Supply Lists...Should we have to buy the teachers supplies?

Hey Heather, Long time no see...
Okay, here is my opinion on this one....
I don't mind buying some classroom supplies, like kleenex, paper towels etc... I have even bought Tessa's teacher a ream of printer paper in the past (unfortunatly I bought the wrong type so my girls are still drawing on it to this day)...

I have no problem picking up those kind of supplies... However, I do have a problem with high dollar items being put on the supply list. I have heard of the supply list including things like graphing calculators for the classroom (don't get me wrong when Tessa needs one I will buy it) but these can cost $100... If I spend that much on a supply it's for my child not classroom use.

When I worked in an office, I did buy my own office supplies (pens, pencils, paper clips, etc). It was easier than fighting with management, and I always bought wacky stuff no one could steal and get away with it. Everything was either unique, or indelibly labelled. I brought it all home when I left the working world for the mommy world.

I have no issue supplying things like Kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc. If Joey has the sniffles (I hate allergy season), I usually send extras along with him. I would have issues supplying a classroom with computer equipment, software, etc - high-ticket items. Those, the school should really be supplying, like they supply desks and chairs, IMO. I don't think the teachers should have to spend money on high-ticket stuff, either, but if they want to get things like prizes for the kids, etc, that they should pay for.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought that. I didn't say anything because Gabe isn't in school yet but I can't see having a problem buying items I know the school NEEDS. I would want my child to have the best education possible and if that means I need to chip in for a few extras to make the classroom better/safer/run smoother I'm all for it.

There just isn't enough money in the system for the teachers to get what they need. I know a few teachers and they all spend quite a bit out of their own pockets each year to get supplies for their classrooms.

I also don't mind things like tissues and hand sanitizer but when things like red ink pens end up on the supply list I do get a little peeved. No, pens aren't expensive BUT for single parents like myself, any added expense to an already expensive time is too much.
If the teacher has requests for extra items than they should be put on a wish list ... that way parents who simply cannot afford the extra items don't feel like they are sending their children to school unprepared. I think it is unfair for me to have to struggle over the decision to either put a few bucks in my gas tank so I can make it to work or not have to worry about being the parent who didn't send supplies.

The problem is that with 3 kids, that $10 - $20 turns into $30 - $60 ... not counting all the other stuff that the kids have to have, plus clothes, field trip fees .... and so on.

Also, teachers are able to tax deduct any supplies they purchase for the class room that are not reimbursed. Unfortunately, I don't get to tax deduct them ... can't even buy them during tax-free weekend since the lists aren't out in time.

I honestly think some of the teachers are taking advantage of the supply lists. When Jessi first started school, it was only things like crayons, pencils, etc. Now, dry erase markers??? Please tell me how many sets of those the teacher goes through in a year. 25-30? I doubt it!

We were in one school system for a brief period of time that didn't have you bring ANYTHING for your child other than a bookbag. They even provided breakfast in the classroom each morning, FOR FREE! This school system had some of the best graduation rates and grades in the entire state. If they can figure out how to do it, then I have no doubt that others can as well!

i am always sending in supplies that the teacher asks for .. tax dollars don't go that far ...one year my friend only got $50.00 for supplies for her classroom.. now how in the heck can you buy things you need with that .. ??

One year Haley's teacher had a wish list hanging on her classroom wall at open house. The supplies were all listed along with spaces for names after each item. That way, a parent could choose an item within their budget but at the same time see what was already covered. There was everything from pens to boxes of crackers to computer software. I'm sure that with the traditional wish lists, the teachers end up with multiples of the low end items and come up short in other things. It's still a better idea than putting the items on a madatory list though.

I have no problem sending in extra things. My girls go to private schol and I KNOW they don't have the money to get the things they need. And honestly I don't think I've ever had to send anything *off the wall* at all.

I agree with the *big ticket items* that a wish list is the best option.

