Cookie likes to give me crap (lovingly!) about not posting enough and when I told her I wasn’t knitting and didn’t know what to write about, she said to just share anything!! Since a lot of you out there are mothers or friends of mothers I’d love to get some feedback from you on this. I just posted this on my Flickr account and thought it was a good one to cross-post. Deep breath, and here we go.
Can we talk about this for a minute. I’d really like to hear from other parents out there. This, my friends is what I had to buy for my kids for school this year. The stuff on the left is for Supergirl for kindergarten and the pile on the right is for Superboy for 3rd grade.
Does everyone else out there with kids have to buy this much stuff? The thing that gets me is how specific these lists are. I mean, the boy had to get Crayloa OR Prang watercolors. Nothing else. All of the colored pencils, markers, and crayons are to be Crayola too. I mean I know I probably don’t have to buy Crayola, but it’s just easier to get exactly what’s on the supply list than to hear about it later. My kids are already old enough to see what everyone else brings to school and would definitely come home and give me shit if I didn’t get what I was supposed to.
Now don’t get me wrong, I used to be a teacher. I know that teachers barely make and money and don’t get money for supplies. But man, this seems like a lot of stuff for a 5 & 8 year old to have to buy and bring to school. Doesn’t it? And oh, this doesn’t even include the money we are to send for a few other things too. So is this the norm? I want to know.
I mean do you know how expensive dry erase markers are? VERY! Seriously, there’s no way that everyone can afford to buy this stuff for their kids. What happens with those kids? What do they do when their parents can’t afford $35-40 in supplies for each one of their kids? I am going to call the school and ask if I can donate some money to put towards supplies for kids who can’t afford to get theirs. Then maybe I will feel better about this whole thing. This has really bothered me today.
**just sent off an email to the woman in charge of making supply kits asking if I can donate something and she’s going to bring this up at the next meeting to see what we can do**
111 Comments
I don’t have kids, but geez! When I was in school, the school provided all that kind of stuff. Of course we didn’t have computers, but. . .
I remember how great it was in elementary school to be the trusted one who got to go to the supply room (yes, there was an entire room of stuff) and get more erasers or pencis or whatever for the class. I guess that’s why I love going to office supply stores now! LOL
Its the same here in GA.. at least this is my second year of “The List” and am a little more prepared for the strike to our checkbook. What’s worse is that not only do you have the list that comes out for the school but when they meet their teachers.. we’re handed a SECOND list of stuff that they want too. I understand that this shouldn’t come out of the teacher’s pockets but I’m not made of money here.. (*jumps up and down*)
I’ve already hit the 1 cent sales at the office supply places and picked up everything that I’m going to be able to purchase. Our 1st grade list requires 2 packs of dry erase markers.. there’s no way I’m getting those since they are never on sale anywhere. I do what I can and will donate other items during the year as I see them on sale (tissues, wipes, etc) - I have a very small weekly grocery budget and I’m not going to forgo milk and bread for white-board markers.
uh…yeah!
This is my first year having three kids in school and I’ll be spending at least that much… Last year my oldest needed a scientific calculator–$20 for that alone. And then there’s school fees–the one in Kindergarten will be about $50, the one in full-day elementary is $100 and the middle schooler last year was almost $200!
Oh, yeah… this is a public school!
I feel your pain…
I have a list for my preschooler as well. I haven’t checked what exactly it has, but
I do recognize some of the things in the picture as being on the list. I guess I need
to start shopping.
My daughter just started kindergarten today also and all I had to buy her was a backpack and send $20 for supplies the teacher will buy. I guess I got off easy- this is my first kid in school, so I had no idea how things work these days. I think it’s really nice that you’re thinking about others who can’t afford it- I think I will ask my daughter’s teacher if they need extra $$ for those in need- thanks for the idea!
Yes, thank you. ;^)
I don’t have kids, but I do love me a sale. I remember grade school and all the stuff we had. The poster paints, construction paper, and who knows what-all. Plus all the workbooks and handouts we got. Since schools aren’t funded like they were when we were kids, I can see how it’s going to cost parents a lot. Plus the pressure to have the ‘right’ brands and the cute binders and such.
Btw, SuperGirl totally scored in the glue stick department.
Funny that list thing - I got one for the big gurl when she started JK, bought everything and set it orr with her to schoole, only to get half of it back.
For SK, there wasn’t one. So far, I haven’t recieved anything for Grade 1, but then, they haven’t even told me she can go to school there for sure yet.
I remember when we needed a backpack, pencil case and pencils, a pen and an eraser. Scary stuff!
Yup, we have to do that here in Idaho. Supergirls list was short compared to the one we got. We had to supply ziploc bags, antiseptic wipes, and 35mm film on top of what you had to buy. My daughters teacher took pictures for a scrap book that she put together for each child. I was more then happy to give her the film. She paid for everything out of her own pocket. Plus we had to kick in money for headphones for computer class, t-shirts, and money for other things. I didn’t mind too much but it’s sad to look and see what has to be bought. My parents never had to buy this much crap when I was a kid. Here the older kids have to pay for special classes and they have to put a deposit down for school books.
For us, all but the crayons, glue, and water colors went into a pile that got shared by the whole class. So for those parents that can’t afford there is generally enough to go around. I think the school officials and teachers work with the parents who don’t have the money to buy all the school supplies. I know it has to be bad for those who have 3-4 kids that they need to supply stuff for.
I have no idea what this next year is going to be like. We are moving to Montana so I need to find out what my kiddo is going to need since we are moving right at the beginning of the school year.
I’m not looking forward to “the list” next year. It reminds me of a documentary I saw on HBO a few years back that followed a grandmother in the Bayou of Louisiana struggling to raise her 3 grandkids while her daughter was in prison. The children missed the first few days of school because she didn’t have enough money to buy what was on their “lists”: 2 pencils and a single notebook. I wonder how many other kids don’t go to school because their families can’t afford school supplies?
