Here's a Question?!?!?!?!? (Ranting)

**IamBlessed** · 08-01-2008, 10:30 AM

Can anyone explain to me why a school district/teacher would take it upon themselves to specify a brand of something to purchase for your child's school supplies??? I took my gks to buy school supplies yesterday with my ds. However, I got so

when I looked at the school lists that I thought I was going to go postal. The list wanted Kleenex this, Crayon that, Elmer's whatever... Whatever!

Okay, intellectually, I know that they do this so no one feels different. But, when is different bad? Dang it, I'd rather my gks be wolves with money in their pockets than sheep with no money and no money sense! I also know that the teachers will pool everything into one big cabinet and if someone else's kid doesn't have something, they will donate it from the "communal" stash.

And what's the deal with buying the teacher school supplies??? Grrrr! Copy paper for a kindergartener? Expo markers for a 2nd grader? What's next, toilet paper so they won't need to purchase any?

I am a teacher myself, and I wouldn't dream of putting a brand name on a supply list. Neither would I ask parents to fund my supply closet. I know from experience that teachers are underpaid etc., etc. And I know that school districts are always griping about funding. HOWEVER, I know that every child is guaranteed a "free and equitable" education. I also know that if you make enough noise, the school districts will come up with necessary supplies and funding for whatever is needed in the classroom.

Can you tell I got a little perturbed by this yesterday? My poor grandson, bless his heart, kept asking me if I was going "pea wacky." I'm sure he thought so. I got some strange looks from other people who were shopping the school supplies aisle!

Does anyone else feel this way? I mean I can afford the name brand stuff. That's not the problem. The problem is that someone takes it upon themselves to jump into my pocket and TRY to dictate what I am going to buy. It made me want to buy generic everything just on the principle of the matter.

I bought the brand stuff because I had other store flyers that I made the store honor. I did make the point of buying one item of each required in the generic brand if they needed more than one. And, I called the district and basically asked them if they were out of their collective minds. This whole school list specification thing just burned my behind!

**savvymom** · 08-01-2008, 10:37 AM

I wouldn't buy name brands if you didn't want to, I'm certain they would be happy with any supplies they get.

We have to buy extras for the "supply closet", but all the students in the class share it. It might be glue and it's in the center of the table where 4 students sit and share. I don't mind doing that, and I don't mind that our teachers but out a wishlist at Back to School Night of the supplies they'd like to have for the classroom (post it notes is always on the list). In the end I know my dd gets the benefit.

When I was in school everyone was responsible for bringing their own supplies, and EVERYDAY we had to stop our lesson because a student was unprepared, what a waste!

**AmyBoz** · 08-01-2008, 10:39 AM

I can't imagine specifying brands...seriously can't.

Our daughter's teachers have wish lists at Back-to-School Night and if you can help, you pull a card and send in the item. If you can't, no harm, no foul.

In the school where I teach, there is no way that the kids could do that. Most of them, at least. We actually wind up providing them with notebooks and pencils, etc.

I would think that the teacher would be happy for any donations, regardless of brand. The only thing I can think of (in the teachers defense) is maybe that is just how the teacher thinks of things...like, when people say "Coke" for soda or "Xerox" for copy machine. Elmers is the most popular brand, so maybe that's why she said it. I don't know...just rambling now.

**grneyegrl** · 08-01-2008, 10:43 AM

has anyone here not gotten what the list says,,like name brand this or that,. a box of tissues ect.. i would be such a bad mom and not get everything and dare the teacher to say something to me..

i dont think the rest of the parents should contribute to a community closet.. the township should

**Texasgirl** · 08-01-2008, 10:43 AM

That is nuts asking for certain brands.
What I always hated they would ask for 2 big bottles of glue.
At the end of the school year 2 big bottles of glue came home.
I don't remember how many years I just sent the same glue back to school.

