Comments on: Information About Art Supplies Items

By: rachel

rachel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:40:59 +0000

You make me glad to be in an Australian school. I believe the teachers do buy a few things but the state government provides most of it. We pay our fees and the school buys everything. The only thing my kids take to school is an art smock,a library bag and a box of tissues. Thank you for making me appreciate it.
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By: browneyedgirl

browneyedgirl — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:38:59 +0000

Ok, I can see both points, because I have been on both sides of this debate. I was a teacher (for 5 years before I was a parent) and I had to spend a lot of my own money on supplies.
But I have to admit that the parent side is far worse. I followed our school list (including all specific name brands requested by the school). When I left Target I had spent $150.00 on notebooks, etc for two children! (one elementary, one middle school) On open house night. I asked the teacher what they were using a certain supply for and her reply was "I don’t use that, the school makes up the list." Then I found out that all the supplies are put together and used by the class as a whole. Ok, so I buy the requested name brand markers, but my child ends up with the off brand.
Secondly, $150.00 may not sound like a lot to some, but when school starts, my children also have to have shoes and clothes, too. Not to mention school fees! We spent close to another $150.00 for fees at open house. We are considered middle income and it is challenging for us. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for single parents or people in lower income areas.
It is getting so I have to plan back to school like it were Christmas.
east coast mom
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By: Linda R

Linda R — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:36:59 +0000

All requests that my kid’s teachers in any grade have sent home so far, have had the qualifier ‘if you are able to’ or ‘if you’d like to’. Nowhere did it say mandatory. It always says "suggested supply list’, ‘suggested donation’ and the like.

To all parents who can afford, but complain, help out in a lower grade elementary classroom, and you’ll know what fun it is. You are trusting the teacher with your child for 6 hours a day, how about you trust them when they say they need the supplies? And just send them?

Some of the supplies I’ve sent in have been used by the kids to make Mother’s Day, Father’s day gifts and Holiday Calendars which have my most treasured gifts, adn sometimes the only gifts I get!!!

The only time I can see a valid complaint from parents is if they really cannot afford it(and before they say this they should check how much they spent on kid’s backpack, shoes and other back-to-school shopping).
The other valid complaint could be if teachers single out a kid whose parents have not sent in supplies or contributed.

I do wish my kid’s school gave next year’s supply list before school ends or mail it home atleast 4-5 weeks ahead, so we can shop around. We only get it when class lists are put up which is 2 days before the new school year starts.
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By: pinkpiglet126

pinkpiglet126 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:34:59 +0000

I have so many teacher friends who spend so much $ on supplies. They buy rewards and goodies for their students. They decorate the classrooms up so nicely.

They have pizza parties when all the kids have read so many books – who do you think pays for that?? My friends go to the Scholastic book sales every year to buy new books for their classrooms.

They each spend $100′s every year on OTHER people’s kids and then have to turn around and buy their own kid’s school supplies just like everyone else.
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By: Lydia

Lydia — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:32:59 +0000

Agreed. Things just vary from state to state, province to province, and even within school divisions — so everyone is having such different circumstances.
And parents do NOT appreciate at all, or know, how much individual teachers spend on the students with classroom materials, and throughout the whole year. It’s hundreds and hundreds of dollars – and teachers aren’t paid much.
Parents, appreciate your teachers!
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mom and teacher

By: Heather C

Heather C — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:30:59 +0000

People are stupid, do they think you make millions of dollars a year? Teachers are one of the most underpaid over worked groups out there! I have a 6 year old in 2nd grade who's school supply list was almost 2 pages long, but rather than think of buying those things in terms of how much it will cost I thought of how much use she would get from them! I am not rich, but I do know that education is invaluable, so any thing the teacher needs she should get! It is not like they stock pile it to sell on some teacher black market! They do not have meetings where the topic is to see how much pointless stuff they can get the parents to buy! ASK YOURSELF HOW MUCH YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION IS WORTH! IF YOU STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT A COUPLE OF DOLLARS WORTH OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES THEN PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, COLLEGE IS WAY OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE! BUT DON'T FORGET CHRISTMAS IS COMING SO MAKE SURE TO GET THEM THAT XBOX, IPOD, AND NAME BRAND SHOES!
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By: brianswife

brianswife — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:28:59 +0000

I am a low income parent and I agree with you. All of us parents know that our kids are going to need school supplies every year so why not pick things up all year around that way its not so expensive in August. And last year I helped the kinder teacher in my school and she showed me a lot of the stuff that she had to pay for because the school only pays for what is necessary. she was the one that bought all the fun stuff for the kids to do. most of the crafts was bought by her and if the parents didn’t supply enough snacks she always bought extra. So to you parents that complain plan ahead. buy pencils and glue and crayons during the year and you wont have so much to buy at the begging of the school year.

and if you don’t like what your school is doing try homeschooling and see how expensive all the materials are yourself!!!!!!
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By: mysteryperson

mysteryperson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:26:59 +0000

I am not a teacher but I understand. Parents need to go to the school meetings PTA etc. and see what the school budget really is. There is not much extra money for supplies that are greatly needed. I stock up when there are sales and many items can be reused more than one school year. Spending money is part of having children.
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By: bunnyrabbit_78219

bunnyrabbit_78219 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:24:59 +0000

I understand how you are feeling< but as a parent who lives strickly on disability there is only a limit on what i can get also especially if you have three kids two in kinder and ome in pre k. So i only got the basic like glue crayons pencil markers and scissors thats all i could afford.
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By: poobies69

poobies69 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:22:59 +0000

My daughter just started Kindergarten and I got the 'would help if you could contribute these items' list. I am MORE than happy to buy things to send to assist with my daughters learning. I agree that some parents need to stop complaining about it. Go spend $10 and get over it. I hope things get better for ya!
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