School Supplies Lists Becoming Laundry Lists

I have lots of teachers in my life, and they ALL pay out of their own pockets for school supplies. Not all the parents can, or will, come through with all the items on the list. Moreover, those supplies are meant to last for the whole school year.

I don't have a problem getting school supplies for my kids. My issue is some things are unreasonable. I went through high school and college without ever purchasing a $10 3 inch binder. If I had purchased what was required for my kids, I would have payed $90 for binders alone. I have a problem purchasing 5 subject notebooks when they are returned at the end of the school year half used with all assignments completed. I admire teachers and the wonderful job they do with our kids. I don't have a problem supplying tissue, sanitizer and other classroom items. Just work with us little considering the cost of the items requested when less expensive items can still meet the need.

I would like to review the campus budget for the school. Maybe we need to see what exactly is purchased for the students by the staff. I bet we could find the funds in the school budget for half of the supplies they say they need to teach your child.

I am a kindergarten teacher who happens to have paper plates, ziploc bags and other items that people may not consider educational on the school supply list. Maybe before people start to judge and shake their head they should ask "why" these items are on the list. These items are used for educational purposes. Paper plates are cut up for art projects or to make pocket holders for reading organizers. Ziploc bags can store math counters and letter tiles to make it easier to give to individual students. So you are not wasting time counting things out and more time can be spent on exploring and learning. These are only a few of the endless examples of use. Clorax wipes are used to wipe off dramatic play toys, blocks or anything that gets sneezed on. Teachers have families and kids of their own to buy school supplies for. I simply can not afford to buy supplies for 22 kids along with my own kids. Yes, we ask for 4 boxes of colors. But when you consider that at the beginning of the year they are on sale for .25, wouldn't you rather pay a dollar for colors needed all year then have to pay more later. Because they will need colors again. One box does not last long in a kinder class. They are constantly loosing colors. I could go on and on about the number of tissue boxes, glue bottles and so on. So before you judge look at the BIG picture.

My daughter has taught for 8 years and has spend countless dollars on supplies for your children every year. Trying to make sure each child has what is needed daily for a classroom of 22 or so students take many dollars out of the teachers pockets. Do the parents realize that the teachers are given a room, books and a desk and and a budget for the year of about 2 hundred dollars for the kids and everything else in the classroom is supplied by the teacher. Give the teachers a break.

I am a teacher, and I wish that families knew that almost everything their child uses in the class, and the things they take home are funded out of my own pocket. On a good year I spend about $1000 out of my own pocket for teaching "your" children (that is on the low end). I love this profession and wouldn't change it for the world, but sometimes it would be nice for those that complain about school supplies to see what their children really use each year and all of the things the teachers selflessly supply without ever asking for help with.

If they would cut out the fundraisers that go with the school year that would be one thing but the longer lists are on top of more fundraisers