That’s actually not much compared to what our kids have to bring - construction paper, a whack of folders, manilla paper, etc. But they don’t bring dry erase markers - I wish they did! They are SO expensive, and I have to buy all of mine out of pocket - we’re given none by the district. To make you (hopefully) feel better - I really appreciate the parents I have who bring whatever they can - I think I had about 10 kids of 22 bring some of their supplies this year (about 10 only brought themselves), so I appreciate whatever they can bring. That said, I spend about $100/year on pencils, paper, glue, scissors,crayons, etc. just for my room - hubbo spends at least that much too, plus the stuff we buy for Taylor. Thanks from the teachers for helping out!
I don’t have kids, but I only graduated from high school a few (almost 6 but close enough) years ago. I didn’t go to a public school either so I don’t know if they do this everywhere or just at my school.
We had to purchase our textbooks. New, used, didn’t matter. The school had a bookstore that you could sell your books back to as well, but they never gave you more than a few bucks for them even if they were pretty much brand new. My parents spent approximately $100 - $300 a semester (not a year, a semester) on one kids books. And worst of all there are three kids in my family who were spaced just far enough apart that everytime one kid could have used a siblings books, they went and got a new textbook.
And this was on top of the tuition that was more than my college tuition each year.
I went school shopping with my nieces last year and it blew me away how much stuff they had to buy (and how much it cost!) And they go to school in a small town so it’s not like they have these weird classes or anything. I honestly don’t know how some parents do it.
It is overwhelming - last year I had to buy 144 pencils for my first grader? WTF? I am still puzzling over that one, I too had wondered about those kids whose parents couldn’t afford crayola everything (very brand specific here, too) - and then there are still clothes, backpacks and maybe lunchboxes to buy - yikes! Great idea about donating!
You know, people sometimes give me grief on how much I spend for our home schooling supplies, but they
forget that sending a kid to public school isn’t free. I always take a look at the school supply
list in the stores just to see what other kids are using. At least we can use the backs of random computer
printouts for math work. I remember setting off for Kindergarten with nothing more than a new lunchbox.
I think another good idea will be to suggest to that lady to maybe try and make the list more generic so parents can buy their kids the supplies without going bankrupt on those brand names and not subject their kids to those stares from their class mates when their supplies are of a different make.
no kids here, but as for what the kids who can’t afford supplies do…
there’s a program here in north atlanta (north fulton schools) that provides a “school supply store” for low-income kids and teachers to shop for supplies. for the last three years the chartiable events committee at my work (which is gone now since we got “merged” with another company) ran a “tools for schools” drive where everyone brought in extra suuplies or donated money for the cause. we timed it every year so that when the drive ended, we could use the donated funds to shop for more supplies on the sales-tax-free shopping days, buying the bigger ticket items like calculators & backpacks. your school district might have such a program, or if not, should really think about starting one. it’s one thing to be the kid who’s mom insists on buying the off-brand stuff (which i always got over ;]), quite another when you’re the kid who doesn’t have any supplies at all. =/
Yeah it is crazy. My son isn’t in school yet, but I have seen the lists in the local stores. Some of them are a full 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper typed! It is insane. I remember as a kid having to take Kleenex to Kindergarden. When that teacher retired they found an entire closet full of nothing but kleenex. So the new teacher didn’t have to ask for them for many years. I just wonder why they need dry erase markers. I know that most schools use the white boards now, but still, why should you supply them for the teacher. The school should do that.
We have to buy specific colored notebooks and folders for the elementary school kids. One year I had to go to three different stores to find a black folder!! That was about two years ago. If I can’t find the colors my kids need,now I just improvise. With three kids, it feels super silly to worry about the color of a folder. My kids never got to have the “fun” folders that your kids have. It gets better in Middle school/High school, but then you need to fork over the money for scientific calculators and all the science supply stuff. I’m glad my hubby has a good job. Don’t know how others less fortunate can make it.
It shocked me too the first year when I got that supply list. Now I don’t mind so much since I have learned to plan for it. Our church does a local supply drive during the summer to make kits for our school and donates the kits to be used by families that can’t afford to buy the supplies themselves.
OMG - you’ll be sorry you got me started on this one! When we lived in Houston, we were offered the option of buying a $40 kit of supplies that was put together by the school or just buying them ourselves. I figured I could come in under $40 each, so I tried. The first year, I was able to do it only by a few dollars. The next year I tried, their supplies almost hit $100 (for two)! We’re in a small town now, and I’m curious to see how much it’s going to run me here. I agree - it’s excessive, and the specificity is annoying (one year we had to buy certain colors of folders, including aqua, brown, etc. - never found them).
I remember when I started my second college degree only 4 years after graduating from HS and walking into an office supply store that had THE LIST posted. I was shocked. I had never had that. I always could chose what I wanted that the school did not provide.
My church collects supplies off the local school lists and puts together a store for the local students that don’t have enough money to buy supplies. Each kid gets a new backpack and the supplies specified for each grade and teacher. I think it is a great program that reaches out to those less fortunate.
I’m 28 now, so it’s been awhile, but I definitely had to bring that much, and more, for school every year. Plus two boxes of Kleenex so the room would be stocked all year. It was always my favorite part of the year, the shopping for school supplies! Not sure about where you are, but in Seattle the newspaper runs a supply drive where people can buy extras and donate them to families in need. I’m sure anything extra you wanted to provide would be more than appreciated by your school - I’m surprised they have to have a meeting to decide that!
I don’t have kids, but I’m so not surprised to see all that stuff. In fact, I’m kinda surprised there’s not more. That’s awesome of you to donate for those who can’t afford all the supplies. I know the parents and teachers will appreciate the generosity!
My son is still too young for me to learn what the norm in Canada is for these things, but I’m sure it’s probably the same. While parked in a parking lot of an out door mall the other day, I saw a 6th grade shopping list on someone’s front seat, so I took a peak. The list was probably longer than yours for both your kids! I couldn’t believe it.
