school supplies/ is it just me?

Question

Okay, I have 3 kids in school.
So far 2 days into the school year we have already paid more for supplies than for clothes, shoes, and bookbags!
This is the list for a 5th grader~
clorox wipes to clean desk
tissues
scissors
glue
pens-pencils
crayons or colored pencils
NO paper bag book covers, they have to be the book "socks"

The list goes on, and I am sure it's not over.
Does anyone else think this is rediculous?
Shouldnt the schools be supplying tissues? Where are the janitors that clean the desks?
I dont want my kids using hand gel, and clorox wipes constantly. If they get sick than they get sick! I didnt have all that crap when I was in school, and I survived.
I have spent $45 on 3 binders because the teacher wanted specific binders.
Why do these teachers have free reign on choosing school supplies?
Shouldnt the schools standardize by grade what is required?
Thankfully, we can barely afford this stuff, but what about the people who cant?

That is my point!
Fundraisers, lottery, p.t.a, we still pay for field trips, school lunch( $3.00), and sports.
Where IS the money going???

mgnavadomskis~
I dont know where you live, but that is NOT common.
I think you are a little dillusional about this.
Last year my daughter was REQUIRED to do all of her homework on the computer. $1800 later she was still required to have notebooks, and all of the other supplies.
At the end of the year she still had practically all supplies leftover.
You dont think that there is something funny going on here?

Jen~ you are wrong.
They ARE required, or get a failing grade for not being prepared.
The point about the sanitizer and clorox wipes? There is none. Soap and water does just fine.

I NEVER said that I couldnt afford these items.
I think it's rediculous that the lists and expenses are so lengthy, and the cost is astronomical.
$50 for school supplies is WODERFUL, but times that by 3 kids, and I KNOW for a fact it's not over.

Answer 1

AMEN!!!

My parents blew over $300 dollars on 3 kids for school supplies this year and they want more later on!! 300 FRICKEN DOLLARS!!! we may go to a private school but we arent rolling in the dough....its ridicilous

the "book socks" are a darn $4 a piece!!! A PIECE!!!!! times 5 covers times 3 kids!

My elementary school went over the top with fricken purell and clorox! they made my sister use that crap so much, that she got rashes on her hands and they STILL made her use it! one kid sneezed in room 334 and kids in room 335 used purell...in front of the lunchroom, bathrooms, doorways, we hand despensers of purell!!! i understand that u should clean the desks but maybe once every 2 weeks and only have the kids bring in "wet wipes" my school needed it to be Clorox!! we brought in Target brand and they were ticked! Target was $1.00 a tube and clorox was $3 a tube...all teachers wanted 3 tubes and 3 kids!!!!!

my parents say, all kids need to do is wash their hands and thats it. they survived!! its better for kids to get sick u build up an ammunity to it!!!

the teachers EACH wanted 3 boxes of wipes, tissues, and 1 tube of purell! my sister and i are in middle school, so 5 teachers each times two PLUS my other sisters class so i need a whole new fricken backpack for the tissues alone!!!! this year i couldnt bring it in so i didnt and my teachers wre p!ssed at me!! GOD!

as for the certain brands, and what u have to have to pass, my friend got 3 total detentions from her teachers this year FOR NOT HAVING THE CORRECT BRAND OPF BOOK COVERS ON THE RIGHT DAY!! shes a fricken freshman (9) she has no control over where her parents take her!!! damn, teachers take this into consideration!! WE CANT DRIVE!!!

another thing (im on a roll)

in 3rd grade my parents had to sign a stupid planner saying what we did that day in class and if they didnt WE LOST RECESS! teachers say that recess is important then they hang it in front of us as bait!!

teachers need to change!!!

Answer 2

I'm not a teacher, but I am a parent that is up at the school almost every day, all day long. I have 3 children and had to buy a long list as well. And I made sure that my child was sent with the necessary items. Please - understand that the teacher just doesn't sit down and make silly lists. She/He doesn't want to store unnecessary items - there's just not enough room. After a while, you realize what is the very best for a learning environment.

As for dry-erase markers, I know that in almost every grade at our school, the children have a "clipboard-size" one that they use at their desk.

