EXPO markers and the reasons you need to buy the larger packs of them

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Last week, I went to school supply shopping. As I have said many, many times before, I love to shop for school supplies. This year, it cost us $343.00 for school supplies and uniforms for both of our boys. Most people complain about the cost of school supplies they have to buy each year, or the amount of the supply fee they pay to the school.

I witnessed such a complaint while shopping and have been so disturbed since, that I had to write about it. While on the aisle looking for the EXPO markers, there was this woman with three girls, standing in front of the markers, complaining about the list of supplies, and the fact that they had to buy supplies. All three girls looked to be between middle school and high school. All three girls and their mother were carrying purses that cost well over $1,000 and shoes that run over $200. All three girls had on t-shirts from a resort that runs an average of $10,000 a week during the low season and were texting away on their smart phones. Now, before I tell you this, I can tell you that it is plausible that someone else, other than their mother, gave them the t-shirts, smart phones, shoes and purses, and they truly could not afford the school supplies. If that is the case, clearly I am being judgmental, but that’s a conversation for another day…. This is the conversation that occurred in front of the EXPO markers.

Mother: ‘It says you need 6 EXPO markers. There’s no more 6 packs.’

Daughter: ‘Then get the pack of 10.’

Mother: ‘I’m not paying $6.79 for them. Then we would be giving them 4 extra markers. I’m not doing that. This is just ridiculous, they can buy their own markers if they want to use them.’

Friends, I am telling you, the indignance of these people has not sat well with me. I haven’t written about this, in part, because I wanted to do some research on the subject. First, I know we have all heard that teachers usually buy school supplies out of their own pockets. The National School Supply & Equipment Association did a study last year on this very subject. Public school teachers spent 1.6 billion dollars of their own money to buy school supplies to do their job. When polled, 99.5% of all public school teachers spent $485 out of their pocket for supplies during the 2012-13 year. This is how it was broken down: $149 for school supplies, $198 for instructional materials, and $138 for ‘other classroom supplies’. (You can read the entire study here: www.thejournal.com/articles/2013/07/01/k12-teachers-out-of-pocket-1-point-6-billion-on-classroom-tools.aspx)

So, let me get this straight— someone who is teaching our future leaders, doctors, lawyers, bankers, basically anyone who will be living for the next 50 years, is having to pay money to do their job? What if you went to the hospital and you needed, say a shot? You pay for the syringe, medicine, alcohol pads, and the materials needed for the nurse and physician to do their job. If they told you that either a) you needed to pay a supply fee for the syringe, medicine, alcohol pads and the materials needed to perform this job or b) you had to bring the supplies, you would probably either pay the fee, or bring the supplies so that the nurse and physician could do their jobs.

I also looked at the average pay for teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish, since that is where I live and my children attend school. Starting out, a teacher in East Baton Rouge makes $43,536 the first year (you can find that here: http://www.ebrschools.net/eduweb1/1000144/docs/03.21.13item9.pdf). Let’s say, for shits and giggles, that they lose 30% of that to taxes, and they are taking home $30,475.20 a year. Are you really telling me that it sits well with you that they are paying almost $500 out of pocket to do their job?

I also broke down what it is costing me per day with spending $343 on school supplies for our two kids. So, EBR has 176 school days this upcoming year and per kid, we spent $171.50 on school supplies. This breaks down to us spending $.97 a day for the supplies the teachers need to instruct our kids for 7 hours a day. When you look at it this way, we’re getting away with a steal of a deal.

I will gladly pay that any day to the teachers and educators that do a job that I, myself, cannot do. I would encourage you to gladly pay for the supplies needed to teach your children. If you have the means, I also encourage you to give a little bit extra. If the teacher needs extra glue, spend the $1 to buy an extra bottle of glue.

It’s not much, but I reached around that woman complaining and picked up the 16 pack of EXPO markers. She may not think twice about the teachers doing their job and the supplies they need, but I can, and I will. You should, too, and you can buy them here: http://amzn.to/1W6ZEEU

 

 

1,144 thoughts on “EXPO markers and the reasons you need to buy the larger packs of them

    1. I’m a para and I invest into my classroom as well. With mothers like the one referred to above, I’d better double up…

    2. Posts like this make me so angry. UK schools receive HALF the funding American schools do. Our high school teachers start on20k and with A LOT of experience can get to 30k, they would be laughing with American wages, especially as our cost of living is infinitely more expensive. Yes, the UK supply EVERYTHING for children up to 11 and everything but pens and pencils after that. We are allowed to buy any pens as long as they are black or blue. Eleven plus also need scientific calculators, but, the schools have a supply for those that can’t afford. We now live in America and I hate the school supply list with an enormous passion.

  1. Spot on. As a teacher for 20 years, it’s all true. I’m already waiting on my NEXT paycheck because of all the supplies I bought for my 5th grade son AND my classroom! Lol. Thank you so much for your well-written words and thoughtfulness. People need to understand the realities of teaching! 🙂

    1. I too spend big bucks for my classroom. I went from second grade to an empty kinder room four years ago. The writing table alone was over $500 from Lakeshore. For that year alone just to get the room to a warm and inviting environment for learning was easily in excess of $1000. This year I am going to teach art at two campuses. One campus is an established art room. That makes me happy. The other campus…not so much. It is really sad. I do not remember seeing one pack of construction paper or scissors. I have a budget of $500 for over 350 students for the year. That is $1.42 for each child for the year for art projects…. Creativity will be the key to be successful. That doesn’t even count for normal classroom needs like tissue, classroom equipment which I have already invested in a Mimio, technology for the classroom which has exceeded my classroom budget!
      It takes money to teach and there isn’t enough to cover the basics.

      1. Our music and art teacher finally asked parents to donate $25 to the art and music fund. They use that money to buy things like more clay for art and rhythm instruments for music.

        1. Well, good for them. As a music teacher, I’ve been discouraged for many years by certain staff members from asking parent to buy staff paper. Like, I’m gonna try to tell them WHAT they need for their classrooms??? We are not only the first to be cut from the budget, but are also expected to ask for nothing — in order to keep costs down for parents. I don’t stand for it. If the legislature won’t fund our schools and the administration doesn’t equitably distribute it to the instructors, parents will be asked to buy things. All we ever needed when I was a student in the 60’s was pencils and paper. Our parents did not buy copy paper, markers etc. It is a sad commentary on our lack of concern for education when the tax dollars do not supply our schools(or the funds are mismanaged) to the point where parents are stocking the office supply shelves!!!

  2. Thank you! This brought tears to my eyes. As a young teacher my school purchases, personal necessities, student loans, and rent, stretch my budget to the max each month. I don’t necessarily ask for someone to change that–but acknowledgement is nice.

    1. One of my kids has a brand new teacher this year. She’s so sweet and enthusiastic and I’m excited for my son to learn from her. Rather than giving lists of supplies the teacher provided a list of stores she gets supplies from and asked for gift cards to the stores since storage is limited (makes shopping SO much easier). After attending the meet and greet and seeing her very cutely done, but sparse, room she’s getting another gift card from us.
      That being said, we have FIVE kids in school (one newborn at home). Their supply lists required a spreadsheet, Amazon bulk purchase, trips to several different stores, and just over $800 for just supplies not any clothes, backpacks, lunch boxes, etc included. We wear hand me downs, my purse is stapled together, my phone is OLD, our cars are old, we’ve been on exactly ONE family vacation, and my grocery lists are made up of what’s on sale and I have a coupon for, so it is a little tricky for some of us to come up with several hundred dollars each year. We buy bulk whenever we can and things in Costco sizes so it will last the teachers longer into the year. Good thing I love the school and teachers we picked for our kids. If we didn’t have school choice (open enrollment parents can apply for to any school) here and I had to spend that kind of money for the “home” school (boundaries we live within) I’d be hopping mad because that school stinks. It’s a tricky situation for people raising several children.

      1. But you chose to have six children. Did you not understand children require things and things are expensive when you made those decisions? I’m single, no children, by choice. I am happy to pay taxes for public schools. I’m happy to donate supplies to schools and to foster children. Every child deserves a quality education and to know they are valued. I am beyond sick and tired of hearing the whining about how people who choose not to have their children attend the public schools I help provide, should get a tax break for private schools or homeschooling. I’m tired of hearing how my taxes should be raised so other people’s children should have a third color football uniform, access to the photography club, and the after school club. You get to choose to have children but once you make that decision, you also get to live with the budget constraints that come as a result of it just as I live with the issues that come as a result of me not having children. We all have to live with at least some consequences for our choices.

        1. Wow. So, you intend to limit the number of kids someone has? I thought this was a country that realized the importance of community and family and learning and intelligence and forwarding the entire community if that means giving up some things. Not communism. Not socialism. Awareness that we are in a free country and we pay taxes to keep it an economically, socially, and military powerhouse. To do that, we educate the people. An educated people are stronger on all of those aspects. That was realized in the 1700’s. Apparently, we sometimes forget. So, yes, you have to pay as a part of this great society. And pay you will, or you can go to a different country and live there with your money in a vault in your house. Good luck. And take a course in economics and taxing and how it works here. That would make it better for all of us.

        2. “Consequences for our choices”

          They are children, not punishments for her actions! All she said is that large chunks of money can be a strain, but they manage.
          Ugh..get over yourself brodie, people with your mentality make me sick and I am truly thankful that you do not have kids!

          Good day 😉

          1. Mom_of6,Too, I hope you were not responding to Stevie or Raymond. Neither deserves to be called a jerk.

        3. Brodie, you start to make a point but, since you don’t have children of your own, you clearly don’t know that it is the parents who pay for football uniforms and all club fees. I’m sure you are grateful, as am I, for those folks who felt your education was important enough to pay their taxes, even though you weren’t their responsibility. Before you go getting all self-righteous, don’t forget that you have benefited from others’ contributions to our society, too.

        4. I have to say that you are being a complete douche. Choice of education for parents and children should not be an issue, but it is. Just because you don’t want six children does not give you any right to criticize someone else’s choices. Obviously, you know nothing about public schools. If you did, you would see how many of them are horribly funded, understaffed or with poor excuses for teachers, and with teachers who are maxed in terms of money, supplies, and students. Whether someone chooses homeschool, private school, or public school, it should NOT matter in the slightest.

          You are literally attacking someone for their life choice when you made it clear that you do not have children, are single, and by choice. That says to me you have NO room to speak about a subject you have NO experience in. Thanks!

        5. Pent up frustrations much?

          You have no right to pass judgement on her. Ironic, I know, as I’m passing judgement on you right now. I’m not sure if you and I read the same comment but I’m pretty sure half her post was about their sacrifices (you call them consequences.) Maybe you missed that up on your single-guy high horse. You’re lecturing her on living with a budget when she’s trying to buy school supplies in bulk. But it’s good to see you are happy to contribute to local education as long as it doesn’t include after school programs or the arts.

          You are the one whining about tax credits. She never mentioned it. I’m married with 4 young kids. It’s ok, I fully thought through and accepted the costs involved. No tax credits for charter here. We live here for the schools. I gladly pay my local taxes and sacrifice vacations because I believe in my district. If I didn’t believe in the system I would look for alternatives just like this mother. Not all places are this fortunate and that probably doesn’t mean squat to you because you don’t deal with schools on a daily basis.

          If you are mad about a third football uniform then tell your district, don’t take it out on her. Telling her to settle for a sub-standard education system because she chose to have a family is just plain ignorant.

        6. Brodie, I think you misunderstood the comments from Big Mama. She is not complaining about having 6 children or even having to buy them supplies, what she is saying is that with a large family and a tight budget it is tricky to come up with the money that is needed for all the supplies that schools want your children to have. She is also did not say that she homeschool’s or that her children attend a private school but her children attend a school in another bordering district per open enrollment due to school in her hometown. Having a family is a blessing not a curse and we know what we were doing every time we choose to bring another life into this world. She is stating that her child’s teacher asked for gift cards instead of each child bringing supplies, so that they teacher can get the supplies on a as needed basis.

        7. While I feel the same way you do about the same tax dollars that are used for public schools also go to private schools, and don’t completely agree with the views of the original post, I don’t think anywhere she said that her children attend a private school or are homeschooled. Her mentioning of a “home” school is further explained, saying that her children don’t attent the school they are supposed to attend if there was no open enrollment. She merely has a legitimate complaint about the cost of school supplies for five kids. Just because our society is moving away from having more children doesn’t mean that the people who do and express their concerns/hardships/etc. are invalid. No defamation of public schools or otherwise disrespectful statements were made…only that she didn’t like the “home” school her children would attend if it weren’t under different circumstances.
          On a side note, if there are other families in that area that feel the same way about that school, why not put your children in that school and get involved to make sure it doesn’t fail?? It’s easy to move your child, but what’s more constructive for the community you live in is to make sure that everyone gets the education they need and deserve. It helps the immediate neighborhood/community, and it helps them become more productive and want to give back to the community you’re all a part of.

        8. Yes. But why should we settle for under performing schools? I pay property taxes and my children attend private schools. Yes, that is my choice and I’m willing to make the sacrifices, but I feel I should be able to use the portion of my property taxes that are geared toward public education and put it towards my children’s private education.

        9. Teachers chose their proffession so why complain about having to buy what you know your employer will not provide? Your statement is ignorant.

        10. If I’m not mistaken, Big Mama is saying that she still buys all the necessary supplies because she knows it’s important for her children’s education. She chooses to spend her limited supply of money on her children’s future rather than on name-brand products. She’s showing how people CAN do it if they plan wisely.

        11. It didn’t seem like whining to me. It just seemed like she stated how they had to budget and shop smartly. Whining would be those people who would put it off on the schools, teachers and taxpayers to pay for their supplies! She even said that she would be giving the teacher another gift card. You said you were HAPPY to pay taxes and HAPPY to donate…are you really happy?

        12. How rude and completely belligerent of you. I am sure she had six children for the fun of it and had no idea that “children require things and things are expensive” – that is sarcasm, in case you did not catch it. As both a mother and a public school teacher who sends her children to a private school, I find that your presumptuous comment left me in a state of shock. It made me wonder if you are genuinely mean or simply ignorant? However, I know it is wrong to make presumptions about a person I have not met… but as you have already done that, I will presume that since you are single and childless by choice then you have no basis for such accusations. In the future, try to be mindful the rampant ridiculousness of your statements. I am not single or childless, nor do I assume to know why you made those life choices. So, in return, try not to make assumptions about those of us who make ours.

        13. Jeez. The comment section is so disheartening. This one is no exception. Why is it always teachers vs parents? “You chose to have 5 kids”. Wow. Totally rude…

        14. Actually I don’t hear Big Mamma complaining about the costs, or asking for help to meet the costs just pointing out that things are not always black and white (in other words you know nothing about her situation or her life). It’s actually nice to hear that she is doing as much as possible to support the school that are helping provide children with a good education despite her constraints.

        15. Do teachers have to live with the same consequences because they decided to become teachers? Just wondering. Teachers have been whining as you say, for years about money but yet people still choose to become teachers. Instead of complaining about their jobs maybe they should spend more time teaching and trying to find ways to increase their budgets. We have some very creative teachers in our area that do car washes and bake sales to cover costs that their budget will not cover. People like you with no children will never understand the pressures put on parents and really shouldn’t even try to comment. She chose to have 6 children & she is not asking for a hand out. So what exactly is your argument?

        16. Not everyone chooses all six of their children. My oldest, now 9, and youngest, now 16 months, came from my sister who couldn’t care for them. The oldest came 3 years ago, after I already had by four “chosen” children, with the youngest joining our family at a month old. Now yes I agreed to take in her two, and now consider them mine, but it has left us in a financial struggle, especially since covering her funeral costs this last April due to her suicide. And now the 9 year old’s biological father who hadnt seen or talked to her since she was 3 is trying to fight for custody of her which has put even more financial and other strain on us. I wouldnt give either of them up, so please, don’t judge this mother of six until you have walked a mile in my shoes.

        17. That’s a sallow response. Everyone pays taxes. Voting is where your city or state choose who pays what at what costs. I’m tired of hearing people complain about “their taxes”. We are ALL on the same boat! Unless you are on government assistance than your just using all of “our” tax money!

        18. Brodie, I don’t think Big Mama was complaining. I think that she was pointing out that even though she is on a tight budget she still manages to buy all the necessary school supplies for her 5 kids and is happy to do so since she likes the teachers and school her children go to. She never once mentioned how it was unfair that she had to buy all those things because she had multiple children.

        19. Maybe you should slow down in your busy, single, child-free life and re-read the post. She never a complains about not having money or it being too expensive. She talks about how she economizes in order to afford the things her family needs as well as their school supplies.

        20. THANK YOU to the reply above!! If you choose to have 6 kids, DEAL WITH IT! I’m sure they’re a joy and a pain at times, but they are YOUR kids, which comes with a pretty hefty bill!

        21. Nice Brodie, really nice….NOT! Seriously, I didn’t see anything in here complaining that she had to fork out the money to take care of her kids just that she is glad that she can pick which school to send it to and even though she doesn’t have a lot of discretionary funds she doesn’t begrudge it to the teacher. Go bitch somewhere else about having to pay taxes etc.

        22. Brodie, you are an idiot. Re read the comment. The phrase “home” school is in reference to the public school closest to where they live. At no point does she make any reference to home schooling or a plea for a tax break.

        23. She wasn’t complaining (well, maybe editorializing about the “home” school that isn’t a fit for her children) just commenting that even though money is tight, she will be finding the money for another gift card for the teacher….and other people’s children (in addition to her own) who will benefit from that extra gift card. It was in response to the post about the whining parent who was attired in costly accruements (if they were indeed gifts I’d like to get on that list!). Thankfully there are a few well off people who are incredibly generous and don’t say anything but just quietly give.

        24. Apparently, you did not read what she wrote, or you would not have gloated your way into making a fool of yourself. Her children are in public school (many districts now offer schools of choice, which means you can send your child to any public school within the district), and she was expressing that despite how tight their budget is, they still find a way to fulfill their children’s needs, and to even do extra for their children’s teachers, whom they enthusiastically trust to educate their children. She would not have been able to feel this way, if she had to send her children to the school she would have had to (i.e. “home school”) if her district wasn’t open district enrollment. She was expressing that it was worth it for her to go without nicer things to instead invest the money in her children’s future via education and the expenses that come with it.
          Not all people who have tight budgets are whining…just like not all folks that consider themselves to be educated have good comprehension. 😉

        25. I have six children myself give in scho and a 6 mo old at home. You are right I made that decision. Paying taxes for the school is IMO paying back for out own education, and I never minded even before I had kids. Expecting a tax break ON WHAT? Most of us with big families aren’t actually paying taxes anyway we get it all back. So no if we want out kids to go to a different school We schod pay for it. We chose to have those kids. And I don’t grouse about school supplies. Forces uniforms for public school piss me off because I couldn’t always find those second hand like I do 99% of their other things. But the rest? Well I’ll be sending extras this year!

        26. i dont think ur reply was all right things happen in all lives u can have enuff mony for ur 6 kids 2day but loose ur job 2marrow n have not a dime in ur name so 4 ur vew i think its an ass of a comanet ovisly u havent had hardship n if u did then idk but u all shouldent juge on both side look at all things on borthsides i 2 was a teacher at one point in life n spent lots money of my own but i also was that mom with a job loss and found my self at one point asking my self whats more inportant the markers my son needed 4m school or the milk or bread my kids needs 2 eat iv seen both side of this arument n see all sides i just ask u all 2 stop n put the shews on of the other person cuz from where im at some of u are really beeing mean and i ask be on both sides not just one cuz how would u feel if u relly cant do thigns n u feel bad already cuz u cant pervide for ur fam n now u have 100s of people makin u feel worse im a relise person would gob juge or would he help anyway im done now just needed u people 2 think thanks

        27. Yes. Why do people have children and not realize that it’s going to COST to feed, clothe and educate them? Why do they think these things should be paid for by others?

        28. Brodie, what you seem to be forgetting, is that those parents who send their children to a non public school, using vouchers, are also tax payers. Part of that voucher money is simply their own tax money.Also, I readjust a day or two ago, the not all the money a public school receives per student follows them. The school district is keeping part of it. For the first year, I’m taking advantage of the voucher in my state. Of two kids, one just refused to move, or co-operate in any way. The other starts tomorrow. My reasons for the switch? I believe she’ll get a better education in the new school. I KNOW she’ll get and education much more in keeping with my beliefs than she would get in a public school. Also, I don’t expect to have to teach her how to physically put down the bullies she has had to deal with.

        29. Did you respond to the same post I read? Bc it sure doesn’t seem like it. The chip on your shoulder’s showing…

        30. She wasn’t whining about the cost of having 6 kids. Simply stating that she’s happy she has the choice of picking their school and even said she’s happy to spend that money knowing how well it will benefit her family. The only reason their hand me downs, old phones and cars, etc… we’re mentioned was because she was making the point that they don’t have a ton of excess money in case anyone would ever say “of course you don’t mind paying extra, you’re rich”. So stop the attack on this person and maybe actually read the full comment before you reply.

        31. Yes, she did choose to have those kids. And NOTHING she said suggested she thinks you should have to pay for them. The point I got out of her reply is that it’s hard but worth it and she cannot understand why others who CAN afford it complain.

        32. wow, a bit harsh. She said she has no problems buying the school supplies, giving more to the teacher then asked for, and then mentioned how happy she was she had a choice (which comes with extra expense in our area)

          Yes, she chose to have 6 kids, but she sounds like an amazing mom who does what she can to support them all. She doesn’t home school and isn’t trying to get a tax break for it.

          I am a married woman with 1 biological child who is currently trying to adopt a sibling group of foster kids–yes, a choice my husband, son and I all made together and yes, something we have tried our best to budget for, but this year (we still don’t have the kids) I went school shopping for my son and picked up extra supplies because when the kids come to live with us mid school year they will need them, and yes, even being frugal like I am, spending almost $200 was a bit of a shock, so was the 3 hours I spent in the store, in september there is a huge local sale where I buy most all of the clothes and I will probably spend another $200 getting clothes there (if by miracle we know the sizes the kids were I will probably spend more getting them nice clothes) knowing how hard my husband works to earn that money it is a bit of a sour spot things cost so much but as a loving parent you do it because it is needed, and yes, from time to time we complain, but trust me, I would rather have my child(ren) and no money (because we spent it on them) then all the money in the world and be all alone

          just FYI, you can comment back, but I have no intentions of returning to read it so don’t waste your time

        33. I think you missed the point that the person you are responding to is more than happy to get the gift cards plus more even though they have six children and manage on less. Sounds like a great family to me!

        34. While I have no problem buying school supplies for my kids (and i provide any additional supplies when my bugdget allows) your statement is ignorant. “You choose to have 6 kids.” Yes, they did and guess what teachers choose to become teachers. They are not forced in to the profession.

  3. I teach middle school, and completely agree with your post. In my district, tissues are not on the supply list and teachers are not allowed to ask parents for them. 174 students with runny noses at some point in the year…… I don’t really want to know how much I spent on tissues alone, because ultimately, my students needed them.

    1. With this situation I would grab a roll of TP and have that for the kiddos. It works just the same. 🙂

      1. So true or send the child to the restroom during the day and have them tissue from the school’s rr. 🙂

        1. So you would rather have children lose instructional time over a runny nose than acknowledge that tissues are a reasonable classroom essential? Do you folks leave toilet paper rolls sitting on the coffee tables in your homes for occasions when you or a guest might need to dab or blow a nose? And our we to lift this TP from said restroom or just steal it straight out of the custodial closet? Oh. Wait. I know how we could class this up. I could just screw a toilet paper holder to the side of my desk for your children’s convenience. People, please. My parents had to buy my school supplies. My grandparents bought theirs. I buy supplies for my kids AND my students. This whole toilet paper business strikes this educator as a rather shameful response to being asked to put forth a dollar to ensure safety and good hygiene in our children’s classrooms.

          1. I love it!! Sometimes things like this turn into a game of “Not it!”! Common sense and courtesy just seem to lost because no one thinks anything is their responsibility. If your child will benefit from it, why is it an issue?

          2. This is a great reply. My son came home one day and said there was no tissues in his class, it was a rough winter, I sent in two boxes the next day. Teacher never asked and I always worry that I was offending someone. After reading your reply and a few others I won’t ever think twice.

          3. The original comment stated that tissues are not on the list NOR is she allowed to ask parents for them. Over the course of a week, 174 students (absolutely a normal number for a middle school teacher) easily go through a box or two. I started the year with at least 20 boxes most years and typically ran out in February. You seriously think that teacher should be expected to buy 20-30 boxes of Kleenex out of their own money every year? I think that’s shameful.

          4. Chiming in on the TP debate. I am the music teacher and they ALL come through my room. I ask the custodians for the ends of rolls at the end of the day and leave one on the counter beside my sink – yes, I have a sink with a district-supplied soap dispenser. A child who signals the need for a tissue gets the nod from me and takes care of business, washing up if necessary. Sometimes, the pretty, fluffy tissue box is a distraction for the child looking for an excuse to get up/get out of doing an activity. There’s not a teacher reading this who hasn’t seen the slow walk to the box, slow pulling out of the tissue, slow wiping the nose, repeat, slow walk back to the seat. The TP roll on the counter at the back of the room weeds out most of those. Bonus, a child with a truly awful cold gets his/her own small roll of TP to keep and use as needed.

          5. I’m pretty positive the person suggesting toilet paper was telling the teacher having to pay for it out of pocket, bc she’s not allowed to ask the parents or put it on the list, to use toilet paper for the kids… I get that, saves her money out of her pocket and then maybe the kid will tell their parents and when the parents ask the teacher they can then be told why!

          6. Playing Devil’s Advocate. When I went to school we had no supply lists to follow. My parents bought MY supplies, not supplies for the whole classroom or the teacher. Also, I don’t actually recall our classrooms ever having communal Kleenex. As a child with severe allergies, my mother sent me to school with a handkerchief or a pocket of tissues, sometimes I would have to excuse myself to the bathroom to grab toilet tissue. We also didn’t have hand sanitizer. Our teachers didn’t have white boards, we had chalk boards (and the chalk was provided by the school). I do recall the 77/78 school year, when we had endured a horrid blizzard that winter and missed so much school, that our parents were asked to bring in box fans (as we did not have air conditioning and we went to school far into June that year) but those were returned at the end of the school year. Just a thought on perspectives and how people perceive this trend of “communal property” as “free” and “Democratic” when in fact this is a communistic and/or socialistic ethos.

          7. I agree Jeffrey! I don’t have guests in my home use toilet paper, I won’t let my kids at school use it either! I make a LOT less than the teachers in this article and I still buy for my students AND my own daughter. Anything I can do to make my students feel valued in my classroom is my goal. Little things, like having a soft tissue to use might not sound important but when you teach poverty stricken kids like I do, you’d be amazed at how those little things affect them. Ok, I’m done ranting. 🙂

          8. Just wanted to let you know. I went to school from 1958-1970. We did NOT buy school supplies. In grade school, pencils were even provided. Buying school supplies in the Baltimore area did not become a common event until after that. That being said, the teachers did not draw with colored chalk and the paper that was provided for us was not wasted. We wrote on every single line even if the same piece of paper was used for Math and Reading. Kleenex was not provided. We carried our own little packets if we wanted to. The toilet paper was in a roll, but the quality was that of newsprint.

            That being said, the economic times have changed as well as the needs in the classroom. There is no way the Baltimore schools in my time could have provided the materials that are needed for teaching today. Also, it was a time of relative (this is the operative word) governmental fiscal responsibility and, the money raised in taxes, seemed to end up in the place for which the taxes were earmarked.

          9. That is a very ignorant and rude response, at no point did u address the teacher having to buy the tissues for 176 kids…the point of the article. And she’s lucky, I had 300 kids My first semester and my suggestion to her would be maybe to address the PTA or other organizations to get a donation of tissues for her room.
            Finally, teachers often befriend the custodians who are happy to help when able. So STEALING is highly unlikely and an insult to teachers everywhere. I’m appalled with your ignorant remarks and hatefulness towards teachers!

          10. I use a roll of TP for noses. I think tissues are wasteful and ridiculous when TP does the same thing. I don’t have tissues at home or at school (unless donated).

          11. Make a decorative box, cut a slot on the side of the box and keep the TP in the box. As a student needs a tissue have them pull it from the slot. I would rather use this and ask parents to supply something else for the classroom, example, an extra pack of notebook paper. I found kids to waste tissues and if they truly need a tissue the TP works fine!

          12. My parents DID NOT buy mine. Grant you I am 58. But I also did not buy my kids until HS. Before I go on let me say that I too taught school and every year had to buy more and more. Construction paper, art supplies, writing paper even reading books for classroom. That said, My grandkids get a list every year of what they are to get including “last names XX need to bring XX for class use”. Mind you “their” supplies get shared!! I, nor my daughter and her husband let alone the kids, do not want germy hands or kids that put things in their mouths sharing with ours. On that note do you really want our SPD, autistic kid who mouths everything sharing with your kid? Daughter takes the time to lable EVERYTHING that can be labeled. Even so crayons etc get dumped into community bin, folders get names blacked out to share and on and on. If we move, they are military, she demands it back. I know this will sit hard with teachers but there are six kids, 5 are in school, to buy for. How much can parents be divorced to cut into their food budget to provide supplies for school? By they way, Ca Supreme Court ruled that the state is required to provide ALL school supplies for the kids. Not to say they don’t still send home lists but unlike other areas we have been they cannot pressure the family or deny the kid anything that is needed. Spend less on unnecessary stuff and “support staff”, janitors etc and you will have money for the kids. Paying a janitor 25/hour, along with the great — and I mean GREAT as in all famy medical for free while working with 5/copayment, benefits both while working and retired is excessive in my book. My best friend will hate that comment.

          13. I’m not sure what school district you know about, but our janitors do not get paid well nor do they have benefits such as you describe! Ours work long hours and with the recent cuts to their pay, plus understaffing them, work very hard. They also do not have family medical care or with such low copays! I don’t know anyone that has great medical care like that! Especially not in our school district!

          14. If you have your nose SO far up in the air (or anyone for that matter) to scoff at the idea of using toilet tissue to wipe your nose, you honestly do not deserve ANY thought. You use what you have. This mentality that you have to have a box of tissues for guests is kind of disgusting. You come to my house? You are a guest in MY home. I do not owe you ANYTHING! As a child, I took packs of tissues for myself. And I know I am not the person to EVER feel horrible about using toilet tissue to wipe my nose.

            Just wow…some of these comments are beyond outrageous…and teaching our children? WOW!

          15. Some teacher! “And our we to…” should be “are”. Maybe you need to look in the mirror before casting stones.

          16. I agree that yes tissue is a necessity. What I don’t agree with is school supply lists we have. No roseart or this MUST be Crayola or 10 boxes of crayons to be shared. First off you want to know why you have 174 kids with runny noses cause they share everything. I have no problem buying the supplies but one go back to chalk boards as they last longer and easier to keep clean. 2 there is no reason you need 10 boxes of crayons and 48 pencils to be shared. Less sickness if each kid went back to having their own desks and own supplies. Myself growing up never had shared desks and guess what I never got sick. My kids will not supply Clorox disinfecting wipes because being a germaphobes gets you no where but sick. A bathroom and soap and water work great. I do believe however it’s crap that teachers have to spend their own money on supplies though. BUT those taxes we pay for new schools playground equipment and so on should include that. Also the fact that at our elementary there is a supply room stocked full for all the stuff from years prior that I helped purchase that was unopened but I get a paper bag sent home half full with crayons all broken… Seems a little crazy

        2. I completely understand where you are coming from!!!! I teach high school and I had students bring in expo markers, tissues, hand sanitizer and air freshener all for extra credit. Each item had its set amount of extra credit… Tissues boxes were worth 2 pts each and there was a max of 20 points that each student could bring in. Mind u… I teach at an inner city school.

          1. As far as the tp on the coffee table, if its cold and flu season, you will most certainly see it in every room, in the car and in my purse! I cant afford to pay extra for tissue when my husband only makes about 13000 14000 a year! Thats before taxes. And with three kids, money is very tight. Kids that attend my childrens school are low income. Some dont even have enough food at home. (We do however). So asking for extra can make the parents feel like they are not doing their hi ob because they can provide tissues. My parents bought my notebooks, folders, pencils, crayons etc……but asking for extra for the class is in some cases not possible

          2. So… if you can’t afford to bring in the extra markers, you don’t get extra credit? While I am all for sending in extra supplies, I have a problem with extra credit being tied to financial outlay.

          3. I have to disagree with giving extra points for supplies. Why does a student that can afford to bring extra supplies deserve a higher grade than one that can’t? Rewards are a great incentive but it should not be a grade. We have a strict policy against this practice.

          4. So if the family can’t afford the extras their kid not only doesn’t get the credit but also is potentially embarrassed by it? WRONG!!!! Especially when those inner city kids are already at a disadvantage. Shane on you!!!!!

          5. As a teacher Diana, I would rather parents like you and your daughter to NOT even bother bringing in supplies if you are going to label everything and be so selfish and rude about it. You obviously have never taught YOUNG children. Furthermore, to say cut the “support staff” at schools in order to buy supplies is ridiculous. We teachers already CLEAN enough. Pretty soon we will have to drive the bus to pick the kids up, cook breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, drive them home, and then come back and clean the school PLUS somehow teach 20+ kids on 20 different levels. I have been using COMMUNITY supplies for 18 years and have never had one single parent complain. Perhaps if your teacher had used community supplies back in your day, you might understand the concept of sharing and kindness more.

          6. @ Diana, those “support staff” that you call unnecessary are the ones who are taking care of your SPD Autistic kid and helping him to function in a normal classroom. Support staff is not now or EVER unnecessary!

          7. Christina, before you ASSUME to know my grandsons situation you should get facts straight. Never once did I say support staff is unnecessary HOWEVER he does NOT get any support staff services at school. He attends regular classes and has to earn his grades just like any other child. He is high functioning Autistic who we have had in OT and PT therapy since before kindergarten. He was part of early intervention if you know what that is. Sarcasm totally meant. He gets ABA at home but that’s another story. I specifically referred to the janitorial staff as an example. Never have I said cut teachers, special ed etc. My friend’s husband just retired from the local school district so I do know what is going on since I helped them make the decision. In Cali support staff that work “year round”, less than 30 consecutive days of break, gets full benefits per their contract and get a form of CalPers. I am pissed that someone would come across the way you do. Leave my grandson out of this. I only referred to him as a “do you want his germs on things your child will touch ect” example. I am sure my daughter would have more colorful words for you as would any special needs child.

          8. You guys can stop pretending to be outraged at her giving extra credit to kids who bring in supplies. Good grief. She was NOT selling grades. You people love to complain about everything. I think a few extra credit points are great incentive to have students bring in things THAT THE KIDS THEMSELVES WILL BE USING.
            In our school district there is a “teacher wish list” at local stores. If you want you can grab an extra pack of markers (or whatever is on the wish list) and send them to school. Or not. No one is making you. Most people I know gladly send in a few extra things. It’s going to YOUR OWN CHILDREN’S classrooms. I can’t believe the whiny, selfish, and complaning women that are replying to this entire post.
            And I call b.s. on the people who say “back in their day” they didn’t have to bring in school supplies. I graduated in the late 80s and every year starting in 1st grade I brought in school supplies. I remember going out and buying a cool pencil box, a bunch of pencils, scissors, etc and of course the highly controversial BOX OF TISSUES for the first day of school every year. A box of tissues has always been on the school supply list since the early 80s.

          9. We are not allowed to give extra credit for bringing in supplies. Kids who can afford it can spend money and get an increased grade. Poor students cannot. This is inherently unfair.

          10. I am reading your post, Danielle, and what I am understanding is that you are giving students grades for absolutely no learning, they just happen to have a little bit more money to purchase extra supplies? Give them a thank you card and a piece of candy, not a grade.

          11. It’s only TWENTY points, people! I offered up to 100 points of extra credit total per grading period. You could gain it through supplies (the only supplies I asked for help with was tissues, index cards, and disinfectant spray, store brand only), helping me create a bulletin board, extra questions on a test, coming in early and helping me clean the board or rearranging chairs, filing papers, but the maximum was 100 points. You could “buy” 20 and work for 80 or you could work for all of it and buy none. We have to get creative.

            As far as community supplies, I hate them for the sanitary issues. I also hate them because some people just refuse to buy things. My supply list? Notebook paper as needed, pen, pencil, highlighter of ANY color and a big box of tissues. Any other supplies were simply WANTED by the kids, not needed.

            Most teachers require too much crap from the kids. No elementary school kid needs 4 boxes of 24 count crayons, 3 pairs of scissors, 6 packages of 200 sheet loose leaf paper, 4 packs of markers, coloring pencils, thin line markers, and other excesses. I refuse to ask parents to supply other kids with supplies when every store in town has a stuff the bus with supplies drive. There are seriously TONS of supplies available for free. You just have to ask the school about the organizations that offer the free items. There is no shame In asking for it. But don’t expect the teacher to provide it. She has just as many expenses as you and may make the same amount as you.

        3. FTR: My kids restroom had no papertowels for the majority of the school year when they were in public school. The restrooms didn’t even have soap for several months. The general public has no idea just how underfunded and undersupplied most public schools can be,
          nor the true percentage of their paycheck a teacher spends to compensate.
          I can’t think of even one other profession where this is considered acceptable.
          Not providing supplies for your child is tacitly approving charity from someone else to supply your child (whether it is the teacher or another parent). If that charity is needed then fine but if it’s not needed then neglecting to care for your own child is just wrong on so many levels.

          1. The schools are not under-funded, but the money that the public pays to fund the schools is not being used appropriately nor is it making it to where it belongs which is in the classroom, where most taxpayers believe it’s going. It is a shame that teachers are required to pay for “extras” like tissues out of their own pockets, but erroneously saying “schools are under-funded” does nothing to address the real problem and makes the tax paying citizenry angry when they already feel like they’re paying through the nose with each paycheck or property tax assessment.

        4. send them to the restroom????
          Spoken like someone who doesn’t know what the heck they are talking about. Because a runny nose is not one-&-done. It persists. Which means, in your brilliant idea, that kid is going over and over.
          And because it’s not one runny nose, it’s 5-10. Each period. So that’s 6 periods a day–30-60 kids each day. That’s and average of 7.5 interruptions (every hour) to what I am doing to let them out, 7.5 to let them back in (at my school only teachers answers the doors for security reasons) and 7.5 times someone has to be caught up because of a 3 to 5 minute trip to the bathroom. And in about 4th-9th grade, once kids see that you let them out of class to blow their nose, it’s not 7.5 runny noses, it’s 17.5.

          And that’s why the kleenex is in the classroom, and that’s why we don’t let them go to the john to blow their nose.

      2. I could only imagine the reaction, you walking into the classroom and seeing a roll of toilet paper for the kids to use instead of tissue. Not to mention ridiculous amount they think they need. But you miss the issue…..they need morethan freaking TP!