What I can’t understand is why your kids need dry erase markers?? Aren’t the teachers supposed to write on the board with them to give a lesson, and not the kids?? And then why do all the kids need to have their own should they need to solve a math puzzle on the board? Do chalk boards not exist anymore? You can get 60 pieces of chalk for a buck!
Anyhow, curious to read what other people write about the norm in their area!
I am sending my first to Kindergarten this year so I don’t know about the supplies as I am still waiting for my list.
My son however went to Summer Camp today and he came back very happy. They played all sorts of sports :).
You have a huge heart my friend and I am sure that they will let you help some of the kiddos in school :). You rock!
The supplies do look fun though :)…I love school supplies.
I worked in the public school system for a long time and always made sure I had extra supplies on hand for the kids that couldn’t afford them and, in the schools I was in, that was usually a lot of kids! The school supply list from the district I worked in easily required the kids bring that much crap. It’s insane. Glad mine isn’t school age….yet!
Not in that boat yet, but looking over some things friends have to get for their kids, I was amazed. One school requires that all the kids brings in a container of Clorox/ Lysol wipes for cleaning the desks everyday. Um, where’s the janitor?
I’m not a parent, but know that school supplies are outrageously expensive.
Every year, my firm participates in the “backpack project”. Working from a list, we purchase backpacks, school supplies, and a new outfit (and a few extras because we can’t help ourselves) for a homeless child. We were one of the pioneers for this project in Boston, and it has grown exponentially each year.
ummm yeah peeps been giving me a bit of shit to contemplate and prompt me. in that nice way too:)
only I commented on this one in the photo!
i think it’s the norm. i was in elementary school…damn, 21 years ago, and i had a list very similar to the stuff you got. except we didn’t have dry erase boards back then. they still used chalk.
i love those skully notebooks. how cool!
Yup, I’ve been buying at least that much stuff at the beginning of each school year for years! I have to tell you it gets even worse in Jr. High and HS. Do you have any idea how expensive a ‘graphing calculator’ is? Ouch!
Our list is crazy but not specific like that. I guess I don’t have a problem with it b/c I see that a lot of it goes into a pool into the classroom and since I know that some kids can’t afford all this, I don’t mind shelling out. It would bug me if it said that I had to buy certain brands though! I also tend to shop where a percentage of my money goes back to the school.
Wow. I seem to remember bringing in my own crayons and pencils and maybe glue, but that’s it. Dang.
We have a Stuff a Bus program here for kids who can’t afford school supplies, which in this little tourist town is a lot. Most of the parents work at hotels and restaurants and we don’t make a lot. I’ll be home schooling this year and I’ll be glad to save money on new clothes! We’ll definitely buy some supplies and some new clothes just to feel like it’s school, but won’t be spending all that much on stuff we don’t need. The worst part over the last few years was that I’d buy all the supplies and then they were all put together with every else’s to “share” with the whole class. I bought as much generic as I could.
Well, my first experience with this is this year with the RR going to kindergarten. What our school did is offered us a package deal where if you paid $25 they would put together a school supply packet for your child and have it at school waiting for them on the first day. It was either that, or get a supplies list. Needless to say, I paid the $25. I actually like this system, as I’m probably going to save money in supplies (as the school can buy in bulk), and in the time to go around and get it all.
I am right there with you sister. With my 3 in 5th, 3rd & 1st this year I am preparing myself for whoppers of lists. I hit costco for the gluesticks & then send in all extras to the class. Same with anything else I can get there to donate to the class. Bulk is the way to go with some things. Of course, our district starts later than most other places so we miss all the good school supply deals & with lists being specific for grade/teacher/classroom I don’t bother wasting money or shopping time until I have lists in hand.
You are defenitely not in this boat alone & remember, halfway through the year you’ll need to buy replacements for most of it ;o) Lucky Moms we are!
Oh, my! That’s plenty of stuff. I do have to say that it gets worse as they get older… I had to get a certain kind of scientific calculator for Dear Daughter in 7th grade… a hundred bucks! And someone took it! I talked to the teacher, found out what functions they really needed and defied her to make me buy another one! Sheesh! But this was a good idea for a picture. I’ll do the same when we go shopping.
Dry erase markers? Makes me wonder if the parents are providing classroom supplies for the teachers as well.
That’s a lot of stuff, way more than I remember having to get when I was in elementary school.
I don’t have kids in school yet, but I would take offense to a list that had a brand name on it. Unless Crayola wants to offset the cost, people should be able to go the a dollar store to get generic items at prices they can afford. It really is too bad that it gets lost because they probably won’t use everything right away. I hear your pain, but I am guessing we would shell out that much anyway this way you get to track exactly what you might have to spend even without a list.
Not reading the zillion comments above (below?) but holy sweet mother! What happened to.. bring some paper and pencils? Everything was included when I went to school! (stupid stupid government). I think that’s very thoughtful of you to be proactive about the less fortunate families… I think the teachers are brand specific so no one can identify who brought what when everything goes into the general supply bin, right? Geez… you’d think we were funding some war instead of investing in our children’s futures… oh. right. we are. (stepping off soapbox).
I’m in my 20s, but that seems about right for elementary school. I remember getting the big box of crayons, and pencils and such (altho CDs weren’t around back then). I was shocked when my family moved to New Hampshire and the ONLY thing the kids need to purchase for class for kidnergarden through 6th grade is a folder if they’d like for their homework. If they don’t want to get one, the teacher has one for them. Granted this is one of the best school districts in NH (because of high property taxes) but that was shocking to all of us. The only reason I think they might specify the brand is kids without Crayola brand might get teased…. who knows.
wow! that is a lot of supplies! Fortunately we live in a school district where they supply everything. More yarn for me!
