Am I the only one who is ticked about the "school supply" lists?

[nateNnatsmommy]

My kids aren't in school yet, but after seeing this heated thread, I had to go look at the lists for our school district. Some of the things that stuck out to me were:
- sponge
- wipes (uh why do you need a sponge AND wipes? my kids potty trained....)
- copy paper, white and colored (but you get to choose the color LOL why not save ink AND paper and just email me stuff?)
- Red correcting pens (I'd tell the teacher they wouldn't need any of those for my little genius lol)
- package of stickers (WTH?)

It's really contradictory on their list because they say that everything is communal, so they want all of the supplies to be uniform in color - but then they tell you to label everything and to send a supply box/pouch. That doesn't make sense. It also seems like a huge waste of money to have parents buying individual reams of paper and other things, when the school district can get HUGE savings buy buying these things in bulk.

[inthelooneybin]

Originally Posted by derketchup I'd be more concerned with my (hypothetical) kids touching things that have been touched by the lysol wipes, and transferring the chemicals into their eyes or mouths, or other mucus membranes. Seriously. They never sanitized anything at my school, and we weren't sicker than the kids now. Just think of it as free immunizations

In that case, can you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE send me all of your lysol wipes coupons!? I'd really appreciate it! THANKS!

[inthelooneybin]

Originally Posted by darkwing932 Donating time and money to the needy is not an act exclusive to teachers and does not justify requesting parents to send in extra items.

I totally agree! All school supply lists should be titled "School Donation" lists. Then all the wonderful people that use coupons to get TONS of items for free or almost free and turn around to donate them to all those different organizations (because they don't need them), can then donate some of these items to their child's school and they will still feel good about helping out their community and most importantly, their child and their child's class. Keeping in mind that donated items are useful, of course, in promoting a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment for their child.

Problem solved.

[inthelooneybin]

Originally Posted by derketchup Soap and water would also get rid of the peanut residue. Just get a sponge and some simple green, or other cheap concentrated soap. Still doesn't have to be the convenient, one-time-use lysol or clorox wipes. :shrug7:

So now the list will read: 10 sponges, 8 bottles of simple green (32 oz size only)



Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[DebbieNIU]

I'm not saying that this is "an art" exclusive to teachers. Nor am I saying that this is the only way I donate time/money/clothes/food/etc. I'm just saying if the stuff is going towards your kids why wouldn't you, as a parent be willing to pay for school supplies. If you need the details of how items will be used, just ask the teacher if you're so stinking upset about paying for a 50 cent roll of paper towels or a 99 cent pack of markers.

Originally Posted by darkwing932 I think that is wonderful of you to do that for the families of your students. With all due respect though, I think that it is rather unfair that you point out how much money your spending out of your own pocket thanks to being a teacher. Donating time and money to the needy is not an act exclusive to teachers and does not justify requesting parents to send in extra items.

[DebbieNIU]

Kudos to you! Thanks a ton, we appreciate you!

Originally Posted by barclay13 I've dealt with school supply lists for 10 years. Sometimes things do seem ridiculous but I trust the teachers. What I absolutely DESPISE are parents who just don't send in what is on the list! You lazy, cheap JERKS. That is why we have lists stating 10 packs of glue sticks, because cheap, no-good parents won't send in ANY supplies and I along with other parents have to make up for them. So for all of the parents who said that they will not be sending in all of the supplies from the list, you're welcome! I will send in Clorox wipes to wipe down desks and doorknobs that your kid snotted all over.

[hotcouponmama]

Originally Posted by DebbieNIU I'm not saying that this is "an art" exclusive to teachers. Nor am I saying that this is the only way I donate time/money/clothes/food/etc. I'm just saying if the stuff is going towards your kids why wouldn't you, as a parent be willing to pay for school supplies. If you need the details of how items will be used, just ask the teacher if you're so stinking upset about paying for a 50 cent roll of paper towels or a 99 cent pack of markers.

I will say, because for most people, a roll of paper towels isn't .50c and and a 4-pack of dry erasers is much more than .99c.

The poster who mentioned that the school would get a much better deal buying in bulk for some of these items has the right of it.

My boss about laughed me out the door cause I used to send my secretaries to Office Depot or Staples for our department supplies armed with a $30 off $150 coupon, and we didn't buy anything for our department unless we were getting a deal on it. In two years, it was the first time that department had operated at break even in the past 20 years.....:shrug7: The answer I got? I was wasting my time trying to pick up pennies in a $2 Million dollar budget. Well, pennies add up fast. So when you have district administrators who don't really care about the budget, it sets a stage for bigger waste to happen. I could give countless other examples, but this is just one of many times when I was told how idiotic it was to try and save money in a school district. I'd rather see money from the district go to my kids, rather than more of my money going to things they should be buying.

Other federal and state employees are not asked to buy their own supplies, nor are visitors to the White House or other govt. offices asked to bring their own pens, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer! That its come down to pawning this stuff off on parents because we all have gone along with it for years is really unacceptable anymore.

[cheynesnana]

Ok.. gonna throw my 2 cents in..lol.. I never had a problem sending crayons, pencils, glue..or even kleenex to school with my kids.. but I too would draw the line at copy paper ! Let's not forget... besides these lists that parents are expected to follow ... the parents also have to buy.. backpacks.. lunch boxes.. shoes.. school clothes.. so while it seems that paper towel and hand sanitizer would not break the bank, when you add up everything a child needs for school it's extremely expensive on the parents end.. NOTE.. I do appreciate teachers and all they do for our children.. I just don't think we should have to supply everything they need for a school year. JMHO

[nateNnatsmommy]

Originally Posted by inthelooneybin I'd like to emphasize that it is a WHOPPING $250 thank you very much and it is spent on school supplies for the classroom and will most likely be used for students. The same exact amount a PP listed spending on school supplies for one person in one year. HMMMM. Verrry, verrry, interrrresting.

That PP included clothes. Are teachers now buying clothes for their students?

Not every parent gets a tax credit, by the way. But a teacher with children can take the $250, AND a tax credit, and probably an EIC since they make SO little money.

Since you people are saying that everyone is complaining about $.50 paper towels and such, then that WHOPPING $250 should cover EVERYTHING that is so frivolously listed on the student's list.

[marvholly]

I raised 2 kids in a pretty $$$ suburban district. Las I remember (and this was 1996!!!) our school/book "fee" was OVER $400. Today both my kids are teachers; 1 primary, 1 high school. BOTH have issues w/ parents NOT providing BASIC supplies.

come on people: Rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, markers (FREE this week w/ WAG ESR rebate) are CHEAP with deals at CVS, Target, Walmart, WAG, Office Depot..... Whatever is your excsuse aside shear laziness or being a cheap SOB. I KNOW we all pay school taxes. Mine are ABOVE $6000/year. I no longer have kids in school but this is an investment in my property/community.

yes my DD get a $250 tax write off (NOT credit)/year. This generally goes for non consumable items like books for the class library, flash cards, CEU units they are REQUIED by the state to take. EVERYTHING on the supply list is a consumable. They actually spend OVER $1000 each and that does NOT include tuition, books or other expenses to further their educations and upgrade their skills/pay levels so the total OOP is MUCH closer to $5000 EACH!!!

This is of course in addition to the school taxes they each pay as homeowners. How about you parents MATCH my Dd's contributions for EVERY one of your kids. yeah right I know BIG joke.