tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post696089673500947652..comments2023-10-14T09:44:21.840-05:00Comments on People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Open Letter to Sadist TeachersJen Piwtpitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09576108150881254072noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-70046029600524669702019-09-02T13:57:02.748-05:002019-09-02T13:57:02.748-05:00When my dd (now 17) was in catholic grade school, ...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.<br /><br />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. Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15978483293947867160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-74496827619160657742019-07-31T11:52:53.190-05:002019-07-31T11:52:53.190-05:00I'm a parent of soon to be 3rd grader and I ap...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.<br />I still will give extra supplies because I tell my son that sharing is a beautiful thing to do.<br />With that being said you sound like a wonderful teacher!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461165990151988175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-77389697461167344362019-07-27T17:29:50.326-05:002019-07-27T17:29:50.326-05:00Thank you parents for bringing all the supplies. I...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. <br /><br />Kathy Gibsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-92188869113587635682016-08-22T09:56:26.402-05:002016-08-22T09:56:26.402-05:00I don't have children but I've been sort o...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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />It boggles my mind that parents are willing to do this and not even question WHY they're supplying basic needs. <br /><br /> Libtenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14667162147438852535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-53260131989904991642015-08-05T22:06:36.341-05:002015-08-05T22:06:36.341-05:00If all of us parents and teachers have a problem w...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. <br /><br />Man, it's fun to vent, though, isn't it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371434455317180466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-32477506816321867772014-10-10T12:35:12.823-05:002014-10-10T12:35:12.823-05:00Late to the party, but I have no idea how old this...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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-16558186379487930162014-10-08T21:42:28.970-05:002014-10-08T21:42:28.970-05:00People act like the don't know they're goi...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. <br />brlracnmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00851758940280010660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-74915788564950261682014-10-08T21:32:12.504-05:002014-10-08T21:32:12.504-05:00Ahhh... clearly not an early elementary teacher. I...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!brlracnmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00851758940280010660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-52167362054449854062014-09-28T11:25:43.076-05:002014-09-28T11:25:43.076-05:00Abbie, just to address one small piece of what you...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!Ali Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07143269175853956079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-56235377238820793562014-08-20T12:41:56.246-05:002014-08-20T12:41:56.246-05:00I will say this. I spent $180 on school supplies t...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).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02454951579983510470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-1774714850945955992014-08-17T12:44:15.384-05:002014-08-17T12:44:15.384-05:00Ugh! As a 30-year HS teacher I've got my suppl...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.Math Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17960463308651994789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-44753539367299034622014-08-13T06:28:47.794-05:002014-08-13T06:28:47.794-05:00This is hilarious! I was starting to think my 5th ...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.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02888793301624933995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-16585520894048528812014-08-12T19:33:10.686-05:002014-08-12T19:33:10.686-05:00Hi teachers! I don't mind buying school suppl...Hi teachers! I don't mind buying school supplies. But make it easy on me and TELL ME WHERE TO FIND THIS STUFF. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Unless you want six dividers. Good luck with that.<br /><br />Ha ha...seriously, great post! Love your humor!<br /><br /><br /><br />LaurelMiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00186578622277104998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-4091064438836344672014-08-12T18:12:46.483-05:002014-08-12T18:12:46.483-05:00OMG are you really whining about 25 dollar school ...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!<br />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?<br />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.<br />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?!?MFMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11855245226861479537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-27151690358113675812014-08-12T07:57:30.742-05:002014-08-12T07:57:30.742-05:00So, Abbie, you're going to attack someone and ...So, Abbie, you're going to attack someone and then get up in arms when they get defensive?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12831522479393464545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-57797659000495731472014-08-12T07:36:16.916-05:002014-08-12T07:36:16.916-05:00So, you think your kindergartner and preschooler s...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.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12831522479393464545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-18293841401841561272014-08-11T19:42:25.707-05:002014-08-11T19:42:25.707-05:00She did read your entire post Abbie. I actually re...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. <br /><br />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. Kurstinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443666072195274147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-40678937472565235122014-08-11T17:59:22.327-05:002014-08-11T17:59:22.327-05:00I have been a teacher for 8 years. Here is a list ...<br />I have been a teacher for 8 years. Here is a list of the things that I have NEVER been provided by my district:<br />1. pencils <br />2. notebook paper<br />3. crayons/colored pencils<br />4. tissues (and we are forbidden to use school toliet paper for runny noses)<br />5. dry erase markers<br />6. folders<br />7. glue sticks/glue bottle <br />8. dry erase markers <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br />Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02880262644989872015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-89781425158675080962014-08-11T17:44:43.939-05:002014-08-11T17:44:43.939-05:00Noxema saved my son from looking like a clown most...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.Hillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01234318106151243031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-54772214938073562622014-08-11T15:00:42.031-05:002014-08-11T15:00:42.031-05:00I live in Jersey and in my town we don't get t...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!!! :(Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03314413781026266219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-17848098385471403752014-08-11T14:44:18.428-05:002014-08-11T14:44:18.428-05:00Actually, my dad was a custodian for 30 years and ...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. <br /><br />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. From Mary's Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01407949771194206134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-88636495154684846152014-08-11T14:40:01.882-05:002014-08-11T14:40:01.882-05:00Whoa... some seriously tight-pantied people in thi...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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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? <br /><br />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. <br />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. <br /><br />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 Penhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01407949771194206134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-48152069941805714852014-08-11T13:57:49.346-05:002014-08-11T13:57:49.346-05:00You preach it, Amanda! It kills me. They want 5 pa...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!)<br />Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096166838224852282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-55495224440801917532014-08-11T13:56:10.820-05:002014-08-11T13:56:10.820-05:00Sorry, no, it NEVER ends...until you decide to end...Sorry, no, it NEVER ends...until you decide to end it FOR them. :)Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096166838224852282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5984487997306130330.post-75893106330555907212014-08-11T13:55:15.388-05:002014-08-11T13:55:15.388-05:00You have to mess with them some right? Our school ...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?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com