      3. After years, here is a a trick I learned when you get down to using a roll of tp for tissues. Leave the loose end attached/glued to the roll like it comes. Pull out the cardboard roll from the middle; just dig a little. It will leave a little sticking out from the middle and kids can just tear off a piece when needed. It doesn’t unroll everywhere.

      4. The high school I attended (as well as my 9 siblings), took away TP and paper towel privileges 2 years in a row because of students starting fires in the bathroom trash cans. Students brought their own TP from home and some, very kind, teachers had some in their classrooms for desperate students. The next year, the schools just “ran out” of TP by the end of the year, as well as copy paper, and there weren’t even enough text books for each student. We have a very poorly handled district but it just makes you think about how hard it can be to teach when missing certain necessities.

      5. I have students with health issues that require them to blow their noses (or have me help them) several times every hour. Many of my students live in poverty. A few parents donate a box of tissues and I buy several each year–even our assistant principal bought a few boxes for us last year–and still we run out mid-year. We have a roll of toilet paper, but it doesn’t work well for thick mucous and it hurts the children’s noses. Then they won’t wipe their own noses and fight you if you try to wipe their noses and they have thick yellow goo flowing down under their noses. Still think the toilet paper should work?

      6. My husband complained about my need to purchase tissues as well. so he came up with a great idea and made me a stand alone tp holder for my desk area. Now I just use the brand new roll of tp and have it on a sort of paper towel dispenser. same stuff…on a roll…you do what you gotta do

    2. I had to buy paper towels for my room because in my class, my children, three to five year old, special needs children who were toilet training, exceeded our yearly allotment of paper towels less than half-way through the year. It became so costly, we started cutting them in half, then quarters. No one cared that toilet trainers use the bathroom more and because we assisted, it was two sets of washed hands. The camel’s back was broken when I was told I’d have to supply my own GLOVES as well. That’s on top of all the other regular school supplies and instructional materials I purchased. Then, for class parties, does anyone know who supplies most the food or who pays for those little crafts and gifts children so proudly bring home? Add to that hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, Lysol, and quite often snacks for children whose parents “forgot” or refused and their children were crying watching the others eat snack and you’ve got a broke teacher. I’ve also supplied diapers and wipes when parents would refuse to send them in. I didn’t want to, but what’s the alternative… A child sitting in their own filth waiting for a parent that already doesn’t care enough to supply basic necessities. And, no, I’m not at a daycare. I am a certified teacher, teaching ESE children in a public school.

        1. I teach parents the correct process for IEPS because their teachers and schools are lying to them about it. I make $10,000 a year and I bought all my daughters supplies.

      1. Parents who refuse to supply such necessities should have social services sent out to their house. That is child neglect/abuse.

        1. Not all students live in families where this is a reality. Most people want the absolute best for their children but not all can afford it!

      2. You just described my situation perfectly, detail for detail. I also teach special ed and have had to do the same things you have for my 3-4 year old special needs children. Perhaps I will keep a running total of expenses this year. School starts in 2 weeks and I feel I’m already about $100 in.

        1. I accept the fact that parents have to buy school supplies for their kids, but I don’t understand why the teachers are complaining (I’m sure I’ll get bashed). Can’t it all be used as a write-off on your taxes? I know people who pay anywhere from $400-800 on nursing scrubs, parking passes, nursing shoes, stethoscopes, membership dues to keep their credentials, etc. My husband has to buy supplies like pens, notepad, tissues, etc for his job as well. Lots of people have to pay extra for certain items. It is my understanding that you may be able to write off some of these expenses.
          http://budgeting.thenest.com/much-classroom-expenses-can-write-off-teacher-22713.html
          It’s sad that some people complain because no doubt there are some people who are truly less fortunate than others and simply cannot pay for these items. It’s also sad to think that some parents have to decide between food on their table or school supplies. I’m not saying the teachers should have to supply the items, I’m saying our school systems should have to!

    3. Just curious as to why you cannot ask parents for tissue. That is ridiculous. Whoever made that rule obviously has never been in an early childhood classroom! The the little rascals sneeze all over him/her or cough into their face a few time and see what happens.

      1. I’m not sure what the issue at that particular school is, but I do know that many districts do not allow teachers to ask for supplies or for parents to pay for field trips because a public education is supposed to be free. A former principal told me that it was actually illegal in California to ask parents to pay for a field trip EVEN if you tell the class/parents that you will cover the cost for anyone who can’t afford it. Why? Equity. I understand that there are plenty of people who actually struggle to pay for supplies and field trips and that, yes, our public education system is supposed to be free, but to me, that says that the districts/government need to adequately fund schools.

        1. In 37 years of teaching I’ve taken a roll of toilet paper from the supply closet when I didn’t have tissues. Most of the time kids don’t like using it so someone would bring a box of tissues. It does the job. The teacher can buy them all year & no one appreciates it.

        2. In our school district, we went for eight years with no field trips at all, K-12, due to school levy failures. Now we have added them back, barely. Each classroom gets $220 dollars a year from the PTA for a field trip. Can’t get too far on that! Some teachers ask the parents to pay for the trip if they can, but cover the cost for those who can’t afford it, out of their own pockets or by seeking donations.

        3. I’m in CA, Los Angeles to be exact. Several years ago we stopped receiving a list of supplies to bring to school for classroom use. Now we only get a list of what the child will need for personal use. But our school still asks for field trip donations (we just had two in May/June), the form clearly states no child will be denied going on the field trip due to not being able to pay.

      2. I asked parents once a week for tissues last year. No one donated.
        It is considered a low income school. At one point, the teacher’s bathroom had no soap for 2 weeks. We didn’t know we were out completely on campus. That means students didn’t have soap until we figured it out. There are 900 students on our campus not washing their hands.

        1. Wow- I never thought about something as simple as soap- my children use to bring care baskets for their teachers every year with extra supplies and now that they graduated, I donate supplies to an elementary school where we live. I buy a lot of supplies because of the sale prices and it is something I have always done. I never thought about soap, tissues, or paper towels- reading these comments, I guess I am going back to the store and getting some to donate. Although I provide a gift card, soap is not that expensive. Thank you for the idea

    4. I had several teachers offer extra credit (like 15 point) if you brought in tissues. We could bring up to 4 I think.

      1. Offering extra credit is very uneducated of the teachers. I’m assuming that they weren’t capable of coming up with another method to get a response. There is a running joke about a parent asking, “How many candles does my child have to sell to pass your class?” Sadly, giving extra credit for having enough money to supply a box of tissues is not an indicator of that child’s understanding of a given subject.

        Earlier someone mentioned that the tissue box is too attractive and children just go to get a tissue because they want to get up and they take their time going and coming. I taught first grade for years. I was not supposed to send out a list of needed supplies, but if parents asked if I needed anything, I was quick to respond. I placed several boxes of tissues around the room and encouraged the children to visit the closest one when needing a tissue. If a student chose a longer route, then quite possibly, that student needed to be up and get a little exercise. I’ve done the same thing when sitting all day at a training. Luckily, I was not going to get into trouble for my stroll to the back of the room or visit to the refreshment table.

        I also asked parents who offered to help, purchase ziplock baggies of all sizes and bandaids.

    5. I love how people were scoffing at the idea of using TP. But I did not see any of those parents say “I buy extra so the kids don’t have to use TP” . In a perfect world teachers would not have to provide anything, all children would behave, and it would rain Skittles. I think we have a better chance of it raining Skittles than parents proving enough supplies to last the school year for THEIR child(ren)! I don’t make that much money and I was a single Mom at one point, but I made sure my child had school supplies and hygiene items. Every penny of my paycheck had to be stretched but I still sent in the “optional” items; tissues, hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, white board markers (maybe not the Expo brand but what I could afford). Think of it this way…spend an extra $5 per paycheck for these items and avoid missing a day out of work when your child has the flu. Plus your child spends more time at school than home. Why wouldn’t you want your child’s classroom to have everyday items?! Why should the teacher have to buy these item?! He/she didn’t have your kids!

      1. You are very correct. I personally do not have children; however, I have nieces and nephews. I usually try to spend money to help my sisters each year. I was shocked at the “lysol wipes” as it is cheaper to just buy the cleaner and paper towels, but whatever. I even have a stack of stuff to donate to my local elementary school to help…with NO children.

        We have lost sight of working as a community in this country and education has suffered for it!

      2. Tiffany, This is one of the best responses! Thank you for your sense of responsibility and generosity–you remind me of the Bible story of the widow’s mite.

    6. I put it on my class supply list along with a ream of paper. I explained to my students what I need and why we need it. I usually end up with 15 boxes out of 6 classes, but they know when they are gone they are gone. It also teaches that if they don’t really need it, don’t grab a handfull just to throw away. If we run out I offer extra credit for new boxes or I get it from the custodians. It works well.

      1. Asking the custodians for tissue, when the district doesn’t buy any, won’t work! Also, I teach kindergarten, and most don’t understand the concept of when they’re gone, they’re gone. This was the first year i have run out of tissue, and we ran out in March. I sent a request, that if anyone could donate a box, we’d appreciate it, and got a few. The rest of the year, I bought a few boxes and we used toilet paper when we didn’t have any.

    7. I wish I had stock in tissue. Same here- I provide tissues and also notebooks and two pocket folders for every student along with the pencils, erasers, cleaning supplies, novels and Expo markers.I begin the year with a magazine purchase for my middle school classroom that costs over $200. Crazy as it sounds, I have purchased shades for my classroom and a case of copy paper. And some are complaining about 6 markers? Seriously?

    8. Why can’t you ask for them?? It should be on the supply list…. how about the admins come in and let the kids wipe their noses on their shirts………lol. I have to go to costco and buy the jumbo packs of tissue.

    9. While I completely am able to agree with this article, your post is offensive and mKes me hope that you are forced to work into your nineties. You sound like a childish, selfish, pompous ass. Have a nice day.

    10. Years ago I came up with a first quarter project that was done on a square tissue box. I used to give extra credit for tissues being inside, now it’s part of the project. It is a fun way to decorate the room, and you have tissues for the year!

  4. Thank you for this article. I agree with you on your postulation about people who clearly can afford certain niceties and then complain about their CHOOSING not to afford something else. [especially over something “petty” yet necessary]. I am a former middle school teacher and agree that even the “start up” costs for getting a classroom going are horrendous! However, as a taxpayer, it brings some irritation to think that there is some gross mis-allocation of funds when I spend thousands of thousands of dollars in taxes and yet the school feels the need to pass on these type of costs to the parents. Really, school? You can’t buy your teacher markers??? In Texas, taxes are generally 3% of your home value (with about 1.1% of that going to schools). And that’s for everybody… regardless of you have kids in school or not. So case in point, my in-laws paid roughly $10,000 in taxes annually on their last house before retirement and didn’t see a penny on their return with zero children in the school system. It seems that someone who can plan a simple household budget should take over for the school systems when year after year they raise taxes, add more bond proposals, etc., and yet can provide for the basic needs of their teachers (i.e. school supplies to do their job).

    1. I could not agree more! I am a teacher and a mother of three and I refuse to buy cleaning supplies and excessive dry erase markers that are on my kid’s lists this year. That is what taxes are for.

        1. The answer to this and almost every other problem in this country is our political system. School board members to the president need to be held accountable for their actions. It is their JOB, they are getting paid, to make sure our system works.

      1. I’m a teacher and no mam.. We do not get any money to buy supplies that’s the responsability of You the parent…Would you rather have your child look around while everybody else is doing work…that’s why we buy the supplies
        so your child has the same opportunity…

      2. They aren’t “excessive”. As a kindergarten teacher, the supplies parents spend “SO” much money on at the beginning of the year, don’t even make it to Christmas. That supply list you’re all complaining about, teachers purchase those items every quarter, if not more frequently. If the expo markers are “too expensive” (same with tissues and erasers, etc.), just go to the dollar store and purchase the same things for a dollar for your children. Your child’s teacher will be there by November replacing everything that has run out from September for all 20-30 of their students.

        One of my classroom jobs is a marker checker who checks the tops after class use, because the expo markers (or the dollar off brand type- that work just as well) in particular are a supply that is constantly having to be replaced. Marker tops get switched or lost and aren’t air tight. And kindergarteners don’t always click the tops all the way down and they ruin the markers by pressing down too hard. Your children’s teachers will be equally happy with the dollar store brand dry erase markers. Just buy what the list requests because the 6 expo markers per student will be gone in no time.

        1. It kills me that this is even up for debate. As the child of 2 public school teachers and now the mother of 2 public school students, we shouldn’t be fighting with each other. Teachers get the ( microscopically) tiny end of the stick in this debate.
          Our kids deserve the best we can give them. Whether it’s the full supply list plus the extras or trying to get them there with a full stomach. We should all do our best! Everyone will benifut.

      3. I would guess that the expo markers are for the students to use. In my school, every classroom has a set of individual whiteboards for students to use for various activities. Teachers’ expo markers are supplied by the school. I really don’t think a teacher would need 150 markers in a year (6 x 25 students).

        1. The problem is that many parents will not buy the supplies so there will definitely not be 150 markers! Unfair, sure. But so is the teacher having to provide supplies for your child. Should the school system provide out of taxes–of course. But they don’t. Who suffers ultimately? The student! So teachers spend a small fortune to make sure your child is not embarrassed by not having the needed supplies. During 16 years of teaching, I have paid for lunch, provided breakfasts, provided coats and shoes, pencils, paper, markers, tissue, crayons, scissors, and the list goes on. I teach because I love children and want them to achieve their best in life. I just wish some parents did the same!

          1. I have paid for many a lunch as well. I have bought shirts for kids. I have gave a student a bike so he could get a job. I know of teachers that have bought a motel room for a kid that was homeless, 19, and trying to graduate. I know of a teacher that bought a kid a suit because he needed it for an interview. Teachers give. I have never complained about the money I spend. I will EXPLAIN about the money I give and wonder why others don’t even give their time. Volunteer at a school! Volunteer to help your kid at home understand the importance of schooling. Write a simple note to a teacher, thanking them! (I keep a file of notes from parents and students. It keeps me positive.) I quit a better paying job 13 years ago to go back to teaching. I have NEVER regretted it. I get more than money from my job. Do you?

          2. I am a teacher and I have already purchased supplies for the students that will show up with nothing. I purchased folders for 1 cent, some for 25 cents, crayola crayons and markers for 50 cents, glue sticks, 4 for 25 cents, scissors for 25 cents. This doesn’t even begin to touch the supplies that I will be buying. Teachers don’t ask parents to provide them with supplies that they will need. The markers, Kleenex, germ-x, those are things for the students to use. The Kleenex and germ-x help prevent illnesses from spreading from one student to another. Purchasing these items is a lot cheaper then taking off a day’s pay from work because your child is sick. I don’t understand how this discussion went south, but I will tell you teachers always spend their money on students. Thank you to the parents who do buy the school supplies for their children and make it a fun experience. I used to purchase for five children so where there is a will there is a way to make do. There are also organizations and charities that will help you with supplies. I am ready for any children who don’t have supplies their first day. Teachers will gladly except your child’s school supplies whenever you can send them. Learning should be fun and children shouldn’t have to worry about their school supplies! P.S. Class credit cannot be given for non academic items.

          3. Raymond you said it brother. We teachers have an innate desire to help children and their families. I too have bought clothes, shoes, food and supplies for needy children. We can play the blame game all day long about why the parents don’t do this or buy that. The bottom line is that the child did not have an option as to who his parents would be and/or what kind of parents they would be. I will never make a child suffer for the sins of his parents! This past Thanksgiving, I sent a turkey home with one of my sweet, precious little boys. It was so heavy he couldn’t even carry it but the smile on his fave was priceless.

        2. We use the markers a lot for math practice. They seem much more willing to work with markers. Some students use 3-4. To me, it saves on paper. I also have students who go through 6 markers because they share them with students who can’t afford new ones. I even ran out last year and had one of my needy students bring me two to finish the year. THAT meant so much to me!

        3. I teach junior high students, and their EXPO markers stay with them in their binders for their use. I buy my EXPO markers with my classroom budget.

      4. My school district will not allow me to purchase cleaning supplies for my classroom. All of my funds must be spent on the children. A three dollar box of cleaning wipes keeps your kids from contracting every other child’s runny nose or flu. Buy the cleaning supplies!

      5. Any you’ll be the first to raise holy hell when you child comes home with dried snot on his face or calling because he can’t see the board because the Expo is dried out and barely writes. You are the object of this article, by the way.

        1. I posted this as a comment to one of the posters but this didn’t post under that comment sorry. Also it should read “and you’ll be”. I hate auto correct.

      6. It’s not my responsibility as a teacher to buy your kid a winter coat either, but if he needs it, I do,

      7. Or, as a parent who is using more than your share of the tax outlay by sending your kids to public school, you can suck it up and spend $15 on school supplies for the year without complaining. Schools barely have enough money to pay the teachers, never mind adding on supplies. I’m embarrassed at the stinginess in this thread. Tissues cost next to nothing. If you truly can’t afford them, that’s one thing, but all of this griping over supplies to keep your own child clean and healthy is absurd.

        1. Went shopping for school supplies for 3 kids, the other 2 didn’t have lists available, and spent WAY more than your “$15”. Telling us to “suck it up” is both insulting to us and to whatever achool educated you. Couldn’t you find a more grammatically correct term? Didn’t get much out of you education did you? With that attitude I sure hope none of my grandkids have you as a teacher.

        2. try $170 for three first graders. It’s tough but this article did open my eyes to the struggle of the teachers also. We give when we can but sometimes it’s a big struggle to make ends meet.

        1. for those of you complaining about buying extra supplies, write your legislature and complain to them about where your tax money goes. Making the teacher pay extra out of pocket doesn’t do anything but make him/her poorer. Love the way some of these people feel about a teacher. Go ahead, be bold, and spend a day in her shoes. You might just change your mind after all. Remember you can’t spank , yell or cuss and the naught, disrespectful, children.

          1. In my old district this is the list for one child (DALLAS SUBURB)

            72 Number 2 wooden pencils (no mechanical, recycled or plastic coated pencils please)
            2 Red checking pens (ball point)
            6 Box of Crayola Crayons (24 ct.)
            4 Dry Erase Markers
            3 Package Crayola Washable Markers (8 ct.)
            6 Large Glue Sticks
            1 5″ Sharp Fiskar Scissors
            1 Ruler (inches and centimeters)
            2 Pkg. 3×5 Index Cards (lined)
            1 12×18 Manila paper (50 ct.)
            2 Pkgs. wide ruled notebook paper (200 count)
            1 1 1/2″ View thru vinyl binder (3 rings – 1″ is acceptable but please no 2″)
            10 Vinyl or plastic top load page protectors to be used inside the Eagle Notebook
            7 Pocket folders with brads – Any Color
            3 Composition notebooks (reading, math, science)
            1 Pkg. plastic dividers, 5 pages with 10 pockets
            5 Pkg. (1 ream = 500 sheets = 1 pack) White Copy Paper
            1 9 X 12 Dry Erase White Board
            3 Boxes Kleenex Tissues (150 ct.)
            1 Roll of Paper Towels

            Boys Only
            1 Pkg./Box Baby Wipes (80 ct.)
            1 Box re-sealable plastic quart bags (25 ct.)

            Girls Only
            1 Box re-sealable plastic quart bags (25 ct.)
            1 Box re-sealable plastic gallon bags (20 ct.)
            All
            $7.00 Eagle Student Agenda/Planner
            *$3.00 Donation to the headphone fund
            *This fund will cover headphones purchased in bulk that are

            1500 sheets of paper PER CHILD. 15 dollars – are you serious? it’s 10 dollars in cash alone. Plus another 70 for the rest of it, not including any clothing or back packs. This is a third grade list. If my third grader is so careless that they are going through a box of crayons every six weeks then I want to know about it so we can have words and they don’t deserve new ones. They can just use ones from the broken pieces box every teacher has. I have also yet to get back a single pair of scissors at the end of the year. Where are all of those going?

            In contrast where I live now (RURAL ARKANSAS)

            1 package of cap erasers
            1 plastic pencil box
            1 box of 24 count crayons
            4 large glue sticks
            1 package of 2 large pink erasers
            1 pkg. of 24 count Ticonderoga pencils
            4 wide-rule comp. notebooks (not spiral)
            1 package of notebook paper
            2 Yellow highlighters

            And this is a poor area where plenty of kids probably have trouble getting everything on this small list that is much closer to the 15 dollars you spoke of. If one school can get by with so little yet another requires so much there is a problem somewhere.

      8. Really? So you will pay for 2 out of 3 kids but not what is on your other “kid’s lists”. And you expect all the rest of us (including many more-likely low-to-moderate-income renters whose rising rent must cover the dwelling’s property tax bill which is not eligible for any homestead reduction) to pick up the tab for your snotty kid’s tissues, etc.? Sure. Let’s just keep raising the tax rate for your kid’s consumables. No problem.

        1. You have horrendous reading comprehension. She didn’t have lists for her other children so she has yet to purchase their supplies. Genius.

      9. Wow. How mature. I just hope you realize that the other parents think you are cheap and selfish. And, not surprisingly, you kept having kids even though you clearly can’t afford them.

      10. You need to be sure to tell the school administration and school board and maybe the state legislators that you refuse to buy certain supplies. They are the people who have some power over how tax money is allocated and what it can be used for. Telling people reading these responses does no good whatsoever.
        I’m curious though—who buys cleaning supplies and dry erase markers for your classroom?

    2. As a Texas teacher I suggest you write to your legislator about how schools are funded with YOUR taxes. Unless your school is located in an area with a lot of businesses or very high property values, schools are struggling to pay for facility maintenance and other ‘non-educational’ necessities. If cleaning supplies are requested it is probably because the teacher is taking on the day to day cleaning of his/her room to help an understaffed janitorial department.
      As far as return on tax investment I beg to differ. You can pay to educate via taxes or you can pay to support them on welfare programs because they don’t have enough education to hold a job.
      I would like to point out too that my school can provide EXPO markers for me. However, I have my students use EXPO markers themselves for reason such as it saves paper and they engage more than with paper/ pencil exercises. So if the kids are using the markers I don’t see why it should be upsetting to have them as a school supply just like pencils and glue.

    3. Yes, as a teacher I wonder the same thing about funds and budgets. I know the state population is hit with way too high of property taxes and yet our districts are getting huge budget cuts that get passed on to the classroom teachers via resources, benefits, etc.

    4. Your in-laws may not have kids in school, but they do drive on the roads, and enjoy a safe community fue to law enforcement and safety personnel, so I think they are getting something from their taxes too.

    5. I am a teacher in Texas, teach at a low income school and somehow we are given the materials needed to teach. Expo markers, copy paper, construction paper and so on! I had to purchase my children’s supplies and it asks us to purchase copy paper and construction paper! We pay $10,000 in school taxes! I agree that teachers do spend their own money for their classroom, I do! However, Expo markers, copy machine paper and construction paper? Really? These can’t be provided? I believe the supply list are just ridiculous! They even state the brand name they prefer! I get store brand zip lock bags? That’s another supply I question? I will help with hand sanitizer and Cloroz wipes. I get it, but there has to be a point where the school is responsible for some of these classroom items! And this is coming from a teacher!

      1. I totally agree with you, Ashley. If you’re teaching in a suburb full of wealthy families, then I could see how as a teacher you would cringe at families complaining. I’d like to hear you opinion of the matter after you have been to a title one school and have students who are homeless or are living in a shack- literally. My first concern with these kids, is that any extra money they have go towards their well-being and not towards expo-markers. As a teacher, you must be creative in what you use to teach… It doesn’t have to be expo markers.

        1. We aren’t even allowed to ask students to purchase particular items. I keep a bin of notebook paper and container of pencils available all of the time…and wait…my department purchases these items. Other items purchased for the kids: Kleenex, Composition notebooks, pens, markers, scissors…the list goes on and on! I CAN afford to purchase the items for my children and I purchase most items; however, there are some things I feel are not my responsibility or the teachers: copy paper and construction paper! These things should be purchased by the school district. I will supply markers, crayons, notebooks, paper, ruler, etc. What kills me is when I’ve done this and at the end of the school year my child has used five pages of a specific comp. book I had to drive three places to get? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to belittle or upset teachers who sacrifice their own money! I simply think there is no reason why they should! I do know what it’s like to spend money of my own for my classroom, and I am lucky to teach in a school where I don’t have to worry about the essentials. Let’s talk about my low income kids…many of them are working and buying their own supplies. We, as teachers, are not allowed to ask for students to bring too many supplies. I have rambled on and I apologize, I just feel sorry for teachers who feel responsible for purchasing items the school should be purchasing. I hope this makes sense!

          1. Wow Ashley. If you pay $10,000 in school taxes you must live in a big enough house to afford a few school supplies as school taxes are usually collected as part of your property taxes. Are you sure that’s not your entire tax bill and not just your school taxes? Taxes in Texas for the average person wouldn’t be that high.

          2. Do you genuinely not understand that your situation and experience is not the average scenario? Count your blessings instead of being so obtuse that you cannot recognize that the rest of us do not have the luxuries you are describing in your own classroom. I’m a teacher too and I get absolutely none of what you’re describing!

      2. I get 6 reams of paper per semester. That’s only 3000 sheets of paper. Divide that by 120 student. That’s 25 sheets of paper for each student. My tests are 2 to 3, sometimes, 4 pages each. I’m required to give 6 per six weeks. I have already spent $200 to $300 and school has not started yet. In addition to papers for the students, we also have to print our lesson plans,grade books each six weeks, and progress reports. There’s no extra pepper for that and I have to buy my own ink for the printer in my room. Our district gives us $100 but we can’t use it for ink. And that’s really reimbursed to use but they won’t reimburse us for the taxes we pay on that.

      3. Title 1 schools often have technology and supply budgets that other schools do not have. The schools in areas with more support from property tax would also have enough money in the budget for the things you listed. However, if you teach in a school like I have where the majority of the area is state owned land, budgets would be smaller because of less support through taxes, yet they do not qualify for Title 1. I’ve also worked in two separate Title 1 districts. The first had ample budgets for supplies and technology and I almost never had to buy supplies. The second decided to appropriate their funds in a different way, and I was responsible for all supplies, including copy paper, tape, staples, and anything I used in my lessons.

      4. At the school system I work in, not only do we have to buy our own copy paper, we also have to buy our own copies! I just paid $100 for 10,000 copies (which won’t get me through the year). I have 177 students. 10-12 grades. I tell my students what they absolutely must have for my class and then put Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and yes, even copy paper, on my wish list. Some students bring it, some don’t. I still end up buying more copy paper and copies.

      5. I teach Pre-K and my supply list changes year to year according to what I’m low on and was did not have the school funds to replenish yet. I wanted to comment on teachers asking for certain brand names. When needed, I do ask for Crayola brand markers because the lids to different brands do not fit. I ask for Crayola crayons because the colors are true; it’s difficult to teach the color red when the red crayon a child is using colors pink on the paper! In the past I have asked for Fiskar brand child-safe scissors because my students were having trouble using the cheaper brands; the blades didn’t fit tightly together so the paper would fold or slide instead of being cut. These reasons are just to make the point that the teacher may have a justified reason for asking for a particular brand. Generally we are just trying to do what is best for our students.

      6. My issue has always been that I provide my children with higher end (name brand) supplies so that they last longer, or are what is requested. My children turn them in on the first day and the teacher turns around, labels them, then passes them back out to completely different children. So we get paper folders that won’t last month when I purchased the durable plastics ones. Never again! Not only this but we give Kleenex but when my daughter is sick she is limited to 2 tissues for the period. It’s just unbelieveable to me! I now just buy my kids the travel tissues and sanitizers to keep in their backpacks.

        1. I so agree with you on this! This has happened to me more times than I can count. I always send in everything on the list for my kids and even extra for the office or clinic, etc. But when my child tells me he had to place his supplies in a box so the teacher can redistribute them and he comes home with the crappy stuff, it is infuriating. That’s why I label EVERYTHING now. I don’t mind buying extra but I want my kids to have what I bought for them. Also, when a janitor at the school told me how she loves cleaning up before Christmas break because she can get all of the gifts out of the trash that the teachers threw away? At least donate the stuff or wait until you get home to throw it away! Makes me think long and hard about the gifts I give.

        2. I have no issue with buying whatever school supplies she needs, but I kind of feel the same way you do about community supplies. I spent $6 on a pair of true left handed scissors for my daughter for Kindergarten. Luckily scissors are one of the things on the supply list where she gets to keep her own, but I know not all teachers do it that way, so I’m dreading the thought of eventually having to be the “difficult mom” in order to ensure that she gets to use any lefty-specific supplies I buy.

      7. That would be the school taxes on a $750k house in my city, not including any homestead deduction. I’ll bet you didn’t qualify for that house on your teacher’s salary alone. Maybe if the districts improved teacher pay, teachers could qualify for a home costing just a fraction of that price and be able to pay for some of those kids’ supplies, too. BTW, since you are teaching at a low income school, how much of that $10k school tax is distributed to the district in which you actually teach?

      8. This is what bothers me about school supply lists today – the picky-ness about particular brands, sizes and colors. Growing up, we always bought supplies for school – that was necessary and expected every fall. Sometimes we partly made do with leftovers from the year before, but the lists were always fairly basic – “crayons,” “pencils,” “notebook paper,” etc, and if you ran out during the year, you were responsible for buying or bringing in more for yourself.

        Now, my fourth-grader has a list that SPECIFIES 36 pre-sharpened Dixon Ticonderoga pencils; Crayola brand markers, crayons and colored pencils; Elmer’s glue; Scotch tape; etc. Now, I definitely understand that some brands are better than others (I usually buy Crayola anyway), but, c’mon – why so particular? I went “off-list” on a couple of items and am seriously concerned my kiddo is going to get in trouble. However, *I* cannot afford to be so particular and specific for this year.

        The past couple of years, in a different, generally more low-income district, I could tell that the list was not directed toward supplying my child specifically and then a couple general supplies for the classroom. No, everything went into general bins to be shared equally among all the kids, no matter who brought what. We weren’t even supposed to put a name on our kid’s supplies! That used to be part of the fun of school supply shopping – picking out fun folders, pencils, erasers. Wasn’t any point to doing so there – my kiddo didn’t necessarily get the stuff he brought. This is where I felt like a better system could be in place. Some of these “bulk” supplies would be more economical if they were purchased in bulk – if all the kids need the exact same set of plastic folders, price out a bulk box and have all the parents chip in some, then buy the bulk box.

        1. My grade level team asks for certain brand-name items because many generic items are not good and you end up wasting your money. If, in our experience, a certain brand has a superior product out there we try to share that with parents! For example, many of the generic pencils don’t sharpen evenly or break easily (especially the ones with the colorful plastic wraps on them). The erasers on these pencils also often have some kind of coating so they smear or tear the students’ work. Some companies have focused so much on making glue “washable” that they don’t do the job of sticking! Most of the cheaper scissors are dull which makes it difficult for young children to cut things. (Fiskars are the best.) Some of the crayons are too waxy and make it difficult for children to color evenly and neatly which can frustrate them. So when you see a specific brand name listed give the teacher the benefit of the doubt – s/he is probably just trying to help you put the best tools in your children’s hands so they can concentrate on the important learning instead of being frustrated with the mess their eraser made. At least think about it, and then buy what you can best afford.

    6. In my community (and in most others) tax money goes almost exclusively to building and furnishing new schools or maintaining old ones. And even if it doesn’t fund construction and maintenance, the way that tax money is allocated isn’t necessarily within a district’s control – which is why there’s a need for bond elections (about which many people complain, as well). Textbooks suck up a lot of $$, too. At an average of $50 per book/per subject, it adds up quickly. I usually get $80 a year to spend on my classroom from my campus. In the last two weeks, I’ve spent over $300 in supplies (posters, chart paper, pencils, composition notebooks, etc.) and school hasn’t even started yet – nor have I purchased supplies for my own personal 4 children yet. I’ve been teaching for 17 years, and it’s been this way since year #1 (actually, I spent over $2,000 on my classroom my 1st year of teaching). I don’t mind spending the money, but I do mind when tax payers get up-in-arms about buying school supplies, thinking that their tax money isn’t being well-spent (by the way, I don’t believe YOU – in particular – are “up-in-arms. You’re quite polite). Tax funds are allocated by legislators and those allocations can’t be reassigned without serious legal ramifications.

    7. Isn’t the “return” of paying taxes for schools, regardless of whether the children are your own or not, is having an educated community in the future? Who do you think will be your inlaws’ doctors in 20 years? The kids in school now!

      1. Great answer Kelly. I have no children and gladly pay my school taxes as well as buy the items from whatever fundraiser the neighborhood kids participate in because these kids are the future (and what a lot of people don’t realize is that they’re our Social Security and they probably won’t even get SS themselves). Everyone thinks they know how a teacher should do his/her job but they don’t feel that way about engineers, computer programmers and everyone else. It should mandatory that every parent spend at least several days, all day, in the classroom. I tried subbing for a year and you couldn’t pay me enough to deal with what teachers deal with. The 97 cents the original post mentioned isn’t even the cost of a Starbucks.

    8. To be fair, the benefit to your in – laws is that there aren’t homeless urchins running the streets, that the members of their community aren’t illiterate. It’s a bit myopic to believe the only members of a community who get “a return” in public education are parents with school aged children.

    9. Your in-laws received a return on their investment in the form of a more educated population of people that will continue to lead the country and care for them as they age. That is why everyone pays property taxes, not just those with children in school.
      You in-laws will likely receive treatment from doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lawyers and the like throughout their retirement and right down to their estate being distributed amongst their heirs. Those competent, educated people are the result of the school system that your in-laws dutifully supported. We live in a community and within that community everyone has certain rights and responsibilities. As a community, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that children get a decent education. It doesn’t just help the children, or parents of the children; educating our community provides a benefit to everyone involved.

      I do agree that our tax dollars are being seriously misused. But it’s just not reasonable to believe that only those with children should pay taxes or benefitting from the free public education system.

    10. Thank you! I live in Texas also, worked as support staff for the local ISD for 5 years, and pay plenty in yearly school taxes. If our school budgets would allot more to education, including the fine arts, and less to the almighty football etc. perhaps our teachers would not have to part with their own funds to keep their classroom functional. There will always be parents who won’t and parents who can’t buy school supplies so the districts should step up more.

      1. Yes, “almighty football” indeed. We moved to Texas recently and the obsession with football here is, well, kind of disturbing. I’m not anti-football nor do I understand the details of allocation of funds in school districts, but I’d say any casual observer can tell the priorities are out of whack…especially when you consider the amount (some, not all) football coaches are paid vs. regular teachers.

        I would think there’s at least some money being made via football games but if that’s the case, where does that money go? Back into the sports programs? Why not back to the rest of the teachers and students?

    11. Here is a strange idea…. why don’t we take all the money we pay for people to stay in jail/ prison and give that to schools each year. Then have the prisons get what schools currently get and have them try to earn extra money through Box Tops and Soup Labels. As a teacher, I spend a lot of my own money on my own classroom. Close to $1,000 a year I would say by the time the year is done. I don’t earn that much as I am a parochial school teacher. I make a whole lot less than the public schools around me. We do it for the students and to make sure that they are learning in the safest and most secure environment possible. We want to make them feel welcomed. When they don’t have a certain thing needed for that lesson, let me tell you with Kindergarteners that can be a deal breaker where they break down and just cry and cry for a long time. How are the rest of the kids going to react to that? Yeah, not well. Our government does not put education first, like they want everyone to think they do. To make it right where schools get more money so parents and teachers don’t have to pay out of their own pockets, it will need to come from the tax payers and voters.

      1. Because the state makes money off of every inmate in their state prison. The prison system state and federal is a business for profit.

    12. I am a teacher and homeowner in Texas as well. I teach in a high poverty school, and we have to do the communal supplies because probably 45% bring their supplies. However, I always make it clear that they do not have to share their supplies that it is ok to keep them. As a single parent, I made the decision from the beginning years ago not to buy supplies for the students. I save supplies year to year to have a stockpile and recycle folders, spirals, etc. I make it clear from the beginning that these are the supplies we have for the year and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Same rules apply in my home. If you use it irresponsibly, you suffer the consequences. Students become aware of their use and others who are wasting and teach them to use less. That being said the only thing I’ve ever run out of are PENCILS!!!!! Luckily I’m not a picky teacher, that’s when we bust out the pens 😉 Content is way more important than scratches and messy work.

  5. I would like to believe that most people don’t think about what they’re saying/doing (unfortunately). Thank you for putting it front and center! Now if they’ll just read it 🙂

  6. Thank you! As a classroom teacher and debate coach, I’m always figuring out ways to spend less yet get more for my students and classroom. I rarely think twice about buying supplies for them, so it angers and disappoints me that a parent would think twice about buying her OWN chidren supplies. I have a 3 yr old, who when the time comes, will happily take supplies to his teachers because I understand and WILL get them.

    1. Apart from the fact that teachers should not have to pay out of pocket for supplies, there is the bigger issue here of why do these people feel entitiled to be so blessed and yet not feel the least bit convicted to be a blessing! MJ

  7. You are my hero! Nothing is better than a big pack of expos! 🙂 I spend a fortune out of my pocket, and I have tons of kids whose parents make WAY more than I do! I have many who don’t bring a pencil EVER! Parents please remember to replenish pencils and paper often. The amount on your supply list may get them through the first 6 weeks. This is a suggested starting amount. Paper and pencils are a huge part of my out of pocket budget!

  8. You are a judgemental bitch. I hope you don’t judge your students like you judge people in a store. You don’t deserve to be a teacher.

    1. Clearly you didn’t read the article carefully. The author states she is grateful for teachers because it is a job she cannot do. Also, judgmental does not have an ‘e’ in the middle.

    2. It says she isn’t a teacher………good job reading closely; hopefully (if you are a teacher) you teach kids to read closely and for details better than you do.
      You’re probably the complainer expo lady that this is about.
      I pray your children have teachers that are better than your attitude so they have a chance to succeed, understand others, see where the needs are and be more open minded.

    3. Nancy, you shouldn’t be throwing stones from your glass house. Reading is pivotal to understanding what is being said here and I suggest you attempt to do so before casting aspersions. Bitch

    4. Oh! Then you must have been the lady fussing over school supplies. Watch whom you call bitch. Bitch.

    5. Really? You called this caring teacher a bitch? How do you know if she deserves to be a teacher? That is way over the top.

      1. Wow, some of these comments prove that people may need to review their reading comprehension lessons. I’m sure a teacher would gladly help. 😉

  9. I teach in Ascension Parish, right down the road from EBR, and I cannot tell you thank you enough for this. Its the small things like this that make me love my job – parents that care. This is my 3rd year teaching, and I remember as a first year teacher, straight from college, having to wait until September for my first pay check. With as early as we start, almost a month and a half without supplies is dreadful, but people like you who realize the struggle, help take a little of that stress away so we can focus on the students. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

  10. I work in a low income area and kids come in wearing 100 dollar shoes but don’t have markers or a journal. I paid over 450 and that’s only one of at least three trips I make as a teacher to get school supplies.

    1. That is always the worst. The parents that don’t have their priorities in order. Fashion over being properly prepared for school, ugh.

