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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: angprescott on August 24, 2013, 12:40:28 pm

Title: School Supplies Needed
Post by: angprescott on August 24, 2013, 12:40:28 pm
Yesterday, we took our daughter up to pick up her schedule for the upcoming school year. She is going into seventh grade at the middle school. Along with her schedule we also received all the paperwork that we need to fill out and a list of supplies that the teachers want us to buy. When we were school, my mom never had to buy us supplies, they were at the school. as part of why we pay school tax. For the last few years it seems we have been asked to buy more and more. This years list has really frustrated me, don't they understand that if the school cant afford basic supplies, parents probably cant either. If it was just some paper and pencils I wouldn't mind either, but nope, this list includes a 3" 3 ring binder that at Walmart is 5.oo. and then 2- 1" three ring binders, folders with three holes already punched in them, but with no metal prongs, colored pencils, calculator, pencil pouch, at least 2 boxex of Kleenex, and this is just part of the list, other things will be added as needed. Am I the only one that finds this getting a little out of hand?
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: bungholiotgn on August 24, 2013, 02:35:40 pm
The lady I work with has already been to the store 3 times because it seems each day they add more things. And since everyone is shopping for the same basic supplies, many stores around are out of the items so it is a scavenger hunt to find everything needed!
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: paints on August 24, 2013, 06:02:36 pm
If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: angprescott on August 24, 2013, 06:33:43 pm
I did try the dollar stores, Thanks, but the problem is that some teachers are being too picky about exactly what they want and somethings are not available for cheap. One item I have to go to the office supply store for.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: erinelise2 on August 24, 2013, 07:28:39 pm
The requirements are insane. I've had years where I have had to spend more than a $100 for my two kids. Then you get really pissed at the end of the year where you see one of those composition or spiral notebooks they specifically required and the kid has only used 4 pages out of it. Its get worse in middle and high school when they then have classes that have fees. I just paid $27 for two of my daughter's classes.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: harleyy2 on August 24, 2013, 10:02:27 pm
@paints - I laughed when I saw the Walmart commercial on TV comparing their prices are lower than Dollar General however Dollar General's prices are lower (for a majority of things of course!).

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: almorin on August 24, 2013, 10:23:45 pm
I remember one year I had to buy a graphing calculator ... that was rather pricey ... When I was going to school they didn't have graphing calculators we had to do our math by hand and use our brains ... Now, kids just have to punch in the right numbers.  Most of that stuff now a days is pretty Greek to me!  School clothes, that's the BIG ONE ... Ouch!  Good Luck!  :wave:
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: king4cash on August 24, 2013, 10:42:26 pm
That school supply list sounds very familiar. It seems like the public schools are now operating more like the private ones....
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: paints on August 25, 2013, 01:45:14 am
@ harleyy2 I'd rather pay more somewhere else than shop at Walmart. Walmart is the Monsanto of the retail world. Toxic.

@paints - I laughed when I saw the Walmart commercial on TV comparing their prices are lower than Dollar General however Dollar General's prices are lower (for a majority of things of course!).

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: sdenimandlace1 on August 25, 2013, 05:27:49 am
wow were are are tax dollars going that we give for the schools.  we a;so have a 75 dollar wheel taxes that t is suppose to pay for those things.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: mawhite63 on August 25, 2013, 05:30:16 am
I remember one year I had to buy a graphing calculator ... that was rather pricey ... When I was going to school they didn't have graphing calculators we had to do our math by hand and use our brains ... Now, kids just have to punch in the right numbers.  Most of that stuff now a days is pretty Greek to me!  School clothes, that's the BIG ONE ... Ouch!  Good Luck!  :wave:

