right ever, cheap glue sticks take more glue to work, thus wasteful, and off name brands of whiteboard markers aren't even allowed to be used at most schools, bc they ruin the whiteboards. Please don't waste money by buying a brand that your teacher doesn't ask for. Consider your child's teacher an expert on office supplies. If he/she is asking for a specific brand, it is for a very good reason.

And please don't call your child's teachers or schools greedy. Public schools don't give teachers much money for supplies anymore. I get $200 and even have to buy my own copy paper. I spend a ton over the year. We provide for students who can't, and if a parent can help, why shouldn't they?! I always make a point to ask my own children's teachers what they need for the classroom and take advantage of the clearance school supplies when the rush is over.

And to all those mamas who help their children's teacher. Thank you. You don't know how much you mean to us!!! We love you.

[CarrieMF]

Originally Posted by Samandy Do schools still use paste, or did they stop doing that in favor of just the sticks?

Some of the classes in my kids school want glue & the sticks. The sticks don't stick everything. My dd in Grade 6 is reusing the glue she had last year which I do not think was ever opened.

All these expo markers make me glad the classes here all have smart boards, the markers never run out.lol

[mmmom]

I buy what is asked of me and try to contribute extra when asked for because I can. I also buy extra and store it at home in case they need something else mid year.
Our lists are pretty basic, they do include Kleenex(2) and large Ziploc(just 3 bags not a box)
I teach preschool in a for profit center. The parents pay $1000/month for their children to attend and obviously we supply everything. This year I had 5 children who's parents were teachers in my class, these parent practically begged to let them know what I needed for my classroom and often took it upon themselves to donate items just because.
The teachers aren't out to hoard supplies they are honestly trying to educate our children as best they can and are simply asking for help.

[Samandy]

Originally Posted by 3Xblessed Post like this want me to get rid of my list for my students and then do what we can with what we are given. That means you student if he/she was in my science class will get a textbook and hopefully they will bring paper. We will be reading the text and answering questions. I might orally lecture since I wasn't supplied white board markers. There will be no powerpoint lectures because I have to buy my own projector bulb (these cost a couple of hundred dollars). There will be no labs because we stopped getting lab supply money about 4yrs ago. There will be no worksheets because I am not supplied copy paper. Same thing goes for my husbands ceramic classes which got a budget of $700 dollars for the year. That makes about 3 projects per kid (he has 5 classes of 45). My school is in a high cost of living area with high property taxes. But we have a declining enrollment which means less money for the schools, in a state that does not spend on education in an era of recession. The example of the police officer buying his own supplies doesn't apply. He is buying for himself but you guys expect teachers to by for their students. I have 38 kids in each of my 5 classes.

This whole lack of funding for education makes me so sad. It's pitting parents against teachers when we all have the same goals.

Do the student at your school not have to pay extra for electives like ceramics? When I took ceramics I paid $45, as did everyone in the class, for materials.

[3Xblessed]

In the state of california there was an ACLU lawsuit about pubic education and fees. The ACLU won and no fees or school supplies can be required. If a kid wants to play soccer, the parents have the right to have the school even supply cleats. Because of this everything is donation only (including ceramics and sports). Many parents have stopped paying just like many parents on this post are only selectively buying school supplies. It is killing all the "fun" in education. My dh is a soccer coach and they no longer field a frosh/soph team. They can't afford it and he is now volunteering his time where he used to get paid to coach.

[Samandy]

Originally Posted by 3Xblessed In the state of california there was an ACLU lawsuit about pubic education and fees. The ACLU won and no fees or school supplies can be required. If a kid wants to play soccer, the parents have the right to have the school even supply cleats. Because of this everything is donation only (including ceramics and sports). Many parents have stopped paying just like many parents on this post are only selectively buying school supplies. It is killing all the "fun" in education. My dh is a soccer coach and they no longer field a frosh/soph team. They can't afford it and he is now volunteering his time where he used to get paid to coach.

That is horrible. There's a fee just to watch the high school football games here.

[luvsviola]

There is a ticket to every game at the MS level at my school. It is $50 to play, and we are a 90% free lunch school. Sports are 100% self funded, including transportation costs.

I think it is incredibly selfish to expect the taxpayers to fund all costs of your child's education. Because these same people are complaining about high taxes in the next breath.

[Samandy]

Originally Posted by luvsviola There is a ticket to every game at the MS level at my school. It is $50 to play, and we are a 90% free lunch school. Sports are 100% self funded, including transportation costs. I think it is incredibly selfish to expect the taxpayers to fund all costs of your child's education. Because these same people are complaining about high taxes in the next breath.

Exactly. I mean basic education of course but freaking ceramics and soccer?? That's just nuts. Whatever happened to fundraising for the team, or weeding the neighbors yard for the funds?

[3Xblessed]

As part of the lawsuit you can not require a kid to fundraise.

[Samandy]

Originally Posted by 3Xblessed As part of the lawsuit you can not require a kid to fundraise.

OMG it just keeps getting worse. What is wrong with the ACLU?!