Open Letter to Sadist Teachers



Guess what this week is? BACK TO SCHOOL!!

I'm not excited at all. Can you tell? We've had a great summer. I took my kids to New York City, Washington, D.C., and McPherson, KS - all vacation hot spots. What more could a kid ask for? We've got a couple more days to get ready for the Big Day. I plan to have the kids thoroughly clean out their closets and then get drunk on television, because once school starts they'll have to earn that privilege. (The TV thing, not the closets. They can clean closets whenever they'd like.) Wednesday will be meet the teacher and drop off all your school supplies and I can tell you right now, I still don't know the difference between a "plastic" pocket folder and a "poly" pocket folder. I guessed. I don't know what they're made of, but they're not paper and they do have pockets. I DO know my colors, so I bought green, red, yellow, purple, and blue ones as I was instructed. I was able to cross that part off my list with confidence! I also could not find the particular brand of pencils that was asked for. We got the "skippies" of the pencil world: whatever brand Wal Mart had on sale.

All in all, I'm pretty lucky with the school supplies thing though. I can't imagine having to label EACH individual crayon with my child's name! True story, a friend of mine was doing this the other night, per the teacher's request. That's just sick and wrong.

When I sat down to bitch about school supplies, I found this on Facebook tonight. No one seems to know who the original author is. I can tell you, it wasn't me. After reading this, I realized why bother? She summed it up perfectly and said it better than I ever could:



For all you Mommies dealing with this shit right now, cheers!

School Supplies

by XXXXXXXXXXXX on Monday, September 7, 20xx at 10:31am

************************************************
Dear Mrs. X:

In just over a week, you will be my son’s Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last day of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, “Here’s a list of the stuff I need for school next September!”

And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I’m a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you’d listed. It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.

You’re a crafty bitch, aren’t you?

This list was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you’d prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can’t Follow Directions.

For example, the glue sticks you requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you’ve got planned for the first day of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn't come in a convenient 3-pack. The 30 gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40’s, as per your instructions.

Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 *different* colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased *three* of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you’ll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, “Pardon me, ma’am, but are you slow?” as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that’s what the list said. And I was committed to following the list.

But the last item, well, now, you saved your malice up for that one, didn’t you? “8 mm ruled notebooks”, you asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is "seven" millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do you realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.

You wanna dance, lady? Let’s dance.

Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.

On show and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, “Ben’s First Puppy.” Enjoy.

He will be given a list of words, and daily, he will ask you what they mean. Words such as “pedophile”, “anti-semite”, and “skank”. Good luck with those.

At some point, you will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I’m quite sure that, like most of your ilk, you will require my son to “show his work”. And he will. Through interpretive dance.

Because that is who you’ve chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.

Sincerely,

Ben’s Mom


Let me be clear...I LOVE OUR TEACHERS AND I AM GRATEFUL AT THE JOB THEY ARE DOING!  THIS IS JUST FOR FUN!  HAVE A LAUGH, BECAUSE IT'S FUNNY.




UPDATE:  I got an email telling me who to give credit to for this glorious letter to the teacher.  It came from the genius that is Ginny over at Praying to Darwin.

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241 comments:

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JoAnna said...

I'm on the OTHER SIDE. I am a teacher. And if my middle school students could bring in just ONE of the items from that list- any color, size, brand, I think I'd fall down in a faint. It's an amazing world when 11 year olds don't bring a single pencil to school and your pre school daughter has a whole raft of supplies ready to bring in BEFORE school even starts!! I can't even imagine sending home a letter being so specific! 8mm, 7mm. Paper is paper!! Found you at finding the funny.

Anonymous said...

As a teacher we always ask for all supplies up front because they are WAY cheaper at this time of year. Spacing them out would be asking parents to spend $3.99 on markers repelnishing supplies in December vs. $.99 right now! I know firsthand how expensive supplies are - I buy for my 2 kids. But what parent in their right mind thinks "I don't need to send those supplies", knowing darn well the teacher will have to buy them?? We can't even repair the disrespectful lesson you are teaching your kids.

Christinebnr said...

You too lovie. Not sure what I said that caused you to be so rude, but whatever...I honestly don't even understand your post. Off to sharpen my kids 100 pencils for next week.

Deanna said...