WOW! I have just a small list. We’re homeschooling…so all the art supplies are just our home ones…and we get an art kit that is free because we’re part of a charter (that means everything is paid for with our tax dollars). We also get paper…the kind to draw a picture up top and write about it down below. I’ll be buying pencils, but everything else is only up to me…and I get to keep what isn’t used up, so I won’t have to buy everything NEW next year. I think that’s the tough part…what’s wrong with last years crayons. They’re probably not used up…just maybe missing a few. Why must everything be NEW every year. KM
I have to say, I’ve used generic crayons, and they’re totally not even worth the money. They break, the colors are weird, the quality of the wax is terrible.
School funding is weird these days. Since I moved out here, I wondered why so many parents seemed to drive their kids to school, and it’s apparently because funding for buses was cut back to almost nothing, so there *aren’t* buses for the kids, and their parents HAVE to drive them. *boggle*
You are such a sweetie, Scout. You have a huge heart.
xoxo!
Thanks so much for being a great mom! We teachers LOVE moms like you. I know it is expensive, but it really does come out of our pocket if the parents don’t provide it. As far as asking for specific brands - it is worth the extra money to get the “real” stuff. The dollar store junk is exactly that - junk. The scissors don’t cut, the construction paper tears if the students try to erase, the crayons are useless - they barely color! I try to hit Walmart at the beginning when they have 20 cent colors, 99 cent markers, etc. and buy lots of extras. Also our junior auxilary provides supplies for those students who don’t have any. Oh my - three weeks ’til the first day. Must knit, must knit now!!!
Oh, my friend. I have four in school (in a couple of years I’ll have five in school). We have to buy at least that much for each one, and each teacher has VERY specific requirements as to brands, quantities, and colors. It’s a circus here every July.
But you are smart to get it done early; one year I waited until mid-August, and the pickings were mighty slim.
Is that a dozen glue sticks I see? Really?? Man, oh man — that seems extreme. I’m not a parent, but I do think it’s like that everywhere, unfortunately. Your heart is in a good place, though, offering to help others out. I think the police dept. here in town does a thing where they “adopt” a less fortunate kid (often one whose dad is in jail) and take them shopping for school supplies, which is a great idea. They show some of those kids on the news with the biggest smiles on their faces….
I’m dreading the trip this year.
Time was, the school supplied things like crayons and glue and paint and even colored markers.
Now, it’s us.
And we also provide tissues and zip lock bags (????)
And last year, after I spent ( I kid you not) almost $100.00 on one 6th grader’s school supplies (including sculpey), I paid a $300.00 materials fee!! huh???
I am sure someone has already said this but I always buy the prepackaged already put together school supplies that the school sells. They get $$ off of it as a fundraiser and I don’t have to go to the store and buy supplies. Though I will say that buying a few folders when they are 10 cents a piece and some notebook paper is not a bad investment. Unfortunately, after Christmas, they might need some more glue sticks or whatever.
Whoa! I have the same concerns and wonder how it will be when my kiddos hit the real school scene. I was just laughing about school memories w/my mom and my sis this weekend about how we had to take a box of kleenex and maybe a notebook, pencil box and pencils. Pretty basic. Why the specific itemized list? I do not know how parents with low cash flow send their kids off with these demands. Something’s not right. Love the notebooks! I want Supergirl’s pretty pink one!
Yeah We have to buy that stuff plus some. I don’t see any (in your pic) construction paper (2 different sizes) or manilla paper (2 sizes), story tablet, 8 folders with specified colors, baby wipes, hand soap, and ruler, blah blah, blah. I’m sure I’m missing a few things.
I went ahead and bought extra of everything since the teachers run low on supplies later in the year and like you said some kids may not be able to afford supplies. When crayons are 20 cents, glue is 20 cents, folders 9 cents, it’s hard not just to go ahead and buy them while they are cheap. I meant to buy the prepackaged packs at school but I missed the deadline. Oops. I’ll try harder next year.
In addition to the pictured supplies you showed we also have baby wipes, copier paper, reward stickers, 2″ 3 ring binders, hand sanitizer, and snacks on our list. I don’t know
where the lucky person before me is able to find crayons and glue for 20 cents, but I’m jealous! I can’t believe it’s time to start thinking about back to school already!
Fortunately at this point in time we don’t have to purchase supplies for the kiddos (1st grade & pre-k), but I know it is just a matter of time before we have to.
Yeah, the price of some school supplies can blow you away. I finally caved this last year and bought my now 16 and 10 year old boys backpacks from REI. Everything else, (even the Land’s End ones) only lasted a few months. I am counting on these to last YEARS. I can understand the brand name stuff, but only after buying the “off-brand” stuff and seeing how crappy it is (crayons included). In the elementary grades, our supply lists include things like post-it notes; zip lock bags; kleenx; hand sanitizer and dry erase markers. These are pooled supplies for the class instead of the teachers finding some way to budget for these items along with more essential supplies.
Wait until they go to college………I have to buy my oldest a new laptop before September!
Oh yeah. I’m with everybody else. Lots of school supplies required PLUS enrollment fees of at least $50 per child (three in school here). One good thing is that beyond elementary school the supplies aren’t as specific and aren’t *required*. I was told last year that specific brands are requested so that kids who use store brand crayons aren’t teased and don’t have school supply envy. Yes, they did say that. We’ve got two in high school now so they’ll each bring home a laptop but not until we pay the $50 laptop insurance in addition to the $50 enrollment fee! It’s very expensive to have kids in school!
We get these School Kits that are pre-made for whatever the teacher/school wants that grade to have. Its easier and costs a bit less to do it that way plus you dont have to run around finding all the stuff on the list. My son will be attending Kindergarten and my daughter will be in the 2nd grade and he definitely has the most stuff in his pack and it cost more than my daughters! Also if we want to buy a school kit and donate it to a child in an inner city school we can do that also which is very nice because sometimes I wonder the same things you do, how do these parents afford this stuff? Thanks for the great post!
