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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Schools Asking Kids To Bring Basic Cleaning Supplies

New items on the back-to-school lists this year include cleaning spray, baby wipes, and cotton balls. It's not for making a diorama or some kind of cheap puppet. Rather, with budgets slashed all over, schools have had to resort to asking the kids to pick up basic cleaning supplies for the school along with their usual TrapperKeepers and notebooks.

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17 comments:

Anonymous said...

From the salaries I saw in the paper, the teachers can supply anything needed. Leave the kids and their parents alone.
It's obvious the education system is a bloated mess. With grossly overpaid employees. I don't want to hear one employee of the B.O.E. complain. They are very rich people. And a bunch a whiners.

Anonymous said...

What happened to Free education? I saw several of the list for different schools while I was at Wal-Mart the other evening. It's crazy what kids are expected to show up with. I remember the WCBOE meetings from last year and the money discussed along with the retirement pkg. They can supply some of these things. Whats next, bring bottled water and chalk?

Anonymous said...

Not to metion the 6 boxes of 24 crayons, 40 pencils, 15 glue sticks, one box of pencil top erasers, 6 vinyl pocket/binder type folders, and I can't even remember the other stuff on this list. You know if I am going to buy for the other kids who's parents are just not going to get these supplies just tell me, don't try to BS me into believing that a kid in the first grade is going to use 40 pencils and and 15 glue sticks in a year give me a break.

Anonymous said...

Educators are not "very rich people". Some people in the school system are. Teachers who have 30+ years experience make good money. New teachers and teachers in grades 6+ who teach anywhere between 90-150 or more students A DAY can not afford to purchase supplies for all of those students. And yes, a child can go through 40 pencils and 15 glue sticks in 10 months. Think about how many of those will be lost or broken. I don't think as a parent, you should complain about buying your children school supplies. If you don't want to spend the money on supplies ONCE a year, don't have kids.

Anonymous said...

I would only buy what is needed for my child. The school systems are a mess and our children are dumber than ever. I don't care what the standardized tests say our kids are not being taught the basics!

Anonymous said...

Wow 11:08, calling your own kids dumb? That's awesome.

Anonymous said...

This was not about school supplies. It was about cleaning supplies. The bottom line is "Bull Shit". There is tons of janitorial supplies stored in most schools. A rag, a bucket of water and a half cup of clorox does a great job. It is cheap.

I do mind educational items. My child would not be bringing cleaning supplies.

The blatant waste at the B.O.E. is what pisses me off. Maybe some of that copper theft money paid back can by some cleaning supplies. 7000on one trip. That a lot of Windex.

I think there will be more pay back. lol If the B.O.E. stays honest on this one.

Anonymous said...

this is just stupid
crayons and glue sticks what is that the lunch menu its no wonder we are falling behind these kids should being carrying laptops to school

Anonymous said...

Top heavy salaries and golden parachutes funded by our social security ..

Anonymous said...

So what. In Kenya, where children as young as 4 walk 10+ miles a day to get to school, they are required to bring a bucket of water once a week. The source of the water may or may not be on the way to school, or close. This bucket is used to clean the classroom. Which they do at the end of that school day. And they are generally happy for this privilege. They may not have much, but they take good care of what they have.

There is already plenty of money for cleaning supplies within the school system. It is currently trapped inside the administration. Between unnecessary positions (scrutinize every title that has "assistant," "deputy," "collaboration" and "inclusion" in the name), the travel junkets, and the benefits like TAKE HOME CARS and you can buy plenty of cleaners.

Anonymous said...

The public school systems will be 100% baby sitting services within 20 years.

Anonymous said...

While I have a lot of respect for teachers, especially the good ones, I still insist that the BOE spends money like crazy and they don't care and then try to use kids as hostages to get more money. I really really believe that if Wicomico County had an elected school board things would be a lot better money wise and our kids education level would go up. Plus with an elected school board accountability will go way up and the BOE would have to get off their butts and do things right for a change.

Anonymous said...

Oh, for Pete's sake...what's the big deal about a $.99 cent bag of cotton balls and a $3.00 bottle of Lysol cleaner?

My daughter has been in a PRIVATE school since she was two and her list has ALWAYS asked parents to send in two boxes of ziplock bags, wipes, tissues, and other items in addition to school-related items. Refill requests usually go out midyear.

Every single teacher I've talked to (public and private) has put money out of their own pocket for their students' needs. The school will refuse to provide many "incidental" things and each teacher has a yearly budget of $300 per year for ALL of her classroom needs.

When was the last time you looked at the cost of binders or expo markers or durable take-home folders?

Better yet, if you think buying the supplies for one child is expensive, try doing it for 150 kids.

What a bunch of malarkey. You want to protest - take it up with the BOE and don't make the teachers and students suffer. They are the innocent victims.

Anonymous said...

11:43...it is people like you that just don't get it

MelissaW said...

This is my son's first year of school, and I'm sending in such items without it even being listed on the supply list.

If it can/will possibly prevent my child from catching a cold or spreading germs, then I'm all for it.

Anonymous said...

11:56 and 9:38
When my children were in school I did purchase their supplies, as they head off to college I am still purchasing their supplies, unfortunately I am also spending my money on the supplies of my students whose parents are too lazy or too cheap to purchase their children's supplies. And don't tell me you don't have the money - by the number of cell phones I confiscate I know better!
If you don't want to send supplies don't at least that will let the teacher know exactly what kind of parent they are dealing with. I have already spent all I intend to spend on my classroom and when your child needs tissues or pencils or paper or hand sanitizer I guess I will just shrug my shoulders and say 'oh well' and when his/her desk is filthy and germ ridden causing him/her to get ill you can just take time off work and spend the money in the doctor's office. Not a problem.

BuyItYourself said...

What's the big deal? For all of you bitching aobut school supplies, just ignore what is requested by the teachers and buy what you want for your child. What will the teachers do? Throw your child out of public school because they don't buy this stuff? As for those of you who suggest that teachers buy it for the kids becasue they are rich, you are all screwed up. What makes you think that teachers should have to do this for kids? You claim that they make so much money, and even if they did, where do all of you get off telling them that it's their responsibility to buy anything for your kids. I have two boys, and I am far from rich, making 41K/year. My wife makes about 25K and together we are stuggling, but never once did we assume that anyone else other than ourselves purchase anything for our kids. To those who complain that teachers should do this, get off your lazy asses and make a few dollars more and do it yourself.