Oh wow I remember that graphic calculator! That was so expensive.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: msmoneybags48 on August 25, 2013, 05:38:20 am
I have had my grandson for two school years (last year he was in Kindergarten; this year he is in first grade).  Last year, my husband was nice enough to pay for his supplies, but we had to buy him uniforms.  This year, I got the list from Wal-Mart and bought his supplies.  I paid $29.68 for the stuff on the first list.  I went to the school to register him, met his teacher and she gave me a second list.  That list asked for more stuff.  I lucked up and got all of it but three items.  When my daughter was in school (we are talking from 1991 to 2001), I lived in Chicago, and all I had to do was go to the local Walgreen's and get her stuff.  I agree it has gotten out of hand.  My husband says that the teachers think they are slick; they have the parents buy the supplies and share them with the children that cannot afford them.  It is really something.  Next year, I hope not to have him; his mother is trying to get things together for him and she will have him. ??? ??? :wave:
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: countrygirl12 on August 25, 2013, 06:29:10 am
Yesterday, we took our daughter up to pick up her schedule for the upcoming school year. She is going into seventh grade at the middle school. Along with her schedule we also received all the paperwork that we need to fill out and a list of supplies that the teachers want us to buy. When we were school, my mom never had to buy us supplies, they were at the school. as part of why we pay school tax. For the last few years it seems we have been asked to buy more and more. This years list has really frustrated me, don't they understand that if the school cant afford basic supplies, parents probably cant either. If it was just some paper and pencils I wouldn't mind either, but nope, this list includes a 3" 3 ring binder that at Walmart is 5.oo. and then 2- 1" three ring binders, folders with three holes already punched in them, but with no metal prongs, colored pencils, calculator, pencil pouch, at least 2 boxex of Kleenex, and this is just part of the list, other things will be added as needed. Am I the only one that finds this getting a little out of hand?

I disagree.  The school can't afford to supply 800 kids with pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, calculators, and all that stuff.  Is your list out of hand...NO!  You should see the list from my area.  In addition to the things your child needs personally you are asked to buy a big box of pencils to share with the class (NOT) a canister of clorox wipes, 3 boxes of kleenex, dry erase markers for the teacher (don't get me started), and I can't even remember what else that was stuff the students should not be responsible for. 
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: vp44 on August 25, 2013, 09:54:40 am
Most of the things on school list is a volunteer to give these things like Clorox wipes and dry erasers for the teachers. Teachers also come out of their pocket and buy items also and many of it is for the kids also. Stickers, prizes for a job well done etc. The community is also chipping in, I returned my son back to public school and his school has a guy who donates instruments so the kids can have music classes. The music teacher volunteers his time to teach the kids. So in all the things they ask of parents is to make sure the supplies last through out the year. If you can donate of course. It is not mandatory because if you can not afford they will not make you do it. :cat: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: Timberlan127 on August 25, 2013, 10:10:12 am
This economy makes it tough on parents to provide many of these items. I think you'll also find that the school departments can't afford them either so the kids do with out if the teachers don't ask parents to buy them. That said I also think that we have reached a point as a society where we don't know how to do without anything. We have to have things and don't know how to conserve to make do as people used to do. We would never ask a child to use the back of a paper instead of getting a new one or erasing a mistake. Kids tend to be wasteful because they have never had to conserve. I can see all sides of this issue but no solutions.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: harleyy2 on August 25, 2013, 11:33:23 am
@paints - I agree with you.  Walmart is the last resort for me!

@ harleyy2 I'd rather pay more somewhere else than shop at Walmart. Walmart is the Monsanto of the retail world. Toxic.

@paints - I laughed when I saw the Walmart commercial on TV comparing their prices are lower than Dollar General however Dollar General's prices are lower (for a majority of things of course!).

If you have a Dollar General or Dollar Tree nearby, they sell the same things as Walmart, and it's cheaper.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: countrygirl12 on August 25, 2013, 02:10:01 pm
Most of the things on school list is a volunteer to give these things like Clorox wipes and dry erasers for the teachers. Teachers also come out of their pocket and buy items also and many of it is for the kids also. Stickers, prizes for a job well done etc. The community is also chipping in, I returned my son back to public school and his school has a guy who donates instruments so the kids can have music classes. The music teacher volunteers his time to teach the kids. So in all the things they ask of parents is to make sure the supplies last through out the year. If you can donate of course. It is not mandatory because if you can not afford they will not make you do it. :cat: :thumbsup:

