Dear Teachers.....

[Dave1982]

Teachers....

If you are going to be super anal and specify a list of the exact supplies you want your students to buy, then would you at least have the sense to see if what you want is even available? BTS has scarcely even begun and I'm already dealing with frazzled parents looking for items that I don't have. Honestly, isn't it enough that you're specifying 5 inch scissors? Why demand a specific brand? And a 5-pack of dry erase markers. MUST BE 5?? THose come in packs of 4, 8, and 12, not 5.

Or how about 2.5 inch binders? Those no longer exist as far as I know. I haven't seen them in well over a decade, so PLEASE STOP ASKING FOR THEM!!!

Probably the worst example of this actually happened last year. Someone teaching at a local school for some reason told their students (several sections worth) that they had to use a very specific poster board that looks like a giant scroll. That was at least something we have, but whoever this teacher was didn't stop to think that maybe sending 60+ students out to buy one all at the same time wasn't such a good idea. See, we only have at most 12 of those at a time, and they aren't often restocked. If this person had given us a heads up we could have put in a ticket to get extra and wouldn't have had to send people all over the county trying to find a stupid poster board.

In other words, teachers, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!

[Exaspera]

Aw Jeez! You make it Soooooooo Haaaaaaaaaaard!!!!!!!!!!!!11111!!! on us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111!!!!!

When I have my kids get supplies, I have already spoken to the art supply store. The store puts together packets for my classes and students get them at a discount. But then, this is for college.

[Bobsentme]

I had one of my teachers DEMAND we all bring in dry erase markers for each class.

# of times we actually had to use them?
Once.

Frakkin Teachers. >.>

[TexasT]

As a teacher, I have to say that it's not always our fault. I work in a school where the majority of parents are below the poverty line. Because of this, my team decided not to be specific on supplies on purpose. For example, when we ask for those dry erase markers, we just said, "a pack." Some parents can't afford the 4 pack, but can an individual one. If that's all they can budget, hey, we'll take it. We're not picky, really. But unfortunately, when we sent the list in, it got sent back to me no more than 4 times asking for us to be "more specific." I'm talking, "Do you want them to get Elmer's glue or is another brand ok?" I don't care! Really.

We were specific on a couple things, but nothing that any store that sells supplies wouldn't have. For example, we wanted all the kids to have yellow pencils. It cuts down on the fighting, stealing, distractions, etc. But, c'mon, that's reasonable to ask for.

I will also say this---our list is normal, too, in that what we ask for pretty much every school across the country asks for the same things.

Now, keep in mind, I teach elementary, and that may make a difference. I know as I got older, the more specific the lists became.

[Dave1982]

But, c'mon, that's reasonable to ask for.

Oh I know. And believe me, the majority of the lists that come through are entirely reasonable and fulfillable. There's just a few that are overly specific that create problems like this, and therefore stick out the most in my mind. Especially when the parent then starts acting like it's MY fault for not having what's on the list.

I didn't know that sometimes parents ask for more specific lists. I guess that it just comes down to not being able to keep everyone happy.

[TexasT]

There's just a few that are overly specific that create problems like this, and therefore stick out the most in my mind. Especially when the parent then starts acting like it's MY fault for not having what's on the list.

Yeah, that's just a sucky attitude all around.

[hinakiba777]

*stares attentively at the thread with a notebook and pen*

Okay tell me what to do! ^-^

It's my fear that I will end up totally Pissing off the office supply store and parents during my first year. So what SHOULD be specified and what should not?

I still have 5 years until that point but I like being prepared.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

*stares attentively at the thread with a notebook and pen*

Okay tell me what to do! ^-^

It's my fear that I will end up totally Pissing off the office supply store and parents during my first year. So what SHOULD be specified and what should not?

I still have 5 years until that point but I like being prepared.

Don't do the mind-numbingly stupid color-coordinated notebooks and folders for each class. The only notebooks and folders anybody wants to buy are the cheapest ones, generally sold for less than a quarter apiece, and they almost never come in all the required colors.

