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school supplies question
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Question:
I've been following the school costs threads for a couple of days now,
and I'm curious about the "stuff" that is on the lists. Notebooks,
folders, pens/pencils, etc. In our local paper, there was an article
about the costs, and it mentioned things like pencil boxes and
backpacks.
I have a 19 month old daughter, and I don't remember ever having a
supply list when I went to school. Therefore, I don't have a clue about
the things.
How much of the stuff is really necessary? What happens to the child if
they don't buy every single thing on the list? I mean, according to the
article I read, one of the local schools requires 5 2-pocket
portfolios--presumably one for each subject. I made it through four
years of high school with fewer folders than that, and I used some of
them for my D&D character sheets.... Are the kids reprimanded in any
way if they don't *want* to use a folder?
These are the earth-shattering questions that I think about as I try to
fall asleep at night.
I'm glad that I have a couple more years ahead of me before I have to
decide whether or not to homeschool.
Answer:
- The teachers really want the kids to all have the same supplies, so
no kid is singled out as different for not having the same stuff.
If you don't supply them, then the teacher will probably arrange to
get your kid supplied, but that comes right out of the teacher's
pocket or out of extra supplies bought by other parents. But most
of what they ask for is really cheap, anyway -- those folders, for
example, are on back-to-school sale at Target for less than 20 cents
each (maybe less than 10 cents, I forget exactly). That is, for the
plain ones in basic bright colors. It's only if you want the fancy
ones with characters on them that they get more expensive. I've
seen backpacks this week for as low as $7 with an included lunch
pack with plastic water bottle and sandwich container (good quality
pack with multiple pockets, too). And of course if you keep your
eyes open at secondhand stores, you can find decent packs for very
very cheap.
- If they have papers to go into a folder, and they don't have a
folder, where will the papers go?
I'm assuming this depends on the district and the school. At Shaina's
school, the kids bring in supplies which, with a few exceptions, are put
into a classroom supply box. They then take supppies OUT as neeed. So, I
guess if Shaina only brought 3 folders instead of 5, nobody would notice
... but eventually the supply box would run short of folders and someone
would be without.
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