  11. From a special ed teacher… Thank you!! We have a very thankless job and it’s nice to have someone take a stand for us once in a while!! You rock!!

  12. As a teacher I THANK YOU for this! So many people do not realize how much a teacher spends out of their own pockets for their students or as I call them my “kids”!

  13. Thank you so much for this article. The expo markers may not have even been for teacher use. Many schools have individual whiteboards that students use during class for quick responses. Therefore, parents are buying these for student use, not teacher use!

  14. I’m not a teacher, but a firefighter. I’m sure that it’s not just teachers that have to pay out if their pockets to do their jobs. I pay 125.00 a month, 1500.00 a year, to work at my department. That is the minimum and covers my share of food consumed for my 24 hour shifts that I’m not allowed to leave the station for any personal business. That also covers my share of the television, phone, newspaper, etc that is not provided to us by the department. I also buy all of my personal equipment to do my job (knife, flashlight, batteries, personal rope, stethoscope, hand tools, etc). So yea, I have to pay a couple grand a year to do my job taking care of the public.

    1. I always hear complaining about teachers paying for supplies, like they’re the only profession that must come out of pocket for their jobs or something.

      Most professionals pay for their own license renewals and continuing education. Some have to pay for their own liability insurance too. Police officers have to purchase their own sidearms. Even our soldiers have to purchase some of their own gear.

      I agree that it’s frustrating to see people wearing designer clothing and playing with expensive toys complain about buying school supplies for their kids. Their priorities are messed up.

      But please stop beating that tired drum about teachers having to pay for stuff out of their pockets…..because they’re far from the only ones that have to do so….they just seem to be the only ones who complain about it incessantly.

      1. I’ve not seen many teachers complaining about license renewals or continuing education or even something special to make their class more efficient or beautiful. Asking a teacher to buy the daily supplies required to perform the tasks mandated by the state or district (paper, Expo markers, etc.) would be the equivalent to asking a police officer to buy some gas for the cruiser or a soldier to buy his own ammunition.
        The problem here is neither teachers or parents. The problem is that tax money is not being used efficiently at the state and local levels.

        1. I think a police officer being asked to purchase their own sidearm is a direct equivalent. There are more out there too.

          1. Actually that is not the same, because the police officer owns his firearm for as long as he would like. On the other hand, the supplies teachers purchase are mostly consumable.

          2. The sidearm is yours to keep and unless you lose it you won’t have to buy another. And your ammo is given to you by the department. even what you use to practice with. The supplies are for YOUR children to use or be taught with. The initial supplies requested aren’t even enough to last throughout the year. I ask for maybe $15 worth of supplies and a $10 donation. It’s a shame that so many parents complain about spending that, but don’t blink an eye to spend that much or more per month for a smart phone, a video game, to play a sport, etc. I thank the author for writing this!

        2. As a teacher and the wife of a police officer, I have a little knowledge here. Some departments require officers to buy their guns. Some provide them. My husband has quite a few useful gadgets that he has bought himself. All of these are for his personal use. He, even after 20 years of my teaching, is shocked by the amount of money I spend for school. He never complains. Most of what I buy is not for my personal use–I never use 100 composition books or 15 packages of loose leaf paper. The students consume it. I am thankful that some of you realize the ridiculousness of this. How many of you have to bring your own pen to work or buy the ink for your office printer or the paper to print the reports you write? I’m sorry the fireman must pay for his own food at work but my husband and I do too. And sometimes I end up giving mine away to a student who doesn’t have anything to eat. We aren’t whining, and we don’t want parents to whine either. I know school supplies are expensive. I have three children of my own. Think before you spout off about them.

          1. I am also a teacher and a girlfriend (of 6 years) of a police officer and I agree. He is really taken care of, they have their firearm bought for them, along with any supplies, uniforms, ect they need. He also purchases items for his own use that he likes to have. And for the person stating that other jobs have their own things to pay for, don’t forget that teachers also have to pay to renew their license, continue their education, attend professional development, pay union fees, buy books and supplies for their classroom. Supplies that are consumed by the students…not ourselves! And then on top of that buy supplies that we need to use ourselves to teach our students. There is no other profession that can compare to a teacher.

      2. As you stated in your response, adults in other professions are purchasing items for their own use. The difference in your job and my job is that I am also purchasing items for 180 students (6 classes with an average of 30 kids per class) to use as well. It is incredibly frustrating when people like you assume that teachers are complaining about providing their own supplies, when in reality the complaint is that we have somehow become responsible for providing supplies for every child in our class. I can only imagine your “incessant” complaining if you went into work tomorrow and found out that you were now expected the pay for 180 of your fellow firefighters’ batteries, stethoscopes, and other gear out of your own pocket…for an entire year.

      3. No, Dano, it is not the same thing. I was in the Navy for 20 years before I started teaching. I was often required to buy uniform items for my military service. What wasn’t covered by my uniform allowance was on my dime. But it was MY equipment. I never needed to buy things for my fellow sailors so I could do my job. As a teacher, I pay for my own certifications, items for my classroom for my purposes, and professional materials. THEN I pay for materials for the students because I am given $33 dollars as my share of the department budget to cover classroom expenses. If I don’t provide these materials, only the students provide the materials (and don’t lose them or forget them at home) will get the education I am trying to give them. My evaluation is based on learning gains. These things can’t happen without learning happening. Learning can’t happen without some tools even as simple as a pencil. As a parent, as tight as money is, I wouldn’t allow my student to go to school without any supplies but many parents don’t afford me the same courtesy. To do my current job, my students must have writing implements and paper at the very least. If they do not provide it, I have to. My Navy evaluation and performance was never tied to the fact my co-pilot didn’t perform because he didn’t have the right patch on his flight suit. So, it is not the same thing.

      4. Seriously? You do realize most teachers have to pay for their entire master’s degrees on their own? Only a few states require a master’s, however if you ever want to make above $30-$40,000 a year, and if you want to continue learning to be the very best teacher you can be, you’re going to continue taking and paying for classes that cost over $600 each. And, at least where I live now and also in my own town (in another state) firefighters make double what teachers make and their retirement packages are absolutely luxurious compared to that of teachers. You’re comparing apples to oranges here.

      5. Yes, but usually when another profession spends money, it is for their use. We are spending money for things that we hand over to others. I chose to be a teacher. I am not complaining about spending money, I happily give so a student doesn’t go without. We also pay for our own continuing education, teacher organization fees, and teaching certificate renewals.

    2. TJ, Thank you for pointing this out, as I did not know that firemen paid for those items. I appreciate y’all’s willingness to sacrifice financially for the communities you serve, as well as your willingness to face the dangerous situations your job entails. Thank you for your service!

    3. So you have to pay for the food that you eat and the tv that you watch, phone and newspaper that is provided for your personal use? And you have to stay on your job? OMG, Stop! You are breaking my heart. Like I never had to pay for my own business suits to work in my profession? I would have been fired for watching tv, making personal phone calls, reading the paper at work or taking personal time off. Do you really think that the company paid for my meals that I was required to eat out? And, while I have not had to run into burning houses, my work is still taking care of the public. The difference is that, unless you are a volunteer fire fighter, teachers are probably paid significantly less than you, with fewer benefits, and have no business picking up the tab for their kids other than through the goodness of their hearts any more than you should have to pay to reimburse the uninsured victim of a fire,

    4. And you buy the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for each person you serve, correct? Because that would be the correct comparison to make. Supplies are for the students to use. A teacher paying out of his or her own pocket for those supplies correlates to you buying fire prevention/protection supplies for the general public out of your own pocket. It does not correlate to you chipping in to watch TV (are you renting the TV, by the way? Or do you mean you contribute to the cable bill?) or read a newspaper. I agree the department should probably take care of those items, but that doesn’t mean a teacher should have to pay for supplies for student use.

  15. Thank you so much. As a teacher I spend a lot of my money on my class and then I have to tell my own children we can’t get some things. It is great to be appreciated every once in a while.

  16. It amazes me that people complain about buying school supplies. People blow money endlessly on crap but gripe about buying materials to help educate their children. The amount of money I spend out of pocket on my students is ridiculous, but I do it because I want them to have everything possible to make their learning experience the best it can be.

  17. wow! Thanks! I actually posted something similar to this last week after I bought my 3 personal kids supplies as well as my classroom supplies and the extra supplies for the student who will come with nothing. Thank you for understanding and being supportive!

  18. We can’t do enough to help support our teachers. My children are grown now but my daughter is a teacher with three children in school. I know first hand the money she put in for her students. Give from your heart, both our children and the teacher. It will come back to us all. Thank you teachers for your time and love of a profession we can’t spend enough on!

  19. I fully agree with you on this! I spend way too much on supplies for my classroom. This year I’ve already spent $600 getting things for my classroom. I’m only making $31,000 for the year! That is BEFORE taxes… It’s very depressing to have to purchase what should be supplied either by parents or by the school district.

  20. Thank you for your post! I taught for many years in inner city Detroit. I have purchased everything from winter coats to toilet paper for my classroom. When you go to a hospital, you do get charged a fee for the supplies they use. We were billed $235 in the emergency room for a splint and gauze when my son broke his foot.

  21. Thank you! Oh my. I’m a special needs teacher and I put in for supplies at the beginning of the school year in September. Didn’t get my stuff till May! Yes May! Crazy. I end up paying a lot of money! Especially since we don’t have a set curriculum so I have to try to find ways to teach grade level material to my special needs class. So I had to buy workbooks And more. I not only teach these kids. I sometimes build equipment (I’m a special needs teacher). Buy food so they can see where and how food is made and to learn about etiquette. I can easily spend $25-$50 a month on my class. Events in school. Kids need to pay for stuff like shirts, trips etc., . Some parents have the money and other well are not financially stable and we don’t want the kid to feel left out so my assistant and myself pitch in to buy them the stuff needed.

    Thank you for this!

  22. My daughter is a 5th year NC teacher, she makes $30, 779 (now with that being said, they are giving teachers a 7% across the board this year)…she is a single mom and works a 2nd job on weekends, but she will not let her students do with out….she gets one case of paper per semester for handouts, tests, etc……thank you for your article!

    1. OK I have to jump in here. Teachers in NC are NOT getting an across the board 7% raise!!!!!! That is a complete fabrication from our legislatures. The “raises” are an AVERAGE of 7%. That means some are getting over 18% and some are getting 0.23% depending upon their years in service. The veteran teachers are getting a very small increase–0.23% for giving their hearts and souls to the children of NC for 20+ years. Furthermore, they took our “longevity checks” AWAY from us (we get those after 10 years of service) and then gave them back to us calling it part of our raise. In my book, when you take money from someone to whom it belongs it is called THEFT. The raise I am getting would be almost nothing if not for MY longevity check. Basically, I gave myself a “raise” with MY money. With that being said, we do NOT get everything we need in order to do our jobs. The schools systems do not supply tissue (Kleenex), Clorox wipes, Expo markers, and other necessities. I do ask my parents for copy paper, the items listed above and other things. If I get them great, if not, I make up the difference. NC is pretty much the laughing stock of the nation right now. It sounds like some states (Texas) really take care of their teachers and schools. All of us are not that fortunate. Rather than berate teachers, we should stand as a nation and DEMAND that are children are given a first rate education by excellent teachers who are justly compensated for this amazing job of which we are tasked! Let’s stop fussing over petty issues and look at the big picture.

    2. Actually it is not a across the board raise. Some are getting more than seven and some like in year 29 and 30 are getting .3 percent. I am in year 15 and min is right at 3%. After 6 years with no raise plus an n crease in our insurance, we are thankful for anything but why teachers are up in arms is that it is disparate across the board. The longer you have taught, the less you get.

    3. For Beth, FYI, while your daughter may well get 7% or more, many teachers at the other end of the experience scale will see about a 0.3% (yes less than one percent increase). Be careful not to be fooled by the political posturing when you vote in NC in November.

    4. Unfortunately, it is not an across the board raise. It is an average 7% raise. Teachers with 20+ years experience are only getting a .3% raise!!

  23. THANK YOU for this!!! Starting my 18th year of public school teaching; don;t want to even think about what I’ve spent over the years on classroom supplies!!!

  24. As a teacher I have to say thank you!!! (And the 16 packs have all the really cool colors too!!! Bonus!)

  25. As a teacher who is divorced and living solely on my income (Texas starting salary is a little over $30,000), and who spends on average $500+ out of pocket on my 4th grade class, I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU! Your kindness brought me to tears! We don’t see a lot of parents like you, sadly.

  26. As a teacher and a parent of two (both sides of that buying fence), I personally say thank you to you and those parents out there like you that understand.

  27. Thank you thank you thank you for acknowledging the fact that we spend sooo much money to make our classrooms an inviting place to learn. I spent over $500 last year which was a bit of a personal choice because I wanted to make it easier on my kids to get their text books and a more fun place to learn. If I didn’t spend a dime of my own money, there’d be no bulletin board decorations, no stickers, no prizes, no reward charts, nothing printed in color (we had to buy our own printer cartridges last year and may have to this year) and nobody would want to enter a classroom like that. Thank you for calling attention to this issue and supporting us!

  28. Just for a diff point of view. I’m a single parent, finishing school myself. I have school loans, plus 4 special needs kids on a special diet. I have a very minimal income, and I refuse to get into the welfare system so we squeak by. I do not have the money to get all the 4 kids sneakers, clothes & school supplies without getting it all through the year & asking my in-laws for help. That being said. I find the cheapest deals, get bulk packs, send in that extra glue when I can and yes, offer to help send in or assist with crafty stuff for their teachers. When my kids have colds, you bet I send in tissues & hand sanitizer if I can. I know how hard they work in a highly flawed system. I have home schooled all 4 kids in the past and I know what a tough job it is especially when you can’t get the support from the “system” that you need.

    1. I don’t think teachers expect your family to do without. In my eleven years in the classroom, I’ve purchased for my students from lower income homes without thinking twice. It’s the parents whose children have EVERYTHING under the sun, yet complain about purchasing items for their child’s education, that get under our skin.

    2. Bless your heart! You sound like a parent who is a joy to teachers. Thank you for giving more than you probably can afford and for offering your time to help at school. Best of luck to you as you finish school and to your children.

  29. I am a middle school Special Education teacher and I just added up my back to school supply’s I bought over the course of a month and it was $697. I know I needed to buy it when it was on sale to save money. I had to tell my daughter that I could not buy her new ballet shoes until
    September. Thank you for posting this every teacher appriates a parent like you.

  30. Thanks! I am a Theatre Arts teacher in TX. I routinely spend between $2,000 -$3,000 per year out of my pocket on supplies for my classroom and our school productions. The $400 budget I have at school doesn’t go very far.

    1. In Arkansas we get a $200 deduction each year hardly enough to take care of all the supplies we purchase If you are not willing to pay for the supplies so that YOUR child can receive a good education that is fine because luckily there are some great teachers out there that care enough and will spend there own money to buy your child’s supplies

  31. The parents pay taxes so they shouldn’t have to pay extra. But as you stated most teachers pay out of pocket for some supplies. It’s been that way for 30 plus years. But they didn’t ask families for supplies back then. Don’t go into the profession if you’re not prepared to do that.

    And if your going to bring up taxes you should point out it’s really $388 out of pocket in your example because its a tax deduction. If you aren’t bright enough to know this you shouldn’t be teaching.

    1. Larry,

      I had a very long response typed out and I deleted it because as a teacher who is heading back to school next week, I don’t have time to engage with a man who has his head buried in the sand. Please reevaluate your statements. I hope and pray that the teachers who have been in your life and maybe in your children’s lives have had a better attitude about their profession than you do.

      Sincerely,

      A teacher who hates spending her own money because she can’t really afford it but does it anyway because it’s the only way to do my job well.

      1. I also remember having supply lists 30 years ago when I was in elementary school (and all the way through high school, then college). I remember my single mother, who struggled to keep us off welfare, pinching pennies to get my school supplies and school clothes. She never complained, however. And I’m grateful for her. She sent a message to me–my education was important. School supplies were a priority.

    2. Actually, Larry….I was in school 30 years ago. We had a supply list. Remember when the Trapper Keeper came out? It was required at my school. It was $10 alone and that was back in 85. That wasn’t all we had to get either. So now as a teacher, my school doesn’t want us to ask for more than $15 per student. I’m ok with that but I do think that means each student should be bringing a pen or pencil to class daily. Many don’t. Do you think I should tie extras to the desk so my $250 deduction is well spent?

      Speaking of that, a deduction only means I don’t have to pay additional tax on that income. You do know to stay current, like most professions, I have to pay for an assortment of professional development and certifications as well. Oh, and property taxes as well….and I still pay for my children’s school supplies because MY property taxes only go so far to cover the expenses of maintaining schools for the children of those who pay taxes and those who don’t, the roads and the government systems on the local level.

      However, perhaps you are right….those of us who aren’t “bright” enough to know the income tax deduction and think $447 (that would be the right number) shouldn’t get into teaching. We should, in fact, just keep to ourselves and let the parents who think we should be paying for their children’s school supplies figure it out.

    3. Larry, You state that the parents pay taxes so they shouldn’t have to pay extra, but how do you know whether the parents actually pay taxes or if, perhaps, they receive earned income credits? Furthermore, why is it acceptable to you that teachers should pay extra when they pay taxes? In any event, $388 is about 1% of a teacher’s pay, so why not allow a 1% tax credit instead of eliminating the limited tax deduction this year? Then the money can come out of the government coffer, as you desire.

    4. Such a rude response! Tell me, who would teach the children if everyone had an attitude like you? I doubt that first-year teachers have been told that classroom supplies won’t be there and that parents will refuse to send supplies for their children. But they keep on teaching, because if you pay attention to what these teachers have been saying, they are teaching because they care about the children. They bring supplies because they want the children to be prepared to learn and to be healthy (thus the need for tissues and hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies).
      Your last comment about teachers not being bright enough to know about tax deductions is so obnoxious that I really don’t know how to respond. All I can say is that I’m thankful I rarely come in contact with such an uncaring, rude person.

  32. From this high school teacher who spends her own money buying school supplies (btw, dry erase markers are still on my list to get before day 1), thank you. I really appreciate knowing that at least some parents out there get that schools aren’t fully funded but we do whatever it takes to educate your kids. Thanks again!

  33. As a Louisiana teacher with 18 years in, who makes less than your EBR teachers, I say “Thank you”. Not because you spent the money on the extra markers (although it’s always nice to get extras like that), but because of the respect that you show teachers in your post. We do spend a lot of our own money to make our classroom the best it can be for our kids. It’s nice to see it’s noticed.

  34. As a teacher starting my 37 th year …I say thank you. I just purchased new binders ,pencils,expo markers,erasers, and paper for my kids. Granted I teach special ed so I only had to buy for 50 but it still helps when parents are supportive

  35. Thank you. THANK YOU. I teach first grade. School hasn’t even started yet and I’ve already spent $300 getting ready for school. And I’m not done yet, nor will I be any time soon. Parents complain about the supplies but they only have to buy for one student per class. I have to buy for 28. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to have parents donate things. Usually not, and I make about $10,000 less than beginning teachers in your area. It adds up very fast! So from teachers everywhere, thank you!

  36. Your in-laws never saw “a penny on their return”?? How about the education of citizens who will grow up to take over the schools, businesses, government, etc.? I never understood people who say they would rather not have their taxes go to supporting the school system because they do not have student(s) in attendance. How incredibly short-sighted!

    John Green said it best: “Let me explain why I like to pay taxes for schools even though I don’t personally have a kid in school: I don’t like living in a country with a bunch of stupid people.”

  37. I teach in South Tucson and with 14 years’ experience and a Master’s degree am still below 40K. That plus we pay the majority of our insurance premiums, about 40% of my takehome pay going to the insurance to cover my family. Absolutely true, I’m telling you.

  38. 1) EVERYONE has to pay for their job; uniforms etc.
    2) They also want you to buy more than needed for those who don’t ‘have none’.
    If teachers don’t like the job or spending money perhaps they need a new job. Don’t get me wrong I greatly appreciate the good teachers (although few) and they should not have to buy supplies but almost everyone else in other professions do. It’s life. And by the way, why do we have to pay more for those who have none? That’s not our job either and we’d be paying for them. And yes perhaps I’m not as sentimental as you but deal with it

    1. As you’ll see from my other reply to the original post, I happily buy the supplies my students need because it helps them be more successful. However, I do have to disagree with your statement that “almost everyone else in other professions” have to buy their own supplies. Going through my list of friends in my head, and the jobs they do, I can’t think of any of them that have to buy their own supplies. But I’m sure, there are jobs that employees do have to buy their own supplies. I can’t argue with that statement. But even if every job required employees to buy their own supplies, I’m pretty sure they don’t have to buy supplies for EVERYONE else they work with.

    2. It is one thing to pay for the requirements for your job–uniforms, special shoes…But really? Most teachers I know LOVE their job and spend their own money to make it better for the kids. I would NEVER expect a worker at McDonald’s go out and buy ketchup for my burger or supply the napkins for the customers.

  39. Thank you for this article.

    I went to undergrad in Louisiana and graduate school in Virginia. Upon finishing school, I had to think long and hard about returning to Louisiana to work in education and thrive as a young adult. Sadly, Louisiana and Mississippi compete to be the Top States in our country.
    They’re the Top States for:
    Lowest Pay for Teachers
    Minimal Taxes Placed Towards Schools
    Lowest Standardized Test Scores
    Lowest Reading Level
    Teen Pregnancy
    Child Hunger
    Child Obesity

    Louisiana often cuts many education budgets. If you have time, research the education cuts made by our current higher elected officials.

    Pair the lower teacher pay (almost $10K below starting level in Texas), the less than $300 a teacher can claim for education costs on their taxes, and the over-crowded classrooms and poverty driven parishes in the state of Louisiana with most states and it is no wonder Louisiana cannot dig itself out from a hole we keep making bigger and deeper. Many of my peers are leaving the state because it is not a place that will allow for growth, repaying student loans, and advancement.

    I miss the people (and food) in Louisiana. Daily. But I can also say going to bed without fearing I won’t make my own bills or come to work stressed about not providing my students with the basic, constitutional education they should receive.

    It is unfair that parents stress about spending extra money (often not having that money to spend) and teachers being expected to make up the difference.

    Everyone is often so aware of how they feel about the American President. What would happen if we paid that much attention to our state votes and actually showed up to do it.

    Louisiana – You can change this. Do you want to?

  40. Thank u for your post! As a teacher and a parent, it angers me that people who CAN afford the supplies refuse to get them! Yes, its unfortunate that the state/school/school board can’t supply some of these things but its the way it is…… We teachers REFUSE to allow our students to go without though! so……we willingly and without hesitation fork up our own money to provide what is needed. So it completely baffles me that we teachers seem to care more about our students’ learning than some parents seem to care about their own child’s learning! As a parent, i make sure my children have what they need, i buy extra supplies that I know the teacher will need throughout the year as well in order to teach my child, and i make sure the teacher knows she can count on me for any other donations needed! (Remember: im a teacher and my husband is a nurse so by no means are we rich….. We just care and we make sacrifices in certain areas so that our kids needs are met first). I know that some parents truly can’t afford the supplies and that is why my children are taught that they should share and i will buy more when they run out. It should not be the sole responsibility of the teacher to provide for those whose parents can not or WILL NOT! Buy that extra expo marker, box of kleenex, jar of playdoh, pack of pencils or glue….. What’s it going to hurt?!

  41. My concern (as a parent buying theses supplies) has always been waste. How many Expo markers do teachers use in a school year? If you figure 25 kids supplying 6 markers each, that equals 150 markers. Do they really use that many? If someone would explain that, I wouldn’t have such a hard time purchasing them.

    1. At the school I teach at, the homeroom teacher is responsible for distributing these supplies to the special or enrichment teachers (music,art,computers…) As a music teacher, I use Expo markers for my kids to write rhythms. I have about 200 kids that come through my door every school day. You do the math!

    2. I am a special education teacher. I would estimate my average class size in the last eleven years has been 12. Even in my small class, we absolutely go through a ton of dry erase markers. They use them on their personal white boards, and we all use them on the big white board.
      And since my classroom is for students in special education, we also use crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks (some students have fine motor difficulties and cannot use the less expensive traditional glue bottles), scissors, and TONS of construction or manilla paper almost daily. We also use plenty of old fashioned paper and pencils.
      I distinctly remember running out of the glue sticks I had purchased AND those sent by parents by mid-year, and my district had no money to buy more. My $100 budget money was long gone by then as well. Guess who bought more glue sticks?

    3. Here are a couple things to consider: 1) I only receive supplies from my first hour class, but I teach roughly 180 student (6 classes of at least 30 kids but sometimes up to 33) a year. 2) I have to share the supplies I’m given with other teachers that have 1st hour as their planning period because otherwise they would get NOTHING. 3) Students are also using those markers.

    4. If you are lucky 1 marker will make it through 2 weeks of school. 36 weeks of school / 2 = 18 markers. Then to differentiate problems or steps or illustrate you need colors such as red, green, blue, and black. So let’s say 4 colors * 18 markers = 72 markers. The cheaper ones often do not make through 2 weeks before drying out.

    5. In my experience, it is mostly the students use them. In the younger grades, they often use expo and white boards rather than paper. Also- students STEAL. Every day. All the time. Caps get misplaced. Some of them fall to the floor and the janitor accidentally sweeps them up, Ink runs out, kids press to hard and the tip breaks, kids don’t put the caps back on properly. You would be amazed at how children treat things. Truly amazed. I purchased 150 pairs of headphones for a computer lab with 22 computers for my campus. One semester later, I have 30 usable pairs left. they were not earbuds, but fairly good quality.

  42. Thank You! I spend every Sunday morning in July and August going from Office Depot to Office Depot getting the deals of the week so I can have classroom supplies and some to give to students who are truly in need!

    1. Yep, and I drag my husband along with me so he can purchase the deals also! I buy supplies for 25 students, so bringing my husband helps get a few more of those folders, notebooks, rulers, etc.

  43. I’m a public school teacher who spends a lot of personal money on classroom supplies. All I can say is, thank you for writing this!!

  44. Idk if anyone said this earlier – too many comments and I wasn’t going to read them all. I want to address the point of the mother w/3 girls… buy the 10 ct, multi-pack of expo markers and split them up between the girls. they can bring 3 each instead of 6, and mom can keep the 1. there, just saved her $8

  45. I really appreciate your article. As a teacher, I happily spend that money because it helps my students be more successful. As a parent, I happily spend that money because it helps my children’s teachers be more successful. And really, isn’t that what we should all want at the end of the day?

  46. Thank you. As a public school teacher, I appreciate your perspective, your support, and your willingness to share this with the world.

  47. Thanks for supporting teachers! As for the Expo markers, my students use them to practice writing spelling words on dry erase boards. This is a lot more fun for students than writing them on a piece of paper. Also they do math problems this way too!

  48. As a parent and a teacher in a Louisiana public school, who spends well over $485, I very very much appreciate this article!! 🙂

  49. I work in a parish where the supplies are provided for Pre-k-5th grade (including book sacks), & my teachers each have an account that money is placed in after fundraisers. They can spend that money on anything in their classrooms. Some of my teachers still spend out of their pocket, (why, I don’t know). Other school systems could simply spend their money on the children instead of paying supervisors and directors huge salaries.
    The only thing that bothers me is that my own children don’t go to school in the parish where I work and I spend a lot on school supplies. The supply list doesn’t change from year to year reflecting what is actually needed and I often see stacks and stacks of construction paper, packs of baby wipes, and tons of other items sitting in the closets at the end of the year. I would just appreciate if the list contained what they will actually need for the upcoming year instead of a carbon copy of years past.

    1. I have seen unused end of year supplies collected and donated to a summer mission trip, made me sad for the parents who scraped to buy those supplies at the beginning of the year.

    2. This! I agree! Two years ago, all the kids in all the classrooms at my son’s school were required to bring in the usual box of 24 Crayola crayons. Now, I don’t know for certain, but apparently either so many came in that the teachers didn’t actually use or someone else donated a ton, but there were multiple events through the year where the school was GIVING AWAY those same boxes of crayons. ?!?!?

      Then last year, my son’s teacher didn’t seem to even know ahead of time what was on the district-wide supply list for third grade – just if it was on the list, we were supposed to bring it in.

  50. I am a teacher and I probably spend around $1000 a school year buying things for my room and my students. I appreciate your article! Thanks!!

  51. That is all true, and kids lose their things. How, I don’t know. After the 1 six weeks, their crayons start disappearing and breaking and they leave the tops of the markers and they dry out. They sharpen the pencils to nothing. It’s fun to do.

  52. Huge Thank you!!! I hear the griping too and I teach Kindergarten! They wonder why we need tissues, baby wipes, and Lysol wipes….if they only knew. And then I feel guilty when I have to stay home sick OR when my own children get sick….please just buy the big ole pack of Expo markers! You are so appreciated for appreciating us as teachers! =)

  53. As a teacher I would like to point out that we don’t only pay for school supplies that parents are complaining about here. I pay for educational materials to help my students learn, I pay for book shelves in my classroom because I want them to be filled with books for the joy of reading. Oh and I also pay for more literature books every year because some get ruined or torn and our curriculum changes so much that I need materials to support it. The district does not provide these “extras” as they call it. To a teacher these are not extras but essential for learning. So if I ask if you can send in a box of tissues or dry erase markers it is not that I wouldn’t do it it’s just that I have spent my budget. The districts are using tax dollars to fund new programs and maintain schools some with very old equipment. Don’t forget office supplies that they pay for also. So you all need to rethink where your taxes are going.!

  54. I am a teacher. This article was refreshing to read! However, the sense of “ahhhhhh, someone understands and appreciates us” was shattered when I started reading the comments.I cannot believe some of the hateful comments some parents and fellow teachers shared. Many TEACHERS said they will not buy certain supplies on their own children’s list such as “cleaning supplies”. Lord, I feel my BP rising. The fact that WE have to clean up after THEIR kids is bad enough but now they want us to foot that bill, too. (NO my school does not supply Clorox Wipes or Lysol spray. If some of these parents would TEACH their children how to sneeze, cough, and use the bathroom PROPERLY then WE would not have to clean up snot, urine, fecal matter and Lord only knows what else AND disinfect our classroom with these cleaning supplies. I have written on my supply list “Please do not feel you need to purchase everything on this list! We have community supplies and your child will not go without.” I completely understand that some parents cannot afford to do so. However, some parents do buy everything and even extras. I will never make any of my students feel embarrassed about who brought what. I don’t keep track of who brought in supplies. I always seem to have enough for all and always have one or two who will replenish when I send out a cry for help. Plus, I spend A LOT of my own money every year but that is a choice I make. School hasn’t even started and I have spent several hundreds of dollars. Once again MY choice. The author of this article really “gets” it. Too bad some people have to be so disrespectful and catty toward teachers about every little thing! That is all.

    1. Terrie you are spot on! I love the sentiment behind this article. I’m always grateful for the parents that send in extra so everyone has what they need. If not I buy it for them…quit complaining about helping teachers!

  55. I’m a 5th grade teacher and my students use Expo markers for doing calculations on their individual white boards and for writing on their desks for group activities (yes, their desks…works great and they love it). Also, Expo markers work great for REMOVING stray Sharpie marks. Either the school or I buy the ones I use.

  56. I visited Cambodia a few years back and was given an education by a charity who’s aim was to reduce the problem of children begging on the streets which is a major problem there. The advice was this: give them nothing and buy nothing from them.

    This is a hard thing to do – cute 4 year olds with broken English coming up to you and asking for “two dollar, help me go school and learn English…”. But the point was clear – they are only begging/street selling because they make money from it (or there parents / guardians do). This particular career has a very early end and no good opportunities after it.

    Is it time for both teachers and parents to stop this charity of the state, rather than spending *more*? Or is the likeliness of that being effective simply unrealistic? (I’m from the UK, where such a system would cause utter outrage, unless it was introduced as a temporary measure to dig us out of a giant recession or somesuch).

    I’m guessing this debate is played out a lot (this is the first time I’ve heard of it).

    1. Now we are talking, Dominic! I taught Kg for 17 years & spent lots of $$ in my classroom, plus worked many many free hours, into the night and on weekends. One day ! The light came on…”woman, what are you doing. Why are you here at 7 pm working in this classroom with three children and a sick husband at home?” I was trying to achieve perfection, which isnt possible. Those 5 year olds didnt care if everything thematically matched or if the bulletin board was cute. They just wanted my attention and the parents wanted them to learn, so thats what I gave them. The teaching profession gets hit in the knees when teachers work free. A GOOD principal should lead the charge and say, “im looking for quality, noy quantity. No more working after hours or taking work home.Teachers, I have your back!” That principal would have her picture on the front of Texas Monthly for finally stepping up to the plate and demanding sincere respect for these professional ,hard working people. In the words of my wise husband, “if this profession consisted of 90% men, not 90% women, this never would have happened. The first time an administrator said, ‘you need to come back to school tonight for the hamburger supper’ the men would have said, ‘time & a half!'” Teachers, this is a well-oiled, age-old sham & the leaders of the pack (higher ups who are paid all year long to work) just love it when they hear ‘we dont teach for the money, we teach because we love children.’. Ka-ching! It must change. Yes we love the kids, but we do work for a paycheck and other professionals do too. Try it this year. Dont spend. Dont work free. You’ll see that you become twice as efficient with your time & money & you will be so proud! Now, go do it.

      1. Absolutely! I could not agree with you (and your husband) more. I buy a few fun items out of pocket for my classroom, but for extra tissues, markers, etc. I don’t hesitate to ask for donations. I work in a low income school, so not all students bring in all of the supplies on the list, but we make it work. I also am not willing to spend extra time outside of work on school stuff, other than setting up my room. Of course I do my job “for the students,” I love teaching and having a positive impact on their lives. BUT, the main reason I work is to support my family, so when it comes to all the extra time or money, I just don’t do it.

      2. Preach on Tanna! You are so right. I hope I live to see the day when we are treated like other professionals. “They” count on the women to sacrifice because that is how we are created. Men would never give in to all this free work and spending. BTW I TRIED to quit working for free last year and I lasted a week. If I don’t stay late or go in early or work on the weekends I get stressed because I can’t get everything done. Since “they” took our assistants away in 1st grade, I actually paid my 23 yr. old daughter to come to my school after she got off from her 3rd shift job to be my assistant. I paid her almost $10 an hour to help me get everything done and to help with the kids. BTW I worked a second job so I could pay her!!!!! I bet no man would ever do that LOL

        1. This man has worked summer jobs and even ran a small deli after school for two years to pay. So there! 🙂

  57. I always buy loads of extra stuff to send along to school. I value my son’s teachers so much — if they ever ask for anything — I try to do that and more. But I do always think — there are a lot of moms like me in our neighborhood. If we all put our money together — couldn’t we get a better price on some of this stuff? Like xerox paper — I buy a couple reams, a bunch of other moms do the same, we pay $4-5 per ream — but if we got 100 moms together — we could get them for more like $3/ream (or less, maybe?) and buy that much more paper for the teachers to use! I wish there was a good way to organize this through PTA, maybe? In any case — I’m glad to do what I do — and I’m always happy to do more, if asked.

    1. I went to bed thinking the same thing. Such a huge waste of people’s time and money. I wonder if school’s could setup a gift list like wedding couples do on various sites. If I were a stationary / school supplies retailer, I’d be setting something up to corner that market!

  58. Thank you for the honest opinion. I am a teacher in an elementary school in Washington Parish and spend quite a bit on supplies for the classroom. Parents fail to remember that when they give birth to a child it is the parental duty to supply the child with their needs and NOT their wants. We do not put things on our supply list that is not necessary. The principals and superintendent screen the supply lists in our parish. We actually have cut down on things such as scissors because I bought a classroom set for my students.

  59. I’m a teacher. Thank you! And also, people should think of the teachers who are also parents who have to buy their children school supplies. They get hit double or triple (sometimes more!) with the out of pocket expenses. Thank you for appreciating us! Btw…I’m an EIGHTH year teacher and now make the starting pay per year for the teachers of your district. That’s neither here not there, but just thought I’d add that. Thanks again! 🙂

  60. May The Lord bless you for helping out your child/children’s teachers. I can tell you as a first year teacher here in Texas, I only made $27,540 last year. It goes up a whopping $50 bucks/month this year. Feel free to verify it at http://www.tea.state.tx.us. The start-up costs for a new teacher are staggering. I spent at least $1000 on start up supplies and I added more to my room this year. This is very shocking to me as I am new to teaching but I am not new to the work scene. I am a 39-year old woman with 3 school-aged children of my own. Coming from the corporate world where I made a really decent living, it is truly insane how little these DEGREED PROFESSIONALS make. I have *always* appreciated our teachers….after all, they teach and care for the best part of me (our children!) for 7 hours/day, 5 days/week. However, I have an even greater personal appreciation for them now that my eyes have been opened. I naively thought that the school districts gave a wee bit of budget to teachers but nope, nada, none…Our teachers give their hearts, their souls, and large portion of their salaries (which takes from their babies at home!) back to our children because they feel called to make a difference in the lives of children. One thing can be certain, you will never hear a teacher say they chose their profession for the money. And, you can take that “to the bank!”

  61. Nicely done. I am also a teacher and married to a teacher. We teach in a high poverty district and EASILY spend $3000 per year on our students. And no I did not mistakenly add an extra zero.

  62. I always buy extra crayons, glue sticks and pencils and send them in so the teacher can replenish the kids supplies as they run down. Something is terribly wrong with people that do not support the person that their child spends a large portion of their time with!

  63. Why is it that parents trend to buy the cheapest pencils for their child ? Pencils are the child’s tool for his work. Students in my class always got so frustrated with cheap pencils that would not sharpen and break constantly. I always bought a big supply of quality pencils for those students.

  64. As a teacher of 26 years, I cannot possibly tell you how much I have spent for my classroom.i appreciate your article and your attitude towards educators. Thank you!

  65. Thanks for understanding and bringing light to the lives of us teachers. Some people don’t get it, won’t ever get, nor do the want to get it. Teachers do so much more than just “teach,” and it behooves me to see parents carrying on this way when we ask for, or need things from them. Not to mention, most of us have kids of our own that we have to buy for as well. Some nerve.

  66. I am a teacher. The two schools I have worked at were very good at budgeting. The only things I paid for out of pocket were extra little things I wanted to buy or my classroom. Both of my principals made a point to let teachers know to check with them before buying. They didn’t want anyone spending their own money if it wasn’t necessary. Kids did bring supplies, but teachers pooled together extras at the end of the year adjusted lists accordingly so that no one was spending unnecessarily. I also worked at another school many years ago, before I was a teacher. I saw obscene amounts of waste and borderline criminal spending in my short time there.

  67. I am a teacher and parent. I’m also fortunate enough to get some donated items. I will always pitch in for my classroom and my child’s teachers. At Christmas, in addition to a personal gift, I fill a bag with class supplies that I buy during several trips to dollar stores or big box retailers. The teachers are always thankful.

