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

Message edited 8/11/2013 8:35:00 AM.

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

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

The SD I work for supplies all expendable resources such as crayons, glue, pencils, tissues, markers etc... The only things the teachers can ask for are notebooks, folders, school bag/backpack, art smock etc... Teachers also have scissors, dry erase boards and other reusable supplies to provide the students. I can't believe other SD's ask for so much! I'm curious as to what my home SD requests.

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

DH was flipping out about some of the items on the list this year for 1st grade. Not the actual items, but the fact that the teacher requires ONLY certain brands and also labeling pencils that will get sharpened away with time. But I cannot bring myself to go against the list.

ETA: You know what REALLY irked me last year... the baby wipes in kindergarten. We sent in 2 packs in September and then again 2 or 3 more times during the year. It is for wiping their hands before snack time. After parents were asked the 2nd and 3rd time and 80% of them did not send them in those times, maybe it wouldn't be too crazy to ask the kids to wash their hands in the bathroom that is right in the classroom!

Message edited 8/11/2013 10:21:24 AM.

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

Tell your hubby it's not just public school. My daughter starts K at St. Joseph's in Ronkonkoma in September and I got large supply list as well - both for her and the classroom. It's just the way it is now. Every where is stretched so tight. But I would rather send it in than see the teachers buy it themselves.

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

Message edited 8/11/2013 4:15:37 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?

Message edited 8/11/2013 4:52:28 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?

I send in everything plus.

I work in a very wealthy district and there are students in need.

With the 2% tax cap - you can bet that supply budgets were cut to bare minimums to spare academics.

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

I buy everything on the list. Especially the community items such as tissues, baby wipes, ziplock bags. After paying hundreds of dollars a month for child care is it really that much to send in $20 worth of tissues. Maybe the teacher should send home your kid with snotty shirt sleeves and chocolate covered hands everyday because yor child is not allowed to use the community supply. And baby wipes are used to save time in order to provide your child with more instructional time rather than 20 minutes of hand washing each day. Unfortunately schools have been hard hit and its unfair to expect their teacher to pick up the slack. Your child spends 8 hours a day with their teacher so it pays to be supportive of the peron who is teaching your child.

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

I teach in NYC and appreciate everything sent in..I look for the basics but really, really need the tissues, paper towels and wipes the most of any "extras." I encourage children to be sanitary and these are NOT provided in ANY way...how can we teach children how to use the bathroom properly and not spread germs through runny noses if we can't use tissues and wash our hands?! That said..I do not ask for more than one of each..I do not get a class set and by January (height of cold season!) I am out of tissues and begging or it's in my hands since I think it's important to use those items...I think asking for more than 1 or 2 of those things is silly and I definitely don't think teachers need it every week or with the frequency discussed...

Message edited 8/14/2013 7:40:48 AM.

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

I've never not sent in supplies. I usually do the opposite & send in more in a baggie marked "Extra Classroom supplies". For example, they'll want things like 3 boxes of some special pen but I've bought a multipack of 5.

I figure it evens out in case there are kids that don't have the means for new stuff.

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

I send in whatever they ask for. If I couldn't afford to send in supplies that would be different.

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

My district doesn't ask for anything extra. In fact, they even purchase the supplies for us if we send them a check for 25 bucks!!!

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

So glad I'm not the only parent annoyed by the idea of supplying these items.

I always send everything in and then some because we have the means, but I'm just blown away at the amount a parent needs to purchase/supply. All I keep saying to my DH is "What if you didn't have the money?!" And what about those with multiple children? It really adds up. That being said, I would never expect a teacher to pay out of pocket for these supplies.

I guess the killer for me is knowing how much so many of us pay just for school taxes and where is it all going?

I don't recall my parents ever having to purchase us supplies like this. (and I remember budget issues when I was in school.)


When did this really start?

Message edited 8/19/2013 3:48:15 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?

I moan about it too but I always send it...what else can you do. If you have the means then you should do it.

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

I have a question. Want to say I don't have kids but bought our house because of the school district I am in.

I actually am shocked to see that there are "lists" of things kids have to bring in. I know that "my" child would need paper, crayons etc. But to see that teachers ask for paper towels and glue sticks and tissues for the entire class because they are not supplied????

So I looked at one school in my district and saw there were no "community" supplies requested. Only supplies (I assume) for the beginning of the year. I also assume the parents would fill in as the items depleted. But it looks like I would be buying ONLY for "my" child. I would have no problem supplying the needs of "my" child according to this list below. The list does not seem that unreasonable.

Do school districts vary so much that some teachers get everything they need (wipes, paper towels etc) and some just dont? Hence a "community" list as well??

Just trying to understand this, and I appreciate you all indulging someone who just doesn’t know. (Buthopefully one day will).

The First grade list from one of the schools in my district:

First Grade
(4) Marble Notebooks*
(1) Red, durable bottom pocket folder*
(1) Yellow, durable bottom pocket folder*
(2) Durable bottom pocket folders of your choice*
(1) Pack of Glue Sticks*
(1) Box of Sharpened Pencils
(1) Pack of Black Dry Erase Markers (low odor)
(1) Box of Crayons (24 Count)
(1) Smock*
(1) Medium Plastic Supply Box*
(1) Pair of blunt kid scissors*
Please put first and last name on star items

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

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

Posted by Chatham-Chick

So glad I'm not the only parent annoyed by the idea of supplying these items.

I always send everything in and then some because we have the means, but I'm just blown away at the amount a parent needs to purchase/supply. All I keep saying to my DH is "What if you didn't have the money?!" And what about those with multiple children? It really adds up. That being said, I would never expect a teacher to pay out of pocket for these supplies.

I guess the killer for me is knowing how much so many of us pay just for school taxes and where is it all going?

I don't recall my parents ever having to purchase us supplies like this. (and I remember budget issues when I was in school.)


When did this really start?

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

It's all for the GREATER good, tissues, baby wipes, glue sticks....I am sure my kid uses his fair share, and even if not his teacher shouldn't have to supply tissues for the kids out of their pocket. Not sending supplies in doesn't send a message to the right people. You want to complain look at the school budget and see where the money is going, attend board and budget meetings and make complaints there. We are feeding fat cat's in the upper offices with our Tax dollars. Our teachers are cut and dry to the bone (for the most part). And I always send in extra. The less the teacher has to worry about supplies the more time she has to teach our children something magical.

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

Will always send in the supplies. Yes certain things should be covered by the school but I wouldn't take it out on the teachers and the class. Teachers shouldn't be paying out of their pockets. I think all parents should be putting in their part when requested.

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

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

Posted by Erica

Posted by Chatham-Chick

So glad I'm not the only parent annoyed by the idea of supplying these items.

I always send everything in and then some because we have the means, but I'm just blown away at the amount a parent needs to purchase/supply. All I keep saying to my DH is "What if you didn't have the money?!" And what about those with multiple children? It really adds up. That being said, I would never expect a teacher to pay out of pocket for these supplies.

I guess the killer for me is knowing how much so many of us pay just for school taxes and where is it all going?

I don't recall my parents ever having to purchase us supplies like this. (and I remember budget issues when I was in school.)


When did this really start?

I think we are in the same district. Do you really think its out of hand? The box from the PTA is ~$50 + a few random other supplies.

It's probably $6-7 per month in supplies.