If you're unable to afford the items, let your teacher know. This really isn't meant to sound crappy - so please don't read it as that way - but I always double/triple our school supply list to donate so that other kids in the class can have the necessary items.

Every teacher I know spends a LOAD of their own pocket money.

And one person on here talked about them being "Brand Specific". That's because we see the difference between the Crayola and the other brand. THey are horrific. The cheap glue takes HOURS AND HOURS to dry. Elmer's does not. Cheap glue sticks dry out fast - they either arrive that way or soon become so. Cheap dry erase markers smell horrible and most times don't come in a "low-odor" type like Expo markers. Try walking into a class with 25 students using non-Expo markers. You'll get a contact high!!!

As a PTA, we raise and spend $40,000. Field trips, folders, binders, school functions, Scholastic Weekly Readers, suppemental items that teachers have found very effective but aren't covered by the district. ALL items that are bought to make the school the VERY best it can be for YOUR child.

A uniform classroom is more organized. Having the same kind makes for easier storage as well.

And a lot of the times, supplies are "pooled". If they are all the same, that makes it a lot better.

Answer 3

hello, Well I can see we are not alone, and something should and has to be done. I agree that the school supply list is getting way out of hand. When I went to school, we had a bookstore, we could always purchase the basics from for a cheaper rate than the store. Well as far as I know the schools still have them, but only open on certain days, I think that is dumb!!! It shuld be opened EVERY day that the students are there. Also as far as the lisr, well my son is int eh 6th grade this year, and it is ridiculous. I mean the teachers want a certain amount of folders, and a specific kind, (either with/without the clips), okay but , now they want the folders in a certain color and only a certain amount of each. Also the notebooks, same thing, a certain color and amount of each color. This is done to designate a certain subject to a particular color folder/notebook. When I went to school, we were able to pick out own colors for each subject. Now all the fun is taken out of it, WHY?? I also have a huge list of more, but my biggest thing is that the school should supply the basics, or at least some of the money toward the extra items that are special, and costly. For instance, Students are requires to have their own laptop, (In 6th grade???!!)), come on! This is what kills me, This is ridiculous!. I mean the schools have computers for the students to use, isn't that enough. Also my son had to have a specific kind of calculator last year, It cost $50.00. I also agree where is our tax money going, and what about the PTA, aside from field trips and fundraisers? They should set aside money for supplies also. I had my own laptop, so I ended up having my son use that one, I was not going to buy a new one, as I had spent enough on clothes/supplies and what not, not to mention my sons birthday was the first day of school. Well I hope one day soon, something is changed.I am not completely a rich mother, but I am doing alright, but there are parents out there who can not afford these kinds of things. I feel bad for them. I have been there in the past.I have heard that some schools also ask for parents to try to send in extra supplies to help with the children who's parents can not afford supplies. Well honestly I do nto think anyone should have to buy some of theses supllies no matter how little or how much money one makes. I feel for every other parent who has this same concern. As far as the janitors, well they I have seen some of them notdoing their job, as my son would come home and tell me that there was no toilet paper/paper towels in the boys bathroom, ffor a couple days. I complained to the school principal. Well also my son has stated that the boys bathroom floor was filthy, (first day of school), there was urine all over the floor and paper, adn such. My son came home worried that he was going to get sick and that he carried something home on his sneakers. What is going on with these schools? Hmmmmm...and Why????

Greekchxx16, I agree with ya, and ya do not deserve 2 thumbs down at all. I gave ya a thumbs up. :-) You are totally right about things, and it is crazy!

Answer 4

1.) Would it be easier to get a 5 subject notebook for 5 subjects, or 5 single subject notebooks? 5 single subject ones. 2.) Folders or binders for classes? BINDERS! The three ring kinds. Keeps you more organized. 2 inch ones for core classes. I couldn't imagine using folders.. 3.) Or should I just wait until the first day to buy school supplies? This might be the best idea. You'll know exactly what you need, and everything will be on sale. Good luck! :)

Answer 5

First off, the school can not REQUIRE your child to bring these supplies to school. Schools get a certain amount of money to purchase supplies, because of course the supplies run out. At my school, we pool the supplies brought in, and don't keep track of who did or didn't bring the supplies. We just buy the shortfalls so all students have what they need. Check with the principal if you can't afford to purchase the supplies. Skimp on the wipes or sanitizer, your child won't feel embarrassed by not having that, but would feel a little bad about not having pencil and paper.