  68. In Oklahoma, I have 23 years experience and I don’t make quite that much. My daughter just started and makes almost $11,000 less. In the last week, we together have spent almost $700 on school supplies and don’t have everything we need.

  69. As a father and husband of a teacher, I must give my 2 cents as well. Expendable supplies must be provided by the employer. It is a requirement of any other business in the United States. That is my problem with supplying teachers with supplies that the school should be doing. We have spent much more than the average listed above this year due to her classroom being a total wreck in relation to the paint on the walls peeling off in huge 2’x3′ sheets. This all started when the teachers could not get the supplies they needed from the school or the resources needed to paint their rooms. They done it on their own out of their own pocket. This is wrong! It is against all sorts of labor laws. They do it for the kids. They do it for themselves to have a nice environment to work in. If we keep supplying free labor for painting rooms and free supplies for these schools they will keep accepting them.

    1. Then go to your local school board meetings and insist that they budget the additional money they need to provide the teachers the supplies they need. Most school boards are elected, and you are a constituent. If you don’t like how YOUR school system is spending their money, then do YOUR civic duty and attend the board meetings and make your voice heard. Teachers have almost no control with how boards of education set up their budgets, but citizens do. And if they won’t listen to you? Run for a spot on the board yourself. If you want change to happen, sometimes you need to be the change.

      1. THIS. It’s not right that the children or teachers should suffer because people are trying to make a point to administration.

        I regularly miss the breaks and lunches I am entitled to by law because my special ed classroom is so understaffed. I could endanger the safety of my students to make a point, but I won’t. Perhaps the administration knows this about their teachers and takes advantage of it, but I do communicate my concerns on a regular basis and I do keep close tabs on who seems to put the children and the staff first and who is serving out of self-interest.

    2. You should have “anonymously” had the media show up that day to see the teachers having to paint their own classrooms with money from their own pockets. That may have lit a fire under the school boards ass!!

  70. As an assistant teacher, I appreciate your article. I make WAY less than the teacher and because I work with a male teacher who doesn’t buy supplies, I do! I want to make a difference for these kids! BUT, I pay a ridiculous amount of taxes where I live (do not work in same district). Our school supply list keeps getting longer. I do resent having to purchase paper towels, hand soap, zip lock bags, etc! Maybe…….just maybe we could do with less administration (ie assistant principles for middle schools) and their ridiculous salaries and use that money to provide the “free appropriate education”. We already pay $150 and up per kid in school fees! So I can see it both ways!

    1. As a music educator in a middle school I feel a huge need for the assistant principals in our middle schools. If there weren’t assistant principals at my middle school it would mean that every single discipline problem had to go through the principal or guidance counselor which would definitely leave them unable to do their jobs. Yes administration does not work directly in a classroom with our students everyday but they take care of the students who are in difficult places and help to keep the buildings running along with all of the other staff (custodians, secretaries, bus drivers, nurses etc).

  71. Supplies can be expensive for families. Houston YMCA’s do Operation Backpack to supply children with the supplies needed. If you are in need find your local Y. My husband is an administrator for the district and he volunteered to put supplies together with my 11& 13 year old today. Your article is a great perspective.

  72. I’m parent of four my husband and I never complain about what our children need for school. We figure if it’s on the list the need it. I have friends that complain about the list every year. I just tell them home school them and keep the money in your pocket.

    1. I ask for more because I can replenish supplies as needed. I ask for 4 boxes of crayons so I can give kids a new box every quarter. Most of the time the crayons have been broken or lost after the first month of school. I ask for 4 expo markers because those things dry up. I ask for 8 glue sticks. Those don’t last long at all. If I don’t think about the needs for the entire school year, I end up having to buy most supplies on my own. Parents are less likely to purchase more supplies in the middle of the school year. Last year we ran out of pencils a month before school was out. Letters went home asking for more. ONE child brought a pack of 5 pencils. I had to buy more. We ran out of glue sticks also. No one sent any so the class had to share the few we had left which was about 3. So we ask for those multiple items because we’re thinking about what your child needs for the entire year. It’s not to supply those students who don’t bring anything. We have enough businesses that donate items for those children at the beginning of the year.

  73. Wow, just read a few of the responses and felt my blood pressure rise. A good teacher teaches because they have the ultimate goal in mind-KIDS . However, the country needs to get a grip on how teachers are actually treated (along with other community workers) We are all low paid workers who are dedicated to the job. Children DO NOT choose who their parents are and your saying to cheat them out of something because their PARENTS are the issue.? Doesn’t seem far to me. If you have done any research on how Texas schools are run, you will find that higher priced neighborhoods pay a great amount of taxes, but we don’t get it all because he have the ROBIN HOOD EFFECT going on. We rob Peter to pay Paul and since this happens teachers fill in the blanks. You will also notice that in some of the more affluent districts, the spending per pupil has not gone up much over the last 5-10 years. It’s discouraging to think that we have to ‘FIGHT’ for some of these changes. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WE ARE TEACHERS THE FUTURE! DOESN’T THIS MEAN ANYTHING TO PEOPLE OUT THERE. GO VOLUNTEER , SEND EXTRA SUPPLIES, AND CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL-KIDS OR NO KIDS-

  74. I teach at a home school co-op, which is not supported by taxes at all, Our parents supply everything–Expo markers, hand sanitizer, paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, hand soap, glass cleaner, etc., on top of their child’s pencils, paper, folders and such. And they pay tuition to the school on top of the property taxes they pay that fund public schools. Do they complain? No, because they are invested in their child’s education, like all parents should be.

  75. I retired from teaching 3 years ago. During my teaching career I, too, spent a substantial amount of money out of pocket. Fortunately my husband had a good job so I was able to do this. I made sure that no child went without. During my career I had to purchase my own printer, cartridges, cabling, extension cords, computer mice, and supplies for hands on activities to teach applications in mathematics and science. For a short time each teacher was given $100 to buy supplies for the year. I taught 180 students per day in a high school setting, so one activity required enough materials for that many students and we were expected to conduct these type activities and labs several times a week. I had to purchase my own testing materials (blue books and scan torn sheets) and subject specific software to support use of technology in my classroom. My students’ education was important to me and I wanted them to succeed. I purchased calculators for those who didn’t have them and spend time writing grants to purchase other supplies. The state legislatures often mandate certain items in the curriculum but do not often fund these mandates. Only once did I have a parent say, “If you want my son to have that, buy it yourself.” Then watched her get into her new luxury car and drive off. I did buy it because I cared. We know when we enter our profession that we will not become rich monetarily, but for us it is a calling. I treasure the fact that students I taught 40 years ago still contact me and introduce me to their children and grandchildren. My riches are knowing that I made a difference in their lives.

  76. So many complain of so much! I work 2 full time jobs to provide for my 1 child the bare necessities of survival. He may wear nice clothes & go on fancy vacations….clothes are provided by my child himself. He already wrks for those things. Vacations are taken to very nice resorts by his father who wrks 7 days a week the remainder of the year. My child comes from a broken home where both parents are self employeed. Our taxes are 33% minimum of profit with no medical or death or retirement benefits. Before teachers place judgement on parents please keep in mind that many of us have many many many more expenses than you do, (example: hairstylist may busy their butt for $50,000 just to bring home $8-$9,000 a year!!!! Oil field bust it to make $150,000 that cost them $115,000 to make!!!! All of which no benefits or vacations are included!!), do not get a single benefit, pay twice the tax you do and are very lucky to get 3 days a year off in a row. I’m in the middle of moving because my home was foreclosed, I manage 2 jobs, looking for a place to lay our head in a month, pack the existing home, w/school & soccer & drivers ed & orthodontist appts, orthopedic appts, have no savings, no benefits, 1 day off a week, I do the yard work, the house work from paying bills, bal chk bk, cleaning, restocking, cooking, laundry, maintenence on home & car both….this list goes on & on & on & on to even the changing of a light bulb or air filter…even fought cancer that could’ve taken my life if emergency surgery wasn’t performed immediately(w/no ins it was performed cold turkey on a regular chk up table w/the supplies in stock at the time that weren’t even the correct supplies or size for my body w/absolutely no meds including even an aspirin…I had a complete organ removed!) I fought west Nile & was the only survivor of 8 total in the area, bit by a snake early spring in my garden, flat tire on my way this morning to my 6 the straight day of 2 jobs, not to mention the 2 I later to rest that I love or the dog … All just in 1 lil ole 1/2 a year!!! Yet I haven’t complained the first time of all I do or the expense of my job, or just my job in general….nor the cost of school supplies… In my eyes every1 needs a big giant wake up call as to how hard they have it or how bad/expensive their job is nor the cost of their kid or education….life is life! If u don’t like your job find 1 you do, if you don’t like how much things cost move….it’s real simple folks!

  77. Thank you for the article. Also, I reward my students with snacks every Friday for working hard all week. I order books from Scholastic Book Club so that I can give them a book as reward once a month. All of this comes out of my pocket and I do it for the kids. I love what I do–teaching them to listen, speak, read, and write in English.

  78. I appreciate many aspects of this article, yet, I must say, that’s not a parent’s responsibility to pay for this. Our Government should be funding this completely for every school in every state, for Teachers to do their jobs. It used to be this way long ago. Before they began making teachers pay for their own supplies. I’m all in favor of supporting our teachers and the needs for the students, yet I’m not in favor, of people blaming parents for what our government and states should be providing for one of the most valuable people in our nations, and that is their teachers and our children. Our country boasts about education and states that they value this so much, yet they underpay teachers, work them to illness, make them work some days without pay in some states, give them issues about paid leaves of absences and benefits, don’t provide humane care of school buildings and facilities for teachers and students, cutting important programs out all the time, using the excuse that there is no funding for them, and if you even dare ask where the funding is really going, you and your student will become the black sheep of the school, yet they want to make sure that the kids are never absent and do well on pointless state tests so they can make their money, that is still not going to areas of great need or people of great importance such as their Teachers. I could go on and on, my point, if you want to be a judge or really look at where the real issue is, then look at our own Government and the truth about our education systems here. Not the parents. Complaining parents or the parents who’d gladly buy the extra if they can. This may be written from my words, yet I guarantee you I speak for many parents and even teachers, who I’ve been communicating with for 16 yrs plus, who have been trying to make changes, yet have extreme challenges with the poli-tricks. Thank you for your viewpoint and article that has allowed me to express this important topic. Thank you teachers for doing what you love even through so many adversities for our children. Real issues, Raise Love, Awareness, and Shine Light on the truth. Unity creates positive change if we are honest with Love, and stand for the truth and change. Peace.

    1. It takes a village to raise a child. I agree that the U.S. government doesn’t value education as much as it should, but when you have your teacher-blaming camp, your parent-blaming camp and your government-blaming camp, ultimately, the children aren’t being helped. They should be at the core of everything. I have a great deal of gratitude for families who happily donate much-needed supplies, especially those of a lower socioeconomic status. But I do take a great deal of offense when families who have the means to help refuse to do so and then go on to blame teachers for not caring about their kids and having poorly-stocked classrooms.

    2. You are right..the government is stealing our education dollars. They do this by providing private FOR PROFIT schools. They are making money and the public schools are starving for supplies. Public schools are in a real crises. Officials are using poor test scores to justify withholding funds and are opening new charter schools who do no better. They answer to hedge fund managers and not to students. They starve our students of enrichment like PE, art and music, yet their kids go to posh schools that provide that and more.
      No money for student supplies…plenty of money for test supplies

  79. Thank ….for the rational information you put forth….I agree with your point of view whole-heartedly….unless society decides to respect our educators for what they are and not treat them like glorified daycare providers…our children lose…..Thank you to everyone who gets it…and prayers for those who don’t…

  80. I’ve been teaching 11 years. I’m positive that I’ve spent well over $5,000 on school supplies, copy paper, laminate, books, shelves, station materials, pencils, apps and decor. My husband gets mad if I buy desk supplies, such as paper clips, scissors or file folders. He says that @ any other job in the world they have supply closets and provide employees with what they need to do their job.

  81. As a daughter of a teacher who’s mother taught over 20 years I watched her year after year pay out of pocket for school supplies because they could only send home a list of suggested items needed…. it was a title 1 pilot program school so some you know what I’m talking about.However what is rarely talked about is if you hold on to reciepts you can claim them on your taxes and get the bulk of that money back. As a write off for business expense. Maybe under Obama it’s changed but a good tax advisor can always find a way for teachers to get there money back. My son went to DOD schools until HS so I never had to deal with that dreaded list HS wasn’t that bad imo

    1. Dear, as both a current math teacher and a former tax professional, I can tell you that you are wrong when you say that a person is reimbursed the full $250.00 per educator if receipts are retained. The $250.00 is a deduction which means taxable income is reduced by $250.00. Depending on the person’s tax bracket it means they may have saved anywhere from $25 to $75 in taxes. The rules for claiming a business credit are too in depth to cover here. I should note that I taught several of the tax classes to trainees at our firm.

  82. Thank you so much. I am a teacher and spend a fortune just on dry erase markers. (They don’t last as long as chalk did, but they are better for computers.) I was in line a year or so ago behind a woman who didn’t want to buy a dry erase marker for her child’s teacher. I bit my tongue, but wanted to say much of what you did.

  83. There are many jobs where you have to buy supplies. I don’t see the problem, it’s a tax write off. What about nurses? They have to buy scrubs? What about carpenters they have to buy tools? Or painters who buy brushes and other stuff. It’s part of being an adult. I think teachers should stop whinning about it and find another job if it bothers them. Next time they go to a doctor they should offer to pay for the nurses cloths. I don’t care if the woman in the story had 49 million dollars it’s her money to buy what she wants to with . She’s under no obligation to carry the teacher financially.

    1. I’m not asking you to pay for MY clothes or MY supplies. I’m asking you to pay for YOUR CHILD’S supplies. It’s part of being an adult. I think parents should stop whining about it and not have kids if it bother them. And I’m fairly certain when I go to the hospital they bill me for every syringe and aspirin I use. In fact, when my son was 4 and having seizures we went to the emergency room. He vomited in his room and I was billed with a hazardous waste charge. Teachers are under no obligation to carry your children financially.

      1. Hear, hear!! Dry-erase markers, tissues, hand sanitizer and other essentials are readily available at most dollar stores and they’re inexpensive supplies that EVERYONE uses. We’re not asking parents to buy us work shoes or desks here. Where I live, I can only get up to $200 deducted. So far I’ve spent almost $1000 and I’m still trying to pay off student loans. As a first-year teacher, I’m dealing with my pay being the lowest it will ever be and my expenses being the highest they will ever be. If you can afford designer clothing and smartphones, you can afford markers.

      2. Obviously (or maybe not so obviously) this post was written as a direct reply to “lol” which is why I used many of the same phrases as they did.

    2. Tax deduction ended on December 31, 2013. So, before you complain about the teachers’ whining, then get your facts right. That’s part of being an adult too.

    3. Teachers pay for their own clothes and supplies. And she would be taking care of what her own child uses, not the teacher.

      1. A self employed painter or carpenter, sure. An employee of the business isn’t buying paintbrushes out of pocket.

    4. Tissues, clorox wipes, and hand sanatizer for my students are not MY supplies.
      Notebooks, folders, paper and pencils are not MY supplies (do you know that I’ve had years where I have given out over 960 pencils to kids because it is less disruptive to give them a pencil than deal with the do you have a pencil shuffle or not have them work?)
      Copy paper for tests are not MY supplies.
      Heck, I even hand out pads at school because the nurses office is rarely staffed.

      I shouldn’t have to buy 30 pairs of scissors every two years so I can run a science classroom.

      I shouldn’t have to buy 60 rulers every year because the kids break them and the school doesn’t have them.

      I shouldn’t have to buy 200 notebooks to ensure my students will have something to take notes on.

      I shouldn’t have to buy FANS so my classroom will be below 80 degrees in September or May.

      I shouldn’t have to buy a HEATER so my classroom will be above 60 in January and February.

  84. There have been so many back to school sales lately that I’ve stocked up on a lot of extra school supplies to bring with me when I meet my daughters pre-k teacher. I’m not doing this as a suck-up or to win any brownie points. The stuff is seriously cheap right now. My question to y’all is how do I go about bringing it to her teacher? I don’t want to offend anybody. I’m seriously just trying to do something nice because I know a lot of people may not have the school supplies they need (back to school shopping has always been one of my favorite things!).

    1. No worries about offending the teacher! Just give them to him/her and say there were a lot of sales you couldn’t pass up and you thought his/her students could use some of them. (S)he will be grateful and appreciate your thoughtfulness!

    2. Thanks for your generosity! Trust me, your child’s teacher will NOT be offended. Just introduce yourself and your daughter as you would normally and let the teacher know that you have some school supplies you’d like to donate.

  85. Thank you so much for writing this article. It is so nice that someone cares about what teachers are spending out of pocket. Most teachers love their students so they spend what they have to. It’s too bad our government doesn’t care about this situation. My daughter was a new teacher last year and had to spend $ 800.00 on her classroom and is living on her own. It hasn’t been easy. It’s a hard reality for teachers.

  86. As and educator I can not tell you how touched I am by your post. As a parent I stand beside you and reach for the package of 16 markers and throughout the year I ask my own children’s teacher if they are running low on anything. Glue, Expo markers, pencils, Kleenex…. by Christmas these items are used up and we still have 5 months of school left. Middle school and High school teachers work with even less supplied by parents. Those needs are still there (especially Expo markers and Kleenex) but they just don’t ask.

    May you be blessed for your thoughtfulness and I know that there is a teacher out there who is receiving a blessing because of you.

  87. While I don’t think that teachers should pay for any supplies, not all parents spend thousands on our kids purses or 200 on shoes. Some of us are single mothers that have no assistane in the matter. I’m not saying that it should be passed to the teacher. When I go to work and do my job, my company makes sure that I have every single thing I need to help my patients. Our supplies aren’t billed to the patients. We pay school taxes and in our state the lottery was supposed to go to the school system. It appears that it doesn’t.

    As a single mom it also has to be said that we have to purchase way more than just school supplies. Uniforms, shoes, backpacks, etc. I want to repeat THIS COST SHOULD NOT BE PASSED ON TO THE TEACHER. (Not yelling just wanted to make sure that point was clear) it should be provided by the schools that we pay school taxes for and that the lottery revenue that is supposed to go to the schools.

  88. I am a parent with two kids in school and very limited funds. I might have had a few choice words while shopping for school supplies (only because I hate school supply shopping ha) but I still am getting everything on their lists and I am going to get as much of the “nice to have” items that I can. In a perfect world the school/our taxes would cover these things but it just doesn’t. I don’t understand why people can’t just accept the list for what it is and get the stuff on it. The things listed are there because our kids need them. As for the extras, I buy clorox wipes , kleenex, etc to keep my home healthy for my kids so why can’t I do the same for the school?

    To all you teachers, thank you for everything you do for our kids!

  89. As a parent who is just entering the world of public school, I really appreciate this perspective! I bought a few extra things than necessary already but now I feel like i need to go buy more! Yes, it costs money. It’s just a small portion of the expense of raising kids 🙂 and we need to help teachers as much as possible!

  90. I try NOT to spend that much on my classroom. I try to make as much as I can with things I already have such as construction paper, etc. It takes me much longer to do what I need to do, but it’s cheaper! Thank you for this entry! I hope other people think about this too. Not every school supplies their teachers with expo markers, staplers, etc. like mine.

  91. My hubby and I were just talking about giving each of our 3 kids’ teachers gift cards so they can buy extra supplies especially if some kids aren’t able to bring any. I know they spend money out of pocket so why not help cover it.

  92. I, too, am a teacher of 13 years and truly appreciate your article. It is amazing how many patents complain about buying supplies even when they hear teachers spend way more than they do for their kids to learn. My school no longer gives us a budget for supplies so anything parents don’t supply comes out of my pocket.

  93. Thank you, from a teacher. I just spent $50. at the dollar store and school isn’t even started. I love having the things I need to make teaching easier and interesting for my students. I could easily spend $10. a wk. on my classroom for art supplies and things from the grocery store but try to limit it and bring things from home, sometime asking parents to provide. I teach preschool so we do many hands on activities.

  94. Thank you for writing this article. School has not even started here in NC & I have spent a total of $405.38; not on my personal children but classroom supplies for my fourth graders and other needs associated to having to move classrooms this year! I have yet to by a single school supply for my own two daughters or my son; nor have we shopped for their basic clothing needs, shoes, bookbags, etc. Therefore, thanks again for this article…..it helps me remember that there are still good parents out there who care deeply about my profession and expenses it takes to teach their children & many others daily!!!

  95. On behalf of your child’s teacher, thank you.
    Personally, if I request items like Expo markers, they are generally for student use on individual whiteboards.

  96. Thank you! As a teacher I have always spent my own money for supplies and materials. When I began a teacher’s salary was less than $10,000! I am embarrassed to say that all these years later and with a master’s degree my salary is $54,000!

  97. Thank you! I’m on my 4th year of teaching and am currently looking for a second job to help pay the bills. The cost of living is tough but we as teachers want what’s best for our students.

  98. Great post! I bought my daughter’s K teacher a giant pack of expo markers, too! As a teacher, I know how nice they are to have! 🙂

  99. I think one of the most important points that is missed by a lot of the commenters is what values this mother just shared with her daughters. The shirts, purses, & shoes they are wearing are being placed at a much higher value than their education. According to the mother it is okay to spend the money on the in-season expensive purse, but it is just too much to put an extra $6 into their education. Reminds me of a time when I was in Walmart and a little girl wanted a small book in the impulse aisle-$3 max- and the mother scolded her and made her put it up. Before they checked out she had agreed to purchase several junk food items from the same aisle. Sad.

  100. Thank you for this wonderful article that is full of truth. I appreciate that you actually researched as well. I am a teacher and my tax man can confirm that I spend a GREAT deal of money each and every year on my classroom/students. I might even be able to drive a nice car if I didn’t spend a couple thousand a year on teaching and learning – but I want to do the job well and provide a great learning environment, so I continue to do it.

  101. I think schools should just charge a flat fee at the beginning of each school year and at the middle of the year to but school supplies that way teachers have what they need and so does the students. I know of school bought them they would get a discount and they could save their self money and parents as well. Plus I hate the hassle that comes with back to school shopping. I have owned and taught daycare for years and that’s what I do it helps and I get major discounts.

  102. New teacher in my arizona district is 10,000 less than yours – $33 something. My base, after 7 years is 38,000. But i spend money on resources and supplies.

  103. I too am an educator and was dumbfounded with the arrogance in many of the posts. As a teacher, I spend more waking hours with my students than many of their parents and yet the controversy lies in a $6.00 pack of markers. Teachers are made to be the enemy when in fact, the school supply list consists of materials to support your childs learning.

    I am also the parent of 3 elementary school aged children so I realize the cost of sending children back to school is quite expensive. I too pay taxes and I too believe quality education in the United States is a right and necessity. Yet, I am unable to see how the lack of classroom supplies is the fault of a classroom teacher. We blame the teacher for requesting the supplies not given to them from upper administrations and state legislatures. Funding or misallocation of funds has always been controversial in education and yet this is one area that a teacher has absolutely no control over. This argument is best left for those who have control over operations and money allocation. If you feel so strongly against sending your child with necessary supplies, attack those who view your child as a number rather than the person who supports, guides, educates, and loves your child as their own.

    In the end, education is not valued in America. Nothing will change until we as a society stand up and demand quality. The teacher takes the blunt of the frustration and has little power over the laws and policies they are forced to comply with.

    Make a choice, those of you who are able help supply the classroom that will be the second home to your child for the next 176 days or let your child do without simply because your ego is bigger than your common sense!

  104. Thank you for your post! It means a lot to me, as a teacher who without fail spends that amount or more every year to keep the school where I work in running order! Every teacher I know does this.

  105. I am a teacher and a mom of two elementary students. I love back to school supply shopping and because I have the time off and my budget is tight, I love to take advantage of the bargains and stock up for my kids and my classroom for the year. There have been years when I have made 8 trips to Staples to buy 200 notebooks at 5 cents a piece (they limit teachers to 25 at a time).

    My children’s school puts out a supply list for students and it is very specific… down to colors of folders and brands of pencils and markers. (Those expo markers aren’t used by the teacher.. most classrooms have small white boards that kids use at their desk). I buy what they ask for and stock up with extras of everything at home while crayons are 50 cents instead of $3. I also send in everything on the optional list that includes ziplock baggies, tissue, clorox wipes hand sanitizer and the like. Because I know many schools have cut custodial services so that desks are never cleaned unless cleaned by teacher or students.

    I know many families do this but you know who truly gets forgotten? Our special ed teachers, our specials (art, music, library, etc) and student service providers (OT, speech, counselors, etc).

    If you have the time or money, send in some extra tissues and hand sanitizer for them

    1. I am a self contained special ed teacher. I have a small number of students (7 this year). I have a supply list for my class, but trust me…..what’s on my list doesn’t get me through the year at all because of my small number of students. We can request more items from parents, but it’s not a guarantee we’re going to get it. My asst and I usually buy the extra supplies we need later in the year.

  106. Thank you (as I am a teacher)!!! Your article was well stated and I appreciate your understanding. Many blessings to your children this school year.

  107. Thank you for your support of teachers. In my area, starting teachers only make 35,000. It’s not an easy job, but a true teacher is there because it’s a calling and loves teaching the kids.

    Another area that teachers are misunderstood on is our summers. We are required by law to take 150 education hours for every 5 years to keep our certificates. My doctor even stated this was more per year than she is required to have. We have to do these trainings on our own time out of our own finances as well. Most teachers spend time in the summer doing this. We also go back to work weeks before the kids do for district training and most go back even earlier to prepare lessons and get our rooms ready. This is all unpaid as we are not “paid” during the summer. Yes, most districts give their teachers a paycheck during summer months but those funds come from money the district has taken out of our pay throughout the school year in order for us to have that paycheck during June and July. So many people think we get “paid for doing nothing” during this time but are misinformed because that is unpaid time (even though many of us work to prepare for the new year.

    Again, thank you so much for your support of teachers and education. It does make all the difference in the world to have that support.

  108. Amen great article. Teachers are worth thier weight in gold. They are the table setters to our children’s future. We all should pitch in more if you are financially capable of doing it!

  109. As a teacher, THANK YOU. This is a well written article that hits the nail on the head. We don’t ask for much and we understand that there are parents who cannot afford the supplies, but for those who can, we appreciate you buying a little extra to help us out.

  110. Sing it loud and proud sister! That not counting the coats, reward prizes, b-day/Christmas gifts, new baby gifts, lunches, field trip money, seasonal craft supplies, classroom decorations, classroom books, and many extra hours afterschool tutoring on my time that I didn’t get paid for. You can’t imagine how much a classroom teacher spends to make lessons interesting and keep kids engaged and moving forward.

  111. As a teacher in the lowest paid state thank you for standing up for us. After daycare costs and insurance we are left with $400 a month from my check. And I buy tons of my own expo markers. 🙂

  112. Ok well let’s break it down. I am a nurse as you so poorly compared. I don’t know a nurse EVER that hasn’t spent money out of their own pocket. Let’s just take Katrina you should remember how us nurses and many doctors traveled far to help out and didn’t get paid, or how we drove to towns to get medical supplies we needed and to give to families. I couldn’t tell you how many times nurses brought clothes, lotion, and many other things a patient might need or food for a dying patient that requested it, I could go on for a long time. This is nights and weekends as well, nursing is a 24/7 job. Ok now comparison on salary!! Teacher 176 days oh and not consecutive well that appears to be about 259.00 dollars a day. You have the info look up nurses salaries!!! Oh and I have bought syringes for patients whose insurance paid for their vial of medicine but not for the syringe or pads… Bad comparison woman

  113. People do gripe. I caught hell because I asked people to buy a 50 cent piece of poster board for a project on the olympics. Just to cover those students who REALLY can’t afford it. I bought more that 60 myself. If I didn’t, that project wouldn’t haven’t gotten done. Thank you for your expressing your support.

  114. I love you! Thank you so very, very much!
    High School Teacher in Kansas City
    (Yes, even high school teachers must have supplies!)

  115. i understand it may be difficult to purchase things that are outside of your regular budget when you are living on a fixed income. Seriously though, i am a single father with 4 children at home and if you shop for bargains you can make it happen. I was able to get all the required items on my Kids’ list and extra to keep at home, and a little extra for each classroom, for less than $20. I am a custodian and i couldn’t afford all the cleaning and maintenance supplies needed to clean the building that i work at, if that was a requirement, or if my employer couldn’t afford to. My Kids’ go to school and use electricity, water and other resources that come out of the school budget plus, all students are offered to free meals and a snack in addition to bus transportation. The least i could do is provide a few supplies, generously.

  116. I wished I made 40k+ a year, took off 3 months for nothing, and was inside an a/c building year round. Just saying…

    1. First of all, I work at a year-round school where I get four 1-week breaks every season. But during the breaks that I have and during the three month summer breaks for those in a traditional education setting, that time “off” is spent lesson planning, organizing classrooms, grading, attending professional development, writing report cards, going to meetings, etc. As a first year teacher, I’m not quite making 40K yet and I’m spending quite above what the average teacher spends because I’m starting fresh. The larger purchases will hopefully be one-time investments, but the need for tissues, cleaning supplies, paper, and writing supplies will always be there.

  117. Here in nc we have the worst teacher pay in the us. Try raising children 3 of them on 14,000 a year andb having to fork out extra money.

  118. The students in our school system use the Expo markers for their personal desk whiteboards.
    They request for you to get a 4-6 pack so that they have enough to last them all year!

  119. I understand how teachers teach and what they do for our youth but they took this job knowing it don’t pay well but look at all the benefits they get such as never working a holiday 2 weeks off at Christmas, and all summer off. However, do you complain about a speeding ticket etc? Let me tell you law enforcement makes less than teachers do. Officers miss most holidays, get called out during birthday parties, they don’t get the summer off, and they put their life on the line daily. Most officers also have to purchase the equipment themselves as city and counties can’t purchase them. Many officers go with out a vest because they are basically being paid at poverty level. An experienced officer for ten years plus is lucky to make $35,000 a year. So my point here is teachers need to stop complaining because they have it pretty darn lucky. I do apologize for my grammar as I am on my phone. I am so tired of hearing about the poor teachers. Officers take the position knowing it could take their lives teachers know what they get when taking the position. If they don’t like it find another one. Be lucky for what you have.

    1. Sara,
      You are completely accurate. No teacher has ever made the comment “teachers have the only difficult job in the world.” However, we get summers off because we work well over 12 hours a day at least 6 days a week. I spend my evenings at home grading papers. Do you know how long it takes to grade 25 – 5th grade essays that are each 2+ pages? My summer “off” consisted of me getting half of June off. I started working on curriculum and getting my classroom ready in July and I spent my birthday in my classroom planning lessons. I do feel lucky because like you said, we do get those holidays off and some professions do not. I knew going in to education what the challenges were going to be: I would have to spend long hours grading and that I would have to spend $500+ of my own money, but that was never an issue because I love my job! Honestly, teachers don’t want you to say that we have the only difficult job in the world and that others jobs don’t have challenges of their own. What teachers want is for non-teachers to respect and support us in our challenges. We want parents to buy the pack of expo markers because they know we already bought 50 notebooks and folders.
      I appreciate police officers. My boyfriend was a police officer. He left because it was not enough pay. I know that they have to protect us during the holidays and that they have to sacrifice, also.
      Thank a teacher — that’s all this post is really about.

  120. Your breakdown of .97 per day on school supplies the teachers need to instruct your kids is not entirely accurate….it is far less than that because in your calculations you state that you spent $343 on school supplies and uniforms. …I feel that the uniform costs should be deducted from your equation for those are not supplies you bought so the teachers could instruct your kids.

  121. Thank you for understanding us teachers. I have already spent $500 on my classroom for this upcoming year. A lot of people don’t know that school districts only supply a relatively small amount of our needs. For example, we get 2 cases of paper per year. I needed 5 cases to meet the needs of my students. Guess who paid for the other 3? Daily I have students who come to school without paper and pencils. Guess who provides that? We teachers go into to education to encourage the love of learning. Yet I find myself being a surrogate parent meeting the needs of those whose parents don’t provide for their own.

  122. As a teacher, who stopped at Target tonight to buy classroom supplies for Monday, on the way home from my 2nd job…thank you.

  123. Thank you for this entry. I am a teacher in Illinois who has been at it for 11 years and I just now broke $40K a year! Anyhoo, I appreciate your understanding of what teachers do for their “kids”. God bless you.

  124. I’m a 1st grade teacher in NC. Thank you for your positive comments. The idea that starting teachers make $43,000 in your state blows me away. I’ve been teaching 20 years and around $7,000 less than that. I buy my own dry erase markers, and the ones the students bring are used by them for their own dry erase boards and center activities.

  125. “176 school days? And they get summers and all those school holidays off? Who wouldn’t want to be a teacher with perks like that?!” Yep, that’s the type of response you’ll hear from mothers like the one you’ve described in your post. It’s because they are self-centered snots who are raising a new generation of self-centered snots. They don’t think of what is truly involved in educating their children and are barely around to support at home what’s going on in the classroom. But once their little angel acts out in the classroom and is given a well-deserved detention, they’re the parents who come running to the school as fast as lightning to take on that “mean teacher who bullied” their bratty spoiled kid.

    I taught for 12 years,, and I could see the attitudes and respect in the kids change just a little bit with each passing year. That behavior comes from parents who refuse to discipline their kids at home (I’ll bet more than a few of you had parents who said if you got in trouble at school, you’d get it worse when you got home), and school administrators who don’t have the balls to stand up to the parents of the behavior problems because they can’t afford to lose their support for whatever sports program the parent donates money to. I’ll never forget the day that I finally figured it all out. I had a meeting with about 5 of my sophomore kids who had been causing problems in my classroom. The principal was supposed to meet all of us in my classroom after school, but he was late (and actually never showed up). The 5 students cornered me…alone in my room…with nowhere to go. Thankfully, a fellow teacher and friend happened to walk in at that moment and broke the tension, saving me from who knows what! That’s when I saw the writing on the wall and decided that was my last year. It’ll never change until parents start parenting and administrators do their jobs. :::stepping down from my soapbox now:::

      1. Yeeeah, how “self-centered” of her to want administrator/parent support and avoid physical assault by 5 high-school sophomores…Thanks for your compassion, Mother Teresa. *eye roll*

  126. Me and my husband do not have kids (I’m only 23) but every year I grab a supply list and pick a different grade and buy enough for at least one student and I usually throw in a few extra packs of paper, pencils, etc and on the first day of school I’ll drop it off in the office and the Secretary (a family friend of mine) will always pick a teacher she knows could really use it to give to.

    Also I saw where some people were not allowed to ask parents to bring extras (Kleenex, etc) and some parents dont want to just “donate” it. I know when I was in school (all the way until my senior year, and I know teachers who still do it) we were allowed to bring in one extra thing a month (for the classroom, not us individually, but could still be pack of paper or pencils) and we would get bonus points added to our lowest grade of the month.

  127. I love the article, but as a mother of 5 growing kids and a husband who works 80 plus hrs a week its hard to buy supplies and keep my kids clothed I know teachers can claim their expenses on their taxes bc I did when I home schooled but the schools should be spending more money on education rather than on sports

    1. You do know that claiming it on your taxes just means it’s not a taxed part of your income. The government doesn’t give them the money back – right? We have four kids. I understand where you are coming from. My husband and I are both teachers by choice. We also work part time jobs specifically to make ends meet. About half my second income goes into my classroom though because we do not get the needed supplies. We are in debt and struggling, but I have at least five kids a year that would drop out if it were not for our direct intervention at our school. While I agree less money should be spent on sports, it isn’t in the teacher’s power to fix that. The least parents can do is to ensure their children show up with the necessary materials. I’m not suggesting you don’t but pass the word on to other parents. A pen, pencil, paper and materials ARE necessary – every day. This is actually something we deal with on a daily basis at our school.

  128. Honestly the bigger issue here is where is all the money collected in taxes and the lottery that is supposed to fund education? Items like glue, paper, crayons should be staples in a school. Teachers should not be buying them and parents shouldn’t have to be buying them for the school either. It should be coming from the money that is collected in real estate taxes and the lottery. (At least in Florida that was the whole “purpose” for the lottery) i personally do not have a problem with donating supplies to the classroom but it does bother me that it is an issue. Some of these lists that come out of the school are ridiculous!! The school board should be held accountable for funding schools properly and if they can’t do it then they need to step aside and let someone else do it.

  129. Thank you for this article. I have heard so many people complain about buying Ziplock bags and other supplies that they think are just for the teacher. They forget that all the materials for Christmas gifts and Mother’s day gifts come out of the teacher’s pocket. I appreciate your consideration for all of the teachers.

  130. I’m so sick of hearing about how much teachers spend each year! It’s part of the job!! I work as a nurse and supply my own $200 stethoscope, $30 bandage scissors, pens, permanent markers, scrubs (10 sets that need to be replaced each year, each set costing a minimum $50), shoes (4 pair a year), and so on. Every career has expenses that you will pay out of pocket! I’m sure many teachers make more a year than I do as we’ll, but definitely don’t work half as hard! I take home only $32,000/ year before these expenses, so do that math! If you haven’t figured it out yet, I don’t feel sorry for any teacher! I send my 2 boys to school with all supplies asked of them, and I don’t mind. I just have read way too many teacher sob stories in the past 2 weeks!!!

    1. Goodness, we all have to buy professional clothes and shoes, teachers included. I am fairly sure your stethoscope and scissors are both one-time purchases, and honestly, I had no clue that nurses spend so much on supplies. On the other hand, I would never say you work half as hard as I do: I saw the work my mother’s nurses did while she was being treated for Alzheimers and cancer. But until you walk a mile in my shoes towing 32 teenagers, don’t judge how hard my job is. As to salary, you make only $2,000 a year more than a starting teacher in most states, but that’s not the issue, is it? We’re only asking that IF you can, support your child’s education. We, in turn, will do our best when a family member is under medical care. (I was at my mother’s beside 24/7 for the duration of her stay.) It’s called tolerance today, but there was a time when we called it kindness, love, patience, and understanding. When I run across a great article praising nurses and explaining the difficulties that they face, I’ll think of you and hope you are happy and well.

    2. To the nurse, Brittany: Everyone supplies their own work clothing, even some military members have to buy their uniforms. Your stethoscope and scissors are for your personal use, and you don’t have to buy 20-30 of them each year for your patients to use. Teachers purchase THEIR supplies as well, but these things are what the KIDS need, not the teachers. They can watch me do a math problem on the board, but they need an expo marker each individually to do it themselves.

      And please, stop acting like offices don’t supply employees with pens. That one is getting really old. They may be dollar store brand, but I am sure they are there.

