Schools Are Responsible For Providing School Supplies — Not Parents

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 9/4/2012 | Michael Van Beek

[SCalGal]

I would have to look this one up, but I have a feeling that requirement is for elementary schools only.

I don't need to look it up. It's called FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education. That means they can't require that you supply so much as one single pencil. You already pay enough taxes - the schools are supposed to provide all the supplies needed from that.

[This I Wonder32460]

When I went to school, in the elementary years they provided basically everything. Then starting in Jr. High through High School (grades 7-12) we needed to supply our own notebooks, pens and pencils to take study notes during class. That was the 60’s and 70’s. When first child started kindergarten in the 90’s, I had to supply crayons, pencils, erasers, markers and a box of tissues for runny noses. This continued through grade 4. Then in Middle School, which starts at grade 5, they needed notebooks, pens, pencils, and a calculator. Basically all the same through grade 12. Though I noticed a change after the first few years, suddenly the teachers were very specific in what type of notebooks they wanted (demanded) the students use, such as a 1 or 2 inch binder with a certain type of paper plus divide, etc. And some classes required special supplies like graph paper and scientific calculators (big money items). Oh and I never remember ever encountering “poster board” when I was in school. And the first time one of my kids needed it for a project, I had no idea what it was. Now I keep extra on hand and Lord knows how much of poster board, I’ve purchased over the years. Anyways, the amount of notebooks, other supplies and books my poor children had to carry in their backpacks was totally ridiculous. If I had my way they would have been home schooled. But, my husband would never have allowed such a thing, he believes that school is where children should be educated. Though both of us can’t wait until our youngest graduates. We’re almost there.

[Westbrook]

> Please do not put names on the supplies, they will be kept
> in my desk and distributed on an as-needed basis to all
> kids in the class.

Yes, of course. It’s a collective, after all.

Ask your grandchildren the difference between a collective and a cooperative.

Hint: one of them is compulsory and the other is voluntary.