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

[Sthrnmissgal]

Wow, this thread is to say the least interesting. I am not a teacher, nor could I handle the job. I do not have the patience for not only the students, but also the parents that I would have to deal with. However, I do volunteer as much as I can at my children's school, not just a few times a year. Maybe some people on this thread need to realize that not every school has swimming pools and astroturf, heck our school does not even have a gym; anyways, maybe some people need to be aware that not everyone is fortunate to live in an area where the school districts supply many things. For instance at my children's school, the library has books older than me and my kids are in elementary school. I do not live here by choice, I live here because my husband is in the military and stands up for the freedom that so many on here seem to be complaining about. I am not saying that everyone on here is complaining nor that everyone (even those from wealtheir school districts) takes for granted that some schools have additional funding for extras. However, I do want to say that if the school needs something, I want to send it in. Because in the area I live in, which is a lower income area, many parents can not afford to give their children the school supplies needed, so if I can send in anything the teachers need or a little extra to help out, then so be it. I look at it as at least I am able to help out a little bit. Because I realize that even though everyone in the class gets the same list, not everyone is going to bring in the needed items, yet everyone in class will be participating in the project or using the needed supplies. Hope everyone has a blessed day.

[brandee]

Originally Posted by Debbieomi I think it's just successful marketing by the manufactures, getting their name brands associated with Back To School. When I think crayons, the first name that comes to mind is Crayola and not RoseArt. Same goes with glue, etc. These are the number one brand names. Ziploc runs a promotion that if teachers add ziploc, by name, to their supply list and then send in a copy of that list, the teacher/school gets an entry into a drawing for bonus Box Tops for Education. Elmer's Glue also has a recycling program that offers prizes to teachers for recycling the Elmer's brand glue sticks. That might be incentive enough to request that brand on a supply list. Chlorox has their "Clean Classroom" (or something like that)campaign too. If a teacher is getting free stuff from them, they might be more likely to specify that brand on their list.

Im gunna have to research the gluesticks...I have 180!!!

[Sthrnmissgal]

Originally Posted by druidessemily I am also a little annoyed about the "no homemade baked goodies" rule. When I was in high school, we'd do bake sales to raise funds for theatre projects, etc. And everything had to come in a sealed container from a grocery store. I guess I can understand the fear of someone trying to poison others, and that it's better safe than sorry... But I miss the very rare days when my mom would allow me to spend my allowance to get the supplies, and bake some cookies, and then sell them with the proceeds going to help fund the school's clubs. It seems like even community or church bake sales are "prepackaged only." I love homemade goodies. They taste SO much better, and like a PP mentioned, in many cases there are healthy alternatives. Even the "cake walks" at community events are all prepackaged. And many of them taste like crud, if you have ever had the same cake baked from home. Not all, there are some mass made goodies that are yum (and every once in awhile I *HAVE* to have a Sara Lee Strawberry cheesecake). And this might be a long stretch, but I also wonder if the "ban" against home baked goods will have a long term detrimental effect on our nation. If children are taught and encouraged that 'storemade = better' then when will they learn to cook or bake? I personally did not have a chance to learn how to cook until *after* I had graduated high school and was living with my husband. But habits started in childhood would be hard to break, if all you are taught to cook are canned and frozen foods, then would much of the population bother to learn? I know, going from school supplies, to a lack of baked goods. I wonder if the two are connected!! :P

I do understand your frustrations with this, because partly I feel the same way! But I would perfer my children not have anything from people I do not know. I do not know how clean their kitchen is or do they have roaches. Do they have a pet that is allowed to climb on the counters in the kitchen? I would just rather they did not even get subjected to those things. I just make it my priority to do alot of baking with my children at home so they know the difference and can create the memories.

[DebbieNIU]

Back to the topic, school supplies. Yes, there are supplies that are ridiculous that some teachers ask for, so be it. Yes, there are some parents that refuse to send in even the supplies their child needs, once again, so be it.

Off topic... yes, some teachers are underpaid (as are other professions) while some are overpaid (as are other professions). Yes, I picked this profession knowing what I was getting myself into and I wouldn't change my job EVER! I didn't go into teaching to get a huge paycheck. I did it because I love helping little ones learn. The light bulb that lights, or the look on a little one's face when when they learns something that they've worked at makes EVERYTHING I do worthwhile. I do what I do for the children. If it means I need to purchase things so be it, if anyone is willing to donate some things, great. I will do whatever it takes to make my classroom the very best learning environment for children, no matter what. I'm sure that all parents and teachers can agree on one thing, the children come first, they are the most important thing to everyone.