When my kids were in grade school we had school supply lists that were similar. One year I helped in my son’s class and boy was that an eye opener. The school supplies I had purchase for my son had been turned in to the teacher (all the kids in the class had to turn their supplies in to the teacher). The supplies were then put into containers. The kids’ desks were put together in groups and guess what was in the middle of the table groups!……All of the combined and divided supplies. I asked the teacher why the kids weren’t allowed to keep their own supplies (my opinion it teaches the kids responsibility for their belongings) and I was told that not all of the kids can afford to purchase supplies so this way everyone has supplies to use. That is why you have to purchase soooooo much!
P.S. You should have seen her closet full of kleenex boxes…some of them had names on them of the children from the previous year. I was outraged and never followed the list again in the following years.
ahhh…the good ol’ days - yes, i remember them well….it got to the point where i’d get them good stuff and they’s get “attached” to them and insist on reusing the following years if they held up - like a good pair of scissors, nice strong pencil box, a set of color pencils that they didn’t use the whole year, but held up for a long time. then the backpacks - they’d get attached to their favorites, but those took a beating. we have organizations (one that i work for) and service groups that get donations and put together school supplies, some with backpack included, for those who can’t afford to get all those supplies. some schools also take donations of sets of supplies - or supplies to make up a set….btw, i love the skull and bones themed notebooks and portfolios i spied in your photo….
Here in France, you have to buy everything except textbooks. A list is provided and some items are very specific - down to the brand and model for the calculator for instance - but with good reason - it help save time for the teacher.
However, the supermarkets all have special offers during August and the government provides an annual grant for those on low incomes. The grant comes automatically each year from the department that pays the Family Allowance.
We also have to pay for school dinners (a proper three course meal, this France after all) and the school bus.
I used to be a teacher too, but I have to say that’s excessive.
There is no way that schools would ask kids to bring in that much stuff in a lower-income area. I taught high school in an area like that. Seriously they didn’t even bring their own pens most of the time. Whatever supplies the school didn’t pay for came out of my pocket.
It really is a shame that they are promoting certain brands as well! I assume they are concerned about the quality of the items or something? I don’t know. I don’t think they should put parents out like that. It seems unncessary.
Our local school puts together kits, bags of everything the student needs. Instead of fighting tooth and nail at Wal-Mart, each parent sends cash. The first day of school each child gets their bag of goodies. It probably takes out the fun pirate themed folders you have going on there, though. Parents who can’t afford the bags are donated towards in the cost. No one is the wiser because every bagged set of stuff looks exactly the same, whether the parent paid or did not.
I couldn’t agree more about the school lists being very specific. My daughter is now going into high school and we won’t get her school supply list until the first day of school. I ask how do you anticipate what the teen-ager (sorry can’t use child any more) for school. I like Camille’s post about the school putting together the supply kits. what a wonderful idea. Less headache for the parents to go fight the school supply crowd.
Wow. I haven’t gotten the list yet. Of course being the worrier that I am, I wonder, did I miss something? E starts a new school as a first grader, so I’m a little nervous about making sure we are ready to go. Last year our list was very small, but it was a different school.
I’m Canadian, so things are a bit different here (ie teachers are better paid and funding is a bit different) but I haven’t had to buy much of anything so far. My kids are in Grade 2 and 3 and I have paid some fees for things like a safe arrival program (may $20) and that’s it. All the books and supplies are provided. I think the idea is to ensure that everyone has the same things.
And, what do kids need dry erase markers for? Maybe it’s time to go back to the slate and chalk.
I don’t have kids either but when I was in grade school I remember having a plastic supply box and I was lucky to have 4 crayons in it that were different colors. I can’t imagine having to buy 6 different Crayola boxes that all pretty much function the same way.
Classrooms should have a huge tub of crayons and markers anyway. So it’s kinda unnecessary every student needs to buy their own.
Wait, CD-Rs?! What the hell does a 3rd grader need with CD-Rs?
I have one going into kindergarten and 3rd grade this coming year as well. The list is insane. When I took the supplies in for last year the teacher didn’t even know what to do with it all and send some of it home. As for the kids who can’t afford the stuff that is why we have to buy so much. Most of the supplies are shared so they don’t want us to put names on things. I haven’t started my shopping yet but did put the lists in my purse so I can pick things up along the way. Luckily I don’t have to buy that much in the way of school clothes this year. I can never say how thankful I am to have nieces that outgrow clothes before they are ruined and my daughter has no problem getting them and wearing them. I know she will only do that for so long though.
Actually, that doesn’t look like that much stuff to me. Last year was our first year buying supplies. At our old school they just had a supply fee and then bought supplies from that. We had tons more stuff than that last year. I haven’t shopped yet this year, maybe I’ll take a picture when I do. I live in a very affluent area and I know all of our schools have had supply donation drives to use for kids who can’t afford the supplies.
Well maybe this is something we knitters/crocheters can do for kids in need. Not in a foreign country, but in our OWN. What do you think?
You’re right, when I was in school we didn’t have to buy that much stuff — things like crayons and paper were provided. The downside as I remember was that if you wasted a piece of paper or broke a crayon the teacher could get very short with you. (I even remember a cafeteria lady’s yelling at a kid, “take ONE STRAW, and use it carefully!”)
For Miss B I think I have to get most of that; I don’t have to buy dry-erase markers or CDs (what are the CDs for?). She quite enjoys going to Staples or CVS and picking out her stuff. I have to note here that almost always whenever there’s a request for supplies or a contribution to a field trip there will be a note saying “let us know if you can’t afford it.” (Of course people might feel embarrassed to do that.) Also, near the holidays a notice will go out saying “if you want to get your child’s teacher something, instead of yet another coffee cup you might think about…” followed by a wish list for each teacher. Maybe because at least up until now she’s gotten a ton of hand-me-downs from her four girl cousins so I don’t have to take her clothes shopping, it’s never bothered me much.
Also, Miss B’s teacher last year was a knitter who incorporated knitting into the curriculum, so she always had needles and yarn on her wish list, and I was happy to contribute!