**della92** · 08-01-2008, 10:44 AM

I completely agree, the school that my dd attends, requests brand name for everything. But the part that really got me was: they also request specific sizes, ie. glue-the requested the large bottles at 2.00 each, while the small bottles were .22 each, I don't have the bottles in front of me, but I think 3 small bottles=1 large, or even 4 small bottles would have been .88c versus 2.00. Last year it was crayons, an 8 pack of crayons (regular size, not the jumbo crayons) cost 1.86, a 24 pack cost .20c-and guess what size they wanted-the 8 pack!

I did buy everything they requested this year, with the exception of "Broad Tip, EXPO dry erase markers" the broad tip EXPO was $8.xx, the off brand was $4.xx, I went with the off brand and I don't care whether they like it or not.

**WV_mom_of2** · 08-01-2008, 10:50 AM

My 7th graders list says "red ink pens for grading". I asked him if that was for the teacher because if so, I'm not buying them! Our school funds teacher supplies and as far as I am concerned you can grade papers with a pencil just as well. He said when he has been in the 7th grade rooms this past year the kids grade each other's papers and use red pens. So I bought a cheap pack. But I am sending ONE with my son and not the whole pack. It's not that I am against helping a teacher out, but put it on a teacher "wish" list, not my child's HAVE TO HAVE list if you need them.

In our school each child provides their own supplies. You can donate extra if you want but it's never asked. The only year I donated extra was kindergarten when they were using tons of glue sticks, etc. I do seem to be the only mother who EVER donates tissues to the classroom though. My kids have allergies and come home with horrible red noses from having to use the rough toilet paper because the classroom is out of tissues AGAIN!

The only time I remember them asking for a specific brand of something is crayons. In kindy they told me that some of the off brands of crayons have so much wax in them that they won't color on certain slick workbook pages. I did buy name brand that year, but I buy off brand of most things unless the name brand is cheaper!

**justpeachy92** · 08-01-2008, 11:02 AM

Our list only has a few brands listed. Kleenex, ziplock bags, vis-a-vis transarency pens, 409 cleaner and lysol wipes. The last 3 items are on the teachers wish list. The first 2 items I won't pay attention to the brand as I have the tendency to call all tissues kleenex and all baggies ziplocks. Our school doesn't specify brands for the glue, crayons, etc. Though I do buy the name brands of those generally because they are cheaper this time of year with all the sales. Because I know teachers don't get paid enough for what they do I don't mind helping to stock the supply closet. I know other kids will use what I buy and that some of those kids come from families that simply can't afford to buy their kids the supplies, those families that are struggling to keep food on the table.

**daisymay1960** · 08-01-2008, 11:12 AM

is this normal to be asked to supply stuff? , is it once a year or once a term , and what do you normally get asked for?

**chettasmom** · 08-01-2008, 11:17 AM

Thank GOD I am over those grade school (and high school!) days with my kids..I remember when I was a grade mom for both my girls..my oldest daughter had a teacher (4th grade) that liked to have "Take Out Fridays" once a month for his class..because I was the GM, he took me aside one day and asked me if it would be possible for me to pay for one of the kids take-out orders as the family was extremely poor and probably could not afford the chinese take out that he wanted the kids to order..I agreed, knowing that If it were my child, I would want them to be able to participate with the rest of the class..The teacher sent home Menu's from the Chinese restaurant that was near the school and the kids were to go over the menu with their parents and pick out their lunch...now not having a ton of $$$ ourselves for our own child, I told my DD to make sure she'd pick something she'd eat instead of wasting food..so she picked a small container of wonton soup ($1.55)...that was fine because I knew she would probably not even eat all of that...when I went into school the day of the party, the teacher took me aside again and told me that I owed him $24.00 for the food for the other child..I WAS SHOCKED..I said.."but I sent in 5 dollars for the food!" and the teacher then showed me the menu..the kid must have ordered 4 or 5 different meals, all with rice and egg rolls (that you knew were going home to the parents!)..and he didn't have the heart to tell him to pick just one meal so the teacher ordered them all..I was so feckin' mad!..I coughed up 24.00 bucks (my grocery money for the weekend), and my kids didn't go without but while the family who recieved foodstamps and welfare (because they were TOO LAZY to go to work)..sat home and ate pork lo-mein, sesame chicken, egg rolls, rice, and fried dumplings that weekend, my kids had grilled cheese..I NEVER volunteered for any Food Fridays again!

