Posted on 07/31/2013 2:22:05 PM PDT by MichCapCon
Every year, public school districts in Michigan request classroom supplies from parents. But few seem to know that these items are not mandatory — state law requires them to be provided by districts.
Some parents in the Standish Sterling School District received a flier from three fifth-grade teachers listing a half dozen “necessary items” their children would need and another five “optional items.”
In Michigan by law, the school district is responsible for supplying students with necessary supplies. The state Supreme Court ruled that this includes basic school supplies.
Standish-Sterling Superintendent Darren Kroczaleski said he checked into it and the list was sent out by the teachers because they receive requests from parents and organizations looking to donate supplies and want to know what is needed.
“It was more of a FYI, ‘if they are going to purchase it …’ ” Kroczaleski said.
Krocaleski said he wasn’t aware of any letter sent out with the flier explaining that it wasn’t mandatory for parents to purchase the “necessary” items on the list.
Audrey Spalding, education policy director for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said it’s not uncommon for school districts to send out ambiguous communications about purchasing school supplies.
“Parents should know they are not required to purchase their children’s school supplies,” Spalding said. “The law requires schools to provide school supplies.”
MLive reported this week that a national retail survey found that all-new school supplies can cost between $161 and $330 for students, depending on grade level.
Parents should pay for the basics for their own kids. Their taxes are funding the rest of it.
In the history series I’m reading my little boys, the school hands out paper (one sheet at a time), pens, and ink, and crayons to the children. Everything remains at the school.
I remember as a kid in Texas, we had a shopping list supplied by the school that we had to have fulfilled by the first day of school. When we arrived on day one, our supplies were confiscated and redistributed. I never used the supplies that my parents bought. I always thought that that was kind of communist.
My child’s list says not to put names on supplies.
you must be young...(younger than i, anyway)...
bump
I’m an 83 graduate (kinda) and there was a big uproar when parents were expected to pay a deposit on books.
Went to school mainly throughout the 70’s.
I remember as a kid in Texas, we had a shopping list supplied by the school that we had to have fulfilled by the first day of school. When we arrived on day one, our supplies were confiscated and redistributed. I never used the supplies that my parents bought. I always thought that that was kind of communist.
Yep it is. Now a days we buy supplies for our grand-daughter and dole them out as needed. The teachers complain, we ignore them. I pay enough in property taxes as is for the Schools over 50% goes to them, and they’ve got their fingers in on my water bill and electric bill too.
Don't let your child get too attached to those "Cars" notebooks or "Power Ranger" pencils, either, because on Day One the teacher will collect everything and keep it in a "community" supply.
-PJ
I saw that coming when I had a kid in school. I sent him in with all cheap crap the first day, then a week later I resupplied him with the good stuff.
The only supplies names are asked not to go on are tissues and hand sanitizers - everything else should have their name on it.
heck, we even have to supply 6 boxes of tissues and 10 reams of copy paper!
Not to mention pencils, pens, folders etc.
None of which my kids get. We have to buy those supplies on our own.
They go to underprivileged kids and the office.
Or maybe the school sells them off. I mean, if a school of 500 kids brings 10 reams of copy paper, that’s 5,000 reams! What do they do with it all?
I require my students each have a folder, a notebook, pencils, erasers, blue or black ink pens, and an additional notebook or composition book for journaling. I refuse to require Kleenex, paper towels, hand sanitizers, etc. I just think it’s wrong. Many of my students don’t bring the requirements (it’s an urban school and they can’t afford pencils after they buy their new iPhones and Air Jordans), but I refuse to give them anything. My supply list is less than $5.00 at Walmart.
“Ink pens?”
As a teacher I tell you this: Refuse to bring in the community supplies. Each year we receive thousands of tax-payer dollars for each of your children. When you supply items that should be purchased with those dollars, it only feeds the beast. You would be appalled to see how teachers use copy paper! Mrs. Smith has 24 students? Better make 30 copies incase Juan, Tangueray, Lemontea, and Consuela forget theirs! But oops, the thirty copies are crooked, so throw those away and make 30 more. Students are just as bad with Kleenex and hand sanitizers. Nobody needs five pumps of gel after the bathroom break, but who cares they didn’t pay for it. Rant off.
What else would you call them?
Good rant. And accurate.
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