I'm not a parent or teacher BUT you all knew that you (teachers) would not make a fortune and you (parents) would have to spend money to educate your kids...this was no secret going entering either circumstance. And I agree, if you can't afford them, don't have them. And I agree, no teacher should have to spend a penny to supply their classroom. As a school tax payer who doesn't even have child, it pisses me off that parents or teachers have to even worry that there aren't enough supplies. Where the hell does our money go anyway? Our local elementary school has phenomenal landscaping...really? Maybe the 6 year olds are learning horticulture at recess... I tell myself that my tax contribution is for the future generation that may find a cure for the cancer I had two years ago and it makes more sense. However, I was one of those poor kids that had the shitty crayons and broken pencils in the duck taped three year old backpack and even though I don't remember I'm sure one or more of my teachers had to foot the bill for something I needed so I wouldn't go without or be embarrassed that I couldn't fully participate. If I could repay them, I would write a check right now. But I do wonder, are these kids building a new Hubble telescope (showing my age) that they need so many different things? And I also wonder, how is $30, $50 or even $100 too much money for a parent to spend to make that child more productive? Glad I only have cat...

Anonymous said...

Because smaller markers are *easier* for children to use, right?!? I get it! Actually, it's only purpose is to line Crayola's pockets more ;-)

Anonymous said...

I guess the underpaid teachers need to hit up the principals for supplies for thier classrooms. In our school district they make over 100k.

Anonymous said...

I'm a teacher, and I see these give always for free supplies from local stores, I donate to supply give always. If you can't afford it use those means to get the supplies. I'd rather you show up (and your child would too) with all the supplies needed before hand. We make the lists as a district each year, and we make sure it's not over $35. Most of the time it's well under that. Oh, and to the parent who complained that stick glue comes in a pack of 6 and u only need 3. Buy 6. Save three at home when more is needed around Xmas time. School supplies are dirt cheap and like u I don't understand why 24 crayons are cheaper than 8.

Theresa said...

You have to see our list...These are some dirty second graders...Where does one store 400 bottles of Hand Sanitizer? They'll need a bonus room for the 400 bottles of Hand Sanitizer the 2nd grade alone will provide...and 7,200 pencils and 1,200 glue sticks!!

1 backpack
1 small pencil box
2 boxes of 16 or 24 crayons
6 box of twelve #2 pencils (no sharpeners please)
12 glue sticks
1 single subject notebook (spiral bound)
1 pair of scissors with the rounded tip
2 erasers
1 refillable water bottle
1 box of Kleenex for the classroom
1 two inch 3-ring binder
3 composition notebooks -- (approximately 9 3/4 X 7 1/2 in size, 100 pages)
4 highlighters
1 (4-6 in the pack)package of dry erase markers -- (no Expo spray for the children, please)
1 (2 pocket) folder with the prongs/metal tabs
4 bottles of waterless hand sanitizer
1 box of resealable sandwich size bags
2 (2 pocket) folders without the prongs

Anonymous said...

These actually made a comeback this year. They are at walmart for $14. Just saw them yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Jesus Christ, calm down Abbie. You don't have to reply to EVERY comment telling them what idiots they are. Every third would suffice.

Unknown said...

I know how annoying buying elementary school supplies. I usually just by my kid the basics and he has been just fine and can still learn everything without the fancy supplies!

Sarah said...

Haha, Anonymous! I'm a Head Start teacher so even lower paid than most. I just told my husband last night, as I was reading the absolutely ridiculous list to him, that we would not be purchasing Clorox wipes. I will be happy to buy a gallon of bleach and teach her the proper ratio. ;)

Unknown said...

My kids have lists a mile long. Some of those things are: 3 boxes of Ziploc freezer bags, 6 boxes of Kleenex, 2 of the big bottles of hand sanitizer, special scissors, special glue, and special even a particular brand of pencils. But this is what upsets me, last year I spent over $100 a child (and that was not including the uniforms I had to buy last minute that nobody told me about) and my kids aren't allowed to write their name on anything. It all goes into a giant pile. So those pretty pink scissors my daughter was all excited to use, some other kid got to use instead. Then when we moved halfway through the year, we had to re-buy everything because they did not get the stuff back. I know teachers work hard, and that most of everything they buy for the classroom comes out of their own pocket. But they aren't the only ones working hard and struggling. It would be nice to at least be able to re-use things like scissors, rulers, and clipboards.

Unknown said...

