School Supplies Needed

[angprescott]

Yesterday, we took our daughter up to pick up her schedule for the upcoming school year. She is going into seventh grade at the middle school. Along with her schedule we also received all the paperwork that we need to fill out and a list of supplies that the teachers want us to buy. When we were school, my mom never had to buy us supplies, they were at the school. as part of why we pay school tax. For the last few years it seems we have been asked to buy more and more. This years list has really frustrated me, don't they understand that if the school cant afford basic supplies, parents probably cant either. If it was just some paper and pencils I wouldn't mind either, but nope, this list includes a 3" 3 ring binder that at Walmart is 5.oo. and then 2- 1" three ring binders, folders with three holes already punched in them, but with no metal prongs, colored pencils, calculator, pencil pouch, at least 2 boxex of Kleenex, and this is just part of the list, other things will be added as needed. Am I the only one that finds this getting a little out of hand?

[bungholiotgn]

The lady I work with has already been to the store 3 times because it seems each day they add more things. And since everyone is shopping for the same basic supplies, many stores around are out of the items so it is a scavenger hunt to find everything needed!

[paints]

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.

[angprescott]

I did try the dollar stores, Thanks, but the problem is that some teachers are being too picky about exactly what they want and somethings are not available for cheap. One item I have to go to the office supply store for.

[erinelise2]

The requirements are insane. I've had years where I have had to spend more than a $100 for my two kids. Then you get really pissed at the end of the year where you see one of those composition or spiral notebooks they specifically required and the kid has only used 4 pages out of it. Its get worse in middle and high school when they then have classes that have fees. I just paid $27 for two of my daughter's classes.

[harleyy2]

@paints - I laughed when I saw the Walmart commercial on TV comparing their prices are lower than Dollar General however Dollar General's prices are lower (for a majority of things of course!).

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.

[almorin]

I remember one year I had to buy a graphing calculator ... that was rather pricey ... When I was going to school they didn't have graphing calculators we had to do our math by hand and use our brains ... Now, kids just have to punch in the right numbers.  Most of that stuff now a days is pretty Greek to me!  School clothes, that's the BIG ONE ... Ouch!  Good Luck! 

[king4cash]

That school supply list sounds very familiar. It seems like the public schools are now operating more like the private ones....

[paints]

@ harleyy2 I'd rather pay more somewhere else than shop at Walmart. Walmart is the Monsanto of the retail world. Toxic.

@paints - I laughed when I saw the Walmart commercial on TV comparing their prices are lower than Dollar General however Dollar General's prices are lower (for a majority of things of course!).

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.

[sdenimandlace1]

wow were are are tax dollars going that we give for the schools.  we a;so have a 75 dollar wheel taxes that t is suppose to pay for those things.

[mawhite63]

I remember one year I had to buy a graphing calculator ... that was rather pricey ... When I was going to school they didn't have graphing calculators we had to do our math by hand and use our brains ... Now, kids just have to punch in the right numbers.  Most of that stuff now a days is pretty Greek to me!  School clothes, that's the BIG ONE ... Ouch!  Good Luck! 

Oh wow I remember that graphic calculator! That was so expensive.

[msmoneybags48]

I have had my grandson for two school years (last year he was in Kindergarten; this year he is in first grade).  Last year, my husband was nice enough to pay for his supplies, but we had to buy him uniforms.  This year, I got the list from Wal-Mart and bought his supplies.  I paid $29.68 for the stuff on the first list.  I went to the school to register him, met his teacher and she gave me a second list.  That list asked for more stuff.  I lucked up and got all of it but three items.  When my daughter was in school (we are talking from 1991 to 2001), I lived in Chicago, and all I had to do was go to the local Walgreen's and get her stuff.  I agree it has gotten out of hand.  My husband says that the teachers think they are slick; they have the parents buy the supplies and share them with the children that cannot afford them.  It is really something.  Next year, I hope not to have him; his mother is trying to get things together for him and she will have him.

[countrygirl12]

Yesterday, we took our daughter up to pick up her schedule for the upcoming school year. She is going into seventh grade at the middle school. Along with her schedule we also received all the paperwork that we need to fill out and a list of supplies that the teachers want us to buy. When we were school, my mom never had to buy us supplies, they were at the school. as part of why we pay school tax. For the last few years it seems we have been asked to buy more and more. This years list has really frustrated me, don't they understand that if the school cant afford basic supplies, parents probably cant either. If it was just some paper and pencils I wouldn't mind either, but nope, this list includes a 3" 3 ring binder that at Walmart is 5.oo. and then 2- 1" three ring binders, folders with three holes already punched in them, but with no metal prongs, colored pencils, calculator, pencil pouch, at least 2 boxex of Kleenex, and this is just part of the list, other things will be added as needed. Am I the only one that finds this getting a little out of hand?

I disagree.  The school can't afford to supply 800 kids with pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, calculators, and all that stuff.  Is your list out of hand...NO!  You should see the list from my area.  In addition to the things your child needs personally you are asked to buy a big box of pencils to share with the class (NOT) a canister of clorox wipes, 3 boxes of kleenex, dry erase markers for the teacher (don't get me started), and I can't even remember what else that was stuff the students should not be responsible for. 

[vp44]

Most of the things on school list is a volunteer to give these things like Clorox wipes and dry erasers for the teachers. Teachers also come out of their pocket and buy items also and many of it is for the kids also. Stickers, prizes for a job well done etc. The community is also chipping in, I returned my son back to public school and his school has a guy who donates instruments so the kids can have music classes. The music teacher volunteers his time to teach the kids. So in all the things they ask of parents is to make sure the supplies last through out the year. If you can donate of course. It is not mandatory because if you can not afford they will not make you do it.

[Timberlan127]

This economy makes it tough on parents to provide many of these items. I think you'll also find that the school departments can't afford them either so the kids do with out if the teachers don't ask parents to buy them. That said I also think that we have reached a point as a society where we don't know how to do without anything. We have to have things and don't know how to conserve to make do as people used to do. We would never ask a child to use the back of a paper instead of getting a new one or erasing a mistake. Kids tend to be wasteful because they have never had to conserve. I can see all sides of this issue but no solutions.