What type of items are your kids required to purchase for school?

Question

My children are expected to bring 1-3 boxes of Kleenex. Then depending on the kid several of following items: dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, clorox wipes, headphones and/or liquid hand soap. I know that school budgets are tight but so is my budget at home. These items add up quickly - we have four children.

In addition to these janitoral items that we are expected to supply, the two middle school age children are required to have a seperate, new pair of shoes for gym class. Yes, I mean in addition to the new shoes that they bought with their back to school apparel.

All of this expense seems excessive to me. Is this typical of all school districts or do I have reason to be upset by this?

It is public school. I think if the janitoral list was a request instead a demand, I would be okay with sending some supplies. I just think it is crazy that I have sent almost $40 in janitoral supplies to school in the last two days and my kindergartener hasn't even gone yet! Of course that is in addition to the shoe thing. We did by inexpensive shoes but even $20 or $30 multiplied times for four is a lot. I'm just really aggravated with the whole thing.

Answer 1

I wish I lived in some of the places in the other answers! For Pre K last yr my son had to have (among other things) 2 pkgs safety pins (he used about 7 the whole year) EXPO markers (yes, big emphasis on expo) 2 bxs of baby wipes, 1 box gallon bags, (girls had to bring 1 box quart bags) 6 glue sticks, and 1 bttl shaving cream. (girls brought zip lock bags)

This yr for Kindergarten--(again, among other crap) 1 box 8 jumbo crayons, 1 box 16 regular crayons, 2 md size elmers glue, 10 lg glue sticks (are they sticking each other to the wall?) watercolors, 1 box quart zipper bags, 1 box gallon zipper bags, 2 boxes of 10 ct CLASSIC CRAYOLA (must, must, must) markers, 2 pkgs baby wipes, 1 bttl hand sanitizer (which Micah can only use sparingly, bc he has excema, and the alcohol drys his skin dreadfully) 1 pkg EXPO ONLY THIN TIP markers, and a backpack, plus we had to BUY a 5.00 book bag at the school. (fits one book, for their library days...wtf?) And of course some damn paper towels. Last yr he only needed 1 box of Kleenex, this year he needs 3. Most kids in Kindergarten just wipe their nose on their sleeves.

I would understand if SOME of these supplies were needed for the kids in the state programs such as Headstart, (Pre K for lower income families) but hell, they're not required to buy ANYTHING. And there's no such program after PreK. So what the fu*k are all these supplies being used for? OK, OK, maybe some of these outrageous demands are for the kids in his class that can't afford ALL their supplies--but there are lots of school drives around our area where they give out FREE supplies. And with 20 kids in a class, even if only half bring all the things on the list, we're still looking at 100 damn glue sticks. Give me a break.

Some friends in different states said that Micah's list sounded about like their kids' lists. So I guess it's normal in a lot of places. (I live in TX, btw) But I still think it's over the top and ridiculous. Plus, who knows how much money I'm going to be sending to school for the various events (field trips) and book fairs and parties this year?

I think that they should let you have back the supplies you bought that your child didn't use at the end of the year.

Answer 2

As a teacher, I guess I sort of understand the need for certain items that the school doesn't seem to "budget" for anymore.. for instance, the last school I taught at asked for a ream of computer paper, an arts fee (15.00) and 2 boxes of kleenex per kid in addition to all the regular stuff (pencils, paper, binders, erasers, markers, etc). We couldn't ask for hand sanitizer because a certain kind HAD to be purchased through the schools (yeah, sounded stupid to me, too) as did some of the other things needed in the classroom. I've come to see it as a two-fold issue: The schools are tight- there's no question. Money is nill and they're increasing class sized because they have to cut salaried teachers and when they cut, the highest paid teachers (with more seniority) end up staying and the least paid get the ax- mostly because you can't MAKE someone retire. AND the second part of that is that the school districts haven't seen a backlash in what the parents are willing to spend. If the parents continue to bring in what's requested, how can we/you blame the school when no one is fighting the system? I've flat out told parents that we didn't NEED the computer paper or kleenex when I saw that they couldn't really afford anything for their kids. And I know lots of teachers who purchase supplies because 4 or 5 kids' families in their class couldn't come up with supplies. If it truly is a problem and it seems to be out of control (as yours does), I'd mention it to other parents and maybe have a sit down discussion with the school board about the amount and expense of supplies. I know we just bought for our kids (3 of them- 13, 11, and 10) and we spent- just on classroom materials alone- $173.00. And yes, I thought it was insane.