    3. Oh Brittany Dear. I am also a Nurse in Florida. If you are only taking home 32K, you must be working some sort of strange job, or you are an LPN. The expenses you cite are true and real though actually, I did well as an RN with a less expensive stethoscope and definitely less expensive scrubs 50 bucks a pair means you are spending way too much cash. Those are supplies for you…and your stethoscope should be a 1 time expense. You are not expected to supply say- non-skid slippers for all your patients who forgot theirs at home…you go to the supply room for that. If your patient messes up those slippers, you throw them out and get a new pair from the supply room….you do’t have to go buy a pair out of your pocket. In addition, I don’t think that deciding you work harder than teachers is a great idea. Unless you have been a teacher, you don’t really know.

      That said, I really wish my taxes went to supporting education. I pay a lot in taxes, but I sure don’t see any improvements in my local roads, in the classrooms, or anywhere….that concerns me….

  131. $43,000! That is an excellent wage for around 2/3’s a year’s work. I would work 300 days a year for that kind of money. Our teachers do NOT get paid too little. They are state employees with great benefits.

    I don’t make $28,000 a year before taxes. I don’t have benefits. I have to work all year long. And, I have 2 degrees.

    They are NOT heroes for doing their jobs that they wanted to do. No, they should not have to come out of pocket for anything, but neither should the parent. That is what taxes are for. Think about the single, childless guy who pays all the same taxes. What about casino money, lotto money, and any other stupid thing that is supposed to pay in for schools and public services.

    1. I take offense at your reference to 2/3 year. As a teacher I am contracted from 7:30 to 3:15. I usually get there at 7:00 and leave around 5:00. In addition, I work on the weekends and at night. During my 1/3 time off I create materials, plan, and prep and take continuing education classes. I also choose to read books that will help me be a better teacher. I just spent my entire Saturday cutting out homework folders, writing a grant for a field trip, and setting up iPads that I paid for out of my pocket because they took our outdated dinosaurs/computers away. I also designed two crafts for the first week of school. I have been working in my class every day since Aug 1st. I am not contracted to start my 2/3 year until this coming Wednesday. And to be honest I’m a little panicked that I don’t have time to get everything done that needs to be done.
      As far as the single guy with no kids….EVERYONE benefits from an educated society!
      However, sometimes we do need to remember its not the level of education, it’s what you do with it that counts.

    2. I’m a special ed teacher at a year-round non-public school that serves severely autistic students who weren’t getting their needs met in a public school or county setting. I get a total of 4 weeks off every year and my sick days/vacation time are horrendous. When a student head-butted me and caused a concussion, I was out for 2 weeks and that recovery time was pulled out of my sick pay.

      If you want to get nit-picky and not consider a teaching credential a degree, fine, but teachers graduate with the college debt of somebody who pursued 2 degrees, and there are a lot of teachers who go back for their Master’s. Even with budgeting, it takes us so much longer to pay off our student loans. We scrimp and save to avoid spending so much out of pocket, yet we always do. Teachers are the biggest dumpster divers, thrift shoppers and garage sale enthusiasts around.

      If your child is in the education system and you can afford designer clothing and the latest technology, cough up the money for tissues, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes.

    3. Are you the single guy that pays the same taxes? Because if you are, you can thank the teachers who for all the people who provide you services. Without basic education, those people wouldn’t be able to do the job for all the things you enjoy or need.

      I’m sorry you don’t make more with your two degrees. However, before you throw out a caustic comment like this, you might want to get your facts straight. Even at 9 months (most school years are about 10 months long now), that is 3/4 of the year. That’s just contact time with the student. That doesn’t include the meetings, workshops and training (unpaid of course). The average teacher salary is NOT $43K nationwide. It’s about $36K. Is that really too much? My summer schedule doesn’t allow me to get a second job for the 2 months I am off because I have to go to various county mandated meetings. No employer is going to give me three days off this week and two days off the following week, etc.

      I think before you post inciteful commentary, you might want to do a little research. Lottery, alternate tax and even property tax doesn’t go TO the teachers directly. It goes to the system and is filtered down after all the state, district and operating expenses are paid first. When the money runs out, the classroom is the first to suffer.

      In our state (Florida), the lottery money goes to college scholarship funds for graduating seniors. Do you really think a teacher should be forced to buy students books, pens and pencils (among other things) so they can graduate and qualify for scholarships? Isn’t that the parent’s job? When these teachers do go the extra mile to help students, motivate them and take care of them – do they not deserve gratitude and thanks?

      The only solution that would fit your post (as for teachers or parents not paying for it) would be to raise taxes so no one specific has to pay for it – and where does that leave the single guy? I have four kids. I am a teacher. I would never think of making a teacher pay for my student’s supplies. I’m not asking anyone to call me a hero but I do think they should buy their own supplies.

    4. Philip, Philip, Philip I do hope you do not believe that we teachers get paid in the summer for “doing nothing”. We only get paid for 10 months! If we want a paycheck for the other 2 months, it is deducted from our pay and put into an account so that we will get OUR own money in the summer. I have spent HUNDREDS of hours and dollars this summer preparing for the upcoming school year. I do not have to do this but since I care deeply about my babies and families I haven’t even met yet, I do it from the heart. I beg to differ–my students do think I am a HERO! If you have 2 degrees then you might want to go into teaching! Most states do have something called “lateral entry”. Check it out and then let me know if you still think we are paid too much!!!

    5. Oh, sweetie, then you should have chosen different degree programs… Or you should get a different job. Why are mad at the teachers who are lucky enough to make this $43,000 of which you speak (many of them don’t – depends on city/state/county among other things… Just like those of us in the corporate world who might make $35K living in Nebraska but make $50K for the same position with the same company if living in Chicago… Cost of living applies in many industries.).

    6. Sadly the money from taxes supplying those things needed in schools are cut. In general school population is increasing, funding is decreasing. US teachers who are paid over the summer have pay divided over 1 year rather than just contract days. In my state sick and any missed days are held against the employee evaluation. All the schools I have worked at use the cleaning wipes, tissues, purell, and dry erase markers. The dry erase markers are used by the kids during math and literacy activities.

      If parents want kids to have nose tissues, the supplies to work in class, and even the lysol type wipes it will either cost them some money out of pocket or a tax increase.

      Your average teacher wage is too high. I have two degree-one is a masters. My income is $30,000 before taxes and ever increasing (all industries) benifit cost. My income is $14,000 a year. Half of every month goes to my loans (paying at the lowest montly pay option). I went into a new position this year and had no supplies, which I have to buy with my own money-there is no funding for those supplies. While spending the other half of my pay on additional classes and trainning to keep my position. Yes that is a problem. I have other bills to pay.

      Sorry your income is soo low with 2 degrees (and likely debt from those degrees).

  132. I agree with your post. However, every job that you do as an adult you are required to spend certain out of pocket expenses for. Whether it be uniforms, dress clothes, pens, brief case, stethoscope, tools, computers, phones, and so much more. You are able to write these off on your taxes with a receipt and a form.
    My biggest challenge is them requesting things that my children do not need. And at the end of the year come home with 10 pages used out of each notebook or crayons never used and so on. I’m a single mom so my money is already stretched to the max. So when I’m asked to send 2 boxes Kleenex, 4 expo markers, 2-12 pack yellow pencils, and 4 large glue sticks when we have only ever went thru 2 small ones a yr. It makes me alittle irrated because I’m not supplying the classroom. I’m proving for my child. Now don’t get me wrong I have sent extras and such throughout the school yr when I could afford it. I keep extras at home so if my child is running low at school they can always take a new one. On that note thank you teachers for all your hard work. Have a great school year! God bless you all

    1. When computers and phones are required, they are typically provided. Additionally, they are for the employees use. These materials are for the children, and a classroom full of them, not one employee.

  133. Awesome post!!!!!! I teach Kindergarten in a low income district with approximately 85% second language students. I spend THOUSANDS of dollars for my classroom every year. I don’t mind because I can afford it. But sometimes, my husband does reign me in a little. When he does I ask parents for supplies or donations. If I send home a note asking for glue sticks, I get BAGS of glue sticks. One time our grade level asked for each child to bring $2 so we could rent water slides on our last day of school. One parent sent $100 and said it was in case some of the kids didn’t bring money. Don’t know what I would do without amazing parent help!

  134. Thank you. Btw- I am still paying my school loans to be a teacher. There is also that year of school and classes that pays you nothing for you ‘on the job training.’ But I love what I do and will continue to do it for many years-
    God willing.

  135. Thank you so much! As a teacher, this article means so much to me. It is nice that some people see that we pay for those supplies out of our own pockets. We do that because we love your children like our own and want to supply the best education that we possibly can.

  136. Wow… where to start…

    1. If my child’s teacher used 20 packs of Expo markers, I wouldn’t be opposed to buying them. The students don’t use them, and she has a smart board, yet those Expos show up every year.

    2. Cleaning supplies, (paper towels, Lysol, Clorox wipes) again, I wouldn’t mind, if they were used. See more later.

    3. Pencils, paper, construction paper, crayons, washable markers, ruler, pencil box? SURE!

    4. Zip top bags… must be ‘name brand’. Really? Paper plates.

    Back to points 1, 2, and 4. When, at the end of the year, I see stacks and stacks of cleaning supplies, markers, and bags in EVERY classroom we walk by, there is a huge problem. Yet, at the beginning of every year, there isn’t a Clorox wipe to be found. This is one of the many reasons we are home schooling this year.

    I would prefer to send in an empty spray bottle and five gallons of industrial cleaner, with towels. I would happily wash those towels each and every week, if I knew they were used. Last year, my son had strep four times in three months, despite the bleaching and sanitizing we did here at home. I’m certain there are teachers who use the supplies, but at my son’s school, it simply didn’t happen. He was attending one the highest rated schools in our state, (Indiana) and this is the sort of thing we had to deal with on a yearly basis.

    I can see both sides of this issue, but it really all comes down to being lucky enough to have one of the teachers who care, and they are few and far between.

    1. Teachers who care are few and far between?? Really?? Grant you, I know some teachers who are too burned out to adequately serve their students and do seem to have reached a point of complacence, but NONE of them started out not caring and none of them ever stop caring about the kids. The administration, maybe. The parents, maybe. Yes, just about every teacher I know has felt helpless and complacent at some point in their career, but most teachers love what they do and where I teach, those stacks of supplies from August are GONE by October.

      I’m sorry you had a negative experience in *one* educational setting, but I ask you, did you actually talk to the teachers? Did you stop to ask why they will need so many whiteboard markers with a SMART Board or why the Zip-lock bags must be name brand? It’s possible the teacher doesn’t care and is just in it for the pay (doubtful). It’s possible an administrator sent out that list and the classroom teacher had no idea. It’s possible the students work on laminated or whiteboard surfaces on a regular basis and the markers get worn down quick.

      I find it sad and frankly offensive that you’ve reached the conclusion that caring teachers are few and far between when it doesn’t seem like you’ve taken the time to understand them. Teachers, parents, policymakers, administrators….we should ALL be focused on the core cause of what we do – the kids.

  137. I am a teacher and appreciate your post and the comments and replies that have been added. I don’t want to get into a hot debate about why I am a pubic school teacher…I consider teaching my vocation and calling from God. I teach 100+ teenagers in three blocks that are almost two hours long. The supplies we use in a semester is staggering and the majority of my students are from low socioeconomic areas, so they come with few pencils and less paper. In addition to the $300 I have spent in the last week to set up my classroom, I will spend at least $200 more for supplies during the year. I will be reimbursed $40, total, nothing more.
    I choose to sponsor a club and help students to raise money for those who cannot afford to participate in some of our activities, including convention. As part of a service organization, our members will participate in several community service projects. I help in raising funds for those and, if necessary, purchase needed supplies.
    These are not complaints: they are simply the facts but, every time I spend money to do my job, I am taking from the money that could go to my children, grandchildren, or retirement. We (my husband and I) have chosen to live this life, but it has meant a life of second jobs and long hours for both of us. My pay, you see, is for the 180 days a year I work–no holidays, no more, no less. The problem is the amount I am paid for those days. Teachers are professionals who should be paid as professionals. Not having enough supplies to do my job only adds to the insult of low wages. But parents can soften the blow with an occasional thank you. It would be heavenly if a few parents stood up for teachers–pass an education tax, attend a school board meeting to praise the good we do, and demand that teacher be treated like professionals. After all, these are your children and standing up for their teachers is standing up for their education.

  138. Thank you for taking the time to write this! I am a teacher who has spent more money than I would like to admit on supplies for my classroom so my kids can have the experiences I want them to have! I also make sure my kids’ teachers have what they need/want to make the classroom an inviting, enriching and engaging environment! Many of us could “make do” with the basics but for me, making do is not good enough! I want these sweeties to have experiences that truly help them understand the concepts I am teaching. So I buy M&Ms to sort, count and compare. I buy playdough ingredients so my kids can learn to follow a recipe and see how basic ingredients come together to make something totally different and fun! I do this because it’s what I believe is best for my children! I so appreciate parents who get this and are willing, and ready, to contribute in any way they are able!

  139. I hope this post goes viral, not only to teachers, but to administrators, policymakers and parents. I will share in every way I can, and I encourage others to do the same.

  140. As a junior in high school, I understand both sides of the argument:

    First, teachers with low wages should not have to be paying out of pocket for supplies to do their job… no other professional does. I do not mind supplying my teachers with tissue, EXPO markers, notecards, pens or pencils, whatever it may be. I cannot think of a time that I have not contributed to my teachers classrooms, unless they do not ask.

    However, as a student who lives in a middle-class home with parents who pay over $4000 in taxes JUST to our school district, I do have a problem with the fact that my parents have to pay $90 for me to park in the school parking lot, EVERY YEAR and that they had to pay $25 for a 100 page sketchbook, for my art class, that had 80 blank pages at the end of the year. Then around March, I have to pay $89 for each Advanced Placement test that I am REQUIRED to take since I chose to be in an upper-level course work. Not to mention that because I had the honor of becoming an FFA (school organization) officer this year, I had to pay $350 of my own money to attend events that I was REQUIRED to be at. Then, because I am an avid livestock exhibitor (costs me about $4000 each year), I have to pay $50 per animal to keep my animals at the school Ag barn which myself and other livestock exhibitors are in charge of maintaing and keeping clean. Where is my $50 going?

    Granted, we did not have to pay this much in elementary and middle school but high school has become very costly.

    I have amazing teachers and go to a wonderful school, but sometimes something has got to give. Why are my parents being forced to pay this? Why are our schools not fundraising? Does anyone even collect box tops anymore? Why are public schools becoming so expensive now? I should be saving money for college but instead I am spending it every year on a public school district.

    1. We do a ton of fundraising at the elementary level, and we still save box tops. Box tops earn about $2,000 a year for our school. I agree with you about all the crazy fees at the high school level, though. It’s ridiculous.

  141. Love the article, love the point. Agree 100%… However, your comparison of hospitals is a little tough to swallow…because the last time I spent the night in a hospital, they charged me $80 for administration of IB profen. So…actually you should say that parents could either buy the markers at $7 for a 10 pack or pay the school $70 for 1 marker… That would be more accurate. Back to the original topic though…I bet those parents spent $1000 on school clothes for their 2 girls and didn’t even blink an eye… I am so disappointed in my generations parenting skills.

  142. This was a great post! Very interesting read. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and supporting teachers! I have spent a couple of hours reading all the comments and they are fascinating. Such impassioned arguments from both sides of the coin.

    Here are my thoughts: I’m a public school teacher. I love my profession and I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. I love teaching children. I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was 5 years old. It is a calling from God…my mission in life. I certainly didn’t become a teacher get rich. Would I like to make more than $36,000 a year after 13 years of teaching? Of course I would. Not going to happen though. Oh well. I DO get hurt and offended when I hear people speak so disrespectfully about and to teachers. I don’t complain about my job, and I’m not lazy or cheap. Just because my job is challenging, doesn’t mean it’s not challenging to be a nurse or a police officer, too. We all have challenging jobs, and we all have to spend time and money to purchase supplies and equipment in order to do our jobs. There’s no reason to be a hater, folks! I have 2 sons that I support on that $36K a year and no child support whatsoever. It’s hard. I commit to teaching summer school each summer so I can make a little extra money to buy new clothes, shoes and school supplies for my sons (yes, I make sure I get everything their teachers ask for!), as well as school supplies for my classroom. My regular pay does not cover extra stuff like that. I live paycheck to paycheck…as do most Americans, sadly. I usually try to spend no more than $300 on my own classroom each year. I could easily spend more, of course, but I just don’t have it. My school does supply some things, but their budget is limited.I can get supplies for myself, such as paper clips, pens, Sharpies (one of each in red, blue and black), Expo markers (a couple), sentence strips, construction paper, tag board. I can get some lined paper and a couple of dozen pencils. They don’t supply glue or crayons. They don’t supply things like hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes. We can get 2 small boxes of Kleenex a month. Last year, my class went through 2 boxes of Kleenex in about a week during cold and flu season. My Kleenex that had been supplied by the parents was gone by February, so I just purchased it myself as needed. Parents don’t HAVE to supply all that stuff. The list we send out is just a suggested list. I truly do appreciate any support and donations I can get from parents, though. We do go through a lot of Expo markers, when the kids use their white boards. They are rough on them. We do go through tissues like crazy. This year I asked for 2 boxes from each family, instead of 1, because I ran out so early last year. I’m so thankful that I have parents that can afford them, and have donated them. We go through Clorox wipes like crazy…their desks get super nasty in the span of a week. The bottom line is….please send school supplies if you can. If you can’t, then don’t. Don’t hate on us just because we might ask for donations and help! I wouldn’t want ANYONE to give to our classroom out of duress. I don’t want my sons’ teachers to spend a ton of money on school supplies. I will supply what they need for my children. I also ask my sons throughout the year if they need more pencils or new crayons. I don’t think many parents realize that a 3rd grader can go through at least 1 pencil a day. 🙂

    1. Oh, and in addition to school supplies, I also had to pay $67 to get my fingerprints and background check done again, because my clearance card expired. I kind of wish the state would pay for that since it’s a requirement to work with children, but it’s just part of the deal if you want to teach. I am sure other professions have to pay fees like this, too, so teachers are by no means the only ones.

    2. It’s the little things like the jar of vasoline and the box of q-tips I purchase every year for the students who don’t have Chapstick but do have lips that are burning from being so dry during the winter. Or the 30 pairs Fisker scissors I buy because the school-supplied ones don’t cut well. I don’t NEED to buy these. But I know how distracted and irritated I am when my lips are chapped or how I feel when I try to cut a piece of paper and it flattens between the blades, so I supply these out of empathy. Last year, I moved to a new school to teach 4th grade after being out of the classroom for 12 years! I moved into an empty classroom. $1,600 later I had a classroom that was functional. I bought $300 worth of chapter books, a $45 rug for the library corner, $180 worth of cheap bookshelves for my instructional materials, $600 worth of instructional materials, a $40 rolling cart for lugging work to and from school each day, $300 for baskets to contain all the supplies supplied by the school (glue, crayons, 1 expo marker per child, construction paper, pencils, etc.) and for the teaching materials I purchased (dice, protractors, rulers, colorful post-it notes, magnets, chart paper markers, erasers, etc.), $200 for fabric to hang on the bulletin boards, borders and letters and posters…..oh, never mind. Parents just remember this, when you walk into your child’s classroom, about 40% of what you see in the room and on the walls is paid for by the teacher because he or she wants YOUR child to have a successful year in school. No complaints from this teacher because I love what I do. But it sure would be nice to replace my old washer and dryer this year without having to scrimp and save.

  143. I teach science, so the odd and numerous materials I have bought over the years and the supplies I have provided really add up. I have extrapolated what it will have cost me to do my job up till retirement. The total equals an entire years’ salary. That said, I also am married to another science teacher, so make that a loss of two years salary as he also buys things to take to class. My colleague just purchased ten tablet computers with her own money so her science course could access technology.

    We have not had a raise in 6 years Extra responsibilities which no longer carry a stipend and take up more and more of our free time. In the first 20 years of teaching, a class load in junior high used to be 150 students. These days I am at 195 students.

    Thank you to parents who drop off a box of tissues, who send a ream of paper, and who raise children who respect their teachers. You cannot imagine my joy yesterday when a student paused at my desk on the third day of school and thanked me for being his teacher.

  144. We always had to buy supplies for our 2 girls from K – 8. Most of the time this put a real bind on us because we live from paycheck to paycheck pretty much all the time. Start of the school year gets VERY TIGHT. And it does really does make me kind of angry when I know that my kids didn’t even get to use their own crayons, pencils, markers, notebooks etc (and before I have 100 teachers telling me that this isn’t the way it is, this IS the way it was at our school). I don’t mind so much the tissues and hand sanitizer (kids are basically just little germ factories and NO ONE ever keeps their sick kids at home), but having to pay for some of that other stuff, stuff you can’t really afford, BLOWS! Someone said that if you couldn’t send what your kid needed that you should have social services called on you. Judgemental much? People who are fortunate enough to be able to afford $100+ per kid might ought to stop pointing the finger of shame at other people. Maybe they just can’t afford it. You never know what someone else’s situation is. And to be quite honest, I feel bad for the teachers when they have to pay out of their pocket for supplies, but if it’s a choice between that and my kids eating generic mac and cheese for dinner for a month to pay for it I’m going to choose my kids’ eating a decent dinner.

    Now that they are both in high school, we don’t have to deal with the supply lists anymore, but now we have to pay anywhere from $75 to $125 per child as “classroom fees”. And we still have to buy their supplies (but at least now they get to keep them). Free education? Not so much.

    1. Right there with you. The “sharing” of the supplies like we’re in a socialist state has been what has bothered me over the last couple of years. Part of the fun of back-to-school shopping and new supplies when I was a kid was being able to express your own personality through your pencils, folders, erasers, etc. My son, going into fourth grade, is only this year allowed to do that. Before, in a different district, we were actually told NOT to put his name on most of his supplies because he doesn’t actually get to keep the supplies we paid for and sent in. I don’t mind contributing to a classroom stash of tissues, wipes, baggies, the like – even generic pencils. It’s just when we scour multiple stores to make sure we bring in the “required” four colors of plastic folders with brads AND pockets and my son ends up using the paper ones someone else brought in, I get a little frustrated.

      I want to say, too, that I really do appreciate that teachers are putting extra time and $$ into our kids, into making their learning environment better and more enriching. I don’t think they should be providing supplies to the kids that lack, though. Some other system needs to be created – parents need to be reminded that an education costs something, even if it’s “just” the cost of required supplies. Years ago, if kids didn’t bring the right supplies to class or school (esp in middle or high school), they did without or scrounged from friends. I’m sure some of the teachers did more behind the scenes than I as a student realized, but teachers need to set boundaries, too.

  145. I am definitely not a teacher but I now have 3 children in school and this year has been a bit of struggle to get everything the kids need for the education. I get the things that they HAVE to have start the year and the then throughout the school year I buy things such as you are talking about, EXPO markers, baby wipes, extra tissues. The things they don’t necessarily need on the very first day. And I always tell my kids teachers to please let me know if you need things like this. Always happy to help but sometimes it’s very difficult all at once. Hopefully the plan for the the next school makes things easier for our household. Thank you all the teachers in the world for doing what you do!

  146. As a teacher who spends quite a bit out of pocket, I so appreciate this blog! We have been able to write off at least $250 off of our taxes but that was eliminated.

  147. The reason I use the larger packs of colored Expo markers is I teach special needs students and I use them for connections when I teach reading and writing. We relate each section of writing by color and highlight important vocabulary or grammar in reading texts by color. In addition, I illustrate the work on white boards as much as possible to hold the interest of my students. Having a variety of colors allow me to use realistic representations of my drawings. However, the number one reason I would use the larger packs of colored Expo markers is the color variety makes me happy!

  148. As a retired school teacher from a neighboring parish, I can tell you all that the estimated amount a teacher spends yearly is grossly understated. We don’t consider the small costs that we pick up every time we go into the store in that big amount we put out at the beginning of the year to replenish our supplies. But to provide the education your children requires much, and if we are to do our job adequately, we make sure the supplies are there as needed. If sending some extra things will help the teachers of my grandchildren now, I, knowing the need, think it’s my obligation to provide whatever is necessary.

  149. And this is part of the reason out society is losing it’s intelligence and common sense. Education is not a priority. School and doing well in school was a priority when I was growing up. My mom made sure I had the supplies I needed and I don’t remember my fellow students not really being prepared either (I’m sure there were some, but it was a small number). Parents now expect teachers to be responsible for raising their children for them, it’s always the fault of the teacher that their child is failing a class (never mind that your child spent all afternoon drinking soda, eating junk, and watching tv or playing video games and did not once attempt to so homework or study).

    I am not a teacher, I do not have children in school, and I’m not married or related to a teacher. But I believe that teachers, who are educating our next generations of doctors and politicians and leaders, etc, deserve to be financially compensated for the work they do. They educate our kids in hopes they will be able to positively contribute to society. If their hands are tied due to limited resources, they can’t teach our children to the best of ther ability. Why would we not want to give our children every possibly advantage in life that we can.

  150. As an inner city teacher, I’ve been hitting tag sales and sales all summer for desk chairs, expo markers, colored pencils, folders, binders, bins, poster board, mouse pads, book shelves, letter trays, BOOKS and any other “extras” you can think of :)… It has been 15 years and it doesn’t lessen that much. It makes my job and life easier to be prepared. What I wouldn’t give for a 16 pack of markers lol!!
    One of my best gifts was a student who saved up and bought me copy paper with her own money with no parental involvement at all!!!!!!!! She just knew I kept complaining about having to buy my own and not have enough. No one takes many of my students back to school shopping. Thanks for your support.

  151. You can have your opinion. Just don’t judge other people for your blog to carry your message, which seems to be: if you have the means to purchase extra supplies to help teachers out, please do. Here are the reasons why your extra support would be appreciated.

    I’m tired of reading sensationalized garbage online to get a rise out of readers. You have a valid point. Poet it rest on its own merits.

  152. As the Mother of a teacher I know how much she spends out of pocket to provide her kids with the essentials!

  153. I realize this is state specific, but if you could also research how much you’re paying in taxes that actually goes to the schools and divide that by the number of days of instruction, that would also be interesting to note……

  154. Our teachers get $75 the rest comes out of there pocket. Kids loss, steel and break supplies. Before school start I post all the good deal so people can get the best deal. We are having a Clinic shower to provide the nurse some need and will have another school supply drive half way through the year. Our staff and teacher give countless hours to our kids the least we can do is give them the supplies they need.

  155. The issue of parents complaining about Expo markers has always bothered me. We ask for Expos not for the teacher, but the kids actually use them daily. We have small dry erase boards for each child. They are great for math drills, spelling practice, letter formation, etc. It allows the teacher a quick assessment as to which kids have mastered a skill or need more instruction. So yes. This teacher has to go buy the mega pack since only 2 of her students will typically send in the Expos on the supply list. These markers have to be replaced multiple times throughout the year as well. And as for the survey of how much is spent by teachers on their classroom, it must have been an average of grades K-12. As an elementary teacher, I spend more than $1000 each year on my classroom.

    1. As a teacher myself, we don’t write on the board with dry erase markers anymore. It’s 2014. We use a promethean board/smart board. The dry erase markers are for the students. They use the markers to complete math on a whiteboard so we don’t have to use copies and paper. I think it’s shameful for anyone to think that teachers would ask parents to buy supplies for them. Any supplies brought into the classroom are for students to use. I wonder if other occupations ask their employees to buy tissue out of their pockets for their customers to use. Try using toilet paper instead.

    2. My daughter is a teacher and not only does she by supplies for her classroom, she has bought coats for kids that didn’t have one, breakfast for one’s that didn’t have one that morning and she goes above and beyond what is asked of her….that is what teachers do everyday. Proud of you Sweetpea….

  156. Great article and so true. It always makes me laugh when I get school supplies and the parents have opened the package and took out the “extra” that we didn’t ask for.

  157. I have grown to love my daughters teachers. I donate whatever supply needed and volunteer my time when I can. Teachers are special people and I appreciate all they do for our children.

  158. At school a dad once said he had to get to his “real job” and teaching is not? Thank you for acknowledging teachers, some don’t. Let me tell you… It’s not only school supplies- it’s snacks and possibly clothing too. I teach low income children and have seen where they live, it breaks your heart.

  159. As the mother of a first grade teacher in an inner city school in Lexington, Kentucky I applaud you. This hits the nail on the head. Teachers not only use their own money for supplies but their day is not 8-5. My daughter starts her day an hour before the kids get to school and is lucky to be home by 7 only to have to grade papers or work on the next assignment. Thanks for writing this article!

  160. As a single mother, and teacher, who is dead broke from buying things for my classroom, and has been looking forward to my monthly paycheck for the last two weeks……great article!

  161. Thank you for your words and your understanding. School supply buying for us doesn’t even end at the beginning if school. It goes year round.

  162. this is so very true as well my daughter who is starting her first year of teaching fifth grade in one of the Rochester ny , and I know she has spend already ou of pocket,but she is that kind of person she will help out of her pocket for her kids.

  163. Thank you so much for your article. Every year I spend quite a bit on my classroom and my students. I face those parents that don’t buy the supplies and their child comes in with nothing so I in turn provide the student with the supplies. While these same parents get their nails and hair done and always look well put together. I understand the parents who just don’t have it to give, but the ones who can and simply won’t makes me boil inside every time. Thanks again!

  164. Thank you for the article and I thank you for your compassion towards teachers. Your kind words touched my heart. I, too, am a teacher, and I wish more parents had such empathy towards us.

  165. I think you may have read her indignation out of context, or maybe I’m projecting my thoughts on her, but it could be directed not at the teacher per se, but at the idea that we are supposed to receive a free education based on the taxes we contribute.
    I have not heard one wealthy friend of mine complain, rather I see them contributing the most to fundraisers, class gifts, class parties, PTO, etc. My less well-off friends, however, are in woe over the hundreds in fees for two children, plus school supplies. Remember, when we were kids, school supplies meant stuff we used ourselves, not mandatory class contributions.
    Any indignation I hear is directed at the district, state, and federal system that keeps requiring teachers to do more with less, and much more with much less. Schools and teachers have to ask for supplies, but they shouldn’t have to.
    Education needs to be more of a priority in our country, starting with teachers: pay them more or require less of them. Give them the tools and support personnel they need to do their jobs. Quit asking them to do things not related to teaching.

  166. As a teacher myself, we don’t write on the board with dry erase markers anymore. It’s 2014. We use a promethean board/smart board. The dry erase markers are for the students. They use the markers to complete math on a whiteboard so we don’t have to use copies and paper. I think it’s shameful for anyone to think that teachers would ask parents to buy supplies for them. Any supplies brought into the classroom are for students to use. I wonder if other occupations ask their employees to buy tissue out of their pockets for their customers to use. Try using toilet paper instead.

  167. Thank you for your post and your thoughts! I’m a mom and a teacher and those spending estimates are very accurate (my state is like 43rd in the nation for pay). Teachers are also asked to keep supply lists to a minimum and those things run out quickly. Last year, my daughter came home in march and said they were sharing glue sticks because they didn’t have anymore. We were asked to send 4 each at the beginning of school. Do you think a first grader can ration out one stick of glue for 2.5 months? What are they suppose to do between march and June? So I went to a warehouse store and bought a pack of 30. My students don’t have paper after that initial round is bought in August so how will I get their work if they don’t have paper? I gave out over 300 pencils last year. It’s amazing how much we as teachers spend (often without even realizing it).

    What if I gave a child a zero for not having an assignment (because they didn’t have the proper supplies)? How fast would that same parent be in my room demanding that I’m being unfair?

    If parents are concerned about the supply list, they need to contact the teacher. We are always willing to share explanations for needed supplies. We want your children to be successful!

    If you want to help your child’s teacher with a random act of kindness, send extras throught the year. If you find a killer deal on hand sanitizer or a BOGO on Kleenex, send some in. You have NO IDEA how that will bless that teacher.

  168. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We not only spend our own money, many of us give up time with our families AFTER school hours (for which we are not paid) to ensure we are prepared to teach our children.

  169. As a teacher who has spent WAY more than I can afford on supplies for my classroom, I truly appreciate your article and point of view. I honestly wish more parents felt the same. Thanks!

  170. When my kids (2)were in school every year I always bought for 4 kids so that each teacher would have 1extra for that child that couldn’t afford to bring their own supplies being from a rural area there were a few of these students… I also bought extra paper,pencils, folders among other things. Being a stay at home mom and foster mom I was not rich. From point coupee parish

  171. After reading a good bit of the comments, why is it ok for parents and teachers to have to supply communal school supplies? I am 34. Growing up, I remember my parents purchasing crayons that would be labeled with my name and sit in my pencil box also labeled with my name. When I ran low on any item my parents would send me with more pencils, markers etc. They struggled but fortunately all turned out ok. Now this year I have 2 children in school. My oldest is now in fourth grade. It angers me that I have to once again buy 5 one subject notebooks when the ones from last year and the year before are not even a fourth used. Our school systems should be providing so that our teachers can teach and not worry that their dry erase markers are barely showing up or they have no more copy paper for worksheets. Let’s not point fingers at parents or teachers. We all pay taxes and unfortunately those monies are used for salaries of those who rarely if ever step foot into a classroom.

  172. Thank you so much for writing this article. I teach in Oklahoma and have taught for 17 years and still don’t make the pay you put in the article! I have spent at least $500 for my class so far. I will continue to spend all year. Again I wish we had more parents like you!!!

  173. Thank you for your article. I just bought a printer for my classroom because they don’t have them for us to start the year. Yes a printer!

  174. Can I say thank you for realizing that teachers spend personal money EVERY year to teach children! Please buy the good tissues or the large bottle of hand sanitizer also! We go through those items by the truckload!

  175. Excellent point- I wholeheartedly agree. As a mom of 4 on a limited budget, it is a struggle to buy all of the school supplies, but I do so gladly and always buy the large packs of any required supplies. I also make sure to check the teacher’s lists later in the year to see if they are running low on anything. I’d much rather but supplies or donate money than work on all of the awful fundraisers! Thanks for breaking down the numbers and giving evidence about how little this really costs in the long run. The education of my children is not an area I will ever skimp or complain about the costs!

  176. WOW this thread is a shinning example of never able to make everyone happy. No matter what we teachers do, someone just has to complain. There is not a good solution to this issue, just different approachs and which is the least likely to get a teacher into trouble.

  177. My daughter is a teacher and I totally agree with your every word….but thinking a little more about this…when my children were in High School they had to share math books(of all things)! But the football team had shiny new helmets! What ever the details were, that sent a message to my children where the priorities were. If we spent less on football stadiums,etc. the parents and teachers would not have to subsidize with supplies. What happened? When I was in school…teacher nor parents spent a penny of their own money….school funding paid for all of it. Just wondering??

  178. Thank you. I am a third grade teacher at a low income school. I loved your article and appreciate what you have to say.

  179. Thank you for writing this article. As a first grade teacher, I spend a large amount each year on supplies, teacher resources, crafts, items for special days and parties, snacks for those that can’t afford a snack each day, etc. I absolutely enjoy making my classroom a great place to be. But I also very much appreciate those parents that gladly send supplies and are willing to help where they can. Afterall, we are all working towards the same goal: preparing the babies we love for the future!

  180. I am not a teacher and wouldn’t even consider it. I do however work in a customer service position and deal with the public daily and know first hand how difficult it can be. I am in full agreement that the money spent to help the teachers of this world to be able to do their jobs is money well spent. My hats off to you all for the great job you do with the youth of today and you deserve help for that service you provide.

  181. I agree but I am a automobile mechanic and my shop does not supply tools. I pay about $50 a week on my tools which equals about $2600 annually. So i know the feeling is someone wanting their car worked on going to bring e the tools to fix it NO!!!! so I am going to get the six pack.

    1. You are so right. I’m not going to bring the tools for fix my car, that is something you provide to do your job. However, if your child brings their car to you are you going to make them bring their own tools or are you going to use your own. I am a teacher and I buy everything for my students and ask for nothing. I buy what I need to do my job but as a parent of two girls (29 and 30 years old now) I was more than glad to buy them the supplies they needed and more to help out the class. I know that everyone cannot afford to buy everything on their list and that is ok but to just not buy it because you think it is the teacher or the schools place to provide your child with the needed materials is not right. If your child gets sick at school is it up to me the teacher or school to pay for their medical care, NO it’s yours. Its not like we the teacher is asking for you to buy the materials we need to do our job, we are just asking you as parents to provide the needed materials your child needs to get a free education.

  182. I don’t get why the lady didn’t grab two 10 packs for the 3 kids who needed 6 each? If she had the resources to have all those nuce things (and knowing how to be given things us a resource, so I’m avoiding that argument) she should either know how to add, or know how to get it all for free… so yes, the author has the right to be “judgemental” in this case.

  183. Thank you so much for writing this! I am a special education teacher who pulls out children from their regular education classroom to work on their specific areas of need. I spend a lot of my own money on supplies and necessities because parents do not usually give supplies to all of the “other” teachers. If I don’t purchase things on my own I have to beg the classroom teachers to share simple things like tissues. If they received a little extra then they would willingly share with the other teachers, like myself, who serve their students.

  184. Thank you. I understand that I am blessed to get to do what I love…..teach…..for a living. I choose to have a career that few seem to appreciate or value. When I read post like yours….I tear up and remember that my colleagues and I are not in this alone. Thank you. Yeah, I know …..it’s just a pack of markers….or is it?

  185. Thank you for understanding that teachers typically only ask for the supplies that their students need to be successful in the classroom. I don’t think that this parent you mentioned understood that the Expo markers probably aren’t for the teacher’s personal use but rather for the students’ use on dry erase boards where they will work practice math problems for the teacher to quickly check for understanding, provide answers to other questions, etc. It is not unreasonable that students would use 6 markers in the course of the year — possibly more.

    1. Expo markers can be used personally, by the student, on their desks! It is awesome. Ever have an ADD kid? Give them a marker or two and tell them to put answers on their desk. Watch him/her draw a picture, make doodles, color in the top left corner for no reason, then fingernails, then, yes, there it is, the answer, in the top left corner. Lesson accomplished.

      1. I like how you present yourself. Very down to earth and realistic, patient and understanding. Thank you. You are one of a kind.

  186. I am not a teacher, just a parent that for years I could not, literally (no designer anything here) could barely afford school supplies. It usually meant going without food or paying bills late in August. I understand the quandary of school districts and budget shortfalls, but I can honestly say it is awful that there is not a larger budget for teachers to purchased needed supplies. Again, I understand and we deal with levies not passing in our district, etc… But it is sad the way our nation is set up when it comes to providing for the employees. As for schools not allowing their teachers in ask for tissues! Seriously this is awful. Beyond awful. Now that I am a little better off, still making less than a 1st year teacher, I will not buy extra expo markers, BUT I WILL buy some extra tissues and donate them this year!

  187. This is MOST awesome. I am a teacher. I gladly spend money out of my pocket freely because I want my job done right! I want my children to have the necessary items whether it be to make my room look inviting or GLUE! I purchases 20 bottles of glue out of my pocket because they NEEDED it. I was glad to do it. BUT you are right on target with your comments. Wonderful to read.

  188. Thank you! I not only buy classroom supplies I need but I also stock up so that I have new supplies to give those students who come in with NOTHING!