Nope. Not the schools in my town.  It's a list of required items.  Of course a lot of parents refuse and I guess they don't kick them out if they don't bring them.  When I was in school we didn't have a box of kleenex.  If you had a snotty nose you either used toilet paper or brought your own small pack of kleenex.    If it said "volunteer" it wouldn't make people so mad.  The biggest in my area is saying bring a big box of pencils to share with the class.  Screw that!  You can get pencils for free at banks and all kinds of places if you can't afford the 10 cent ones at the store.  It's not right to expect somebody else to provide for your child.  Of course I am referring to the ones who are just too lazy to provide for their children.  At the same time it isn't the kid's fault that the parents do not care.  Maybe it's just where I live but I know parents who will spend all their money on drugs, lotto tickets, cigs, and so on and then cry because they can't buy school supplies.  That just makes me mad.  The kids in my life get stuff before I do.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: vp44 on August 27, 2013, 07:04:31 pm
Also, you think things are bad now --- just wait til they ask you to purchase an ipad for your kid.  I see it coming.  it would kind of make sense cause you have this one thing and all your books could be on the ipad but they are not cheap.  I have heard that some classes use them already.  And in the depressed area I live in there is no way most people could afford that.

And someone mentioned using the back of a piece of paper...I remember some teachers wouldn't even allow that.  Was messy or something. 
In my son school they have a ipad for each student. The school gets a lot of donated things and donated money. I think my son's school is blessed and surely thankful for the help they get. It is sad bout the situation of your area. Hopefully one day things will get better. :thumbsup: :)
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: vp44 on August 27, 2013, 07:08:49 pm
Most of the things on school list is a volunteer to give these things like Clorox wipes and dry erasers for the teachers. Teachers also come out of their pocket and buy items also and many of it is for the kids also. Stickers, prizes for a job well done etc. The community is also chipping in, I returned my son back to public school and his school has a guy who donates instruments so the kids can have music classes. The music teacher volunteers his time to teach the kids. So in all the things they ask of parents is to make sure the supplies last through out the year. If you can donate of course. It is not mandatory because if you can not afford they will not make you do it. :cat: :thumbsup:

Nope. Not the schools in my town.  It's a list of required items.  Of course a lot of parents refuse and I guess they don't kick them out if they don't bring them.  When I was in school we didn't have a box of kleenex.  If you had a snotty nose you either used toilet paper or brought your own small pack of kleenex.    If it said "volunteer" it wouldn't make people so mad.  The biggest in my area is saying bring a big box of pencils to share with the class.  Screw that!  You can get pencils for free at banks and all kinds of places if you can't afford the 10 cent ones at the store.  It's not right to expect somebody else to provide for your child.  Of course I am referring to the ones who are just too lazy to provide for their children.  At the same time it isn't the kid's fault that the parents do not care.  Maybe it's just where I live but I know parents who will spend all their money on drugs, lotto tickets, cigs, and so on and then cry because they can't buy school supplies.  That just makes me mad.  The kids in my life get stuff before I do.
That is sad and yes I would be mad as hell. I always think of my son needs before mines. Your a good Mom. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: MrPace on August 27, 2013, 07:16:13 pm
I do not have kids, but I helped my Nephew with his school supplies.  Man 2nd graders need a lot of stuff!
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: premar16 on August 27, 2013, 09:21:22 pm
I would try target and recently I learned that the dollar store has a lot of the great stuff you need and its obvoiusly affordable
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: pmagalei on August 27, 2013, 09:28:54 pm
I couldn't believe the price of binders in the store this last weekend.  They must be made of gold!  And this was the time for cheap prices at the beginning of school.  What makes them so darn expensive!?
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: dmc0069 on August 27, 2013, 09:42:24 pm
As you probably know by now Back to School is big business for retailers and the parents are really footing the bill especially if there are multiple kids in the family. Before you even get to the school supplies you probably had to buy clothes and shoes. The only good thing is the non-tax days for buying clothes, computer tablets and school supplies. The only thing this year that I didn't see was kids having to buy the big expensive TI-84 calculator.
Title: Re: School Supplies Needed
Post by: champak97 on August 28, 2013, 10:10:56 pm
I cant even find the school supplies in the same store, so I have to hop from one to another. This is too much hassle.