Maybe if parents didn't complain about having to buy a pack of pencils and some glue sticks so their kids can learn and get a decent education then the teachers wouldn't make you label every single thing you buy. It's not their fault schools don't supply everything needed for the classrooms. My kindergartner has a list of 30 different items she needs for the year. Some we have, some we need to buy. She is 5. She loses things, breaks things, sneezes on stuff, can spill stuff at snacktime and be messy. If I have to send in a couple things that help the teacher stay sane and keep a clean classroom, I will. She is my child and therefore my responsibility to provide what she needs. I know a couple teachers and they struggle with money just as much as we do and should not have to provide supplies for my child after dealing with her and a room full of other kids for 7-8 hours a day. They are children. They aren't cheap to have. Suck it up.

Jen said...

I have to agree with the original "Anonymous" poster on this one - when I was in school we had chalkboards, and chalk wasn't on our school supply lists, so now that teachers have white/smart boards instead, why do the parents have to pay for the markers to write on them??

Jen said...

Oh Jes A. Bella - those are my sentiments exactly. I thought I was the only mom in the world that didn't look forward to back to school!! We have 2-3 early releases each month, then throughout the year we have 4 - 4 day weekends, 2 weeks for Winter Break, 1 week for Spring Break, and random "comp" days for the teachers. I am very lucky that i have such a flexible employer (and retired parents), otherwise, I have no idea what I would do half the time with my daughter.

Anonymous said...

You have to mess with them some right? Our school certainly did. "Athletic shoes can be worn (in place of casual dress shoes) but must be solid black. Um, when was the last time you saw solid black athletic shoes that fit elementary school boys?!? You do NOT want to know how far I had to go to fulfill THAT request. Ugh. They better appreciate it. Oh, and you want four boxes of tissues? You get two 'cause I have two sons and we split the four pack. Where are you planning on storing all of this crap throughout the year? Or are you coming down with the flue on the first day?

Jenna said...

Sorry, no, it NEVER ends...until you decide to end it FOR them. :)

Jenna said...

You preach it, Amanda! It kills me. They want 5 packs of 20 #2 pencils. WTF? You get ONE. When the child needs more, I'll get them. But 100 freakin' pencils for the school year? Are you neurotic? ('cause I thought that was me!)

From Mary's Pen said...

Whoa... some seriously tight-pantied people in this thread. Good lord folks get over yourselves. The. Letter. Is. A. Joke. As in, meant to be funny.

Laying that aside, asking people to spend $100 on school "supplies" is absolutely outrageous when you consider that the kids quite often also need new sneakers ($50-100 a pop, depending on the age of your kid), not to mention jeans, shirts, backpacks... It's not *just* school supplies that cost. I regularly count on spending a solid $500 on my two teens for back-to-school, and they don't even need new backpacks every year, let alone $100 worth of paper products.

Yes, it's part of having kids, duh. But the expectation that supplies that are needed throughout the school year should be bought All At Once and not spaced out is a bit of a jab at parents- Don't you think we KNOW our kids will need more pencils, crayons, and gluesticks on a regular basis?

Maybe some of the judgmental teachers should stop assuming that 1) the parents had "too many kids" (wow, that's just... Wow. Ballsy. Obnoxious. You probably shouldn't be teaching, or having ANYTHING to do with any job that involves service to families. Ever.), or 2) parents are too dumb to know what their kids need. Or, here's a shocker for you, 3) that not ALL teachers are honest, upright, and responsible when making their lists. Maybe, here's a newsflash- some teachers DO take home the "extra" supplies for their own use. Some teachers do steal. My son's K teacher was fired for taking home equipment, not just hand sanitizer and the like, from the school.
Obviously she was an exception. I'd say 99.9% of teachers ARE upstanding, honest people who are doing their best to do a good job- just like the parents.

The school year would go a lot smoother if we ALL just had some mutual respect and a hell of a lot less judgmental bashing.

From Mary's Pen said...

Actually, my dad was a custodian for 30 years and yes, he DID clean the desktops each night. Not with Clorox wipes though. With a spraybottle of cheap bleach water and papertowels.

Maybe the teachers should consider asking for (much cheaper!) papertowels and make themselves a bottle of bleach water. Just as quick and easy, and a lot less expensive.

Laura said...

I live in Jersey and in my town we don't get the supply list till the first day of school! :( AFTER ALL THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES SALES ARE OVER!!! :(

Hillary said...

Noxema saved my son from looking like a clown most of last year since he likes to color on his face with the Classic markers.

Jennifer said...


I have been a teacher for 8 years. Here is a list of the things that I have NEVER been provided by my district:
1. pencils
2. notebook paper
3. crayons/colored pencils
4. tissues (and we are forbidden to use school toliet paper for runny noses)
5. dry erase markers
6. folders
7. glue sticks/glue bottle
8. dry erase markers

I also do not get a school budget. So if my students bring in nothing, and if I refuse to buy for them then I have nothing. Imagine learning with no pencil or paper. School started last week for us. I have spent $180 on basic supplies to this point.