Interestingly enough Taz (in an intensive-special-needs class with three or four other kids) doesn’t usually have a list. They do keep a petty-cash envelope for each kid, but it goes mostly for lunch. It may be that because it is special ed and there are so few kids they are better stocked, and/or it’s more individualized based on each kid’s needs. They make a lot of materials like laminated choice cards themselves, and they also have materials geared to special-needs kids that I think have to be ordered from specialty catalogs.
Can I tell you that things do get better, my two girls are in high school and really the only things I have to get for them at the beginning of every year is a 3 ring notebook, lined paper, mechanical pencils and pens. Well, they get better as far as supplies go but everything else ends up costing you. Just wait until one of yours is trying to get into college, they charge you for EVERYTHING! You cant even take a test without paying for it. Now that’s ridiculous!
Wow! I homeschool, so I know exactly how much school supplies we actually use in a year and that seems a bit much. I mean, Maddie basically uses a pencil — one will last a good 4-6 months. So that’s like $1 maybe? If it’s a good pencil! Otherwise we use the same markers and crayons we’ve been using for a couple of years. Where do all the markers from last year end up? Landfills? Hmmm. . . I think you are right to question this & I applaud you for helping out those who can’t afford the supplies.
Here in Colorado we have to buy all the supplies (ie: pencils, crayons, folders, paper, etc.). We also have
to buy snacks for the class all through the year. On top of all they also are required to wear uniforms which
cost about $30.00/uniform and i’m sure you know how fast 5 and 7 yr old children go through clothing! Oh and
did I mention this is a public school and we have no choice but to send them there unless we want to shell out
the money for private school. I remember when I was in school and all we had to buy was the ’special’ stuff we
wanted (ie: funky pencils, cartoon folders, etc.) When you are a one income family this stuff really makes it hard.
In both kindergarten and 1st grade I spent almost $100 on school supplies for my son. The PTA started selling the
school supply kits and I think his for 4th grade was $54 and my daughterswas $51. Talk about both a $$ saver and a
time saver!
Our school has a program where at the end of the year they ask for donations of the old school supplies. So, if a
classroom has extra crayons, pencils, whatever, they take them and bundle them and send to a Chicago inner city
school. We also have a sister school (inner city) which we as a PTA donate books from our book sales.
The only thing I bought for Alexander last year when he started Montessori kindergarten was two boxes of kleenex and a package of pencils and a package of 8 crayons (no specific brand). I still don’t know what I am supposed to buy this year for 1st grade in public school but just looking at your stuff I can tell it’s going to be a lot more.
Yep…in Indiana you have to buy the kids’ textbooks along with all the “regular” supplies (crayons, etc.). I couldn’t believe it when we first moved there. Growing up in Ohio, textbooks and such were supplied - all we had to bring were things like crayons, pencils, and tissues. There were even supplies in the art room. Not any more! I always questioned where our taxes were going. Obviously the schools weren’t getting them, and the roads stunk so they weren’t going there either - so where? Sigh. Ah, for the good ol’ days!
Yep! I have 2 kiddos in school this year (all day) and each of their lists specify PRANG watercolors, Crayola markers/crayons,etc. Specific brand of paper, specific folders, specific pencils, etc. It is insane! Last year it cost $35! Then throughout the year, there were more supplies that kept coming up that they needed that weren’t even on the list! Next year should be fun, I will have 3 in school all day! Oh, and this year our book rental/registration fees are over $250 and next years will be $1600 for the kindergartener alone! And no, we don’t go to private schools in our area, this is public schools! Private schools in our area are $3000 per student with no price break until there are 4 family members enrolled! YIKES!
School supply time is the ONLY time I regret my decision not to grace WAL*art with my presence. I’m sure they miss my $$ :), My DD, however, MUST have the pink pirate notebook, do you mind telling me where it came from?
OK so I have five kids.Wait.. it gets more expensive as they get older.If your children decided to go into math which all my kids are into then you get into Calculator costs. $129.00 for a TI-84 x3 don’t even ask me what it does I used paper and a pencil in school for math.Lucky for me my oldest is in college and is majoring in chemistry and math.So for her its been a good investment.My second daughter had hers stolen right before school ended last year so we had to go and but another one this year.UGH…
We’ve had to buy the first list(general stuff) then each teachers list which you never know what it is going to have. I have been able to get a head start with the high schoolers because the older ones know what teachers for certain classes ask for.
With so many kids I have a box that is just for school supplies it has pencils,pens, paper,crayons,makers, color pencils ect….that I collect throughout the year because lets face it it get so expensive that time of year school supplies, school fees then all the holidays that follow.My kids are quick to share their stuff to kids who do not have so that’s how the box came to be.When Target clearance their ten one subject notebook for .10 I was there. Granted the kids where already in school but in the box it went because you know they are going to need more in January.
Plus I remember when we couldn’t buy Crayola and bought Rose Art instead I thought for sure I was going to hear it when they came home from school, but no not a word, no teasing nothing. From there on I just but what is one sale Crayola or Rose Art.
I work for a school district. A few years ago, students were given a list which included reams of computer/xerox paper (which is ridiculous in my opinion), scientific calculators (at $200 a pop) and the usual personal pencils, crayons and notebooks A few parents went to the School Board with their concerns and the School Board directed the supt, the principals and the teachers to get a handle on what they were requiring and why they needed so much…stuff.
The Board also wanted to know why the teachers were doing so many paper/pencil activities and letting the kids print so much off the internet, among other things particularly when most kids learn best from hands-on activities, not worksheets. It put a pretty quick halt on the exorbitant expenses, especially since we have a lot of families with 4 or more kids.
I suggest that parents go to the principals, the supt and to their Boards of Education to see if they actually know what is being required (they may not know) and ask why these items are required.
We homeschool. I have spent ZILCH on supplies - using up last years’ things. I haven’t boughten my curriculum yet
BUT, I also don’t have to spend skads of money on new clothes or shoes, etc. And the shrews homeschooler can get great used curriculum for a fraction of new.
Man, That is a whole lot of stuff! I guess I’m not looking forward to the list either -for Next year!