Nothing can be done by arguing with perfect strangers on the internet over these issues. Therefore I'm done with this.

[brandee]

Originally Posted by Sthrnmissgal I do understand your frustrations with this, because partly I feel the same way! But I would perfer my children not have anything from people I do not know. I do not know how clean their kitchen is or do they have roaches. Do they have a pet that is allowed to climb on the counters in the kitchen? I would just rather they did not even get subjected to those things. I just make it my priority to do alot of baking with my children at home so they know the difference and can create the memories.

You sound like a great mommy!!!!!

[MrsPinecone]

The ban on homebaked goodies has nothing to do with any personal cleanliness issues, that "store made is better" or anything else like that.

It has everything to do with kids and food allergies, particularly peanut allergies. There is no guarantee that a parent will not bake cookies that have peanut butter in them, or use another ingredient that has touched peanuts. Commercially prepared baked goods have to state that they are processed in a factory that also deals with peanut products, so that they can be avoided.

People are so quick to litigate these days that the schools have to protect themselves from parents who sue the school over a cupcake.

[barclay13]

Originally Posted by nate&natsmommy Am I the only person that knows how to spell the word "ridiculous", or what?!?!?! (Inappropriate use of quotation marks around the word ridiculous) I'm really amazed by all of you people on here that are teachers. You all chose to go into a profession that you knew was underpaid and underappreciated, yet you come on here and complain about your jobs/pay, get defensive for no reason because I haven't seen anywhere on here where someone said that the TEACHERS should supply those odd things on the students' lists, but rather that the district should...you all take this to mean that the money should come out of your pockets. (MASSIVE run-on and inappropriate use of ...) Even sadder? The spelling and reading, and research skills demonstrated on here by you so-called teachers. It's horrendous! For that reason, and that reason alone, I feel that I SHOULD probably home-school my children! (homeschool is one word and should not be hyphened) To touch back on the $250 tax deduction, even the poorest school districts in my state will REIMBURSE teachers for out of pocket expenses. So that $250 would be for things that they didn't get reimbursed for. Additionally, INTHELOONEYBIN compared this to job-related expenses for non-teaching individuals. Those deductions are not anywhere near as easy to take as the $250 for a teacher. For an individual, they first must itemize their deductions (what percentage of people do that?); and then those deductions are subject to a 2% floor - so an individual with an AGI of $50,000 would have to spend at least $1000 on job-related expenses before they could take a tax deduction for ANYTHING.

(WOW. Okay, out of pocket should be out-of-pocket, do not end a sentence with a preposition, several incomplete sentences, and inappropriate use of semi-colon)

You may be able to spell ridiculous, but your gramma is nothing to write home about. just stayin.

[Marlene39]

Originally Posted by Sthrnmissgal maybe some people need to be aware that not everyone is fortunate to live in an area where the school districts supply many things..... ...not everyone is going to bring in the needed items, yet everyone in class will be participating in the project or using the needed supplies.

And therein lies the heat of the debate.

We endow our own children with everything we know they reasonably need to fulfill the needs of their education, in addition to contributing traditional supplies such as pencils and paper to a community pot for the less fortunate kids in class.

None of us have a problem with donating what a school actually needs, but the topic title should more clearly read: Where do we draw the line on what is needed from parents to operate our schools?" Because the thread was intended to openly discuss the evolution of today's school lists as compared to the lists from the recent past.

Do not equate our reluctance to supply (without question) copy paper, highlighters and coffee filters with the amount of generosity each of us has as compassionate members of our society.

[DebbieNIU]

Don't you think this is a bit out of control?

Originally Posted by nate&natsmommy By the way, for such a smarty pants, you sure do seem confused by the difference between punctuation and my grandparents.

[barclay13]

Originally Posted by nate&natsmommy Okie dokie, I'll make sure not to write home about my GRAMMA

Oh my goodness. I cannot believe you didn't get that. It was sarcasm, silly. I said that your "gramma was nothing to write home about. just stayin." Get it, bad grammar like yours. Also, the irony of pointing out all of your grammar mistakes when you were trying to point out the mistakes of others.

Nevermind. sheesh. Try to be funny with people and see what happens.