I know this year Alyssa's teacher is going to buy an air conditioner for her room (the school is not air conditioned) and she's even going to pay a part of the electric bill because she knows the school can't afford too - but the kids NEED to be coler - especially since it's been SO HOT this year.

I can understand that some schools don't have enough funding for all the supplies that a teacher needs BUT when you add on the list of school supplies things like dry erase markers....how many is a teacher really going to need???? How many are in a box, 4 or something like that...maybe even 5....you get say 25 kids in a class all buying dry erase makers....does a teacher really go through more than 100 markers?

We dont' have to buy any supplies for Liz's teacher...BUT we do have to buy "communal school supplies". That, I don't agree with. So if little Johnny doesn't show up with all the supplies, then he is going to get some of the stuff that I bought...and that is not right either.

So if little Johnny's family REALLY can't afford his supplies he should go without? I guess I look at it that if I need to spend 6 bucks I can cut out my coffee/soda etc to get something for someone else. It's not like I have extra money laying around either but I KNOW there are always people worse off then us and if I have to forgo something for someone else I will.

Gotta add another comment...
Two of my friends live in school districts where the parents don't actually have to shop for supplies, except a backpack. They send in 10-20 (depending on grade) and the school buys all the supplies in bulk and they get distribuited out that way. I personally love that idea... Imagine not having to buy school supplies at all, just send in a check
Granted those kids are in grade school, and I know one of them even wears uniforms so they like everyone to have the same thing.

That is fine for someone who has coffee/soda or other luxury items to let go... but what about people who are scraping by with NO extras? I'm not at the point that my child would be little Johnny showing up to school with nothing but I can't support him either. ANYthing extra should be optional.

Are we assuming that the dry erase markers and bags are for the teacher? All those markers cannot be for just one teacher?! Is it possible each child is required to have his/her own set of markers for board work? Many teachers send children to the board to do math, complete sentences, etc. Just a thought. I used to be an elementary school adminstrator and I have seen kids do board work.

We have the wish list too at open house and that way it is optional... As far as dry erase markers, my kids had a hand held wipe off board in their desk, so they used the markers, not the teacher....

I prefer the optional route, I always take 2-3 cards from the wish tree, I was a teacher so I know that they need the help. We're also financially comfortable, so it's not a big deal for us.

What extras? In my house I don't have extras. The point I'm trying to make is that then people that can't afford items won't go without either. If that's your family or mine I'd surely hope that SOMEONE would have bought the extras so that they were there. Maybe you should talk to your school district about it.

If I had to give up my internet and tv I would to pay for school supplies. Those are the only extras I and you have left apparently.

I'm not sure, but believe me, I'm going to find out! It was on the list for 2 different kids. But I've found that most years, they just take all the supplies and throw it into a pile, then divy it out. Not exactly what I had in mind as I was going down the list.

In response to Heather's earlier question about whether or not all parents bring in the markers ... it's on the *mandatory* list, so if not, then I'm about an idiot for doing so. I always purchase everything on the mandatory list and a good chunk of what is on the Wish List. You have to assume that at least 1/2 will actually do it, so that's still 15 or so sets of markers!

I really don't mind providing supplies for my kids to use at home, but quite frankly, I feel that if they are at public school, the school should provide most of these supplies. If it can't afford to, then it's definitely time for a total overhaul of our school systems.

I can go a couple of ways on this one, but for those that say "it's only $10", let's look at it another way. In our county, "Little Johnny" would get to eat breakfast for free and lunch for 40 cents. That same lunch costs me $2.25 and I have no clue what breakfast is. With that being the case, surely "Little Johnny's" family can dig up $10 as well, right??? If not, then Little Johnny's family is already on all sorts of government assistance.

My tax $$ are already helping to feed & house Little Johnny, and apparently, that is taking funding away from MY children, so I have to buy school supplies as well. Now we're going to take that a step further and I have to also help buy Johnny's school supplies??? When does it end???

