School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I know this is just part of public school. But DH went to private school in NYC, so he gets infuriated when we have to send stuff in. He doesn't see how we pay out the azz in taxes and then have to supply the school.

I don't want to be "those parents". But he's like "what are they gonna do, not let her go to school?" I try to be involved in the school and have 10 years to deal with this elementary school, so I will not make a bad name for myself.

I fully intend on buying everything she needs. I'm sure DH will ***** and moan.

Have you ever not bought all of the supplies? Or known someone who has done this? Just curious.


ETA. FTR we sent everything in.

Message edited 9/3/2013 10:45:42 AM.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I have always sent in all supplies, no matter the cost, and usually send in extra, just in case.

This year my son (going into 5th grade) needs 4 pre cut tennis balls, presumably to go on the bottom of his chair to cut down on noise. I am very seriously considering not sending them in. I will send in any supply to aid him and his classmates' learning, and tennis balls have nothing to do with his or anyone elses education. If this is something the teacher wants, I feel very strongly that the teacher should supply them.

I will probably cave at the last second and send them in, but I won't like it!!!!

Message edited 8/6/2013 11:31:01 AM.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I buy all the supplies. But my kids do go to a private school, and anything they are required to get are for them only. I don't have to supply the class with glue sticks or pencils, etc.

However, each year they do have to bring in 3 boxes of tissues and a container of baby wipes. This is for the class. I don't mind that so much, because I know my kids will be using their fair share of tissues throughout the year!

But I do have to agree with your hubby. I cringe when I see people with their school supply list with like 35 glue sticks. Really??

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I no longer send in everything. I send in the requested binders and notebooks along with 1 box of wipes and tissues. When it comes to the number of glue sticks, pencils, pens etc. I send in the amount I think he will need to get started and then replenish through the year as he needs them.

My reasoning - the supplies are for him not the class. By the time he gets to the 35th Glue Stick it will have dried out. If I give him 12 black med point pens on day 1, 10 will be gone by Oct. and so on and so on.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I will send everything in.

That said, I got A LOT back in June at the end of the year, and I'm sure I won't be able to use them again next year, but oh well.

I'd almost rather they just keep it and donate it and I'd never have been the wiser lol

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

As a teacher, I have absolutely had students who haven't had all of their supplies. More often than not, I just supply for them what they need. No big deal. However, I do send home a few reminders before I give the student what they need. The reality is, as teachers we ask for what the students will need....nothing more, nothing less. Sometimes the $ for the supplies comes right out of my pocket, sometimes I have the supplies in the classroom.

As a parent, I always send in extra (glue sticks, baby wipes, etc) bc I know how much of this stuff we go through in the classroom and I know that it is greatly appreciated.

School supplies.....would you ever not send in the

As a teacher, I have had parents not send in the needed materials and I've supplemented. But it's out of my own pocket. As for class supplies, again, parents have not 'donated' (as I call them) but other parents make up for it.

No matter how much you pay in taxes, teachers are NOT getting tissues, baby wipes and countless other stuff that you would think we get. We get a tiny (seriously tiny) stipend and everything you see comes out of our own pocket.

So if you can spare a box of tissues or a package of wipes, it DOES help!

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I send it all in, plus some extra if the sales are really good.

School supplies.....would you ever not send in the

I send in everything plus some. I am firm believer that a teacher should not have to spend their own money in supplying the needs of a classroom. If they want to do a special project or spend more money on their bulletin boards, more power to them but they should not have to shell out for tissues and soap and wipes. In an ideal world the district should be supplying these items but as we all know, they do not.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I sent everything in, except for glue sticks, I did hold some back (requested 24 - sent in 12 in the fall and 12 in the spring). I kept sending them in during the year though. I also sent in extra wipes, tissues, and other requested items as I could. I think I missed sending in tissues one of the additional times they were requested (and they were requested about 8 times). eta: I have sent in wish list items like books and board games. I just feel that there is no need for 24 glue sticks in September when they will still ask for more later on.

Message edited 8/8/2013 3:51:55 PM.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

It doesn't bother me but if it did I would take it up at places like board meetings, not by holding back. Our PTA has a great program where we can order through them & it's ready for the kids on the first day of school. I keep an extra set at home.

School supplies.....would you ever not send in the

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that the teachers have to pay for things out of pocket that the less than fortunate cannot supply. Why can't the school pay for this? Or the PTA programs pay for this? Our district holds a back to school supply drive at our middle school, which I think is nice. I know our PTA makes a boatload of money, I've heard how much is in the account at meetings, so if I was a teacher having to buy supplies for my students, I would be talking to the PTA.

and to answer the OP, yes I send in all the supplies requested.

Message edited 8/7/2013 7:44:52 PM.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Since I know it's the teacher that has to buy it if I don't - no, I would never not send in the supplies but, that said, it's not a stretch for me financially - if it was, maybe I would feel differently.

School supplies.....would you ever not send in the

My school is very good about what it asks of us. I spent $13 on DD's stuff; her binder from last year is in good shape so it will be reused. I also needed a pencil case with 3 holes, which I had on hand and didn't have to buy.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I send all except "wish list" items. We also send in 2 reams of paper per child because the school has no money for paper!

School supplies.....would you ever not send in the

No I would never not send it supplies. I know the teachers put a lot of $$ out of their own pockets for supplies and other stuff already as it is so I try to do as much as I can. The only way I can understand not sending in school supplies is if you truly really don't have the $$. Other than that I gladly purchase supplies.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Dry erase markers bother me the most! They are used for the "blackboard" - why should I have to supply the teacher with her writing instruments.

Last year I sent everything in and then there was a secondary request to restock about halfway through the year.

I am NOT sending in everything this year. There is NO way the entire class needs 300 glue sticks total. I also dont send in tissues and crap for the whole class. My DC gets the little packs to keep on him if he needs them.

It is out of control. It is not my job to supply a school with their basic supplies. If we were in a district with budget issues, fine, but we aren't and there is no reason they cant buy dry erase markers for the teachers.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

This is DS's first year.

I plan on sending everything in, but I agree that the amount of supplies they request is ridiculous.

I mean who needs 150 black sharpies, and 200 dry erase markers, and 60 boxes of pens.

I think they should do a mandatory list and a requested but optional list.

It stinks that teachers have to go out of pocket and I would never want a teacher to have to go out of pocket, but the list I received made it look like all the supplies listed were mandatory.

Financially, I can afford to send in everything they ask for and am happy to supply more as the school year continues, but I don't see the reason to hoard early in the year, and for a first-timer like me, I would have no clue what my child really needed, and what was extras for the class.

If I couldn't afford everything on the list, I would at least like to know what the essentials for MY child were, and then if I could contribute more for the class I would.

This year, everything on the list cost me $130.

Message edited 8/8/2013 12:58:52 PM.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

I teach in the city and my students come in with nothing.

One of the kids' list had like 15 glue sticks on it. I will send a few in now, and some later, but as other people said not 15 at one shot.

I don't mind buying for my kid, but everything shouldn't be community supplies.

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?

Re: School supplies.....would you ever not send in the "class" supplies?