The reason why so many lists specify things like Crayola crayons and Elmer's glue sticks is simply based off of teacher experience. Crayola makes a better crayon. The Rose Art crayons are okay, but they are much more waxy. Fiskars makes better student scissors. Elmer's glue sticks last longer and hold better.

Please try to understand that we are not trying to make your life more difficult. We are trying to make learning easier for your child.

Kurstin said...

She did read your entire post Abbie. I actually read both of them and I think you missed her sentence about not knowing the teacher your child will get until right before school starts (the Thursday before at 4pm on the day of Meet the Teacher in my district). I'm glad that you would take the time to buy classroom specific supplies if you got the list at Meet the Teacher or on the first day of school, but there are A LOT of parents who would just throw it away and we would never get them. Then we would have to buy even more, in addition to furnishing our classroom decorations and buying extra supplies so we will have enough to get through the year. Oh, and I don't know if any other teacher has to do this, but we also have to contribute $30 for our Sunshine fund (condolence flowers, supplies for our teachers lounge - this payment is not optional) and pay the PTA dues at our school. All of that comes at the end of the month when we are already flat broke. I know that I am postdating my check to after our next payday cycle.

Our district recently went to a district-wide school supply list and I hate it. There are things on our list that are a complete waste to our school and grade level because it was needed at another school. The district did this in the interest of making things consistent, but our schools are changing and not every first grade across the district needs the same supplies. We are going 1:1 this school year (every student will have their own iPad to use at school). I have no need for all of the composition books and dry erase markers that we will be receiving. I'll find a use for the markers (they love writing on their desks with them and I give them a Clorox wipe to clean it up) but those notebooks will be coming home clean. Sorry, but we are not allowed to contradict the wisdom of our district leaders who haven't been in a classroom in years. If you have a problem with buying supplies that aren't used, contact your district's superintendent. You as a parent have more pull with them than we do as teachers.

Unknown said...

So, you think your kindergartner and preschooler should be in school for 9 hours a day because that's how long you work?? And you're blaming the school district for fucking with your schedule because they don't provide free all day childcare? Smh.

Unknown said...

So, Abbie, you're going to attack someone and then get up in arms when they get defensive?

MFMC said...

OMG are you really whining about 25 dollar school supply lists? Most of you will probably want to punch me in the throat right now, but while I read this whole discussion all I cant think of is: first world problems, people, first world problems!
I live in Brazil. We haven't got enough public schools for all the children here, and the education is a disaster in about 90% of the ones we have. It is really hard for someone who has attended public school to get to the university, so we (middle class) have to send our kids to private schools. I have a 3 year old son. His kindergarten costs me about 450 dollars a month (last year's costed 650!). He spends 4 hours there and has to bring his own food with him. His list for school supplies is way longer than the ones mentioned here. How about that?
On top of it all, let's not forget that Brazil has one of the highest income taxation rates in the world, so we should definitely have high quality public schools.
That's why I can understand it when you complain about the crazy specifics on the supply lists (I feel the same way here), but come on! When people start to whine about sending crayons, glue and tissue boxes to school I feel like... WTF?!?

LaurelMia said...

Hi teachers! I don't mind buying school supplies. But make it easy on me and TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THIS STUFF.

My local Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreen's does not have graph paper. No I'm not blind or an idiot. No graph paper anywhere. I had to order from Office Depot and pay overnight shipping.

I still remember the request for Six (6) Dividers. Dividers are sold in packs of 5. That threw me off until I finally bought another set and threw the extra four away. "Mom that's not right!" said my daughter, looking horrified. I said, if your teacher emails me a link to buy it, we're in business. I never heard from the teacher so I guess it was okay.

Next year I want a list, emailed to me with links to the stores that sell it. Free shipping would be good, but I'm not gonna quibble.

Unless you want six dividers. Good luck with that.

Ha ha...seriously, great post! Love your humor!



Amanda said...

This is hilarious! I was starting to think my 5th grader’s teacher was just testing us when he told us to find 5 plastic notebook dividers with pockets. I found every OTHER kind of dividers, NONE with pockets! Everything else was easy enough. I grew up with that mom who didn’t buy everything on the list, and I hated being THAT kid. Now, I send in extras for those kids. I also have many teacher friends, and it’s ridiculous what they have to pay for out of pocket, so I always try to help with classroom supplies as well. There are worse things to spend money on. Skipping a meal out at a nice restaurant is worth donating more to my kid’s classroom, IMO.