I teach in a public school in a city. I do not, can not, require any supplies from my students. I do send a welcome letter where I ask for paper towels, ziploc bags, pens, hand sanitizer, dish soap, and wite out. I get absolutely NO money to buy anything. I can not deduct my classroom supplies from my taxes--I get a $250 general deduction. I spend MORE than that EVERY school year just to get my classroom ready for my students. As a matter of fact I bet I spend more than $50 a month on ood for hungry kids.

Every single one of my students lives at or below. Therefore I don't require anything. I buy paper, scissors, pens, white boards AND markers, crayons, chalk, toilet paper, tissues, bandaids....you name it, I've bought it.

BTW, I easily go hrough more than 100 dry erase markers a school year--myself. Plus the kids use them on indiviual white boards.

Mel, you brought up coffee and sodas which is the extras I was referring to. I would gladly give up my TV and Internet if it meant providing for my own child... I wouldn't do it for someone else's though.

I guess I meant extras in general. I would give up my extras of any sort for someone else's kid in my community, if it meant an extra 10 bucks would make the difference.

Heck no, we pay enough, it comes out of our property taxes. The schools should be able to afford to supply the children with the necessities(sp?)
Remember when we were all young and the only thing our parents had to supply us with was our backpack, lunch bag and pencil case? Except in highschool it was a little more.

the money comes out of EVERYONES TAXES !!!!!! BUT IT DOES NOT COVER EVERYTHING TEACHERS NEED TO TEACH FOR OUR KIDS !!!!!!!!

My answer to those that I know that don't have children and complain about any of their taxes going to the schools for that reason is that the children going through the school today are our future (cliché, I know). They are the ones that will run our world one day, be our nurses and doctors, scientists, chefs, accountants, be teachers to our grandchildren so why shouldn't theirs and my tax dollars go to make sure they have the best education possible.

I have heard said before that having parents buy school supplies is a "middle-class tax" because those that have plenty of money don't think twice about buying what their kids need, those that don't have the money are not going to buy anything and will have someone (us, government) else provide it for them, so those of us in the middle get to pay taxes plus buy the supplies that we have to find the money in our budget for.

I will buy anything my child needs and help out the teacher all I can but I don't think anything they need should be mandatory for my child. Put it on their wish list - from my experience, they usually get all they ask for and more by doing so.

For all you do, I applaud you!

AMEN and WELL SAID Abby! I did the same thing. At the beginning of each school year, my school system provided me with a manilla envelope. Inside it was: one black pen, one red pen, a strip of staples, a roll of scotch tape, and a handful of paperclips. That was it! The school system where I taught was at that time the 2nd largest in the state. Now it's the 3rd largest, but that means nothing. I understand the frustration over paying taxes and then having to supply so much, but the fact is that those taxes go toward a lot--school buildings, paying school employees--not just teachers and administrators but also custodians, lunchroom workers, maintenance workers, secretaries, counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, etc. The tax money also goes to supply buses and pay the drivers, as well as to maintain those buses and buy gas for them. Let's not forget free and reduced lunches, textbooks, computers for the students and the staff, budgets for each department in each school--to purchase novels for reading and English departments, to purchase calculators for math departments, to purchase supplemental items, for new books and audio-visual equipment for the media centers. That tax money has a lot of uses and believe me, supplies for the classrooms are last on the list. I don't know any teacher who does not spend his or her own money for classroom supplies, and it's not like any of us make a lot of money, it's a strain for us, too.

I have no problem buying whatever my child needs for school, that is on the list. But not supplying for the whole class.

But Heather, how do you really feel?

I agree with everything you said, the supplies do assist your child in learning, dry erase markers and ziplocs and all. And I tell ya. if I found out that some child in my kids' class didn't have their supplies, but their mom had DSL, I would be ticked that their list of importance was so screwed up. And I would be really sad for the child....