(THIS IS IN NO WAY A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ANYONE WHO RECIEVES GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE..It was this particular family who had a very capable set of parents who just very clearly didn't want to work to support their kids..(5 years later, they were mandated by the state to get in the welfare to work program and are now crossguards putting their whole 20 hours a week of work in)..makes me nuts..

and while I think of it..we had those wish lists too from the teachers..I didn't mind buying up crayons (CRAYOLA! only because they color the best!)..or glue or things like that, that I could put my daughters names on with big black sharpie markers)..but when they started asking for tissues, rulers, umbrellas, and things like that I said NO WAY.

**savvymom** · 08-01-2008, 11:18 AM

The staple that's requested at my dh's school is glue sticks. It's a big joke with the school and parents and students now that there's a glue stick monster in the school. The kids think it's funny and helps them remember to tell Mom or Dad more glue sticks are needed for the class.

I really don't have a problem helping to stock the supply closet, and I don't have a problem buying for the teacher's from their wishlist. I also sign up for free stickers and such online and send them in. I work full time so I can't go to the school to volunteer my time helping the teachers with making copies or reading to the class, etc. so helping out with the supplies is a way I can help.

**frugalbabe** · 08-01-2008, 11:30 AM

Uhhh ok please please don't crucify me for this -- my kids schools have always done so and as a former elementary teacher I do see the reason in certain things namely art supplies. Our schools always requests either Crayola or Prang. And the reason is having supplies that don't work is frustrating for the student and a waste of time the cheaper brand we have here for art supplies is Rose Art. Now I buy pretty much generic everything from HBA to food but Rose Art is really a waste of money they are just crappy crappy products. They just simply don't work. Now requesting specifically Clorox wipes or Kleenex brand umm NO because I can get similar quality in a generic but really as far as art supplies go it does make a difference.

**IntlMom** · 08-01-2008, 11:40 AM

I would in NO WAY buy the expensive brand names....on the list or not!!!
We buy what our kids need for school, but I'm sorry clearacne Rose Art coloured pencils from last year work just as well as Crayola coloured pencils. Fortunately for me, we buy our kids own stuff, we don't put them in a "supply closet" and share. We used to have to deal with that where we used to live, but I "solved" that, I put my childs name in a black marker on EVERYTHING...the box of crayons and on each and every crayon, pencil, pair of scissors, box of tissue (NOT KLEENEX)...
(remember the thread about being a rule keeper or breaker? - I said I keep rules unless I perceive them to be a "stupid" rule, this would be an example of that)

and ummmmm, yea, I don't think a kindergardenter needs copy paper. You're a better person than me, I would not have bought it. I like AmyBoz idea, I LOVE donating items when I am ASKED, but it ticks me off that they are TELLING you to do it!!
JMHO

**blitzen** · 08-01-2008, 11:52 AM

Here's one way to think about generic vs. name brand crayons. Crayola crayons are made in the US--RoseArt are not. I'll gladly buy Crayola brand crayons for that reason alone (nevermind they are better quality).

In the end, though--you should buy what you can afford.

**geckoace** · 08-01-2008, 11:58 AM

we have not had to buy school supplies yet, but in my district the schools are terribly underfunded and alot of the the kids parents cant afford to buy them supplies so community supplies are requested often times to help the school community as a whole and i don't see a problem with that, im sure they could do it if they planned and saved like we do on this board but i don't think children should suffer educationally for the "sins" of the parents. i know its a pain but i would want someone to help my kid out if i couldn't and not judge them.

i also buy mostly generic everything for our house but crayola crayons are better they are smoother creamier and more consistent that some of the generics. and there are differences in some glues although for kindergarten purposes i doubt those will matter. JMO