Math Teacher said...

Ugh! As a 30-year HS teacher I've got my supply list down to: (1) something to write with; (2) something to write on; and (3) notebook or folder of your choice to organize the previous two supplies.

Unknown said...

I will say this. I spent $180 on school supplies this year without coupons, going to several different stores, or purchasing items from the internet or in prepackaged boxes. I have 3 kids in school and buying supplies is not as hard as everyone is trying to make it. You can always get the supply list at the end of the year or online at the school's website and even though this may change a little new things added ect. you can start getting the supplies a little at a time when summer begins. School supplies are on massive sales 2 times a year once when school begins but everyone forgets the extras have to get out of the stores so they are also on sale at the end of the year. If you cant afford the big lists at the beginning of the year purchase things like crayons, pencils, notebook paper and notebooks and anything else you know they will need for sure in advance. And for those of you that think this takes up a lot of space remember I said I have 3 kids (2 girls, and one boy) and I live in a 2 bedroom apartment (which means that I sleep on the couch and have my clothes on a small shelf instead of in a dresser). I am never inconvenienced getting these supplies early they all fit neatly into one of those small fabric boxes and store anywhere I decided to put them (normally tucked under my desk or in the corner next to it).

Ali H said...

Abbie, just to address one small piece of what you said, the color-coded folders help teach students organizational skills. I know your dispatching job requires a lot of organization, so I'm sure you can see the value of learning those skills early in life. Honestly, until I got into the education field myself and found myself doing it, I never thought about how many life skills my instructors have taught me. The folders are obviously one very small part of organization but, like everything else in life, it is learned one step at a time. That kind of structure also makes the day run a little more smoothly (not having to search for the right folder, etc.), to give as much time as possible for teaching the kids. There sure isn't ever enough of it! I know shopping for those specific colors of folders can be a pain in the rear, especially when every other kid in town needs the same ones. I promise, though, there's a method behind the madness. You sound like you maintain a good relationship with your children's teachers (communication, sending supplies throughout the year, etc.). I bet they'd be glad to explain, or even show you, how they use every piece of supplies sent with the kids! I know I'm always thrilled when a parent shows interest and wants to be involved!

brlracnmama said...

Ahhh... clearly not an early elementary teacher. It's very hard to teach all the kids "find your red marker" when Rose Art's "red" is more of a hot pink. (I love Rose Art, but not for little kids who are just learning colors.) But, I love the humor of this post! :D PS- I totally end up with a roll of TP on the shelf. Little kids are just plain snotty. HA!

brlracnmama said...

People act like the don't know they're going to have to buy school supplies or clothing. Hello.... you KNOW you're going to have to spend some money each school year. Start budgeting a couple of dollars each month & you'll have it covered come school time. Yes, it's still money, but it doesn't hurt AS BADLY. If YOU don't want to spend the money for your kids' supplies, wtc makes you think a teacher wants to spend it on YOUR kid and 20-some others??? (Not to mention his/her own kids' supplies.) If you don't like that you have to buy supplies, and you think it's unfair that the teacher pays out of pocket for those supplies, then DO SOMETHING. Go tot he school board, talk to politicians, but be prepared to pay more in taxes, too.

Anonymous said...

Late to the party, but I have no idea how old this post is (where are the dates?). I'm not a parent, but I did teach from 2001-04, and that was the first time I ever saw a supply list. My own, for my 7th-12th grade Spanish classes, was like Math Teacher's above: something to write with, something to write on and something to keep the latter in. I actually preferred that students not bring anything else to class, besides their books, because they would distract themselves and others fiddling with it.

When I was in elementary school (and no, I didn't walk 5 miles uphill in the snow -- I rode a dinosaur), supply lists were unheard of. Everything was issued by the district, just like the Army: pencils, pens, paper, paste, crayons, notebooks, rulers, you name it. In the upper grades (5-6), kids had the option of supplementing with their own supplies, but it was just that -- optional. And they could use whatever suited them (e.g., ring binder vs. spiral notebook vs. composition book vs. loose paper in a folder). The only thing my teachers were fussy about was not handing in assignments on paper torn from a spiral notebook, because it was sloppy.

Also, it was district policy not to assign homework until fourth grade. I wince when I see little first-graders and even kindergartners getting on the school bus with backpacks almost as big as they are.

