School supplies and how they're used?

Question

I just had to comment on this. I have three children and the schools in Texas go by the collective system where none of the supplies you actually by will necessarily be used by your child. Some other kid might end up with your child's favorite folder or whatnot. I'm always told that I have all my kid's supplies when they transfer or end the year but it's not everything that I bought. Each kid has to supply 2 boxes of kleenex. Do kids really use that many boxes? My kids say they might use 1 or 2 tissues in the year. By my math, MAYBE 5 boxes per class of 20 students will be used. Where does the other 20 boxes go? Are the staff stealling my kid's stuff? And what about those ziploc bags? What are they used for? My kids didn't see them again. I should start a school and give a supply list: portable radio, 34 X 32 slacks and jeans, xbox games, etc. No you can't have your school supplies back, they're the schools. Tell me your thoughts on what I wrote. Unhappy father.

I'm not a bad father and I do care about my children's education and all, but after reading the comments so far it makes me want to send my kids to school with a pencil and a backpack. At least I would know they are using that. If they need a new pencil, then I can give them another one before school.

Some of you made a good point about helping other kids who are less fortunate. I'm all for helping the less fortunate, although I don't send extra sandwiches to school for those who can't afford to buy lunches. The state does this. That's why we have property taxes. It's as if I sent my kids to school with lasagna or something good and pricy, and it got pooled any my kids ended up with ramen noodles.

About the kleenexes and other office supplies, these should just be provided for. Anyone who comes to my house can have a kleenex or use my toilet paper for free. I don't require people to bring their own to my house just in case they need to use the toilet.

Another thing, I'm sure that there are school supplies that are used and need replenishing, but I'm sure there are supplies that are not used. I do understand some things, my mother works at the school and smome of the rest of my family does too, but it doesn't all add up to me.

I'd be willing to bet that if this was a business, then the stock holders would be asking why and wanting to pull out.

I'm in favor of the ballot system. For each child you have, you get a ballot. Where ever that ballot is is where the tax money goes. If you don't like the teacher or district, then remove your child and the ballot and put them where you want them. This would put pressure on those staff members (and disctricts) to do better.

As I said before, I understand a lot of these supplies are needed, but there are things that I would consider calling waste, fraud, and abuse. I'm sure there are is a lot of overuse on items, which with a little control by the teachers, supplies would last longer.

Answer 1

I understand your frustration, but it looks like you're taking your kids' word for it, when in reality they're only aware of what they feel directly affects them. As a teacher, I thought the amount of Kleenex sent in by parents my first year was ridiculous...until I ran out and had to ask for more. While your kids may not use that much, their classmates do. Colds get passed around quite easily, so there is usually a good month or so when tissue boxes are being replenished weekly, if not sooner. Ziplock bags are used for a number of things. I personally use them to store lots of different items that I may need for lessons. Sometimes we'll use plastic baggies that get thrown away after they're used. We made mini compost piles in ziplock bags to observe how worms help turn kitchen scraps into nutrients for soil. Kids don't usually think about where things come from- they're too busy learning and playing to stop and think about it. Clorox wipes, if you're wondering, are used to clean desks, chairs, dry erase boards, and spills. Oh, and band-aids- you'd be surprised how quickly those get used up.

I do think it's weird that your school district requests folders and then doesn't allow the student who brought the folder to use it himself. That seems silly. However, I understand the idea of providing what's good for the majority. There are some students whose families simply can't afford school supplies, or it means not being able to pay the electricity bill that month. Parents like you, who send school supplies, make it much easier for ALL students to have access to these supplies.

Answer 2

As an elementary teacher, I have to echo what Elizabeth said. Yes, we do go through all the kleenex and I usually end up buying more before the school year is out. We use zip-lock bags for all kinds of things in lessons. Especially anything in Science that involves mixtures, or when we have small pieces that each of the students need to keep track of. I don't understand why your child would have to give up personal folders - we've never done that. I know it is frustrating to buy so many school supplies (I'm a mom of six and it does get expensive), but I can assure you that the supplies do get used, and most teachers spend a lot of their own money to buy other supplies for the children throughout the year that the parents (and the students) are not even aware of. I highly doubt there is any stealing going on by the staff. I'm sure if you asked your child's teacher about it, he or she would be glad to explain why the supplies are doled out the way they are.