  189. I spend so much money every year on my students without giving it a second thought. It disturbs me that a parent would have the attitude of not giving anything extra to “them” because that implies we are not on the same team with the goal of education. I ask for very little from my students; even when I do ask, I rarely get what I ask for and there is no recourse. I just provide it myself and always have. So, if you’re a parent begrudging buying a box of Kleenex or construction paper to send to your child’s teacher, shame on you if you can afford it. Rest assured that I will always provide for your child — and do will other teachers — even when we can’t afford to.

  190. As a teacher, I say thank you!! In our school, we get $100 a year to spend on classroom supplies (in the elementary school). That is for glue, paper, pencils, erasers, paint, construction paper, markers, crayons, any supplies we need (binders, pens, folders, white-out, staples, paper clips, etc.), tissues, lysol wipes (because the janitors clean the floors, not any desks or other surfaces), and anything else you can think of. We get basic curriculum stuff and that’s it. So when you go into your child’s classroom this year and see bulletin boards, a classroom library, the nametags on their desks, the alphabet across the top of the room, bookshelves, the reading corner with nice little chairs in it, a lot of the math manipulatives, any decorations in the room what-so-ever, any type of organizational system, etc., guess who bought them? It wasn’t the school. My second year of teaching, I opened up a brand new program in my school (a special education program for students with autism, ID, and other disabilities) and the classroom had nothing! I probably spent around $2000 that year, of my own money, getting basics for the students. Every year since, it has been a little less money, but I am spending money every year. As a teacher who is not the homeroom teacher, I rarely see any of the school supplies that come in. My husband is also a teacher, and we spend a lot of money between the two of us every year getting things for our classrooms. If we can make it a part of our budget to buy school supplies for almost 30 students (both special ed. teachers so we do not have full classrooms), than most families can make it a part of their budgets to buy school supplies for 3 kids. If you really cannot afford it, than please look into what you have in your community. Almost all communities have some type of program that will give school supplies to families who really cannot afford it. If you can afford to buy a little extra, please do. Trust me, that box of crayons only lasts so long. Most of the supplies you send in (especially for the younger students) will last until Thanksgiving, maybe Christmas if we’re lucky. At that point, the teacher is buying it all or using what he/she bought when he/she stocked up on back-to-school sales.

  191. As a teacher I am reading these comments with an open mouth not knowing what to say. I have been teaching for 7 years and every year I have bought every single school supply for my students and myself. I decorate my classroom with new themes every year because as an special education teacher I may have the students for over 3 years and don’t want them to have the same class sit up. I want all of my students to have the same materials so their is not fighting over things. This is what I want to do so I pay for it. If a parent wants to provide something for their student or class I will tell them on Meet the Teacher day that I have provided the basic materials but if you want to buy please see the supplies on your students desk and get the same. I also use index cards and write one item on the card and if the parent wants to buy something they can pick up one of the cards. I work in a low income school with is a Title 1 school and a plus 1 school which means over 95% of our students are on free lunch and we go to school one hour longer than the normal school day. With this all being said I would just like to say if I had to ask for school supplies for my students it would be for the students. The glue sticks, whiteboard markers, tissues and whatever else parents think are for the teacher THEY ARE NOT THEY ARE FOR YOUR CHILD. I have my own and I like it that way.

    For the parents who take care of their children’s needs for the school year THANK YOU. I love my job and will do what is needed to make sure your child gets what they need in my class even if it does come out of my pocket. After all it is about the children.

  192. I don’t feel the teachers need to pay for the expo markers, however if the schools are going to insist on upgrading the black boards to white boards because it looks better. Then the schools should pay for them not the students.

    1. Just to clarify, the white board markers are for the students to use on their own desk whiteboards. At least at my school they are. The school buys the whiteboard markers. There are so many allergies that blackboards aren’t in the children’s best interest.

  193. Thank you for this! With my mother being a teacher, I can remember her spending hundreds every year for her classroom! And that is on top of the 4 kids she was buying supplies for!

  194. Seriously people?? Schools give teachers nothing- no supplies for the teacher or the student and often that even means textbooks. Telling the student to use TP out of the bathroom isn’t always an option as THERE IS NO TP in the student and often in the teacher’s bathrooms. If I didn’t spend my money not only would students not have that box of tissues but many would come to school every day with no supplies – no pencil, no paper, no notebook, etc…. Sometimes it is obvious the student is sent to school to ask the teacher to give them supplies – it seems as if it is often expected. I realize a middle school student doesn’t have control over their parent’s and therefore, through compassion and caring, do spend my money for their supplies. Public education is in a mess and somehow it is all the teacher’s fault. I encourage anyone who believes this to take an hour, a day, a week… to volunteer or just observe what REALLY happens in a public school. Teachers are truly miracle workers.

  195. As a teacher in NC who is paid WELL BELOW the national average, I thank you for writing this and I hope it continues to go VIRAL!!!!!!!! While our state has given us a raise, anyone who has been in teaching over 10 years no longer receives longevity. The state pulled our longevity and capped our teachers who ALREADY have Master’s (because they aren’t paying us for our furthered education anymore) at $55,000.

    And for the record….YES, I am thankful for my job. 🙂

  196. Bless you! I do spend quite a bit out of pocket each year and it is more than $500.
    It is refreshing to hear someone speak for teachers instead of against.

  197. I am a teacher of 21 years and always spend money out of pocket to provide the things my students need and don’t have. Thank you!

  198. As a teacher who is currently broke and racking up credit because I do not get paid two months out of the year and is planning on going this week to buy supplies for my classroom, I really appreciate hearing a positive view such as this coming from a parent. Thank you to those parents who understand and appreciate teachers!

  199. I too a teacher of 17 years, say thank you!! While we do what we do, and spend what we spend out of love, it is nice to be acknowledged!

  200. As the sister of a teacher this article makes me cheer. As a social worker in child protective services it makes me sign. I have to buy all of my own supplies and while I love my job it sucks that we get no respect

  201. Wonder if doctors, lawyers, CEO’s of companies, bankers, Wall Street investors, congressmen and women, scientists, physicists, ambassadors, researchers etc have to buy their own supplies in order to do their jobs?

  202. As a Special Education Teacher, thank you. So look many people do not take the time to look at what we do and what it takes for us to teach our kids.

  203. As a teacher who works in an under privileged school, thank you! My fellow teachers and I are responsible for our own classroom supplies and since most parents can’t afford their own students thigs, we usually end up supplementing them out if our own pocket. Thanks again! I wish more people would realize what a big help it is!

  204. Our school year hasn’t even begun yet and I’ve already spent somewhere around $300 for items needed for my classroom (yes, I’m a teacher).
    I witnessed a scene somewhat like the one you describe in your post: I was shopping for school supplies at a local Walmart and encountered a child I recognized (so he goes to school in my school district). His mother and grandmother were discussing the pencils that were included on the supply list. The list simply stated that the child should have 24 pencils. I heard the mother complaining about the cost of pencils and telling her mother that she wasn’t going to buy the good ones because “he eats them”. Now, I don’t think she meant that literally. I think she meant that he goes through them quickly. But here’s the problem – the cheap pencils do get used up quickly because the graphite in them breaks too easily. I have personally witnessed these cheap pencils getting used up within one school day. So the message I’m trying to send is that you usually do get what you pay for.

  205. Plus, those are supplies mainly for the classroom. Special areas generally pay much more out of pocket because they see more students and they don’t generally add to the supply list. Kleenex, markers, crayons and paper for an entire year amounts to mega moola. Spoken by a former classroom teacher going back to teaching music…

  206. Excellent article! If I had all the money I spent for my classroom and instructional materials over the last forty years invested in my retirement account, I would be a wealthy woman!

  207. Having just spent a lot of money to provide supplies for my students who can’t afford them, thank you for this. My wife complains each year at this time that we are paying to educate not just our own children but everyone else’s because of the fact that I have to provide folders, pencils, erasers, glue, scissors, etc. And where we live, the starting salary for a new teacher is $34,000.

  208. Great article. Some people are superficial and do not realize we as teachers impact your children more than home life. Parent build the foundation and we water it.

  209. As a teacher of 29.455 years, I thank you for this! I purposely don’t keep a record of all that I spend on my class…it would make me ill and my husband angry.

  210. Great post! I agree I spend a lot of money supplying my room on top of my own kids supplies. We have some supplies at school but they are minimal and not always the best quality. Example post it notes. Post-it brand are great they stick to things but our cheaper brand does not we must reinforce with scotch tape. We are limited on the amount we can have also. I think a lot of people don’t realize why we ask for supplies. I ask for certain items but make it more more than $5. I still have complaints. Thanks again for your generosity and your post.

  211. I LOVE this! We are truly the only profession that spends our OWN money to do our job effectively. I never question a student who doesn’t have his/her supplies because I don’t know what their circumstances are. But when I see kids coming to school in designer clothing, the latest toys and gadgets, and they didn’t bring in supplies (that I’ve had to pay to supply) it burns me up! You know those parents don’t value education……they value pleasing their children!

  212. After reading several comments, concerned about how people are thinking. For example, I could continue the stupid debate by saying something like, “When I was in school we didn’t have computers so there is no need for any computers in the school, we did fine without them.” “When I was in school we didn’t have this or that or whatever so why do they need it today.” Please people, the times change, it’s different in every school, city, state, country. Let the teachers and school districts make decisions about what supplies are needed. If you have a problem talk to the principal about it, don’t bother the teacher with a supply list problem other than to say, “We couldn’t get this yet, we will get it later.” If you can’t afford it, talk to the principal or teacher, there are people everywhere that are happy to help buy supplies for children that can’t afford them.

  213. I also remember the only thing required for school was a notebook, paper and pen/ pencil. By time I was in High School certain paper folders and those marble journals were included in the list.
    Now days the list so so so long on required supplies its mind boggling. Yes their are teachers out there that spend their own money on school supplies. Thank You. But for years has a Sales Manager at Staples, I would hear stories from students, parents and teachers how they would collect the supplies and hand them out to the students at the start of the year. Then if the student needed something the teacher would sell it to them. YES SELL IT. or they would put the access in the school store. I know many of these fine teachers posting on this also do the same, they may say its not so but we know the truth. For those that really teach and take care of their students I say thank you and please keep up the great work to future teachers to do the same.
    Look at the school list and think why does a teacher need a pack of Red Pens from each student in each class?

  214. Merci beaucoup! I admire you for standing up for educators! It is a part of education that makes everyone’s job easier.
    There are also charities that will help provide supplies for your kids if you do not have means. Please ask for help if you need it rather than send them with nothing and have the teacher provide their supplies.

  215. I have a better solution. Let’s tax everyone a bit higher or tell parents to send in a $100 check at the beginning of the school year. The money would go much farther if the school could place a large bulk order for everything they need and have it arrive before the first day of school. I’d be all for handing my kid’s teacher a hundred dollar bill at the open house rather than try to stretch that $100 into supplies on my own. Not to mention, so many lists specify that they have to be the 4 pack of black, blue, red & green markers. They won’t use the other 4-6 different colors in the package anyway. Obviously taxing or supplying money would never go over well with our society because they have no idea of the true value of the supplies and what goes into preparing a classroom for 25 rowdy kids.

  216. I teach in NC, and Louisiana’s starting salary is what I make after teaching for 17 years. And, yes, I spend my money on my class, too. Thank you for this wonderful article.

  217. Teachers pay more than just money out of pocket to do their job, how many other jobs have you sitting on the weekends preparing lessons for the days to come or writing individual educational plans for those students that don’t achieve like the rest? Teachers do it because they love children, yes even those that aren’t the best behaved, and because we know we touch each and every one of those kids in some way the entire 180 days they are with you in a school year. I believe we spend more time with your children than you do on a weekly basis. So those parents that don’t want to support the school budget, but expect your child to be taught just the same, thank the teachers because they put in a lot more than you realize.

  218. I know I’ve already spent over $220 on classroom supplies and instructional materials. With 175 school days left, I know I will spend much more on these kiddos. Thank you for your perspective! Our job is a lot of “heart-work”.

  219. I’m a high school teacher, and your article made my day. Thank you for your article. It us so refreshing (especially this day in age) that a parent appreciates what we do, and is willing to talk about it. I’ll be sharing your article on my timeline, now. 🙂

  220. This is so true! I’ve spent over $500 on my room this year…and I’m still picking up things here and there. But I don’t mind, because I want a classroom that my students feel comfortable in.

  221. Bless your heart! You get it! I spend hundreds of dollars a year on my students. No one forces me to do it. I just wish more people knew that those things are coming out of my own paycheck.

  222. I’ve been teaching for 35 years and this is one of the most thoughtful articles about teacher’s pay that I’ve ever read! It’s well written, too! You obviously had some excellent teachers! I greatly value all the time and effort you put into this essay! A+

  223. This is my tenth year of teaching and I am just now making almost $43,000 a year (that’s WITH a master’s degree). Earlier on my career, I would spend closer to $1000 a year on items for my classroom, but now it is closer to $500. I teach in a school with a 90% poverty rate, so I am okay with spending some money on my students, but it does get old when it is not appreciated and just expected. Thank you for writing this article. I don’t think most people realize that the money comes straight from the teachers’ pockets.

  224. Our schools provide a wish list and I try to buy double, figuring someone else can’t. (Or won’t) buy their share. Totally agree with this article. It’s the least we can do as parents. Teachers should not have to pay out of pocket. Ever. And no, I’m not a teacher nor married to one. I’m just grateful for them.

  225. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, I am a teacher who spends out of pocket all the time for my students. I have taught for 30 years have a Master Degree and make what a beginning teacher does in East Baton Rouge. I went into to teaching to make a difference in a child’s life but did not realize I would be giving so much of my own pay check to do this. So once again I say thank you.

  226. I’m a kid who watched my parents have a hard time affording school supplies for 4 children but they understood why we had to get them. They put themselves in the teachers shoes.The fact people expect their kids to go to school for like no money (from taxes or there pocket) just shows ignorance.I wouldn’t be surprised if that mom in the article is the type of mom that blames the teacher for their kids problems in school. I would have said something to her in the store.

  227. As a parent and Texas resident, the lottery in our state failed to pay out over 700 million in unclaimed prize money. That went to the state and school system. I think the problem now is in how the money is being spent in the school system. It’s time to stream line the system and put the money where it needs to be spent. That would not be in the layers of middle management that the schools have created. If I had to choose bling or my children’s education, it would be the education every time!

    1. The idea written here that the Texas Lottery gives directly to schools is incorrect. The lottery money goes into the general fund. The monies were supposed to be earmarked for schools but some legislators did a nifty trick and stopped that cold. The same legislators gutted school finance and refused to use the ‘rainy-day fund’. This was later used to secure the border as a scare tactic. (The HUGE number of kids coming over the border represents .009% of the total under 18 population of the State. What crisis?) For more info on how the money is spent in a school system, please look at the numbers. Most directly affects kids. This includes the support staff as well as teachers. Just find the numbers. Check the Friends of Texas Schools website. They have it all.

  228. I agree fully. I did not realize until I had children of my own going into school how hard a teacher’s job must be from day to day. Not only making sure that our children learn and do the best that they can do but also being the disciplinarian and basically their parent away from home for 7 to 8 hours a day. They don’t get paid very much and the fact that they have to spend money out of their own pockets on school supplies is just sickening. I understand there are those out there who truly cannot afford to purchase school supplies much less put three meals on the table but that’s not the case for a lot of us. We can find the little bit of money to buy school supplies to make sure that our kids have what they need to learn, to succeed and be successful. I, myself have purchased extra school supplies when the stores have done significant markdowns on certain products. I brought those supplies to school and gave them to the teachers. My youngest is in pre-k my oldest is in kindergarten, I only have to pay a supply fee for my daughter in kindergarten and it’s $20 for the whole year.and I fully understand the whole point of your story that frustrated you so bad.people need to get their priorities straight. Spend their money on things that really matter like needs and not wants. Standing in a store with your expensive purse, expensive clothes, jewelry, etc. and have the audacity to complain about purchasing school supplies… That’s just a pathetic human being.

  229. Tell the kids that they may want to carry their own individual pack of tissues if they don’t want to go to the restroom to blow their nose. That’s what we used to do. This way you aren’t technically requesting the tissues, but you are giving them a choice. We also kept our own supply box and when we needed new supplies we asked our parents to send them to school with us. We had all our extras at home and not piled together in the classroom. I now send cheap pencils because MY KID never ends up with the better pencils I buy. I send cheap ones for the class and give my kid the good ones out of our stash at home. I’ve been at the school after hours too and have seen custodians sweeping pencils off the floor INTO THE TRASH! The kids are supposed to pick them up before leaving, but these are elementary age kids and they don’t always do a bang up job of it.

  230. I love getting supplies and often stock up when they go on clearance so when my kids need more during the year we can just pull them out of the bin. What doesn’t thrill me is when I walk into a classroom
    And we have to put it into a community pile. Many times we ended up with the less quality stuff even though we brought in the name brand it’s tgat were on the list. My school also gets donations for the kids that are in need. Having 4 kids it can get expensive do I just ask that my kids get what I purchased for them. I always send in items needed when requested by the teacher too.

  231. I would have reached around the woman and said to my child. Let’s get the larger pack, thenyou can share with other kids that dony have any. Making a point to my child and the woman that you do what you can to help others that do t have as much as you do.

  232. Thank you so much for your article. My husband and I are both teachers at a school where 65% of our students receive free or reduced lunch. So those extra supplies that some parents send with their kids can also go to help those kids who cannot afford them. I have been teaching for 8 years and my husband for 7 and together we spend over $500 a year for extra supplies. So thank you, thank you for picking up the 16 pack!

    1. Is it really fair for other parents to be expected to pick up things for the families that can’t afford them though? The supply list is meant for that student. It doesn’t say for the class. I have no problems donating extra school supplies – just don’t claim that it’s things for my own child’s use. I’ve had more than one teacher end up keeping the extras of supplies that my kid didn’t use at the end of the school year. Right down to scissors and the ruler that was had to supply. When non-consumables aren’t returned by teachers it just leaves a bad taste in parents mouths.

  233. Thank you so much! I just spent $100 at Walmart last night on stuff for my classroom (and that wasn’t the first…or even the second shopping trip of items for my cuties!).

  234. Thank you so much for this article. As a teacher in a Title I school, it’s even more challenging to have enough supplies day in and day out for those that cannot afford to bring them to school in the first place. We often rely on donations or try to write grants in between writing lesson plans to teach the future leaders of our country. The kids will remember the graciousness of someone donating or gifting supplies more than hateful words about cost. Hopefully, it will start the ever powerful trend of paying it forward. Thank you once again for brining light to this subject.

  235. So very true… Thank you for publishing this article. Consider those of us who have been teaching for over thirty years. That results in a tremendous amount of money spent within the classroom!

  236. Thanks! We all spend lots to provide for our students. I’ve already purchased 80 notebooks, 80 folders, pencils, Kleenex, glue, for my 22 babies.

  237. While I do not have a problem with providing extra supplies for teachers or the schools, your analogy is Apples to Oranges. The Doctors office is ran as a business, the schools system, although mandated by law that children attend (for the most part), is looked at as an after thought by the government (at least that is how it seems since the do not take care of the teachers).

    Bottom line: Support the teachers and schools that your children attend!

  238. I cannot thank you enough for the way you think about this. As a very young second year teacher, I have been faced with the choice of buying school supplies for my students, or buying a few extra groceries for my husband and myself. In an area of extreme poverty, the choice is always the same. I take care of my students. Parents like you make our lives and jobs that much easier. God bless you!

  239. Thank you so much! I too teach, but at a small charter school in Michigan. My starting pay last year as a first-year teacher was only $30,000 (before taxes). I had to buy most of my supplies and all of my classroom decor myself. It was really rough after spending the previous year working retail to afford all that. Luckily, I’m a creative person and was able to make my small budget go a long way for decorations, but my classroom supplies were running very thin half-way through the year. Plus, I teach high school – a time when parents are much less willing to donate supplies.

  240. I would venture to guess most parents issues with supplies is the communal aspect. Not only do I have to buy the supplies list for both children but I have to double it. Double notebook paper, double crayons/colored pencils/ markers, double notecards, double pencils, double pens, double scissors, double glue. All because when the supplies are sent in marked with my child’s name it’s put in a box for the whole class to use, so in turn when my child has homework or an at home project and all of these items are needed we don’t have them because they are all at school and he can’t bring them home because they are “the class’s” supplies. I agree that I should supply my child with what they need to do their work but having to provide double because the teachers won’t let them bring home what I already purchased is crazy. Therefore I don’t have that extra $5 to buy tissues, hand sanitizer, copy paper, the extra markers, and disinfectant. I think there is most likely an easy solution out there but don’t know what it is.

    1. I’m a 3rd grade teacher, and I agree with you to a point. Lower grade classrooms do not have individual desks for children to store pencils, crayons, etc. and younger students often cannot keep track of them. So the teachers pool them and store them all together for them. In my classroom, I feel that my students are old enough to start taking ownership of their own supplies. They have their own desk, and I do not confiscate their pencils, paper, erasers, crayons, etc. I tell them to store them in their desk and take good care of them (they often don’t but that’s their issue to deal with). I do collect the hand sanitzer, expo markers (hand them out as needed), tissues, and clorox wipes since those are for the benefit of the whole class.

      1. I teach younger children who all have thier own desks. I provide the materials for the students who do not bring their own pencil boxes, crayons, glue sticks, etc. so that everyone has the same materials and teach them to manage their own belongings and to work in their own space. And they often will share with a “neighbor” if the other child runs out of something which is teaching kindness and sharing.

  241. Thank you, so far I have spent close to $300 dollars for decorations, books to put in our class library and folders and other school supplies for children who won’t have any supplies for school.

  242. I completely agree with this article but there is no mention of how teachers have the ability to write off up to $600 a year on their taxes. Just so the argument is balanced.

  243. I have no children, but was a student once upon a time. We provided our own supplies as far as paper, pens, pencils, etc. I applaud teachers who spend their own money to better the learning experience of their students, and acknowledge the fact that they are not the only ones who spend their own money so they can do their jobs better. I spend my own money at work, too, and I’m a bather at a boarding kennel. I don’t get paid well, either.
    That being said, I’m appalled at the spelling in some of the post here from teachers! If that is an indication of what our children are being taught, we’re in big trouble.

  244. I would go further on the nurse supplies to say that it would be more like asking the nurse to buy the syringes and medicine so that she can give the shots. That would be more comparable to teachers buying supplies to teacher his or her students.

  245. the problem is our taxes used to pay for these things and they still should…just let school become optional again and let parents raise there own children and if they want to participate in public school then pay if not then teach their children at home as it should be anyway.

  246. Thank you for such a great and accurate article on this matter! I’m a teacher and I spend an easy $1,000 each year!

  247. I agree with you completely….HOWEVER the entire reason is because there are parents out there who do not bring in ANY schools supplies and its not always because they can’t afford it. I have absolutely no problem buying the teachers whatever they need. I have a HUGE issue in buying hundreds of dollars in school supplies for other kids who’s parents don’t feel like they should buy school supplies. When you carry an iPhone and can’t buy school supplies, i don’t feel like I should have to be the one doing it for you. BTW I am on the PTA board and do as much as I can to supply the school with what they need.

  248. As a second year teacher I have a hard time coming up with the funds to maka my room look excellent and provide all the extra materials that I need to but I darn well try. Thank you for your article.

  249. Amen but sadly if u go to the hospital for a shot u do pay for that syringe, alcohol pad & medicine 2x more than what it cost!

  250. Thank you! I really appreciate this article and what it says about Teachers. Only if everyone understood in the world understood.

  251. Thank you from a household were we both teach and spend roughly 1,000 a year out of our pockets to educate children who often times do not have the means to buy the supplies.

  252. Thank you for this article. I’m an inner city teacher in Houston and most of my students cannot or don’t bring their supplies from the list I provide and the district only supplies so much. I spend a lot of money not just on supplies, but labs (I’m a science teacher), speakers and no to mention copy paper to make copies of worksheets. Wish every parent shared your perspective. Blessings to you and your kids for a successful school year.

  253. First, a big thank you to teachers who reach into their own pockets to buy things for the classroom. That said, this article is an example of how accepting we have become as a society. The problem is NOT a parent who dislikes being asked to pay for classroom supplies. Let us remember that this same parent has already paid the property taxes that are supposed to cover the cost of schooling. Let us take a look at how those taxes are being spent. How many school districts have huge buildings, complete with all the supplies that the administrators need (or simply want)? Take a look at the 67 billion dollar budget for the Department of Education, funded by taxes paid by that parent and all of us. Ask yourself if you are getting your money’s worth? What has the Department of Education done? Has the quality of education gone up in the past 35 years (when it became a separate entity)? I think not. But as long as people keep accepting the status quo, quality of (public) education will decrease and each family’s contributions to classroom supplies will increase.

  254. As a single mother who also works fl time, gets no child support and no government assistance, I am that mom who does that. I work way too hard to provide for my child and spending hundreds of dollar on school supplies never sits well with me. But because I work, I get no help or assistance for these types of things and I flat out don’t make enough money to afford it. Teachers CHOOSE to spend their own money, no one makes y’all. If they need help, send an email to all the parents and the ones who can afford to help usually will. And them moms like me who have to choose between feeding myself and buying school supplies can be left alone and not guilt tripped over not wanting to buy things for an education that’s guaranteed toll be free in America. If I wanted to or could afford to pay for school, my child would be in private school. But he’s not.

  255. From the perspective of a parent, can I say maybe this mother was just having a bad day? Back to school shopping in an over crowded store that may or may not have half of the items on the three separate supply lists has never brought out the best in me. And it’s really none of the author’s business what anyone was wearing.

    We are not rich and we are not poor and back to school shopping is always a financial challenge. Everyone needs larger shoes and clothing and rarely do the clothes they wore during the summer meet the strict dress codes of the school.

    I wish we only had to spend $15 on the supplies as some of the comments suggested because we never come in under $75 per child. I dutifully purchase every last item on the lists and then I purchase more so that when they need more paper in their binders, run out of pencils, or need supplies for the endless list of school projects, they will have what they need at home.

    Here’s my frustration. We pay taxes. Our neighbors pay taxes. They are sent to the capitol and they disburse them evenly throughout the state. So even though my county may pay more, we all get the same. Fine. We also pay school fees each year for each student. We are told these are for supplies. They get higher as the student progresses through their education and depending on what classes they have in high school. It probably averages out to $85 a year. THEN we get a supply list. Pens, pencils, paper, markers…. Thats fine. All of the basics make complete sense. (And yes, dry erase markers are fine). But there are also those elusive items I swear are on there to test my sanity such as a certain type of folder with grommets AND plastic AND it has to be yellow because the teacher likes things to be color coded. So, I end up with an odyssey on my hands going to every last store I can think of so I can finish up with the last 5 items. I’ve actually had to resort to amazon.com several times. There is a point every year I could be that mother the author was talking about. That point where my nerves are shot and I don’t need judged. Mind your own business. Maybe that hollister shirt my son is wearing was purchased from my neighbor’s garage sale for $3. Maybe his grandma bought it for his birthday. Who do you think you are to judge? I’ve never owned an expensive purse in my life, but if I did I don’t owe you an apology for it.

    So while I’m giving the other side, I am a mother who volunteers. I’m actually the mother the teacher calls because my child’s teacher from last year had gotten so much help that they all know me by my first name. I’ve planned more parties than I can count and I had a permanent name badge made for me so I wouldn’t need to get a Volunteer sticker at the office each day.

    I’ve worked with some of the most amazing teachers my children have been blessed with knowing. However, you all know there are teachers out there who picked the wrong profession. Afford the parents a break if we are dealing with one or two of them. A bad teacher leaves a bad taste in your mouth for quite a while. Every profession has people like this.

    I have many friends who are teachers and no less than outstanding, good hearted, amazing people. Their chosen profession is full of love and dedication and I don’t think I could do it. But please cut this mom a break. She could be me stressing out that I still need to buy shoes, jeans, backpacks, schedule haircuts, stop at 5 more stores looking for those elusive items and stop for groceries before I can go home and start the laundry. We care just as much for our children as you do. That mom may have been complaining, but she was out purchasing the items her children needed. I’ve had teachers admit they ask for more than they need to make up for the parents who don’t send supplies, so quite frankly she was already sending in more. Just something to think about from the other side.

    Teachers – keep up the great work! I do appreciate you!❤️

    1. I would like to point out, as a mom and a teacher, fighting the same back to school crowds, we are paying for the same school supplies, fees, taxes for our families in addition to our out of pocket school expenses for our classrooms. (Our school district puts out a standard supply list, so I guarantee you, I am purchasing for those who don’t bring any, the list is minimal). It is helpful when extras are donated. Our school gives a budget of $75 per classroom each year. That doesn’t even cover the consumable supplies we go through that are not listed on the district’s school supply list. We also appreciate parent volunteers, so your kids’ teachers are lucky to have you. I’m not judging anyone’s clothes, cars, homes or even purses, I am simply saying, it is nice when I know my students have the supplies they need and when I spend my personal money on the class it can be used for years to come, not just consumables. (Ie: new aps for iPad, replace learning manipulatives and games that have worn out over the years..) Just another angle to look at!

    2. Well said. I too volunteer at the school, sit on the council, read at the library, etc., and can still get frustrated by the list of things to do and to buy as September approaches. And I work in a field where I too have to buy supplies for others (I’m a therapist and run groups requiring the same things a classroom needs), and spend many hours working at home. I don’t think it has to be good guys and bad guys here. The unfortunate reality is that the government in many places does not adequately fund the schools to meet the mandates set, and there isn’t money in the budget for necessary items, so it can become an unspoken argument between parents and teachers, both feeling overwhelmed and undervalued. Let’s give the mom and the teachers a break, and agree to have everyone pitch in as best they can, and try to end the complaining and judging from either side.

  256. I want to say thank you too. I’m a single mom and a teacher. This article is dead on. I wish every parent out there would read this.

  257. I am in my 6th year of teaching. I am lucky to receive $200 to spend on supplies. However, the comprehension books take a big chunk of that every year and I am definitely still spending ATLEAST $200 a year at the beginning for other things. Then, there are numerous other purchases throughout the year. I can’t thank you enough for this article! 🙂

  258. GREAT article and it’s very much appreciated! I’ve been teaching 11 years, have my undergrad and master’s degrees both in Education, am a National Board Certified Teacher, and I’m making $40K a year. Your starting teachers are way ahead of us! At the current rate, it will be another 5 years before I reach $43K/year. I have already spent over $350 for the upcoming year, and it hasn’t even started yet. I also did volunteer hours to get some free supplies. I saw a newspaper ad for a bank in Utah offering loans for teachers to purchase classroom supplies at 1.9% interest rate. Really? Now we are supposed to take out loans to do our jobs? Don’t forget too the hours and extra responsibilities we now are expected to do with no extra pay. It used to be that a training day meant an outside company teaching us. Now the teachers are assigned to teach their peers which is a lot of research, prep, and stress. No extra pay for that! The good news is that I still LOVE LOVE LOVE teaching children and watching them realize their potential and conquer new skills. But every year I give a lot of thought to whether I should continue or find a new career. I have witnessed a lot of great teachers leave the profession. Sad!

  259. First of all, you don’t know if the items they are wearing and holding aren’t hand me-downs, fake items, etc. In today’s society, it’s all about appearance. You’re lying if you say otherwise. So, to judge them based on their appearance is ludicrous.

    Second of all, I do think it’s a bit absurd to have students bring in a pack of 6 markers each. Let’s say there are 17 students in one class. They hand in THEIR markers (the 6 pack) to the teacher – that’s well over 100 markers. 100. Plenty. Not counting what last years markers totaled. Every student brings in glue? That’s 17 bottles of glue.

    You know what would be great? Students buy items they’ll actually use. They’re not going to be using those markers. Let the parents to decide what THEY’RE going to spend money on.

    The teacher *needs* extra supplies? Bring it up with the school board – if they don’t want to do their job, that’s not the parents’ fault.

    1. 17 students?? What fantasy world do you live in? Try 30-35 students per class. Because the state cut our funding and the district did not hire new teachers to replace the ones who retired. Have you ever seen a 3rd grader get a hold of a glue stick or an expo marker? They don’t last long. Trust me.

  260. I agree. Now do your schools there go year round ? I am in CT and they are in school here from end of Aug until July. With vacations thrown in, teacher meetings is a day off. Depending on where you live in CT,the median income is between 54,000-58,000. plus benefits, No teachers should not have to pay for supplies, the school should provide, as the towns get enough in taxes, etc, especially here in CT… So sad for our kids…

  261. I think all parents of school age children should read this. The next time you want to complain about the list your child has for school .

  262. I’m sorry I don’t agree. As a nurse I don’t get paid any extra for the supplies it cost to give you a shot etc. I have to buy my own supplies stethoscope, scrubs every year ,shoes, even pens that I use ,license n certification dues etc these are not fees that are reimbursed. Then when I buy crayola crayons for my kids and the crayons they bring home to do a project are dollar tree crayons n expo markers come on the teachers have 26~30 plus kids per class do they really need 6pack of markers per kid I have no problem helping but taking advantage is little different I understand there are parents that don’t have the extra to spend and those that do feel more taken advantage of when you spend the extra $.50 for good crayons for your child who doesn’t get to use them because they are split up amongst the class to supplement for those who don’t buy supplies or don’t have it to buy . Not trying to be rude just saying for me to do my job there are expenses I have to pay and there are expensive too

    1. Nurse, you pay for all of the things you need to be a nurse. Thanks. We pay for our uniforms, shoes, and I am going to call bull on the pens. My three nurse siblings just verified that the three different hospitals they work for provide them.
      We pay for our stuff, as teachers, AND the student’s supplies. How is that hard to understand?

  263. As a teacher, I thank you for your outlook and for sharing your thoughts! I taught for four years in a low-income area and I spent (at least) $600 a year on school supplies: craft materials, games, decorations, snacks, markers. My assistant and I even bought the folders and pencil boxes for our students. I never thought twice about it. I do it for the kids, that’s why I became a teacher. My husband’s job recently brought us to a much more affluent area and it is night and day – I still spend money because I love my job and I love back-to-school shopping, but now I have the option of making a “wish list” and have parents who are willing to get what I need for whatever projects I can dream up! Thank you again for sharing!!

  264. Thank you for your article. As a teacher I am astounded each year by how many of my students show up with no supplies at all or very little. I spend well above $500 a year buying supplies and materials for my students and my class to ensure my “kids” have the best opportunities to learn.

  265. I appreciate your article and have no problem with purchasing supplies. However, you made the analogy of purchasing health care supplies to school supplies. Unless you live in a country with socialized medicine, you are paying an excessive, upcharged amount of money for your syringes, gauze, and whatever else through the American privatized health care system of unaffordable bills even with insurance. I don’t mean to debate health care, I just didn’t think it was an accurate comparison. Thanks!

  266. Thank you for your comments. I was a para-pro in a third grade classroom and often bought supplies for students who had none. I have two daughters who also teach or will soon. (The youngest began student teaching this past week.) Because we attacked sales in mass, each going through the line with the limit allowed, to supply out needs it is a habit we still keep. For my daughters fourth grade classroom, we have bought supplies in three cities.

  267. Wow! This is wrong in so many ways and to the teacher that commented that she has never had a parent supply all of THEIR child’s supplies your an idiot. Not to mention since when does being a single mother make you any less obligated than anyone else? Year after year I bought everything on my kids list and throughout the year always donated more. I was a room mom for each of my kids and donated a half of my day twice a week. Not because I could afford to but because I felt it was important. I had 2 days off a week and that was how I chose to split one of them. I attended every field trip and every party. Other parents had the nerve to accuse the teachers of being bias because I was chosen to go.

    Now that both of my girls have graduated I can say it was worth it but the things I have seen and heard from teachers….Wow!!! My youngest went into kindergarten reading and writing, she could pass test, so she was very much just pushed into the back of the class. My oldest who is very quiet but a straight A student had a teacher purposely fail her in chemistry. She with held 13 assignments from the grade book and gave her an F on her final. We took the graded assignments to the school board and even though they believed my child, they cant change the grade. Btw the teacher still works there and has done it to others.

    Since teen pregnancy isn’t to big of an epidemic… A couple of teachers showed to be great role models this year when they accidentally got pregnant out of wedlock and made a big deal out of it. They even did a fund raiser and allowed student to guess the name. Oh and then there was the one that invited my youngest child to hang out at a bar. Our superintendent was caught on camera screaming in the face of a special needs child and it made the news. All of which still have there jobs.

    At what point in time did teachers stop looking like teachers also? I understand the younger grades but really? The way some dress? If you want to be treated like a professional than you need to look like one. If students are required to tuck in their shirts and wear uniforms, than you should not be in jeans and an untucked shirt. Teachers are at work to teach children its not a night club or walmart some look like they just rolled out of bed and they want students and parents to respect them? I think the problem is that this goes far beyond the extra markers. For some of my kids good teachers I would have given them anything I could or helped them get it but after dealing with the bad teachers and horrible parents why would I want to give anymore than what my child needs? I’m already working harder because they don’t.

  268. It is not the teachers job to buy school supplies for YOUR children. Get out get a second job or better yet don’t have kids. I get very very upset with parents saying” well if the teacher wants them to have this then the teacher can just supply it”. Grow up or hey how about YOU become a teacher and see how it really is.

  269. Thank you very much!! I have had parents talk like that in my classroom. I have to remind myself of their ignorance. I have to remind myself of my God given purpose. I have to remind myself that it isn’t the fault of the children, but their parents. I pray that I can instill in my students, and personal children, the value and worth of a teacher by changing their lives and stamping their hearts with love and encouragement, and their minds with knowledge and confidence. Thank you again.

    1. Thank you for your article! I taught high school special education for 13 years. We were allowed to create our own supply list and put it on our syllabus. The only thing I ever asked for was a writing utensil EVERY day. Yet, even on exam days, some would show up without something to write with because the expectation had been set in previous years that if they didn’t bring one, one would be provided to them. No accountability. I also stopped providing tissues in my classroom once the guys started using my tissues (handfuls) and hand sanitizer to clean their $200 dollar shoes.

  270. I agree with your assessment of teachers and what they do to go above and beyond for their job of teaching our children. However, your comparison leaves much to be desired…since we pay physicians an exorbitant amount of money to do their jobs already…having to pay for their supplies on top of that would be ludicrous. (Which we do in those exorbitant fees). That said, all of our children are grown now and every year we had to purchase those school supplies too…each year the teachers asked for more and more supplies, stretching our already strained pocketbooks. Nowadays, in our community at least, organizations, such as the Kiwanis, help the teachers out by purchasing many of the supplies for them and another organization fund raises all year to provide low income families with full backpacks to begin the school year with.

  271. Thank you for this article. I have been a teacher for 24 years. I also spend an average of $1000 a year buying costumes for my students to wear when we go to perform our plays at the state competition. I do not get paid anything for sponsoring that event, and I spend my own money on everything my students need, on TOP of all the school supplies as well. And my Florida salary is about the same as the starting teacher in Louisiana, even though I have 24 years experience and a master’s degree!

