Free Republic

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...

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...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2009 – Thousands of Iraqis are benefiting from U.S. humanitarian efforts, with a donation of 2,000 wheelchairs in northern Iraq and the gift of school supplies in eastern Baghdad. A child is helped into the new wheelchair he received at the Babil Rehabilitation Center in Hillah, Iraq, Feb 19, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Stephen C. Short   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. In Babil province, representatives from the Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team, community groups and several U.S. aid organizations presented 25 new wheelchairs to patients in need Feb. 19 at the Babil Rehabilitation...

As a kid I hated this time of year. Remember that sick-to-your-stomach feeling when in the middle of your summer vacation, and without notice, you saw it — the newspaper ad for the "Back to School Sale"? While parents may rejoice in seeing those back-to-school ads, they can't be all too jolly about doling out the green for the school supply list they get from their kid's teacher. A reader sent me what I assume is a pretty standard list, from Bear Creek Elementary. You have to wonder if Boulder Valley School District is in collusion with the Crayola Corporation....

U.S. soldiers brought food and school supplies to residents of the Khadamiyah area in Baghdad. CAMP TIGERLAND, Iraq, June 30, 2005 — The 256th Brigade Combat Team Civil Affairs and the 256th Brigade Combat Team’s 199th Forward Support Battalion collaborated on June 25 to bring 15 tons of food, two tons of school supplies, and more than 2,000 Beanie Babies to the residents of the Khadamiyah area in Baghdad. The items were gifts from the Association of Korean Americans and Operation Iraqi Children. The local Government Information Center connected the soldiers with various charity organizations to help distribute the supplies...

Other group helping in Iraq not prosecuted Friday, March 07, 2003By Renee K. Gadoua The same federal act used to indict three Central New Yorkers accused of illegally sending money to Iraq has not been enforced against at least a dozen local residents who openly violated U.S. law by traveling there. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes U.S. sanctions against Iraq. Four Muslims, including three Onondaga County residents, were indicted Feb. 26 on charges that include violating the act by using the Syracuse-based charity Help the Needy to send money to Iraq without a license. About 600 people have...

CHICAGO, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- It's August, and the new school year is about to start, but Linda Crandall, a mom in Baldwin, Mo., is vowing she will not shop for her kids at one of those frenzied, back-to-school sales at the local mall. "This year, I will purchase school supplies online," Crandall told United Press International. "It's 10 times more flexible and it keeps the kids from seeing all the neat stuff in the aisle. They can't talk us into buying things that they already have due to a new, neat color or shape." Crandall is far from alone....