This whole thing is odd. I don't have any children, so I'm not sure what the school supplies issue is currently like in my area. In elementary school, I do not recall being given lists from the teacher with instructions for what specifically to bring to school.
I always remember arriving for school on the first day and there would be a desk for each student with a brand new pack of crayons, a couple of pencils and some paper. The teachers already had a big box of scissors which were used year after year and remained with the class. This also goes for things like glue and such - we would go to the cabinet, get the glue, use it and then put it back for another student to use. We were never required to purchase supplies for a "community chest". Dictionaries were already in the classroom.
My parents purchased things for me like: backpack, folders, 3-ring binders, pens, pencils, paper, etc. I got to use whatever fun folders and pencils I wanted.
Soap??? With the exception of the two kindergarten classrooms, there were no toilet or wash facilities inside our classrooms. Kids who needed to wash their hands used the restrooms down the halls where they washed their hands with that powdery soap which looked like Borax and felt like you were washing your hands with sandpaper.
Firstly, teachers should be paid more. Period. Secondly, the school district should be providing supplies for the classrooms. Third, parents should do their part by supplying their children with the basics. Finally, there should be a fund for the teachers to purchase supplies for their classes and for the students who cannot afford to buy supplies.
I think perhaps the school districts are putting our teachers and parents in a bad situation. They don't fund the teachers, the teachers request supplies from parents, the parents get irritated and then the teachers get defensive about it. Meanwhile the school district has wiped their hands of the issue.
What's the deal? Why don't the schools have money for these things? I know our city had voted for a huge bond measure a few years ago to pay for physical upgrades to schools.....
.....Kelly
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