  272. I’m retired now, but I appreciate your comments. I taught in public schools, private school, big schools and small schools and it was always the same!!! If more people could value what teachers do, what it takes to do the job and support those efforts, the world would be a better place.

  273. Wow. 43k for a first year teacher in East Baton Rouge? I’ve been teaching 28 years in rural
    Missouri and I have a masters degree, and I don’t make much more than that! I also work weekends at another job to make ends meet. I buy my clothes secondhand, and carry my lunch to school every day. And yes, I frequently spend my own money for classroom purposes. So if you are driving an Escalade, and carrying a designer purse – don’t complain. Just buy the school supplies.

  274. Thank you for your time and effort in writing this article! You are very appreciated, and that’s coming from a teacher!

  275. this gave me chills… i teach high school english. we do get a check for 275 dollars each year to cover supplies but that is a joke. i designate that much to cover my classroom library each year. i spent that much alone on rewards for my students who score an 93 or better on the eoc. i get so bothered by people who complain about their child needing a binder, paper, and pencil for my class when their child comes in wearing new shoes each month and new hair styles each week. i teach in a rural -read poor- area but the ones who have the most are always complaining about having to give anything. i asked for a giftcard donation to give to a student who scored a perfect score in the class and was told no, when i have donated more than 50 hours of one on one tutoring to the child of that parent… i was sooo ticked.

  276. As a teacher who just finished forking out over 400.00 for supplies which I need NOW for my students, thank you for this. We are a title one school and serve the homeless and shelter kids in our district. I can expect to spend another 200 – 300 before school ends.

  277. Wow, thank you so much for this. I am a teacher who doesn’t even make 35,000 a year, but still spends much more than I am willing to admit to my husband. Let’s just say I “donate” one of my pay checks per year.

  278. As a former teacher I spent well over $500 per year on classroom supplies. I also furnished many students with their supplies if they could not afford them. But let me also add, I have encountered many generous parents and students who donated more than their share of supplies. Some would show up on the first day with a complete extra set of class supplies to donate to a student that didn’t have any.

  279. Teachers everywhere will love you after reading this. And wish your kids were in their class. Thank you.

    Bear in mind that teachers buy supplies for their own children as well as for their students (their other kids), so we know the costs and don’t ask for frivolous things. Maybe that mom was having a frustrating day of paying for textbooks, minimizations, and who knows what else, but when she didn’t buy the supplies, we know the teacher picked up the slack. It’s one thing to do it for kids who are financially disadvantaged, but…

  280. Love this!!! Well said!!!! I always donate to the classrooms, if you’ve gone on at least one field trip you see what our teachers do everyday.

  281. I would like to take this a few steps further. The State should be paying for the school supply needs. Better still teachers should not be forced or even asked to have school bus duties. Teachers should not have to take their work home with them. The teacher’s union is a joke! Either fire them, replace them or lobby yourselves at your own school. Want more drastic? Get rid of all that does not educate children and I mean remove all sports, clubs, band, singing groups. If students want to have sports program fine, organize teams in your town, county/parish and compete on weekends. Want your children to learn music? Hire a professional to teach them. Last but not least, make the School Board either an non-paying volunteer or better yet let parents get involved in their children’s education.

    1. Amen!!!! I challenge anyone reading this to compare American education to that of Europe and tell me what key components are different.

      1. A huge difference between the US and the rest of the world is respect. They respect teachers as professionals and treat them as such. Also, teachers are given more time to prepare and meet with other teachers.

  282. Hey Teachers Walmart is offering 10 percent back to you on schooll supplies for teachers rooms every little bit helps coming from a family of Teachers I know this. You have to do this on line with your receipt just a little fy !

  283. It was a truly bad analogy with the nurse’ job…perhaps the question that we need to look at is where does the money go when the cost to educate our kids here in the US is astronomical….perhaps everyone should start thinking independently and with a long term time horizon when we fill out that ballot….

  284. I know I’m speaking for teachers , at least those at my school, when I say thank you for your kind words, gesture, and understanding!

  285. I have a different viiew on this, I suppose. Although my family does not wear designer clothing or vacations anywhere but porchville, I think that while I pay taxes to the school district they should be paying for supplies needed for the students. Period. Also, if society paid teachers what they truly deserve, we would certainly have the wrong people in these positions. Teachers do not teach for the money and it’s all a tax write off for them anyway so why break a sweat over this?

    1. It’s not a reimbursement of money, it just means that if we pay for school supplies as a teacher, we don’t have to pay taxes on that money (our income) we spent. There is a difference.

  286. I always buy more than requested, and even hit the clearance once school has begun, and take a big bag of extras to my granddaughters teachers to help get them through the year..

  287. As a teacher that spends thousands of dollars on supplies, books and even filed trips for kids that cannot afford to go – Thank you for 1. defending me, 2. encouraging support and 3. realizing that teachers work hard! I appreciate you!

  288. I always sent a few extras and tried to find ways to help the teachers…. it takes a special person to deal with that many kids all day and I figure if I made it a little easier… it was be smoother teaching my kids… so who wins?

  289. As a retired teacher and administrator I thank you for your comment. Very well said! And on top of all of their money on supplies most of them are still paying off school loans out of that “big” paycheck. Hang in there teachers and have a great school year.

  290. Teachers are not the only ones in our society that have to “furnish” tools to do their jobs. What about your local auto technician that fixes your car to take you to said work or supply store. They purchase ALL their tools to do such said job. Not the dealership, not the service manager. If they don’t have the tools they don’t get paid. Sometimes in life sacrifices are made. And I would rather my husband pay $300 -$500 a year for said tools instead of the thousands we have spent to purchase tools to make a paycheck. And yes, before you say it, he has gotten a great education, and makes a decent wage, but we are far from millionaires. I work full time too, just to assure that we have insurance, because unlike the state employees who get good insurance, car delearships try to have just enough employees as to not have to offer insurance to their employees. Before you pass “judgement” on others who don’t want to, or can’t afford those “4” dry erase markers, remember those who struggle more. If it wasn’t for the fact that I have to work for insurance, or that I have some self worth, maybe I should quit my job, go on welfare, make your taxes go up even more, and homeschool my kids so you aren’t responsible for my child’s education!

    1. Who is buying what for whom? Teachers buy the things they need to teach. The students should buy the things they need to learn. Does a mechanic buy the gas for the dude to bring them the car? Does the mechanic pay for the parts? Your argument is ridiculous and without logic. Maybe take a class in logic and learn from a teacher. Be sure to not buy the text and expect the teacher to give you one.

      1. Sir you need a class in logic, for the things the teachers buy are to do their job, same as my husband. And OUR taxes pay for the students to get an education. Saying that a child must pay for their education buy sending supplies to the school or even to assure their learning is ludicrous.

    2. We only want students to bring in the consumables. I still pay for my games, books, manipulatives, and other things I use every year. The students need to bring in the things they need to learn–paper, crayons, pencils, etc. and a few things for everyone to share, such as dry-erase markers and tissues. I also provide materials for students whose families are unable to buy their supplies. I’ve even sent pencils and crayons home with students to complete homework (I had a student bring back an “All About Me” poster done in pencil because they don’t have crayons at home, and I’ve had students bring back math homework done in crayon because they don’t have pencils at home). The author is just saying that, for those that can afford $1000 purses, they shouldn’t begrudge buying a few materials to help children learn.

      1. I have never had a problem supplying my child with their supplies, such as pencils, paper, crayons, its just those that complain that the lady driving the expensive car should give more to the classroom, we don’t know her story. All of us in the workforce have sacrifices. The one lucky thing is, most of it is tax deductible. It’s just when I hear about the poor underpaid teacher who has to pay out of their pocket to teach our children, it just makes me cringe because we have so many underpaid people in the workforce. Let’s not forget about the healthcare workers, teachers aides, secretaries, lunchroom workers, janitors. They work just as hard, and are an integral part of our lives.

        1. In my state, $200 of it is tax-deductible. Before being a teacher, I was a teacher’s aide and I spent easily $300+ annually on items for students. Now that I’m also responsible for setting up the classroom and developing curriculum, what I spend is around $1000. I have some generous low-income parents who donate much-needed supplies without complaint, so it bothers me to hear parents with the means complain about it. That’s really the point of this post. A parent who values dressing their kids in designer clothes and hooking them up with the newest iPhone should also be invested in their child’s education.

  291. Thank you so much for this! I am waiting until my next paycheck to actually pay my own kids’ school fees because I spent so much going back to school on things I would need to do my job the first few weeks of teaching!

  292. I agree with you but after reading this article….those girls probably go to a private school where the tuition is 10k+ a year for each kid and the Mom is wondering where all that cash is going.

  293. Teachers have a thankless job and are paid shitty. Thing is JTS BEEN THAT WAY FOREVER SO IF YOU KNOW THIS AND STILL WANT TO BECOME A TEACHER SHUT THE HELL UP ABOUT THE PITFALLS

  294. I’ve been teaching for over 13 years and every year I’ve always bought what I needed in my class room. I teach high school so we don’t always have a “supply list” and high school parents do not tend to buy things for their children’s teachers. I’m not complaining because I do love my job but so few people get the financial burdens of choosing to be a teacher. They think that since we get summers off (which is a whole other article for another time) that somehow that balances out the lack of pay we get. So THANK YOU for getting it!!!!!

  295. I completley agree with you and even buy the extra items under “teacher wish list” BUT, your hospital example wasnt a good one…we DO pay foe everything used during a hospital stay..have you ever looked at a bill. You are charged for everything…from band aids to syringes to biohazard waste removal….

    1. My husband and I both teach middle school. August is one of our hardest financial months, trying to buy supplies for our three children and supplying our classrooms….we are always living paycheck to paycheck at the beginning of each school year. As parents and teachers, it’s just hard to let students go without.

  296. I graduated high school in 2011. Maybe it was because I went to school in a nice district, but I never had to buy supplies for the teacher or the class. Teachers were provided with their basic necessities and the rest was up to them. Students (and parents) were only resposible for their own materials. While I do think it’s crazy that teachers in other places are spending so much of their hard earned money on things a school should be providing them, I also find it quite rude to ask every parents to supply those things. It’s time to start putting more pressure on the districts

    1. In our nice inner-city school, we are provided with tissues and other materials we need (such as dry-erase markers), but those come out of the budget for the school and that money only goes so far. It also has to pay for laminating film and copy paper. We have a limited supply of tissues available–very hard, scratchy ones that even I won’t use, so we but our own tissues. Also, three colors of dry-erase makers are available, and in an elementary classroom, you need more–so more things to buy. And so on.

    2. I taught in an extremely nice district for 8 years and while I was provided copy paper and maybe a pack of dry erase markers, the rest that I needed was up to me. I also taught students that had learning disabilities and the majority of them didn’t come to school with pencils, pens, notebook paper so if I wanted them to do the work that I assigned, it was just easier to have it in my class room. Yes, I could’ve called home and/or demanded that the student get their own supplies but then what kind of learning environment am I creating for a student that already doesn’t want to be there because school is a struggle for them??
      As a parent of two boys in elementary school, I don’t have an issue supplying things that are on the teacher’s supply list. I also always ask for a wish list and try to provide those things throughout the school year. I know how awesome these teachers are and I consider it a small price to pay to make sure my children are the main focus and not a lack of supplies. Teachers have enough pressure put on them every day. Supplies should not be one of them.

    3. I’m with you, I think this post exposes a bigger issue than kleenex boxes and white board markers, under funding or allotment of available funds. In Alberta school districts are breaking Provincial law by asking parents to pay a “instructional” fee for classroom supplies. The taxes we pay are to pay for supplying the classroom. As you can imagine, it is a hot topic every September! If you don’t pay eventurally it will be sent to a collection agency unless you remembered to offically decline to pay or submitted a form saying you can’t afford it. This fee is in addition to the regular school fees and equipment rental (band instruments) fees. I was shocked and not impressed that I was required to also supply a kleenex box for communal use…on top of buying notebooks, pencils and crayons that would also be put into communal use and all those fees. The reason for the communal supplies (other than kleenex) is to prevent coveting and some kids with designer notebooks crayons etc. and other with just regular stuff. Apparently kids are scarred for life if things aren’t equal. I preferred a flat fee for the school to supply all that individual supplies. That cut out the variety of supplies.
      This really has nothing to do with the teacher but funding. And btw, the starting wage for a teacher in Alberta with a 4 yr. degree is $58,500 and a starting wage with a Master’s is $65,400. The cost of living is higher but at least it isn’t starvation wages.

  297. That you recognize this need means a great deal to me as a teacher. I am going in to my 8th year of teaching and have never gone a year without supplying pens, pencils, and notebook paper to my students. I would infinitely rather do that, than have the excuse of “not passing” because they “didn’t have stuff to do work with.”

    Thanks. We need more parents like you.

  298. Thank you for this.. I don’t have any kids but I do have brothers and sisters that do and I know they buy their kids supplies each year and send extra and during the school year they send extra throughout.. I also have 6-8 families members that are teachers and I help them with their supplies.. The teachers are teaching the future of our world and EVERYONE should help them… Again thank you

  299. Fifteenth year public school teacher here. I spend on average $300-$500 a year. My husband says, “Don’t even tell me what we have spent on your classroom this year!” Thank you for the extra Expo markers on behalf of teachers everywhere!

  300. I’m also a teacher. I don’t know how many times I begged for erasers last year from parents(they cost 25 cents a piece) & I was lucky to get 2 packs. Really? Then people wonder why there’s such a teacher turnover at their child’s school.

  301. Being a special Ed. Teacher, I spend a lot more of my own money, than the average, as I have unusual supply needs. I have never asked parents to send supplies, but this year I think I will! I have resorted to asking my church members if they want to contribute! No other profession, that I can think of, does this! It’s crazy!

  302. This is in reply to Shay Donovan’s Devil’s Advocate comment. Shay you are clearly not an educator. Most parents have the money for fake nails, cigarettes, beer… Is a box of tissue for your kid’s snotty nose an unnecessary expense? I am an educator and I spend about double the $485. This was by my choice of course mostly due to the fact that our State Department of Education chose to cut our budget $160,000. It may not seem like much, but to a rural Oklahoma school it is everything. Educators are not babysitters. Why don’t we allow our children to have the same benefits that we allow our prisoners? Maybe there would be less of them if we did!

  303. I LOVE THIS!!! I frequently have parents complains. In my state, as a 3rd year teacher, I make $30,000. Once taxes and such are paid AND I buy school supplies which is about $650 this year, it doesn’t leave you with much. My husband is a youth pastor (full time) and makes less than I do. It’s so frustrating to hear people complain about my job and I’ve had many say: “well you make too much money anyways. You have summers off!”

    Thank you for your kind heart!

  304. I love you! This is my 41st year as a speech-language pathologist working in PreK – middle school. I work with children having moderate to profound educational and academic needs. I love finding just the right thing for my students. In my field IPads are an asset. Yes, I bought my own as well as the applications. I travel to three schools and this decreases what I need to carry. Yes, my rooms are all decorated and the children have a cozy environment. I’ve had to cut back on my spending as our salaries were frozen for 5 years and I’m not going to make more anyway as our district only pays up to 19 years (I have 37 in my district) and I have my masters plus the most credits on the scale). What is the most disappointing, however, is that there aren’t funds available to attend outstanding professional development courses taught outside of our district and their costs are prohibitive. Fortunately I have had great publishers who have donated materials that might not be in perfect condition. I’ve also written grants and have received some funding.

    The bottom line is that I so appreciate your understanding of what educators spend. I’m as passionate about working with my students and families as ever. To them it doesn’t matter if I don’t have everything I want for them. What matters most is what money can’t buy and that is what keeps me from being disappointed.

  305. Actually you do in fact pay a supply fee when you go to a hospital. It’s called getting a bill. However, if you were a nurse who worked at a hospital, and you had to provide ALL of the materials necessary to practice medicine, that would be a different story, and perhaps a more suited analogy. Other than that, good read. My wife is a teacher, and has/is encountering this problem of paying for ALL her own supplies as well. It’s crap. Are schools are going to hell, and as result, kids are graduating less educated and prepared for life than ever before. The teachers aren’t the ones to blame, but the administrators are. They (at least in our district) are a group of complacent pencil pushers that view the teachers and students as simple numbers to be quantified and reduced to another number that equals job security and a nice heathy pension when they retire. Just my 2 cents though

  306. I don’t have a problem buying MY child schools supplies.. I do however have a problem with the supplies that I buy for my child being handed out to other students and then being told that my child is out of paper, pencils and I need to buy more. There is no reason that an elementary student should be out of 32 pencils or 4/5 packs of paper before the 2nd grading period has ended.

  307. U know as a teacher I bought my own stuff and even some for kids. But now as a parent the lists are crazy. Last year my son was required to buy 6 boxes of kleenex so we did. He had allergies really bad one week, after getting up 3 times the teacher told him that he was using too much and needed to being his own. Really I bought 6 of those. As for expo makers my son doesnt use then they r for the teacher at the front of room. All the pens, paper etc they bring in he never gets to use when needed. All the ziploc bags -still havent figured what those r for. Sticky notes-he has to give to teacher. When hes out I have to buy more even though I have sent more than enough foe the school year. I dont have a problem supplying extra when it is being used correctly.

  308. Suggestion: Every single teacher in the state saves the receipts for these expenditures. At the end of the year they are all collected, totalled and the bill sent to the state along with copies to every newspaper, TV news office and online news source in the state. Include a demand to know why the legislators think it’s fair that teachers should be expected to cover the shortfall that these legislators have caused.

    “Pass the buck” to them. If a representative for a large area such as Dallas county, Atlanta, Chicago or wherever were to receive a bill for a half million dollars or so, along with a request that they pay this out of their own pockets, it would generate some noise.

  309. I am so tired of this argument and how underpaid teachers are. I was a teacher, the director of a private school and am currently working in a public school. I worked in 3 different states, and 4 different school corporations. I deal with poverty families and Title schools. Prior to being in education I was nurse. As a nurse I paid for my stethoscope, medical journals and other necessary equipment I preferred rather than using what the hospital offered me, this was my preference. Would the hospital provide me with a stethoscope, otoscope…, absolutely but I chose to have my own. As the director of a private school, I paid for my laptop, printer, paper… so I could easily work after hours at home…. Currently, in my school teachers work 190 days a year, 7 hours a day. Any extra hours for Open House or other events was paid for or Comp time earned. As a nurse I worked 250 days, 8 hours a day as does most of the full time work force. Teachers receive paid planning time every day. I never saw that as a nurse and if I had to work over to assist stabilizing a patient it was on my time. And before you say they have to pay for continued education…back up. The school corporation pays and sends them to that seminar as they did when I worked in the hospital. The professional growth points needed to keep their license can be from a collaboration meeting of their peers or an off campus seminar. As a nurse my continued education had to be earned from actual classes. My schools are poverty schools yet through grants and wise use of the given budget, every teacher in my schools received $1400.00 each for supplies (term 2013-2014). $500.00 each was used to supply equipment that teachers did not want to wait until the corporation supplied it the following year. Granted this was a great year for funding, but every year they receive at least $800.00 from good budgeting, easy to apply for grants and Walmart/Kmart/Target donations. I have 1 teacher who easily gets more than $2000.00 of supplies and money from grants she researches during the summer months. If you want to complain about school funding well how about starting here. Your school’s support staff (Teaching Assistants, Custodial, Cafeteria, Health Clerks, Secretaries, Records Clerk, Bookkeepers…) are paid poverty level wages and most work without or with very poor benefits. They do not get paid when they are not working (and few if any paid holidays). They don’t qualify for grants and are expected to entirely support their extra expenses. Their continued education is not paid for, either. There are greater than 10,000. employees in the corporation I am in. 12 are the highest administration to include Superintendent (not including Principals and Asst. Principals). Where are your tax dollars going? Well there are only 12 high admin, hundreds of Support staff receiving poverty wages ($9000.- $20,000. annually). That leaves the teachers. Sorry I don’t buy how poor the teachers are. I work it I know it and I am not fooled by Unions and teachers preaching it.

    1. I’m not sure what “corporation” school you work for, but our teachers don’t get classes paid for or extra pay/comp time for open houses or other events outside of the school day. In our district, we all work 8 hour days which includes a 55 minute prep time. As a special education teacher, I often end up using that time to call doctors and specialists for my students, and to talk to parents who speak little English (so the calls are more lengthy and require more follow-up). I complete my due process paperwork and prepare for my reading, math, science, social studies, and writing lessons at home–which is also unpaid time. When we attend classes, we pay for them and take them on weekends, evenings, and during the summer. We do not get an allotted amount for materials and supplies. If our principal budgets well, we usually have enough copy paper and laminating film to last they year as well as buying a few blue and black dry-erase markers. Whatever world your “corporation”/school is in, it is not the one most of us live and teach in on a daily basis.

    2. Wow! I wish I worked in your district. It sounds like it is well-managed. In my district, teachers get $150 per year for buying whatever school supplies are needed. I consider that great, because we used to get $75. We are comped time for one open house night per year, but not for any of the programs (concerts, etc. which we have to attend to manage our own classes.) We have had no cost-of living raise for six years, and our insurance costs are actually causing us to be paid less each year. Our state certificate licensing is not paid for, we pay for all our own trainings, which are real classes from real universities, or certified instructors from various educational service providers (and donate that time, too!)

      Do you think if the hundreds of classroom teachers in our county applied to the one Walmart store and one Kmart store in our county, that we would each get a grant? We have no Target in our county, and the local Kmart has been almost closed several times by the national corporation. We do have a local restaurant that has a school supply drive, but the amount they get will not even be enough for one elementary school. I know that you may be in an area where schools have a lot more resources. In my district, we have 10-15 year old computers for students, not iPads, although teachers have slightly newer computers (5-8 years old.) We do not have smartboards, and our carpeting is ancient, probably not even healthy. My classroom leaked for years, and I had to set wastebaskets under the drips, and despite repair after repair was not fixed until last year. And I’m very grateful for that!

      I absolutely agree with you on the support staff being overworked and paid pathetic wages! Our district has decreased the amount of custodians to bare bones, and they are worked to death. In my little town, teachers are considered wealthy, and by comparison, we are. Don’t get me wrong, I do this job because it is my passion. I also know that nurses (several relatives are) work incredibly hard under most difficult circumstances, and donate a lot of time. I appreciate you and firefighters and police officers, immensely! You are definitely our community heroes!

      Please remember that teachers are taxpayers, parents, and grandparents, too! Do you think we enjoy being part of a system that is run so inefficiently? Our children, grandchildren, and neighbors are the students, we teach. It is very disheartening to have to be criticized on top of the the work we do, so we just do what we have to in order to help our own students in our own classrooms. Are there some rotten apples among the teaching profession, lazy, incompetent, or uncaring? Of course, but the vast majority of teachers are doing the best that we can with what we have.

  310. It’s the same with books! I am an elementary school teacher and we spend so much on books for our classroom library!

  311. I totally sympathize with the teachers….my husband has been in the automotive business for over 25 years now and has had to invest over 100,00.00 in tools in order to do his job effectively. No he doesn’t make 100,000.00 a year, not even close! That hourly labor rate you see on the wall at the repair shop? He doesn’t earn that…that fee is covering all fees associated. My husband has to pay for all of his certifications and licenses to boot. Working as a nurse, I have to pay for all my licensing fees along with purchasing my own stethoscope ( those can cost up to 300.00 for a good one and they don’t last forever), scrubs, good nursing shoes and misc material to assist me in my day to day job requirements. And I am not making anywhere near 100,000.00…not even halfway there. It’s sad that individuals have to invest so much in order to do their job effectively…good thing we love what we do!

  312. You have hit the nail on the head with this. Having been a mom and a teacher, I can relate to this. Teachers have to buy most of their own supplies now. It’s not like back in the D-A-Y when there was a supply closet. So, just buy the markers and smile. 🙂

  313. I would have been in the news for verbally accosting the gal who isn’t willing to invest in her children’s future. She’s in for a big surprise, HUGE…..when she gets college tuition “supply list!” Thanks for sharing!

  314. I think our teachers should be helped with all they are needed. The only question I have is what is happening with all the money from the casinos that they had people vote in to help with the schools. Just another one of those lies from our politicians.

  315. Amen! I spend my own money every year on school supplies! I am thankful that the office supply stores offer special sales in the summer but that is just once a year. This lady’s nasty attitude is just a reflection of so many that don’t appreciate what teachers do.

  316. I am a nurse and I love buying school supplies. (I buy them for my job as well.) But, before you use nursing as an example to compare teachers, please do your homework. I have to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket to keep up my licenses/certifications every year. I am licensed in two states, and in one of the states I must receive 20 continuing education credits. Most of these I can receive for free, but if I have to do it on my own time that is money I am losing. I am also a GI certified RN which means I must receive 80 GI specific credits to keep my certification. These are not free. The seminars are in different states, so I have to pay travel/hotel/food expenses. Not every hospital pays for nurses to go, and my patients definitely do not pay for my continuing education.
    We do not get a summer break. We do not get a bell to let us go to the bathroom. We devour our food at our 15-30 min. lunch. No recess.

    I love teachers. My friends are teachers. But, please be mindful of comparing apples to oranges.

    1. Thank you for the explanation of how you pay for your trainings. Did you know that not all districts pay for teachers to keep up with their training? Did you know that teachers have trainings? We pay for all certificates and testing. Is this news to you? Are you so arrogant to think that because you do this it makes it okay for us to get shorted? My family is nurses and teachers. We usually commiserate. You seem to say, “Hush, we pay for things, too.” I also know the pay of nurses. I also know I haven’t had more than 20 minutes for lunch and I am usually with students. I have spent close to $900 this summer on trainings. I am explaining this to you, not complaining. Apparently, the homework that needs to be done is by you. Teachers and nurses are in the same boat. Zero time. You think we get to go to the bathroom at the bell? That is a joke. We are told to watch the halls and greet your kids as they come into the room. I have to call for someone to watch my room so I can pee. Thanks for understanding.

    2. I have to take 6 college graduate credits to renew my license. I’ve taught in three states, five districts and not a one has paid for that. We don’t get paid for those credits nor for our time. I have 230+ undergraduate credits and 50+ graduate credits.

      We don’t get paid for our summer break nor do we get a choice about it. RNs have some flexibility about the hours/shifts they want to work. The average RN in my town makes $62,000. Now I have 15 years teaching experience (which is WAY more than average and probably more than the average RN) If I were making the same hourly wages as the average RN, I would be only working 37 weeks a year. I’m contracted for 40 weeks. I have a master’s degree, highly sought after licenses and teach a very challenging population with unique needs regular college bound curriculum.

      The bell doesn’t tell me I can pee. It tells me to go in the hall and supervise students. I get 25 minutes at lunch to pee, make my lunch, eat, and supervise kids coming and going from lunch.
      I don’t get time during the day to talk to my colleagues and get their advice or help on something.
      Recess isn’t a time to play or relax. It is a duty and elementary teachers are either supervising students during that time or that is their only planning period while aids supervise.

      That one class period a day I have without students isn’t time for me to chat. I have to prep for my six different classes, grade papers, write IEPs, write tests and lesson plans, do curriculum mapping and so much more.

      I know you think my job is easy compared to yours but your comments make it clear that YOU don’t know what we do even though you believe you do. Just as nursing is a highly specialized skill that requires years of training and practice to perfect, so is teaching.

  317. Your story and kind, understanding attitude made me cry. I understand that it is tough to purchase hundreds of dollars of supplies for your children each year. I know this because it happens to me, too. Your giving spirit is so appreciated by your children’s teachers. Thank you for trying to spread it!

  318. This is an awesome article as a first year teacher I’ve spent about 400$ trying to get my classroom together ! You constantly hear parents complain about them buying school supplies but this same argument doesn’t happen when they buy 200$ tennis shoes . Priorities are really skewed!

  319. Thank you thank you thank you! As a special education teacher i don’t even get packets of notebook paper like most general ed teachers get from their students. Every piece of school supplies in my classroom was left behind by previous teachers or bought with my own money. I wish more people would take the stance that you did. Parents like you are my favorite.

  320. I am a teacher and I thank you for your wonderful insight. I teach high school and we are not allowed to ask kids for anything for the classroom. We are not allowed to ask for much more then a notebook. I personally have spent over $1000 every year I have taught on supplies for my classroom. I teach science and that includes all the stuff for many labs. The supplies that I need come from Walmart or the grocery store and run about $25 bucks. These are not the “lab” animals or microscopes. But things like soap, paper towels, seeds. baggies etc. $25 does not sound like much but 2 times a week??? Then add in all the pencils, pens, paper. Parents are good about buying supplies at the begging of school, however, high school students never have any supplies after the first few weeks. All parents should buy extra supplies of pencils, pens, paper, erasers and notebooks (yes they loose them during the year).

    On the other hand I am a parent of a 2nd and 3rd grader. They have many items on their list that I have to go to multiple stores to purchase. This fact is where my frustration is at as a parent. If the teachers are going to ask for “specific” items or colors. Red folder WItH brads and a blue folder WITHOUT brads. That is too specific. Many times I do not ever find some of the specific art supplies they request.

  321. thank you for the comment I have already gone to buy 350.00 so far this year for other people children for my classroom and I don’t have children except the ones at school but I need to make sure they all have what they need. If other parents thought like you it would life and supplies in my classroom much better.

  322. WOW!!! Can you imagine how those of us starting out at $29K a year feels when we make less than what your teachers do but still spend the same each year (and we do spend the $400+)?!? I’m proud to be an educator and love each of my kids, but I’m tired of our students in public schools receiving a FAPE (free and public education) , and parents complain about our classroom needs to help THEIR children during the 180-8 hour days I spend with them. Thanks for supporting us!!! And sharing your support!

  323. We don’t pay a mere $.97 per day. WE (Taxpayers) pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for our schools system to be operational. Not to mention the revenue from things like the Lottery that is “supposed” to go to our educational system. The problem I have with the schools supplies isn’t $10 of markers for a teacher to draw on a board for my child. The problem is when the teacher requests an insane amount of 1 particular supply and it is distributed to the “less fortunate” in the classroom. Anyone who claims that it does not happen is ignorant. My daughter completed 1st grade and one month or so before school let out she told me I needed to buy her a composition book. I asked where her extras that she started the year with went since she was still using the original one. Her response “The teacher gave my other one to Jalea”. Our school system is broken and it seems as though just about every teacher I know complains about their job. We don’t live in a communist country…yet. You were free to take whatever path you wanted and you chose to be an underpaid and unappropriated sculptor of our country’s youth. The problem I see is that we now have a nation of cry babies and pansies that would rather complain than get off of their ass and do something about the problem. PS: Protesting at the state capitol won’t accomplish shit!

    1. Thanks for understanding that Jalea is being raised by a single mom working two jobs because her husband was killed in a car wreck. Thanks for being raised so well that when there are less fortunate, you say, “Kiss my a**!”
      We teachers are raising your kid better than that, by the way. We are in life together in this great community. Be a part of it, why dontcha?!

  324. School supply lists that teachers send home for kids need to be looked over by school administration in my opinion and be reasonable.
    My son, for grade one has been asked to provide
    24 pack brand name pencil crayons
    24 pack twistable pencil crayons
    2 24 packs of crayons
    1 pack of brand name scented markers – a specific brand is given
    1 pack of oil pastels
    6 or 8 glue sticks
    2 bottles of white glue
    8 white erasers

    This is for grade one! On top of that was pencils, notebooks, tissue, etc – reasonable things. A child that age does not need two different types of pencil crayons. I can guarantee that they will use the oil pastels only a few times throughout the year. And unless the are having the children eat the glue, I’m not sure why they feel the need to ask for such an amount. Should I mention that items are generally “pooled” together and not kept with the individual students? That means that even though my son may only use four of his glue sticks, and half of the two dozen pencils, three erasers and use his oil pastels two times, that it’s unlikely that any of these supplies will come back. When my daughter was in grade one, I bet that $60 worth of supplies were not returned – and they weren’t all “used up” either. Things like rulers and scissors were just not returned to students at all at the end of the year after “pooling” the supplies.

    Yes, students need school supplies. I’m not against providing them for my kids – post it notes, permanent markers, tissues….none of those were asked to be sent to school when I was a kid, but my kids apparently need them so I send them. But many teachers need reasonable lists. Our school fees are $110 per kid. My sons supply list has a cost HIGHER than that. No wonder some parents don’t even attempt to get their kids supplies!

  325. I have always bought more than enough for my granddaughter to take to school. When the copier was down, I offered to make copies out of my own pocket so the kids could have plenty of work. I also let the teacher know that if she needed anything…..I would help anyway I could even though I was not working at the time! I don’t understand parents sometime. My granddaughter will give kids pencils, folders, erasers, etc. I have taught her to share because some people are less fortunate than her. Boy……I spend money with her giving her stuff away, but I give her a huge hands up at 9 years old and hope she continues the good deed at 10 !!

  326. I have already spent half of my allotted school money for the year. We are not allowed to use school money for Germ-X
    or Kleenex. We also can’t require it, but we can put it on a “wish list.” I got 2 boxes of Kleenex and no Germ-X for my middle-school students. I have already spent money out of my pocket for my students. I have an 8th grade son, and I bought all of his supplies and some of his teachers’ wish list items. Payday is over a week away. We are cutting it close. I love my students and want to help. I just wish, sometimes, it was more appreciated.

  327. If parents don’t like it, they should complain to their school boards to budget for supplies, not leave it on the shoulders of the teacher. Just because someone gets the pleasure of teaching your kid for the year doesn’t mean that teacher is responsible for providing for those students. When *I* was a kid, that responsibility fell on my parents – the folks who had me. (This is a concept that seems to be more forgotten by parents as the years go by.)

  328. Thank you! Your article was so true and really touched my heart. So many parents do not understand how much teachers spend, myself included. Before I became a Kindergarten teacher I was one of those parents that hated spending so much money on supplies, now I gladly send extra to my children’s teachers. If I can buy the small things then the teachers can use their money to buy items that will help make their job a little easier.

  329. I think one of the reasons we have to buy supplies for our kids when we did not have to when we were kids is the over paid and excessive administration staffing the district offices have. If the teachers are making less the 50 thousand a year why is the superintendent making 250 thousand a year. It may be different in some other states but here in Colorado the upper end staff are making way to much money. I would gladly buy supplies if some of that pay was used to pay teachers more.

  330. I am a retired teacher but the entire 30 plus years I taught school I spent my own personal money on my classroom and students. I was always happy to do this to make sure my children were all on equal terms when it came to supplies. We did not send home lists as they do today but I always had parents willing to help. It is unfortunate that so many people put education at the end of their priority list. Strong education is what makes a country succeed and we do have many dedicated teachers who try to follow this idea. Perhaps more folks need to realize this like the mother complaining about markers.

  331. If teachers continue to buy supplies out of their own pockets they will continue to be expected to do so. My husband and I are teachers and we put our requests on our requisitions and use our budget to supply our classrooms. If you don’t put it on the requisition you don’t get it. If you put it on the requisition and you don’t get it this year then the school district knows that you need more budget next year. I don’t spend one red cent of my money, and neither should any teacher.

    1. Our school is budgeted for the basics–copy paper, construction paper, pens, etc. Our wonderful PTO fundraises during the year and reimburses teachers up to $300 for things we buy for our classrooms each year (extra crayons for those that don’t bring any, caterpillars for our butterfly unit, games, books, etc.). The PTO even gives the school some money to pay for the copier costs and for laminating film. Gotta love our PTO!!

  332. Here in NC, try buying the school supplies/instructional materials you need to adequately serve your students on $30,800 a year…i’m having to pick up a second job just to make ends meet!

  333. Thank you! I am a Special Educator, and as such, spend WELL above the $485.00 you mentioned in the article in order to meet my students’ diverse needs. Thank you for showing your support.

  334. Thank you. As a teacher, I can tell you I spend about $700 a year on supplies, parties, and incidentals. I’m in EBR too and after 8 years experience I took home 36,000.

  335. Just reading some of the comments for this article prove the author’s point. Some parent have the mindset that they “deserve” to have other people provide for their kids. The government aka school system should provide everything their kid needs but they don’t want to pay school fees (which we can’t even request in the state of TN btw) or have their taxes to go up. These same parents don’t take into account that even if child X brings in no supplies at all, the teacher has to provide that child with an equal education. The teacher can’t have that child just sit in the corner while everybody else does an activity or project. Something has to give.

    1. Wrong. In the state of TN you can request a school fee. I had some in high school. My senior year, I had 325 dollars worth of school fees plus my school supplies, pictures, annual, and the graduation fees.

  336. I am fine with buying school supplies, and I’m happy to get things for the teachers, but I do have an issue with the specificity of some teachers’ lists. Last year my daughter had a middle school teacher tell her she needed 40 glue sticks for one class. The reason? She gave out lots of worksheets and they had to use gluesticks to glue them into spiral notebooks. When we said we’d get a binder and hole punch the sheets, we were told that was not allowable. Make the lists reasonable, and I’m happy to buy the stuff!

  337. Thank you for this! I spend thousands of dollars every year on stuff for school. That is NOT an exaggeration! I just spent $150 just to buy new book holders to organize my classroom library. I buy lots of things for the children that are not on our district-wide supply list. I even buy snacks for the kids when parents won’t send them. No one gets into teaching to get rich. We do it because we love the kids. When parents act like that, it diminishes respect for teachers and makes our jobs that much harder! Thank you for understanding.

  338. I love this. I am a teacher and spend hundreds of my own dollars every year to make sure that I have everything in my classroom needed to give my students the best possible education I can. I too have heard parents (be it overhearing or having it said directly to my face) accuse teachers of sucking their bank accounts dry with outrageous requests for Kleenex and the like. I have always kept my mouth shut (and will continue to do so), but I so appreciate your speaking out on our behalf. We wouldn’t spend the money if we didn’t care about our work and its quality, but it sure helps to know there are parents out there who recognize the extra mile many of our pocketbooks go every year in the name of education.

  339. I respect teachers and the time they put into teaching my kids, but I see another side as well.. As a nurse throughout the years, I have had to pay for my own supplies( not to mention the uniforms that have to be purchased to work in) to properly take care of my patients. Items like stethoscope, pulse oximeter, digital thermometer(along with the numerous plastic covers, sphygmomanometer(AKA blood pressure cuff). Facilities do help provide these, but like any job they ‘walk off’ somewhere never to be returned again. And I do believe that if you were to look at your itemized insurance bill; hospitals/clinics and offices do charge for the syringe for your vaccine and the medicine within that syringe. They charge a usage fee simply when you get your oxygen checked by placing the meter on your finger. I do not like buying school supplies. Not only are the items I am buying brand specific, but when my children take them to school, they are placed in a huge pile for community use. For the family that can not afford to buy them as well as family that don’t make an effort to try to buy anything. Btw, I do not own a smart phone.