Answer 3

California schools do the same and after working in the classroom for both K and first grade I've seen ALL the teachers reach into their pockets mid year because they are "out" of supplies. Crayons, colored pencils etc are put in little bins that everyone uses.The K class "killed" 1,000 markers in a year(20 kids) because they color "hard" and a lot. Those Ziploc bags hold reading books, individual assignments etc and are labeled and trashed-Kleenex? One kid with a runny nose can use 20 tissues in a day, you have NEVER sent your kid to school with a runny nose? There are 180 days of school, the math doesn't work out by my computations. Before you cheap out to "make a point" consider this...do you want to send your kids the non verbal signal that education isn't important and you don't support their school, teachers or system? Your complaints whether verbal or otherwise are doing just that.Toys R us, longs, staples had school supplies on sale, avoid the fancy folder nightmare and pick up a bunch of generic PEECHEE's for 29 cents each. Support your kids by supporting their school and education-until you have walked a mile in the shoes of a teacher, don't second guess the system. My dad scrounged garage sales for years for supplies for his electronics classroom. He still reached into his own pocket.

Answer 4

I agree! What does happen to all the things that we supply and are not used? In Washington they do things a little different, they have a small list for your own child, and an additional list for shared supplies, and then another list of items that you get to choose 2 from to bring in for the classroom use, as in Kleenex and ziplock bags. Well for us anyway. I think it's more of a communal thing and if a child is poor then your items (and others) go to help that child out, and if one class got say 35 boxes of tissue and another got 10, they kind of interchange them. So I look at is as a good deed and forget about it. Chances are they are getting good use,and if you go somewhere like Walmart to do your shopping, things are relatively inexpensive. I do feel for you though, it is almost humourous though, I wonder how many others think this?

Answer 5

Hi Dad!
I use a lot of kleneexs at home and am happy to send the school more. Your children may use less, but they do an average on the usage.
In my daughter's school, ziplock bags are used to bundle reading homework every month or keeping other homework supplies together. I'm sure they are used for other things around the classroom.
I don't agree with the sharing of folders - if you chose to spend more money on special folders, your child should get them!
Maybe you should contact your school about this.

Answer 6

Well, I Live in California, and they dont make parents buy tissues or supplies for the classroom. You buy what your kid needs. The only problem I have, is that you go school shopping during the summer, but he school doesnt give a supply list until school has already started, forcing you to make another trip for school supplies.

It's not fair that you have to purchase supplies for your kid, but then some other kid gets it. It seems like they need a better system.

Answer 7

The Kleenex are definately needed. Kids go through those like crazy. And the Ziploc bags are great for storing game pieces, science kits, math manipulative, and books. I would always but lots of those for my classroom. And I don't think the teachers are stealing the supplies! Kinda ridiculous don't you think?

Answer 8

Yes we do Think approximately this how on the whole do you or might you substitute it at dwelling. my spouse is a scrapbooker and makes use of the equal scissors for a minimum of 2 years and the various matters she cuts is much thicker than what they do in institution. Why will have to her scissors be stupid in eight months. Pens are nonetheless well so are pencils and many others. We even used the equal bag for a while. Just get a well jan game or thickker heaver bag now not the sunshine plastic individual form they do not final.

Answer 9

I bought all generic school supplies this year for my kids because they share school supplies. I bought my kids all blue folders and my son brings home a yellow one. On top of me providing school supplies I had to give $10 for additional supplies. Called supply fee. What is that about? I dont know.

Answer 10

I'm a student and I totally agree with you. Schools are having students [and their parents] buy things for the schools. I'm in the 11th grade and the only things on our list that we would actually use for school were 4 folders, filler paper, and mechanical pencils and/or pens. The rest of my list consisted of Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Windex, Clorox disinfecting wipes, printer paper, and a can of aerosol airfreshener... I don't get how this contributes to my education