You are getting an education for your child for "free" except for the tax money you pay (which doesn't all go to education). It just comes down to what the school is going to spend the money on. Are they going to spend it buying daily supplies, or be able to spend it on computers and technology, upkeep of the buildings/furniture, and special projects?

And janitors DON'T clean desks. The only time I've ever seen it happen is after the desks have been stored in a warehouse and are covered with dirt, they wipe them quickly with a rag before dragging dirt into the classroom.

Just remember, you are not going to be policed. Buy the necessities and the school will get over it. I have a kid in my class that was in my class last year, and he's never brought a supply in, not even a pencil, but he sure uses it. Teachers also buy a lot with their own money. You'd be surprised. If your kid brought in the wrong kind of binder, the teacher would get over it.

Answer 6

Ya i agree, i use to be a head custodian,
at a JR high, we do not clean desk,s every day, when they clean, every eve, they remove the trash, sweep the floor, clean the chalk board, Gen cleaning,
Most teachers live in there own little world,
Go to a school board meeting and complain, why they Dictate what, kind is stupid, the school is suppose to supply most of this stuff, they spend more on athletics than anything else, [most of the supplies you get is used by the teachers, ] some have to supply there stuff out of there pocket, Book rental is a Rip off, the school BUYS the books, and charge a outrageous price for rental, [they make $ off it] then throw the books away, in 2 yrs.
complain to your state rep, when the school needs to cut back on expenses, they cut the custodial staff, lay teachers off, but NEVER cut back on athletics, where doe,s the $ go that they take in at ball games, [don,t ask i did once and was threatened with my job, ] our school made $ 1200.00 off each ball game, us that to supply stuff,

Answer 7

I feel for you. In the Czech Republic, it's even worse.

1. After grade 9, all textbooks have to be bought by the parent.
2. That's 200 CZK for your student ID, 400 CZK as a "donation" (mandatory), 400 CZK classroom fund
3. "Extra-curriculars" (such as Spanish or English) must be paid for. The price is 35 CZK for every 45 minutes.

And then there's the school supplies. Notebooks, workbooks, pens, pencils, geometry supplies, P.E. uniform, art supplies (these cost a fortune), etc.

Furthermore, since all reports and presentations have to be completed on a computer, have fun saving up.

The school spends the most money on P.E.! I think that's ridiculous. The purpose of school is educate.

Answer 8

I think you are absolutely right!!! It is totally absurd! a student only really needs pencil and paper. Who cares if the paper comes in a 3 ring notebook with 5 dividers or from the big pack from the dollar store. Soap and water ARE just fine! there is no need for Clorox wipes! water and soap on a paper towel is fine. C'mon-they didn't cut up a chicken on the desk-they are not gonna get salmonella!!
Its so out of control, its just ridiculous...

Answer 9

Amen sister!!! Thank you!!! Exactly my thoughts!! I have 2 girls and not only do i have a gripe about the school supply list - but also the "donation" of $25.00 per kid that is actually not a "donation" because if you don't send it in the teacher harasses your child until you do. They embarass them by announcing in front of the class a list of kids that haven't paid their "donation" fee.
Also another gripe - what are class fees??????? Why in the hell do we send our kids to public school and then have to pay a "fee" for almost every class? My 8th grader has to pay $25 computer class fee, $10 choir class fee, $10 science fee
another $30 if she wants to try out for advanced choir. what?
If I wanted to pay all these fees I would have put them in private school. Also, not to mention you have to come up with
money almost everyday for some new "activity" going on whether it be a speaker or what not. Anyway, I guess I'm through griping. I feel a little better now!

Answer 10

School supply lists are getting out of hand. My daughter went in to 7th grade this year and we spent approx. $200 on supplies alone. Another $160 for registration and when she starts volleyball, it'll be another $50. I live in a nice area where most people are above middle class status (my family is not). You'd think with all the tax money they get, they could supply more for the students. I feel bad for those that can't afford everything they need.