My kids are ten and six, respectively and they go to a charter school. Because the school doesn’t get the same federal funding as the regular (read: failing) public schools in jersey city, the parents have to kick in as much as possible. We have huge lists of supplies for each child (actually, we buy bulk supplies and they dole them out to the kids throughout the year on an as-needed basis. It’s worth it, though. I love their school.
At least that much stuff — each kid, every year. Their backpacks would be stuffed! Just wait ’til you get to the calculator years…
What gets me is not that we have to send stuff in (I quite enjoy it and always buy extras at Target during the dollar days stock-ups) but THEN we are expected to raise $50 for the walkathon. And $100 in the giftwrap sale. And $50 in the spellathon. And donate an item for the school auction, then buy a $75 ticket to the auction where we can then bid on the items we donated in the first place. And THEN we are supposed to give $20 for the teacher’s Christmas, birthday and end-of-the-year presents. Not to mention teacher appreciation day!
It’s unending.
Another “Yep” from me.. I have not gotten the list for my Kindergartner yet, but have the 2nd grader’s
somewehre… I need to find some sales, as they ask for specific brands at our school as well. I think
a lot about what you mentioned about people without the funds, as we have even been those people
a couple of school years ago.. Personally I wonder about maybe the PTSA doing some of their wonderful
fundraising during the summe, just to help contribute for this, doesn’t sound half bad to me.
Scout, this is a great topic despite it’s frustrating nature!
The lists seem to get longer every year. And there are items on the lists that you would think the schools would supply but they do not. You are lucky that your list is so short. I have seen the list that my SIL has to buy. In my county, the average cost is about $100. But to be brand specific is just plain stupid. It makes you wonder how some families can afford it.
If you are me,you going to be really ticked off when that set of more expensive watercolors comes home virtually unused.I have 3 kids and the list get longer and more ridiculous every year.A spiral notebook and a folder for every subject.Not just any old folder will do.Ones with brads and pockets for some,folders with brads and no pockets for others and the rest want folders with pockets and no brads.Highlighters,dry erase markers(because no one has chalk boards anymore.Funny I never remember my mom having to buy chalk for the teachers.)sharpies,the list goes on and on.And Kleen*x brand tissues.4 boxes each.Then after the Christmas break we would always get a note saying they needed more tissues!Then during the year they come home and tell you they have to make a full sized jousting lance for social studies.I feel your pain.I would home school but they would have to haul me off in a strait jacket!
Thats supposed to be like me.LOL!
It is the same for my girls (youngest starts K this year). I do know that some of the local store will have boxes for donations of school supplies (I want to say I saw some at Office Depot, but I could be wrong) & there are some things I will send extras of if there are some packed in larger packages. ex. glue sticks
I was at the school in the first week or two and I did see that they had some “free school supplies” for those who didn’t have everything they needed. So I guess some schools do try to provide supplies to the kids who can’t afford them. I thought all of them would, but maybe not.
I used to work at the local major grocery Store and a couple years into my job people used to come in with Lists that were 3 pages long of supplies that you had to bring to school-pens, papers, glue, antibacterial gel, toilet paper, tissues-the list went on and on-i was relly surprised especially since we never had to do that when i went to school and i would have been in that group who’s mom couldnt afford to buy those supplies and i was and only child- i think that’s really honorable that as soon as you think about it and other you want to help
i am sure many will appreciate it.
Yeah, you need to get a lot of stuff. But at least the stores put it on sale for cheap - I was just looking at an office depot ad today and boxes of 24 Crayola crayons are 9 cents. If you ‘cherry pick’ you can find good prices throughout the summer. Also, I believe our local WalMart stores did a program last year where you could “stuff a backpack” (buy and donate extra supplies) for children whose families could not necessarily afford all the supplies needed. As I recall it was in conjunction with a local news channel. Have you checked into any community involvement along those lines?
I homeschooled my oldest 2 through high school and spent less than $200 per year for both. The oldest is a teaching assistant at the local college and the other has his own mechanics business. I guess you don’t need name brands to get a decent education. I am now homeschooling my 2 7 yo’s and am spending around $300 per year for both. That includes all textbooks, workbooks, pens, pencils, crayons, colored pencils and extra reading books. Of course, I don’t buy name brands unless they are an obvious better quality. If teachers are underpaid and the schools don’t buy supplies and the kids do their own janitor work (i.e. cleaning desks), where is the money going? BTW, even though we homeschool, we still pay our taxes and do not receive any back from the schools, that’s basically free money for the schools.
I’m a teacher. At my school, the students have to buy a pre set pack of school supplies. Some parents really like this because it eliminates the “leg work” for them. However, I know some are frustrated because they feel they could get better prices by going to Target, Costco, etc.
As a teacher, I have to admit that my students actually use all their supplies (and then some!) during the year. Hopefully, if you are being asked to supply all that, then they’ll at least be using it and it won’t go to waste. We teachers GREATLY apprecitate the money the parents contribute for things like this. Most teachers I know end up spending money out of their own pocket to buy supplies, too.
Finally, two things…I think it’s great that you will be donating for families who can’t afford it…bravo! Secondly, I DO think it’s ridiculous that you are given specific brands! How frustrating.
We homeschool so I don’t have “a list” but I’ve glanced at the school lists that are at the local stores and they are pretty long so I’d say what you’ve got there is the norm these days. Not like when we were kids, eh??
My eldest is going to the local public high school for drivers ed in the fall and I have to fork over a pretty hefty chunk for that. (so much for free public school) When I got his registration papers in the mail I was shocked to see all the classes that had additional fees attached to them.
Just wait until yours are in middle and high school. OMG! Graphing calculator $120.00 each … and I had twins so one got to use a hand me down from an older sibling but I had to spring for a second one.
Hi,
I don’t have any children, but it does seem to be a bit much. Around here (Baltimore, MD) Some of the stores and libraries have donation bins where people from the community can donate something from the lists. My husband and I always pick up some things for the donation bin. There are usually lists posted there from several local schools.