Answer 3

With the exception of the shoes, you listed our back to school list.

It does seem like the lists are getting longer every year.

Luckily, our school gives us the school supply lists several months in advance so that I can buy the stuff on sale and stretch it out over the course of six months. It helps.

I think that middle class teachers can forget that some of these items are difficult to obtain for some families. I know of families who find this to be a real hardship. Luckily, we have a school nurse who understands this point of view and will take donations of school supplies, clothing, food, (and toys at Christmas time) for the children that she knows are in need.
I wish more educators could understand the hard realities of parenting.

Take care and know that you are not alone in feeling that the lists are growing excessively!

Answer 4

At our son's school we had to buy of course the regular school supplies, then boys have to bring a box of 1 gallon storage bags (girls 1 qt bags), a large box of Kleenex, a bottle of hand sanitizer (because they don't take them to wash their hands before lunch anymore)(kindergartners bring their own pump hand soap), we have to also buy crayons, colored pencils, markers, folders, extra glue, play-do, and other craft stuff (depending on the grade) to supply the art department. On top of all of that, it all has to be certain name brands, and no pictured folders, notebooks, pencils, or erasers. Everyone has to have the same name Fischer brand scissors, Elmer's glue, large pink pearl erasers, plain #2 pencils, etc. What is happening with our public schools?

You seem to not only supply extra, but each of your kids has to supply so much. It is a lot per child. I still see no reason for another pair of new shoes. I did check up on and keep an eye on school board meetings, and your school's budgeting.



(I didn't have to buy separate shoes for exercise until I joined the Army.)

Answer 5

Our list for elem. was twistable crayons, washable markers, reward stickers 3 boxes of kleenex, baby wipes, hand soap,folders and a pencil box. With the exception of the crayons EVERYTHING was onsale for 99 cents or less during the summer. The shoes are because SO many kids wear inappropiate shoes for sports/gym class. You can't run, hop or skip in crocs, sandals, platforms, boots or wedgies. In a class of 20 1st graders I had at least 3 kids a week who couldn't play becuase on gym days they had "bad" shoes.

Answer 6

In my school district school supplies are never required. I typically purchase items throughout the summer so that I don't have tons to buy all at once. Most school websites will post the lists for the following year in the spring.

As for the shoes. I always purchased cheap shoes to leave at school, deters theft.

Answer 7

I have never heard of a child having to have that much of their own stuff for school. I mean some of the stuff is understandable, but the kids shouldn't have to have a seperate pair of gym shoes. That is just ridiculas!!! I think that you definately have a reason to be upset by this. Whatever happened to crayons, pencils, and notebooks? WOW, this world is out of control.

Answer 8

My son had a lengthy supply list for kindergarten.....This year for first grade though is pretty reasonable...considering everything, but his backpack was under $1....He had to have 2 packs of #2 pencils,4 boxes of crayons (24 pack), 2packs of pencil cap erasers, a pencil box, and 2 packs or washable markers......

Answer 9

This is pretty typical for my school district,except the shoes.I buy some items at Costco,watch for sales too.But I don't always get everything on the list.Sometimes I'll ask the teacher to tell me [later] when she is in need [of the items I did not bring] and bring them in later in the year.That way I can still look for them on sale and it helps the teacher when she has run out

Answer 10

We were asked to bring in:
Clorox wipes
Tissues
Lysol spray
Ziplock bags (1 box of each sizes..snack, sandwhich and gallon)
Waterless Hand sanitizer
Large bottle of hand soap
Large bag of a healthy snack
Magazine rack
Supply box for child
Towel or blanket for "resting time".

There were no supplies on our list for my son, all janitorial stuff for the school that I feel they should supply.
I have no issue supplying tissues or snacks but I think the other stuff is ridiculous!