School Supply Lists (Vanity)

Me

[MacMattico]

I'm in NY and my daughter's schools just recently put out their "school supply lists" -- what students have to have for each class and supplies they "share" like tissues, whiteboard markers, colored pencils. My kids are in high school and Jr High.

It cost me $206 for school supplies! And we spend about $17,000 per year per student in this district! Wayyy over taxed!! My parents couldn't have afforded this for 4 kids.

I told the Superintendent this was ridiculous. She tried to steer me to a "charity" group that could help me get the supply's. I said I'm not in need of charity, I think you're wasting our money! She told me not to worry, when school starts they'll have some free supply give-a-ways! How dense! I don't need your $$, I need you to stop wasting money that isn't yours!

[MacMattico]

Of course this is the same lady that wouldn't let a school group go on a trip because it cost to much. When it was explained the students and parents were raising money and paying the difference so there was no cost to the school, she still said it would cost the school to much and vetoed it! Duh!

[RKBA Democrat]

So, why aren’t you putting your kids in private schools or home schooling?

[MacMattico]

Each year we spend more and more on “school supplies” and pay more in taxes. Teachers and Administrative salaries go up. When I was in HS we needed a notebook, pens and pencils and later a Scientific Calculator. And don’t get me started on the calculator. Daughter needed a $150 one last year, but it was suppose to last all 4 years of math. Now they may be going “a different direction” which would require a new calculator! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[beaversmom]

I hear ya.

Signed my son up for high school on Friday. You should have seen the look on the face of the lady that asked me if we needed a free/reduced lunch form when I told her that we didn’t. She had to do a double take and look up at me to see what kind of alien creature was standing before her.

Big giveaway for school supplies in August for this area. Free breakfasts. Free lunches. Free school supplies. Some people don’t have to pay for anything any more.

[MacMattico]

Very good question with a complicated answer... And I'd still have to pay the darn taxes!

[ansel12]

High school sure changed, all I needed was a #2 pencil, a fountain pen, a notebook, a pocket knife and some smokes, a bottle of Thunderbird and a rifle out in the car, and I was good to go.

[Catmom]

In the school district I live in parents have been given a list of items to buy and then told to have the kids bring them all to school. The teachers then redistribute the supplies, giving the costlier items to low income kids and the cheaper stuff to kids they know come from better circumstances.

[jocon307]

I heard the other day on the news that some folks are spending $1200 on supplies, but that did include a lap top or tablet, so your number is right there.

I can’t remember what it cost me. I just remember that we could never buy stuff until school actually opened and then it was a scramble because of course you had to have RIGHT AWAY.

I actually liked Catholic school, they gave you everything you needed. Of course you paid for it (you even had to purchase the text books) but at least you had what was needed with no shopping hassle.

[HarleyD]

If you think students pay too much you should see how much teachers have to shell out of their own pockets.

[RKBA Democrat]

You get what you pay for, if you’re lucky. I’m less concerned about the cost of supplies as I am the cost of the mush that kids are being taught in the government schools.

The most expensive things in life are often “free.” We as parents and our kids pay a huge cost for what is in effect state-subsidized day care.

[MacMattico]

Oh, I know, and we don't want to “embarrass” the kids that can't “afford” lunch so we have a machine they put a code in so no money changes hands. Those that don't need free lunch and breakfast gladly take it, but when my kids get lunch the money comes out of an account I have to set up. Can't just send them to school with a couple bucks. Might make the other kids question their parents lack of responsibility to feed them!

But the kids know the kids getting free lunch. And most of them are on their iPhones as they punch in their code!

[Vinnie]

Now they may be going “a different direction” which would require a new calculator! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Hope she isn't taught math in base 8 like my kids were.(That's for kids with 8 fingers and toes)
Not sure they have a base 8 calculator. LOL

[jsanders2001]

> But the kids know the kids getting free lunch. And most of them are on their iPhones as they punch in their code!

You meant Obamaphones, right?

[DYngbld]

Try home schooling! I coughed up over a grand last year in books, supplies, etc.. and still paid taxes to the county to not educate my kids.

[MacMattico]

I was a teacher. And most schools don't use their funds wisely, that's not the parent's fault. The average teacher in my district makes $80,000 a year plus. $40 an hour additional for bus or cafeteria duty. My daughters have never brought home a supply a teacher paid for. I taught HS Social Studies, and it could be done with notebooks, pens, and their books and still made interesting. Extras are nice but not in Obama economic times.

[Sacajaweau]

My problem is the system making everyone to conform to THEIR ingenious "file system"...

History is the blue folder, math is red, science is green....just plain idiotic.

Half our job in life is learning to create your OWN order. Just check out your kitchen...we all "file" different.....but we all have a junk drawer.

[Sacajaweau]

Hell....In my old hometown, they have free meals all summer long...cuz the kids are too damn lazy to walk home and make a pb&j sandwich and pour a glass of milk. Of course, that might cut into momma's beer money for her boyfriends.

Don't ask me the demographics.

[Vinnie]

Yeah, my daughter gets the list, stuff like handi-wipes, sani-wipes, lots of pencils, pens, etc.
Then the teacher pools the supplies and distributes to everyone.
I/daughter say B##S@#$% !

The NC state legislature (repub, for the first time in forever) just passed a bill requiring the schools teach cursive writing !! Some of the systems weren’t.
Can you believe that ?
Sacrifice and go private if possible.

[GeronL]

Yep, this summer free meals all summer for ANY KID.

I bet hardly anyone shows up, but then again I guess I wouldn’t be surprised if they were packed either.

[beaversmom]

Same here in summer. High Hispanic area. Looking up about this particular high school...72% eligible for free/reduced lunch. 40% state average for Colorado is shocking to me, too. Nearly half of the parents in this state can’t afford to feed their children? Really?