It’s the same everywhere, I think. We get to either buy things individually from a very specific list (including brand names) and get half of it wrong and hear about it several times from the teacher (um, not that that’s what we did last year or anything) or buy pre-packaged shit from something called “Edu-Pac” where for about $50 you can get all of the supplies in one fell swoop. $50. For a Grade Two student. Sure, that’s Canadian dollars, but still.
I walked home from work the other day because I didn’t have bus fare. We’re not usually quite that pathetic, but it’s a bad week. What of the parents who have those bad weeks EVERY week? (There are quite a few of them).
And then there are the “special events” and field trips and fundraisers. I believe there were approximately TWENTY separate fundraising events during the first grade. I may have ranted about it at one point. If you go looking for the post, please be warned that there is much bad language. Much. And I meant every word of it.
I think it’s the same all over…and I think it has been for years! I certainly remember that I had to get at least that much (and I think maybe more…) when I started 3rd grade…which was *ahem* 16 years ago.
It’s really expensive…I don’t know how my parents managed with 5 kids. I guess that’s why even when the list said Crayola, we got off-brand. *shrugs*
Yep…same for me and the older theyget the worse it gets!! They also RUN OUT and NEED MORE as the year progresses. I buy extras of crayons,markers, glue,paper etc because it is always cheaper in late summer before school starts than it is during the year. Then in Nov or Dec when the crayons are all lost or not good enough. I go into my secret stash and have them at hand. It doesn’t hurt also because they always wait until 10 min before the bus comes to tell me that they need something.
I have to buy more for my third grader. And don’t even ask about my seventh grader…what with a graphing calculator (over $100) and supplies for band and athletics.
In elementary school, some of the supplies are generally for the teacher/room, and others are for your kid. Seems like a fair amount of it comes home at the end of the year unused, so I send it back again the next year.
About specified color for folders, I’ve seen this is very helpful in the classroom for the younger grades. Everyone uses red for music, blue for reading, etc., so you can tell at a quick glance if everyone has the right folder. Saves time, and the teacher can put their energy into teaching as opposed to helping the organizationally-challenged.
I was appalled last year when I had to get supplies for my kid. For 1st grade they needed 4 boxes of everything. I know kids color a lot, but I had to deal with 1 box of crayons for the year. Not 4. Plus markers and erasers etc etc. 2nd grade is a tiny bit less, but I wonder what exactly is my public education doing with all of the stuff I don’t get back. Like rulers and scissors. I know they don’t use that stuff the next year. So whats the deal? Why am I buying copy paper? What exactly are my tax payer dollars going for?
In the Uk we never had to supply too much for the kids but here in France I can spend upwards of 100euros per child and they are very specific about brand, even down to the type of folder dividers wanted! We end up buying 6 or 7 different types of paper as not all the teachers want the same, it drives me crazy!
Yeah, the supply lists here are long too. We can get any crayons, but only Ticonderoga #2 pencils and a Sanford white eraser. Plus about 25 other times. I love the 20 glues sticks on the list. Last year, we only had to get 4, but our kid and every other kid went through about 40 glue sticks. We kept donating glue sticks to the room and still never head enough. I think they have some type of supplement here for the people who can’t afford it.
I happened to stop by on a mission to check out your awesome, the-best-colorways-out-there yarn, and saw this post. I don’t have kids yet, but I’m an urban school teacher. Some of my kids wouldn’t be able to afford that list. In my school, and all the schools in low income areas that I know of (and some of the suburban ones too) order large lots for the school. A bunch on notebooks, a bunch of pencils, etc. We give the kids a list that consists only of the important stuff = notebooks, folders, pencils and/or pens. Then there’s the kids that won’t/can’t get this stuff, and all the fancy do dads (crayons, paint, rulers, protractors, etc). Teachers can go to the supplies in storage. Once they are gone, or if the supplies we need were never ordered teachers usually spend their own money and buy the stuff on their own. Sometimes we tell the children we have what they need, for instance pencils for testing, and they bring some and extras for others anyway. So, I guess in the needy districts that I know of everyone looks around, sees what we’re dealling with, and pitches in as they can. I spend easily over $500.00 a year on my little guys. My question is, after reading some of these responces, how come my school doesn’t have two pennies to rub together but has a cache of supplies and so many other schools do not? Anyway, good luck on the school year, and again, rockin yarn!!
Hey,
I just saw this article and thought of this post of yours. http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/43/back-to-school-shopping-a-survival-guide
I’m dreading shopping this year. Your pile looks small compared to ours. Last year for a 2nd grader the list filled two plastic grocery bags, not counting the 3-pack of tissues. I really don’t mind them naming specific brands (do they all have a deal with Prang or what?), but I really wish they’d check to make sure someplace common actually sells them. Last year I ended up ordering things online because we just couldn’t find a store that sold them.
I homeschool my kids so I don’t have to deal with those lists anymore, however… When my kids were in school, I complained about the size of the lists and was told that they just dump all the supplies into a central supply box and EVERYONE uses from that pile. I didn’t like that idea so I put my kids name on every crayon, pencil, glue stick etc… I don’t mind donating some stuff if there are kids who’s parents can’t afford it. But the dump it in a pile and everyone gets to use it doesn’t teach responsibility nor is it fair… I feel for you.
But I so want to know where you got all those skull notebooks! My kids want some! : )
Oh yes…my sweet daughter is in 1st grade this year and she has a pile about halfway between your two sweet ones. I loved this one - a check for $4.10 for a Scholastic subscription:) I’ve been hitting the Staples one cent sales - they come in handy and I usually stock pile stuff throughout the year when I see awesome clearance sales. And the generic folders and notebooks are super cheap - at my daughter’s school (Sierra Vista over on the Westiside) pretty much everything is put into a communal pile so she’s not even going to necessarily get what I buy for her. I let her splurge on her backpack - she wants a high school musical one this year:)