I doubt it.
The average teacher nags her students to bring them to class and puts the burden on their parents.
My wife worked for over 40 years with LASD and there is a lot of waste. She did spend money for school supplies but I do not know the amount. I would ask but she is out right now.
Not necessarily “supplies”, but student related expenses, I believe it. Supplies, food, student personal expenses, fees, etc., I know from a friend that it hits a compassionate teacher from a lot of directions. From my 1040, teachers aren’t the only ones to have employer related business expenses
“Does the Average Teacher Spend ‘Nearly $500 a Year’ on School Supplies?”........
NO, not your “average” teacher however, I personally know of several that DO JUST THAT. I have two grand daughters and know several acquaintances all who are teachers that actually do spend their own money on schools supplies, etc. for kids and in some cases clothing for them needed for special school related events, etc.
I did when I taught. Quite a bit of personal money.
Maybe they should form a Union to fight such outrages.
Being married to a public school teacher for 32 years, my answer is ‘yes.’
What teachers spend, out of their own pocket, is their business.
What other job would use charitable spending by the people doing it, to demand more pay?
We are paid so little, we have to give money to charity?
They always complain about how much teachers make, but, at least here in Georgia, public school teachers not only get well paid (last I heard they start at $50,000) but, get a Great Benefit package, including a pension plan that if you work hard, will leave you set for life at retirement.
Librarians are in that program too. I have no complaints.
I will take exception to that. Auto mechanics are usually required to purchase and use their own hand tools. Musicians are required to purchase their own instruments.
This was the cry behind the Colorado walkouts. The gripe was that Colorado school spending is around 42nd in the country.
Teachers have to buy supplies for students.
An analyst pointed out that Colorado is 8th in the nation in spending dedicated to school supplies. He suggested teachers ask their districts where that money went.
Heh.
The real issue is NOT how much an average teacher spends on school supplies, but how much time and money they voluntarily give up to teach.
Scoffers like to think that teachers are overpaid. That they only work 180 days a year and a 7:30 to 2:30 day seems pretty cushy.
That level of ignorance is amazing.
When its all said and done teachers probably give up THOUSANDS of dollars each year. Working after school, weekends, non-school days, etc. They give up THOUSANDS of dollars to do a job that pays so very little in comparison to other professional jobs.
Our educational system is deeply flawed. For many reasons. And teacher’s salaries are but one reason why.
All good teachers should teach at private schools.
I’m from Long Island. Public school teachers there are paid WELL into 6 figures, for 7 hour days, 10 months a year. plus pensions and benefits most private sector people (who pay the taxes to pay for this) can only dream of. A power couple on LI is a teacher and a cop pulling down $300K combined.
When all is said and done I spent some out of pocket money and I took the deductions. My class was a vocational electronics class and at times it was easier to make a direct purchase for some items rather than get a purchase order processed through the wicked witch of finance at our school.
It was my choice. I broke even.
Yes, I spent several hundred unreimbursed dollars of my own money every single year for classroom supplies, mostly to design engaging hands-on science activities. My personal collection of “props” was superior in many ways to the science department’s own stuff.
My wife’s a teacher, and I’d say close to $500
My wife retired a couple of years ago and yes, she certainly spent at least $500 per yr. on supplies.