Seriously, I get people coming to me demanding notebooks with an orange cover. Our cheapest ones don't come in that color. The only ones I know of are bigger and have plastic covers, and sell for two or three bucks each. I tell people this, and they get all "I ain't paying no two or three bucks for one notebook!" on me.

Let the parents decide how to organize their children's stuff.

[Aisling]

*stares attentively at the thread with a notebook and pen*

Okay tell me what to do! ^-^

It's my fear that I will end up totally Pissing off the office supply store and parents during my first year. So what SHOULD be specified and what should not?

I still have 5 years until that point but I like being prepared.

Go to the local office-supply store and make sure everything you're asking for is regularly stocked, and in good quantity, before you send out the list.

Instead of being too specific, say things like "box of crayons, at least # colors" or "#2 pencils, any brand". Then parents can get what they think is the best deal (cheapest/most durable/on sale/what they used as a kid/what the unicorn in the parking lot told them to get), and hopefully, won't feel much need to bother you for further specifics.

[SongsOfDragons]

The kids provide the materials in Yank school?

o_O

Kaaaay...

In the UK, all the schools I've had experience with have deals with varying mass stationary wholesalers. The kids can bring whatever they want in their pencilcases as long as they have a pen (often non-biro, or at least it was in my schools). All exercise books and paper were provided, and in my primary school *everything* was provided. It's not like it's been a decade since I was at school, I work admin in children's services and I know what they provide,

[Food Lady]

The kids provide the materials in Yank school? o_O Kaaaay... In the UK, all the schools I've had experience with have deals with varying mass stationary wholesalers. The kids can bring whatever they want in their pencilcases as long as they have a pen (often non-biro, or at least it was in my schools). All exercise books and paper were provided, and in my primary school *everything* was provided. It's not like it's been a decade since I was at school, I work admin in children's services and I know what they provide,

I'm in the states and that's pretty much how it was when I went to school in the 70s/80s. But there have been so many budget cuts....
Dave, I was ringing people for school supplies all day yesterday and I thought of you. I figured you'd post eventually.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

The kids provide the materials in Yank school?

o_O

Kaaaay...

In the UK, all the schools I've had experience with have deals with varying mass stationary wholesalers. The kids can bring whatever they want in their pencilcases as long as they have a pen (often non-biro, or at least it was in my schools). All exercise books and paper were provided, and in my primary school *everything* was provided. It's not like it's been a decade since I was at school, I work admin in children's services and I know what they provide,

I don't think it's ever been that way in "Yank school." All the schools ever supply, or ever supplied, are textbooks.

Shit, they don't even provide tissues for runny noses anymore. The schools are making the parents bring that. Budget cuts and all that.

[Juggler]

The kids provide the materials in Yank school?

When I was in school K-6 everything was provided. Starting at 7th you had to bring something to write with and write on. Some elective classes had an extra materials fee attached. This was in the 70's when they had money to burn. I think it was more to teach the kids to come prepared for things.

[Mr. Anubite]

As far as I'm concerned if he has paper to write on, a pen and pencil to write with, and binder/duotang to put all of it into then all is good. Screw the fancy stuff. Besides, even the fancy stuff has a habit of not lasting the school year.

I'm a senior in High School now, and as far back as I can remember, that's all the schools I've gone to have asked for. I've gone to various public schools across state/country lines, and I've never seen a list that wasn't:

Lined Paper (notebook or loose-leaf)
Pencils
Pens
Binders
(You get the idea...)

[bainsidhe]

Actually, I'm kinda for the specific color folders & notebooks for classes, depending on the school. I live in a low-income area with packed schools and large class sizes. The colors are cheaper to purchase, plus teachers and kids can keep track of their subjects/homework better. Working retail, I had many a parent and teacher tell me how much easier it is for everyone to keep things uniform.

On the other hand, I grew up in a smaller rural area. Classes were smaller and kids could use whatever folders & notebooks they wanted. Which led to everyone trying to outdo everyone else (ie: spend more money), still I can't imagine having done it differently.