I realize times have changed, but asking parents to send in cleaning supplies and tissues for the classroom still baffles me. Those should be furnished by the school district, which can get them in far larger quantities for a better price than individual parents can.

Unknown said...

If all of us parents and teachers have a problem with the situation, then we need to do something about it. I, personally, do not have a problem getting supplies like multiple glue sticks, multiple size boxes of Crayon brand crayons, colored pencils, etc., that my kindergartener needs. However, 6th grade and higher teachers requesting the same things makes me scratch my head, for sure. But if it's problematic, I'll deal with the teacher, then the school, then the district.

Man, it's fun to vent, though, isn't it?

Libten said...

I don't have children but I've been sort of obsessed with this back to school nonsense for some time. I don't know how the rest of us survived going back to school. Seems that today it's just one big deal over nothing.

What really burns me are these lists of nonsense. I spent 12 years in Catholic school where the teachers were a bit particular - no spiral notebooks (can pull out the pages as opposed to marble where the pages can get torn out but it's much easier to detect), only solid colored folders, CLEAR contact paper to cover workbooks, BROWN paper to cover text books - that sort of shit (and no one was going to argue with Sr. Sunshine and Bro. Happy). However, we never had to bring in toilet paper and paper towels. My mother stuffed tissues into our schoolbag. She certainly was NOT going to outfit the whole class with boxes of Puff Plus with Lotion (which I'm sure aren't even allowed since half the class probably has an allergy to lotion...and tissues that aren't made from organic paper). And I don't get this obsession with hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. Looks like classrooms are turning into sterile operating rooms.

While I'm sad that I'll probably never become a parent (and not because I'm some selfish twit but because life doesn't always turn out the way you plan it), in some ways I'm happy because I would be the most hated mother at every school my snowflake would attend. NO PARENT should outfit the entire class in toilet paper, paper towels, cases of Purell and Clorox wipes. If the school system as a whole cannot do this, then someone needs to audit their asses and see what our taxes are paying for. Those in parochial/private schools need to do the same but with tuition costs.

It boggles my mind that parents are willing to do this and not even question WHY they're supplying basic needs.

Kathy Gibson said...

Thank you parents for bringing all the supplies. I guarantee you will not spend more or shop more than the teacher does. It's obscene how much we spend. Some schools do not even give the teacher any money so much of the decor is up to the teacher. I even bought my "littles" a rug for the floor because we have bare concrete and there was no money for a rug. That's not cheap because it has to be school proof.. strong, edged, and hypoallergenic. Can you imagine a doctor buying his waiting room decorations and tongue depressors from his own pocket? No other profession is asked to do that. And before you say it doesn't have to be that way. I agree. Some teachers go overboard but seriously.. .if you came to school and the room was bare minimum and lacked any decoration that wouldn't be seen in a favorable way either. But I can appreciate the letter because it is funny and definitely tongue in cheek. No teacher is going to turn down supplies except maybe Rose Art crayons. Not good. Not good at all. There have been tears over the RoseArt crayons... and not from me. Well, not ALL from me.

Unknown said...

I'm a parent of soon to be 3rd grader and I appreciate all the work most teachers put in. It takes alot of patience to deal with children and their parents. I've always sent all supplies and even extras for my son and never had an issue until 2nd grade. I sent him 2 binders and I was a bit angry as his binder was all broken by January and his 2nd binder was never given to him he was also given a really cheap quality folder which didn't last long. Teachers and parents shouldn't have to foot the bill for other parents I understand it can be difficult for some but it's also hard on alot of us. I'm not judging but I've seen most of these people just freeloading on teachers and other parents. As for the binders I will be sending 1 for now and I will still be sending in all the rest on the first day. I'm not be stingy as I've always had a great communication with the teachers but is not fair that he's given the cheap crap which I don't buy because I want my child to have quality supplies not fancy. There are alot of places that help with school supplies and let's be real even if they can just get for their own child at a pencil and book we won't feel this way.
I still will give extra supplies because I tell my son that sharing is a beautiful thing to do.
With that being said you sound like a wonderful teacher!

Lisa said...

When my dd (now 17) was in catholic grade school, we could either use the list sent or order the box from the service our school used. Through 4th, I ordered the box even though it was more money because I didn't want to deal with going through the hunt. Plus, kids would open up a nice box of stuff like a present on first day of school. We kept sending Kleenex and paper towels quarterly.

5th - 8th we used the list, which seemed fairly reasonable even if the detail was a bit anal retentive. Public high school, lists are much shorter - what HP calculator is needed or what books are on the reading lists.

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