  340. Thank you! As a kindergarten teacher I usually spend between 1800 and 2300 of my own money on my classroom. I usually have 5 to 10 students that walk in the door with no supplies at all. With nonexistent school budgets, its up to me to make sure my students have what they need to learn. Because of this I have to make sacrifices in my own life to provide for others children. I love what I do, and do it for my babies.

  341. Thank you for your night! I just completed 33 years of teaching and not a year goes by that I do not spend a significant amount of money on supplies for my students. I teach middle school science which requires additional money to purchase science supplies. I am happy to do this because I want my students to have a great education where they learn not just content, but life styles such as compassion, perseverance, and organization. I truly love teaching and I know many of my students cannot afford even basic supplies. Thanks to all the parents and business people who support education!

  342. Thank you from an art teacher with a $1000 budget for 523students meeting 1 1/2 hrs a week 38 weeks a year

  343. Here is what I don’t get – where in the HELL are my outrageous tax dollars going?!? I pay 17 different taxes totaling more than 50% of my salary. Maybe if we got rid of teachers unions we could minimize the bloated teacher salaries and afford the supplies.

    1. Where do you live that has bloated teacher salaries? I want to move there! I make 36K a year for myself and 2 children. Are you saying my salary is bloated? I can barely afford my bills. Oh, and we don’t have effective teacher’s unions here. We’re a right to work state. Our district doesn’t negotiate with any unions, not that I have the money to join one anyway.

  344. Ah, the tissue issue. We ask for 2-3 boxes of tissue per child every year. We are lucky to get 3 boxes, period. When those 3 boxes are gone and teachers ask parents to send in a box, you would think we asked them send in their next pay check. The school keeps an eye on the “tp” and won’t let teachers take it to use in the classroom. I have found the shirt sleeves work well!

  345. I love this post! In our P.T.A. this year we debated on how we could best help our wonderful hard working teachers. We all decided to go with “Buy a membership and get a $50 reimbursement check for any school supplies bought before the end of the month.” (All our teachers buy our memberships every yr anyway) We have had the most loving,grateful,appreciative smiles and comments. I believe this will be a every year thing!

  346. Thank You! I am a second grade teacher in a very poor part of North Carolina. The state that has just given their teachers a raise. The first real raise in seven years. I usually spend way too much on supplies for my class. I feel like I need those things to help my classroom run easier. I would love to have someone to help buy the things I need for my classroom. Hope your message gets out to everyone.

  347. As a parent who sends my kids to public school and who pays taxes as well as being the son of a former school teacher, I do not believe teachers should have to pay for the supplies they need to do their job, even though many workers do indeed pay for their own equipment (ever take your car to a mechanic? he bought the tools he used. what about your doctor? yup he did too, unless he works at a hospital that supplies his equipment and his is expensive stuff, not $7 packs of markers). The problem is not the list we parents must purchase nor the amounts the teachers must purchase. the problem is the tax structure that pays the school administrators more than they are worth and the teachers less. the problem is those overpaid administrators do not purchase the supplies the schools need. in the last 30 years, the cost per student has skyrocketed but the metrics used to determine if students are learning better have stayed flat. If our government spends so much more today than 30 years ago but 30 years ago the only responsibility of the parents was clothes and maybe a trapper keeper, then there is a problem and it doesn’t have anything to do with how many markers are in the packs at walmart!

    1. I don’t have a problem with your opinion, but I would like to point out that many of the supplies for the other professions you mention are not consumable supplies. They buy them once and then they have them for a long time, if not forever. In addition to the consumable supplies we buy picture books, chapter books, bookshelves, games, etc. I have no problem buying any of those things as I consider them a job expense. In fact, I have no problem buying the consumable supplies either – I just wish I didn’t have to! I agree that the problem is lack of funding to schools, but until that problem is taken care, we need these supplies to help educate your children. Could we do it without these supplies. Sure we COULD, but it’s easier with them 😀

  348. Thank you! I will share this article. As a teacher in NC, I feel that few seem to understand how many supplies we purchase for our classrooms.

  349. In third world countries they do just what you said at the hospital, they also have to buy all their books and school supplies. If they can’t buy them they can’t attend school. We live in a very rich country and need to stop complaining about what it costs. I taught school for 9 years and loved it and spend lots on my kids (my students were my kids for 7+ hours daily).

  350. Thank you for your educational support. We (teachers) have all spent out-of-pocket dollars to effectively do our jobs. Many families, in my school at least, expect the teachers to provide supplies – including backpacks. Students come in daily with not so much as even a pencil. So, with that being said, thank you for recognizing our expenditures, from the very least to the greatest, in order to help our students succeed.

  351. I am a retired teacher who spent an average of $500-$1000 per year on my classroom for 28 years. Parents constantly complained about spending money on their child’s education. Many of those children would tear up their new supplies before they had had them a semester.

  352. Thank you for your generosity. I am a Mississippi public school teacher and I don’t make much more than a first year teacher in BR and I have a master’s degree and 13 years of teaching. I spend a lot out if pocket and I appreciate you and your point if view. Many have the other parents point if view. I teach because I love it!

  353. Thank you. I am a third year Art teacher. My budget is $500 and when I last ran the numbers because 7th grade and 8th grade are now semester long classes, giving me double the students it came to about $.29 per student. I buy extra cleaning supplies, air fresheners because some of my students have questionable hygynie, maxi pads and tampons because the school nurse uses ones that the girls say are made from cardboard, regulars school supplies, and art supplies and Art magazines for middle school kids. My supply list averages about $6 a student, the most expensive thing being a $3 pack of copy paper. We use that paper every day for the sketches they make before the begin the final project. I have two special needs children of my own who require a lot of time and money. I send tissues to their classes, Clorox wipes, Germ-X, and extra snacks like a giant box of animal crackers, none of these things are asked for. I also buy the school list every year for my own kids.
    In my classroom, I have loaned kids money for lunch which they never repay, sewn up broken backpacks and handed out school supplies whenever they are needed because I teach in a low income area. I am going to write a grant to get a kiln for my room because we do not have one. I want my students to learn to think outside the box and reuse and recycle everything under the sun to help with lessons, but I spent around $600 out of pocket last year. It needed to be done. I don’t ask for EXPO markers, I use the four extra in the pack that I buy for my kids, lol.
    Teachers go above and beyond and I get comments from students, surprised that I am a real teacher. I have a degree in Art education and I am a state certified teacher. I tie in Math, history and science to my subject on a weekly basis. And about your taxes, if you would like you $.23 back, because that is the break down in my district you are welcome to it, the teachers don’t see it for their budgets.

    Thanks,
    H.

  354. I thank you for your commitment to our future. You know my school is over 65 percent free and reduced lunch and at least 40 percent of the kids come into the door with out a single school supply. I also work in the state of NC and haven’t had a raise at all in 6 years. I still buy schools supplies for that 40 percent of kids. August is a really hard month.

  355. As a teacher and mother I have also witnessed teachers go out and buy shoes, winter coats, etc. for needy kids. Also, if there is a field trip and a child cannot pay the $5 for the bus or admission to the museum, the teacher is always more than willing to pay. All out of their own pocket.

    Thank you for all you researched based information. Hopefully people will read and realize it is a great bargain at $.97 a day.

  356. I just spent about 150 dollars on school supplies for my students because I know I won’t have any supplies from the school until about the third month in. I wish the parents would buy all their students supplies so I don’t have to make up the difference. I appreciate your article. 🙂

  357. Thank you so much; my husband and I are young teachers in a one of the bottom five states for teacher pay. We spend over $500 a year for books and reproducible workbooks for our classes because there are no funds for new books, but bring home about $48,000 between the two of us after taxes. I try to spend very little on markers, paper, and pencils; we teach high school, so thankfully we don’t need supplies like elementary school. We also are only allowed a $200 tax deduction for supplies. Our students get few copies and no colored paper which is helpful for our visual learners. In my career so far, I’ve only had one student bring in a pack of expo markers, so I could color code information on the board (he was a visual learner).

  358. I believe I pay more than enough in taxes to cover supplies if the school spends money properly! Every year the list gets longer and longer. First it was supplies for the kids, then for the teacher too and then janitorial supplies (and the kids are doing the cleaning that janitors used to do)! Everyone should realize that if parents refuse to provide supplies and the teachers refuse too, the school would have to provide. The district I’m in is spending money on asbestos removal that was supposedly removed 30 years ago. Where did that money go? Hmmmm.

  359. I agree with all said..because this is what it comes down to… I have several friends that are teachers and they spend above the average on their classes…but why aren’t our tax dollars paying for theses supplies..and why are our teachers paid so little? School systems are no different than our politics..the fat cats are raking it in at the superintendent level…there is no trickle down.. I buy so my kids’ teachers don’t have to, and we buy extra to cover the families who can’t …but we barely can… Put my tax dollars where my teachers are, and where their needs are!!!

  360. I’ve been teaching FT for 9 years and don’t even make $40/year AND spend at least $700/year on supplies that my school refuses to pay for. (I teach k-8 music)

    1. Wow, pages of responses. My response may be ignored. As a teacher for over 25years, I have definite opinions. First, as a teacher who sometimes could not afford to buy things for my classroom I must say its hard to compete with teachers who can and do buy lots of really cute decorations, curtains, lamps, pets, books,stickers rewards, etc. I have walked into classrooms that were empty because the previous teacher took all stuff she bought.

      Parents/teachers should not need to buy calculators, scissors, book bags, lunch boxes every year. As a teacher, I bought some scissors, calculators, rulers for classroom and used them for over 10 years.

      Home/school associations have given me 100 dollars at beginning of year for supplies. This is still not enough but it does help. New teachers need much more.

      If schools provide these monies we will still need to pay through more taxes.

  361. It not the supplies for the teachers. It.s the supplies for all the other kids with parents who can not or will not supply for them. This leaves many single parents to have to buy school supplies for other kids besides their own. Many of whom may be in this country illegally!
    Doing so voluntarily is wonderful. But I object to forcing some parents to provide for other kids.

  362. Thank you for the article. I am a teacher in Oklahoma and our pay is much lower than the pay reported in the article. Few students bring their supplies. The district does not supply the necessary materials we need so we buy, share, and create. It is tough. As teachers, we do appreciate you.

  363. That is sooooo true. As a teacher we do spend quite a bit through the course of a year. Thank You for acknowledge the teacher. We appreciate it! !! May 4th grade teacher.

  364. My mother was a principal and while I don’t mind spending a little extra here and there, some things are ridiculous. The school here ask for a pack of computer paper and then as a fee charges $25 for use of copier machine, paper etc. Umm… hello 1st I just gave u the paper you are turning around and charging me for and 2nd the use of the copier is a school responsibility. Not a parents. I am then charged $25 for locker and kinetic classes. Locker is $5 (no biggie) but the rest is for pe, art and computers that my child may or may not have. I don’t mind paying some for suplies he needs for say art if he takes it but if he doesn’t then why do I need to pay it? I am not well off, I generally live pay check to paycheck with a little for extras such as a dinner out in between but I am by no means wealthy. These “charges” make no sense to me.

  365. Great article! As a teacher of 12 years I spend close to $2000 a year on supplies, books, student gifts, cleaning supplies and other incidentals. Obviously, I have no family or children of my own and spoil my students rotten; but others don’t realize how much teachers do for their students! Have a great year teachers!

  366. We all spend money for our jobs.. not just teachers… some of the items on the school list are nonsense. …. this mother is Being a bit silly about not wanting to buy extra. … I always bought extra and sent it in…

  367. Did you think that entitlement is ever attributed to higher education that provided the lifestyle? America is getting dumber and softer by the minute.

  368. Thank you!!! I wish more parents would realize how difficult it is to make sure that all of our students have what they need in order to do our jobs.

  369. At the beginning of the year I hand each parent a flyer for adoptaclassroom.com. That way they can donate and I can order supplies as needed. Thank you as I have paid $1000 out of pocket too. Teachers can also check out donorschoose.org.

  370. Ok so I understand your frustrations. However when you make a career decision, I would hope you look at costs, debts, salary etc. For me choosing my career wasn’t just about finding a job that is going to make me happy, but also that will fit my lifestyle. We all have different needs. I may need to make 50K per year to live comfortably, where someone else may need 100k. Another person may need just 25K. People need to choose their career based on their needs. Honestly I am tired of hearing waitresses, teachers, etc complain about salary. If the job isn’t going to pay enough to make you happy, then please find a different career, You have the power, no one else. Also most jobs have expenses. Realtors pay for signs, lockboxes, gas etc; small business owners pay for marketing, salaries, etc; and teachers pay for pens and supplies. We are ALL PAYING money to do our job. And we are all paying 30% in taxes (for the most part.) Please if your salary isn’t quite doing it for you, stop complaining and do something to change it.

    1. Why your argument holds no water: You just equated buying signs to giving a child supplies so they can learn.
      End of argument.

      I cannot stand people in high horses that say, “You chose to do that, put up with anything.”
      Nurses put up with amazingly horrible things. They have the right to say they do. The police are soundly hated by a large majority, but when things go wrong, the same people want them to ignore that. A choice does not mean giving up the right to say, “This is not right.”

  371. how about the people who are forced by law to send their children to government run schools don’t have to be forced to pay for stuff and the teachers who work there don’t have to pay for stuff. how about if the government is going to force citizens to participate in a system, they buy the chalk. that would be a good idea. it’s not that mom’s job to provide school supplies to the teacher to do his or her job. even if she is rich. even if the system is so screwy teachers end up thinking they have to spend their own money on supplies. just do with what you got, and then tell the superintendents that the kids can’t do math because there are no writing utensils available. see if they respond. if not, more recess!! it works in iceland.

    1. Teachers are professionals. Trained professionals don’t ‘think’ a student needs supplies to learn. They realize it. Grasp the difference.

  372. This is just a question and I don’t want to offend anyone, but when did teachers start sending parents a list for supplies? My parents were never given such a list when I was in school and I went to plenty of schools from the early 90’s to the mid 2000’s. I am not knocking such a list, but am puzzled as to the date a list first started.

    1. I am going to assume it has to do with the state you live in. We had supply lists in the ’60s in my district in Texas, although I am not sure about the entire State.

    2. Victoria, as for when teachers began sending out supply lists, I began Kindergarten in 1972 and had a school supply list every year through elementary school. Beginning in middle school, the teachers would tell us on the first day of school if we needed anything other than pencils, notebooks, and folders (such as a three-ring binder or special calculator).

  373. Nicely put. I worked in the school system for 8 years. Rarely do you even get 100% of items on wishlist, then you have to contend with the wasteful students and the ill prepared, due to extreme poverty or neglect. The public school system is ill prepared to deal with the myriad of roles thrust upon it. This is the simplest way to help teachers and students alike. Since teachers double as parent, dr., nurse, counselor, minister, police and even on occasion babysitter; the very least we can do is give them a modicum of support in the smallest of ways.

  374. I buy my own pens and markers as a nurse. I mean I could use the hospital
    s dry erase markers or spend many minutes trying to find a damn pen…..but ya I don’t understand why it is so hard for employers to provide basics like pens.

  375. Thank you for your support of teachers! I am a teacher who LOVES my job and greatly appreciate you and the other parents who help make my job easier!

  376. I get it…but I look at it like this. Our large school district pays it’s superintendent more than $250,000/year. Why not cut $50,000 from that to pay for supplies that end up belonging to the school? Not the individual kids pens and pencils and notebooks (parents, you are responsible for that) but the dry erase markers and paper for the copier and the other stuff we parents don’t understand why we have to supply? I do not understand the conscience off a guy who can say he supports his teachers but makes 6 times their salary and doesn’t supply their classrooms.

  377. Wonderful! Is so true! I spend so much of my own money to provide supplies for my studentson as well as my own children. I do it because I love my job and the children I teach. Thank you!

  378. I am the parent of a public middle school teacher and have witnessed her spending her hard earned money to purchase the supplies and materials she needs each year that she will need on order to provide the high standard of quality education she believes her students deserve!! It really, really irks me when I witness the poor parents and student behavior described in this post especially when the supplies and materials are for the sole benefit of providing an education for THEIR children!!! They don’t seem to complain about the hundreds of dollars they spend on make-up, video games, rock concerts, etc. Incidentals like these are not basic necessities if life nor as important as the quality of life an education will guarantee them. Where, I ask, are these parents’ priorities?????

  379. I am a teacher who buys basic essentials for my class. I heard a lady complain at the dollar store that her teacher asked for tissue and hand sanitizer. Wow!!! Last year one parent brought in tissue, we had to use paper towels after that. Couldn’t believe what I heard. I didn’t say anything to her.

  380. I’m not a teacher but have an extended family full of current and retired teachers. Most of them have similar stories about spending their own funds for classroom supplies.

    Perhaps the problem is not the parents with the expensive purses, resort t-shirts, and smartphones. According to a Washinton Post story earlier this year, the amount of tax money each public school receives per pupil ranges from $6,206 (Utah) to $19,552 (New York). According to a study I read last year, per pupil spending has more than doubled since 1975…even factoring in inflation!

    With this much money in the system, why on Earth do teachers have to purchase supplies? While we’re at it, with this level of funding, why are arts programs being cut?

  381. Thank you so much from a teacher who just spent her own money today on classroom school supplies, including 20 Elmer’s 4oz glue bottles, glue sticks, stickers and expo markers. My cashier asked why I was buying so much glue and I explained that it was not on my new schools supply list and my students need it. So if I don’t buy it they won’t have it. She thanked me and gave me a tax free discount. Thank you from the rest of us!

  382. As a public school ART teacher, I can tell you that without parents I’d be spending way more than I normally spend (usually around $500, depending on the year.) It’s because of Parents like you that we are able to do our jobs, and your children benefit directly, so thank you. thank you, thank you.

  383. This is the most ill-written thing I have ever read. Your statistic about the medical supplies- NEWSFLASH: You pay for the supplies! Little thing called taxes and insurance. Yes, they pay money to do their jobs; so do the rest of us! Do you think nurses get free stethoscopes and nursing shoes? Think builders get free tools? Teachers have 3 months off in the summer, 3 PAID months. Yes, I know they write lessons plans and do other things in those months but essentially, they have a 3 month break.

    If I’m paying for my own children’s school supplies, uniforms, tuition, why should I buy teaching materials that should be provided by the school?

    Also- it is NOT MANDATORY for a teacher to buy teaching supplies! All of the essentials are provided for them. Reading the comments below- all things that a teacher DOES NOT HAVETO BUY! Get real!

    One last thing: hello, my name is Sandra Brewer. I’ve been a 3rd grade teacher at Layfette Primary School in West Georgia for 19 years. This article is INCREDIBLY innacurate and it is an absolute SHAME that fellow educators like myself agree to these ideologies. We have responsibilites to teach NOT to ask of things from our parents.

    1. You must be a crappy teacher if you don’t work during the summer. I have been in three weeks of trainings, helped my district re-write curriculum, and have been re-tooling my classes for the fall. I guess you have done nothing and will be the type of teacher I cannot stand. Sit on your laurels and have a middling class again this year. Good luck to your kids. The crazy idea that summers are off is one of my biggest peeves. I am lucky to have had a week at the beginning of the summer. That was nice. Right now, I am taking a break from watching new videos to keep my students interested. What are you doing?

    2. This is very upsetting. I am an 8th grade teacher in a state with no state tax. As such schools get very little.
      I do not get supplies from my school unless you count on pack of pencils, one pack of pens and one notepad. Yes, I do have to supply my classroom entirely.

  384. Thanks for writing about this! As a third grade teacher in a low-income school, I definitely spend that much on school supplies for my classroom. Teachers I work with do the same. We want to know that our students have what they need, so we get it for them when we have to. But it is so nice when a parent sends a little extra of something “just in case.” Not to mention, the fun colors of Expo markers only come in those 16-packs!

  385. I have never minded buying school supplies but I do wonder what happens to all the supplies that don’t get sent home at the end of the year…I hope that the teachers keep them and use them…I do however resent when a specific teacher asks for a spiral or composition book and only a page or 2 is used.. maybe the used pagesespecially could be torn out and the rest used in another class the next year or better yet the teacher retains it for use by other students in her class until it is all used…I buy extra tissues each year and donate as my older son has chronic allergies and at times runs thru lots of tissues…a couple of extra pigs of pens, pencils, crayons or markers would help any teacher….theydon’t make much…

    1. Tina, thank you for being one of the parents who send extra tissues. Too many times, it is the parents of my students with allergies (who by themselves can easily go through at least a box of kleenex each week) who don’t send ANY tissues!!!!

  386. Thank you for sharing this with the public. As a teacher, I can attest to the fact that we do buy a good bit out of pocket. Our starting pay in Richland parish is 33k. We appreciate parents who help out in any way!!! 🙂

  387. I can assure you teachers spend a lot out of pocket! Tonight I spent about 22.00 at Walmart and it’s a constant trip! Not even going to think aboot what I spent from June-August!!! Love my job and Love my kids….plus I buy my son everything he needs… I send in things all year long for teachers as well! Not including what I spend on extra curricular!

  388. I love you! Thank you for writing this. Honestly, I spent about $200 today on classroom supplies as I get ready for the school-year. I probably spend $1000-$1500 each year on my classroom. I need these things to do my job well and I am not complaining, but it is nice to know that some people don’t think that teachers are just in it for the summers off (some people still believe that). THANK YOU!!!

  389. Terry Jordan, I taught kindergarten. If you had read all my posts you would have seen that. As to the marking you still either didn’t read the post all the way or you lack comprehension. It said MY DAUGHTER! Not I. I no longer teach. I chose to retire at 50 to help out. This year alone, and school has not even started, I have spent over $300.00 purchasing books for a new kindergarten teacher at an impoverishedend school. When school starts I will continue to help out as needed second my funds allow. So don’t tell me I am selfish!! Besides do you really think orople want their child sharing with our autistic, SPD kid who puts EVERYTHING in his mouth? Maybe there should be some discussion as to the health issues there. As to benefits, that info came from personnel and a benefits meeting I attended with my friend as her husband could not attend.

  390. THANK YOU!!! As a teacher who works in a district that has a starting pay for first year teachers in the $35,000 range, and acknowledging that I did indeed spend at least $500 on supplies and books myself, THANK YOU!!

  391. Thank you. As a retired educator, I gladly bought supplies for my students. Yes, a few could not afford them, but many parents just didn’t buy supplies for their children. I have also bought Christmas dresses for little girls who never had them and shoes and socks for students who needed these necessities to wear and attend classes. (They would stay home because they didn’t have shoes.) I have also had little girls sent to Kindergarten wearing a dress with no panties underneath. Most of us would not think to dress or not dress our children for school, but it happens and it happens too often. Thank goodness for teachers who provide these things for many children in our public schools. Too often they are criticized for failing test scores, but students who “do without” necessities usually do without parental support and have difficulty with academics.

  392. I would firstly like to thank the teachers in this thread that go above and beyond the call of duty. Secondly, I would like to say that supply purchasing is a necessary part of any child’s education whether it is in public school, private school, or home schooling. Those of you who are not a parent or teacher and who have come here to attack, you should watch what you say. You have no experience in the situation to understand. I am a teaching student. I have nieces and nephews who go to school. And I go ABOVE the job of an aunt to help them in school. I am even taking a step further and getting a license plate that adds extra funds to which school I support and taking supplies to the school.

    We are lucky that my community helps support those families who do not have the funds to supply their children. It is a very simple idea. Community! One word! That’s it. You help. You don’t complain. Children receive the education they need to become productive adults in the community. It’s a win-win.

  393. I appreciate your article! We have EXPO’s on our list as well and something else that burns me is that people always think those are for the teachers! I don’t even have a whiteboard in my room. Those markers are absolutely for their children, not me!

  394. What the teacher and parents need to do is go to the board meetings and address that problem about CLASSROOM SUPPLIES. The school needs yo give the teacher supplies to do their jobs.

  395. Thank you for taking time to gather the data and research. I’m a teacher and I don’t think I ever thought about $ and supplies. I just know that in order for me to provide the best education to my students I’ll need certain materials. I never pressure my parents about supplies, I just figure they buy what they can afford. At times I have made contact with people I know and asked if they could help out our classroom with notebooks, glue sticks and pencils. People complain but I feel this way, they may have had their own bad experience in school. They don’t value education or they are very unhappy people that would complain about anything. My focus is making sure their child receives the best education possible. #loveteachingchildren.

  396. Thank you for so eloquently stating the realities of teaching. As a classroom teacher for over 30 years I have spent more money than I want to think about (my retirement could be much better funded if I hadn’t spent so much on basic necessities for my classroom). Teachers are a very generous group of people, I’ve known of so many teachers who have dug down into their pockets when they didn’t really have much to spare to purchase Christmas gifts, uniforms, shoes, etc… that their students needed but couldn’t afford – they often help students who have had homes burn down or other tragedies in their lives and need help I am proud to be a part of a profession where people truly care about others. I believe in karma and feel it will come back to her someday. That woman who stood there in her expensive shoes with her expensive bag (that her child’s teacher would probably to have but can’t afford because they are buying classroom supplies) and begrudged spending an extra couple of dollars on markers (the same with those that buy the cheapest crayons, markers, pencils, etc rather than the brand requested) to send to school is the same parent who will expect her children’s teachers to write letters of recommendation, help with a science fair project, etc and the teacher will politely do whatever is asked, on their own time, without as much as a thank-you from the parent.

  397. As a husband of a teacher, kuddos to you for this article!! Teachers work hard for our kids and care so much about them too!! People need to wake up and understand this!! I hope many other people read this and do!

  398. Also if the idiot mother could do math she could have bought two ten packs and split them between the three girls.

  399. <3 thanks for the love! It is so freshing to hear someone speak about teachers with gratitude and respect. I promise you have made an impact on this teacher and I will be thinking of this post tomorrow as the new school year begins.

  400. Education tax is the highest percentages tax I pay in my property tax. The money is spent on schools that look like the Taj Mahal. Marbled floors and elaborate facades. Why aren’t there any conversations about the possibility that our tax dollars are not being spent in the areas that really need it-such as teacher salaries and SUPPLIES?? We just roll over and accept that this is ‘just the way it is’. We need to stop playing the foolish citizens.

  401. Thank you for this article! You are one of the few who realizes the ‘cost’ of education. I did not become a teacher so I could be rich but rather to form and mold our future.

  402. While I agree with this post, I have to clarify something about it. The author compares teachers buying classroom supplies to healthcare workers. We DO have to buy our work supplies too from stethoscopes ($100-300+), to pens, highlighters, and scrubs ($40- $100 for a set). Also I pay $700/yr for PARKING alone. So I feel it was an unfair comparison.

  403. I am not a teacher but I am a parent and grandparent. ..all school supplies are needed 100 percent more then a purse or shoes or new clothes for the parents…CHILDREN COME FIRST..my oldest child ( and his sons) are deaf also your school supplies are also communication for the whole family , so I buy these all year round not just the School year , I also donate to the local Elementary School …

  404. While I appreciate the amount of money teachers spend in their classrooms and that many, many parents complain about the cost of providing materials to the teachers, I don’t think the best way to make your point is hyperbole. Are we to believe that you know what and where a $10,000 per week resort is? I’ve been on vacations all over the world and fairly expensive ones at that, however, I cannot name one $10,000 per week resort. My point being that honesty is always the best policy. If you are just trying to make a point by using hyperbole, I think you should make sure to let the audience know this. However, when you present something that obviously isn’t fact as fact, it ruins your credibility and actually takes away from the point that teachers are underpaid and over worked and spend way too much of their own money in the classroom. Just for the future, I think you should point out when using hyperbole.

  405. I think that each kid should bring their own Kleenex but I Also don’t think it should all be combined. Some kids use more than others through out the yr.. so if a child is running low on his/her Kleenex than a note should be sent telling the parent/guardian that their child needs more Kleenex.

  406. I agree with this to an extent. I don’t want the teachers paying for their own equipment, but I also think that parents shouldn’t have to pay extra for something they’re legally forced to do. We already pay taxes. Funds need to be moved around to give teachers a higher budget; we shouldn’t be punished because the school isn’t getting the funds to teach our children properly.

  407. As a teacher, I want to thank you for writing this. I moved from high school special education to kindergarten. I had very little for my room. I had to buy everything that was not a classroom asset. My mother-in-law even bought a printer for my room that is also a copier, because we don’t have access to a copier at my school. (we turn in what we need to the office and they make copies, which is a huge pain) I have spent about $250 and still need more supplies. I don’t even have the organization materials I need. I have to wait until my next check. Please know that it is worth it. I didn’t become a teacher to make money. I just want to help children succeed.

  408. I find this article hard to read and accept. It is NOT the parents job to pay for their child’s education twice or even three times. This is public education. That parent with the kids and $1000 purses with $200 matching shoes ALREADY paid taxes for education. Let’s say the family income was $250,000 per year and they paid 30% of that in taxes, using the exact example you gave, that is $75,000 in taxes. They just paid for two teachers full salaries. And now you expect them to pay for the supplies needed to run the classroom? The parents and kids are not to blame here. The US invests 2-3x more money than any other country and we still rank poorly. The reason you have to buy markers isn’t because of some “cheap” parent it’s because of the people running the education system.

    This type of thinking really grinds my gears. You are a teacher making X amount of money. Just because someone makes more than you doesn’t automatically entitle you to everyone else’s money. Where does this thought process even come on? I would not want you teaching my children these horrible entitlement values.

    Do realize the parent(s) that refused to pay “just a little more” have ALREADY paid for her children’s education and then some. Why is it OK for teachers to want more and more from parents when it’s their own system that is taking from them, not the parents. You are not the only profession that spends their own money on their career. Most white collor professionals spend vast amounts of their own money for their career. Expensive clothes for business meetings, higher-education courses, software development tools, computers, self-help books, etc. We all spend money to help us do our jobs. But only teachers complain about it when they don’t get even more money from their “customers” after the customers have already paid them.

    Could you imagine a car salesman writing this article? It would go something like this.. I sold a car today to this family that could OBVIOUSLY afford two. But they only bought one and my boss only gave me a 2% commission on the sale. So I went back to the family and asked if they would pay me directly for the extended warranty so that I could put clothes on my back. They said no and that they already paid for the car. Those ungrateful people, I can’t believe it. Don’t they know how little money I make and how much money the corporate makes that I work for? They should have to pay twice for that car so that I can make a decent living.

  409. O.M.G….. THANK YOU! As a public school teacher in Mississipi who is in her 5th year of teaching, I still makes less than 10 grand of the salary you mentioned in your post. I am only allowed to “suggest” items for a Wish List and not require them. My students only bring paper and pencil. I am suppose to figure out the rest. It is utterly insane that I spend more money on my classroom than anything else and no one (other than teachers) seem to understand. So, thank you for taking a stand for us teachers!

  410. I teach. I’ve had the “tissue issue” if you will. My solution was simple and the kids loved it. I asked them the next time they were at McDonalds or some other restaurant to save the napkins and bring them in for extra credit. They are free and what child hasn’t at some point gone to a fast food joint? The napkins were for their dry erase boards, cleaning cloth if needed, and tissue as a last resort when we had nothing else. My students were so sad when I no longer offered extra credit points ( as my desk had no more space for more). I’ll probably have napkins until the day I retire!

    1. For our dry erase boards, I asked my mom to donate any old washcloths she had–she gave me a huge stack! I use those and just wash them once in a while!

  411. With that being said, with 20 students in a class (for example) and having to supply a 6 pack of expo markers, that equates to 120 markers. So you are telling me that a teacher goes through a marker roughly every day and a half. When I was in school we were not asked to supply the teacher only to supply ourselves. I pay taxes to provide teachers with a salary whether I have children or not. This should be enough. By the way, I am employed by a class I railroad so I have plenty of money. I supply my own work boots, pens, backpack, and clothes bags, which is also income tax deductible.

  412. Thank you for your article. As a middle school teacher in Florida (38,000 starting pay) and working in a Title one school (75% living below the poverty line), I buy $600 worth of supplies on average out of pocket. It is hard on me as I am a single income household and I wish more people would realize what we teachers do on a daily bases.

  413. Just a thought, they may be able to afford the fancy apparel because they learned to scrimp and save. I am not saying their priorities are in order— apparel, vacations, then education per say — but we should be careful to judge people because they have money. We have no claim on how they should spend their money.
    I certainly agree that something certainly seemed amiss in that situation but I don’t think it had anything to do with their money.

  414. I’m a teacher and I spend a lot of my own money each year. It all comes from the heart, but can get quite expensive. Thank you for this wonderful article.

  415. Mechanics have to buy there own tools, and also alot a tradesmen also. It’s not outta the norm to pay for your own tools. Suck it up or pick another profession

  416. When polled, 99.5% of all public school teachers spent $485 out of their pocket for supplies
    That’s not correct.
    99.5% of all public school teachers spent **SOME money, which averages out to** $485 out of their pocket for supplies.
    Please also note, that’s not a scientific poll, and I’ve paid money for supplies to do every job I’ve ever had, from taking out trash, to waiting table, to being the military, to the corporate world. I’ve bought pens, gloves, hats, corkscrews, lunches for clients, you name it. I think 99.5% of everyone has come out of pocket for things to do their job.

  417. Other than the math, this vignette is hard to believe. The secondary character, the mother, is a characture of excess. However, the main character, the observer, seems to be the most privileged. The observer projects his/her own socioeconomic position and experience on the family. How else would the observer know about expensive handbags and resorts? Perhaps the observer assumes that knockoff hand bags are not freely available at flea markets. Perhaps the observer does not know that rich people but shirts at expensive resorts to appease their kids, or meet the expectations of peers, them donate them to goodwill where unrich people buy them to impress their peers. I will give the observer this much credit, I think the story is hyperbole intended to show that parents should be willing to sacrifice for their children’s education. If so, I agree. But, I do not agree with the execution. Also, the daughter seemed reasonable.

  418. As a teacher, I say….Thank you! I refuse to spend my own money on my classroom supplies. That said, I get creative with finding money within the school setting. I recycle ink cartridges for gift cards from Office Depot. I volunteer my room to be used for our after school program in exchange for a set dollar amount of credit at supply stores (there are lots of different places I can spend it). Our teacher parent club hives each teacher a set amount of cash. The school itself gives us a set amount too. I do pretty well. Many times, schools get DEEP discounts from office supply stores, often more than 50% off. The only materials I request for class use are a ream of paper and a box of tissues. I get less than 10/35 bringing that in. The other supplies are suggested for the students personal use.

  419. As a teacher, I can tell you that we truly appreciate when parents pitch in, especially more than is asked! We do what we do because we love our students and believe in them. It’s always nice to hear that others appreciate our efforts.

  420. Great way to think about this! I watched my sister spend at least 200.00 dollars worth to start up the year.

  421. People generally have a problem because A. The supplies are being stock piled and there is no possible way a teacher uses 120+ markers per year etc .B. For many many years children were taught by teachers who did an extremely effective job without the piles of supplie. . If the government forces its citizens sto send their children to state run schools then they should divert some money out of their pay, perks, etc into the school system so it can afford to buy markers… and tissue… and crayons.

  422. Thank you from a public school educator who just this week spent $173.95 so my fifth graders will have the supplies they need to start school.

  423. You are my hero. Teachers are not the only ones that use them. I have small white boards and kids use them every day for math. I go through cases of them. I am lucky to have some generous parents in my class that buy extra like you!

  424. I spend so much that my husband has asked if I can get the social security number of my “kids” these are my school kids and how do they succeed without the proper supplies to do so..if I provide them and it makes their day better then that is my job. Kids should not have this worry

  425. Thank you for posting. I don’t mind buying either. I volunteer every year for home room mom, to try and do my part. I always go that extra mile to help the teacher all I can and sometimes put my own money in when others won’t. I’m not bragging…I’m just saying I love to help our educators. Without them our children would not have their future!

  426. Thank you for this article. I’ve been teaching 25-years, have 53 graduate level credits and am just breaking $49,000 this year. This summer, I have spent over $500 on teaching materials and still haven’t purchased the notebooks, folders, pencils, and other supplies I buy to have on hand for my students. Now, the truth is that I love teaching. I too enjoy shopping for school supplies to kick off the new school year, and I want to have the materials I need to pull off meaningful lessons. Unfortunately, schools (every one I have ever taught in at least) are on tight budgets. I spend my money willingly, because I love my job and want to do the best I can for my students. What hurts is all of the teacher bashing from politicians and others who should recognize the importance of dedicated educators. Reading your article felt like a pat on the back! Thank you!

  427. Thank you, I am a teacher of a title 1 school and spend three times that on supplies. Not because I have to but I want my kids to know I care. 17 years of teaching and I don’t make a ton of money, I just hit the sales! Thank you it is appreciated by us trust me!

  428. I know, as a teacher, I spend way too much of my own money for supplies, but your children are worth it. So nice to hear that some parents appeciate it.

  429. You are so right! I have a close family member who is a teacher and also has two young sons, one of whom is in first grade. Because of a lawsuit in years past by one of those of the “entitlement” crowd, our school district does not even allow our teachers to ask for school supplies! The complaining parent who filed the lawsuit felt that “public schools” should be totally free and they were not going to pay for supplies that the school should provide! One person caused a policy change that now forces teachers to send “suggestions” of supplies that might be helpful but no “supply list” or request that might appear as a demand can be sent to any of the students homes! So the teachers in our district are even more stressed in getting the supplies they need to teach their students! Thankfully, many of our local churches will adopt classes and provide supplies but there are many many teachers who are in the position of choosing their family’s needs or buying supplies for their classroom!!! I know for a fact that this exist and that it is difficult for many teachers in the district. All because one entitlement based parent thought they had no responsibility in helping their child get an education! Please be praying for our teachers and the students and just know that most of them give way above and beyond what they can comfortably do in order to give their students the most they can to be successful!

  430. I think people get upset, not that they have to buy the supplies so that teachers do not have to, but because there was once a time that our tax dollars paid for these very same supplies that teachers use every day. Yes parents always purchased notebooks and crayons, but ziplocs and Lysol wipes, if needed, were provided by the county or the state. I think we can all agree that teachers should never have to buy materials needed to do their job, but why don’t their state employers?

  431. Thank you! There have been times as a single mom that I was not able to buy all the school supplies my children needed but I always felt bad about it because I knew thay teachers paid a lot out of their own pockets. Now, I am about to embark on my own journey as an educator and am grateful for people out there who realize how much teachers give so that they can educate children and how much they give because they love teaching.

  432. Wow! Secondary teachers get to ask for supplies? I teach high school, and I have never been able to ask parents for anything. I brought home less than $24,000 last year. I never went into teaching thinking I would get rich, but if asking parents to help so that I can provide their child with an education, so be it. It would be nice to get gift cards so I can buy more books for my classroom library, pencils, or paper, but I know it will not happen. I cannot spend anymore than I already do.

  433. On top of the supplies we also pay taxes! A lot of schools will also kick you out of school if they find out you’re out of their district because you are not paying taxes to that school. What do the taxes go to that are way more than a few hundred a year? Every job has an out I pocket expense….I do know that some teacher do go above and beyond. Thankful for them!!!!

  434. I was a teacher for 30 years and spent a lot of money for supplies along with the supplies my two children needed to have for their classes from k to 12th grades. When you realize how important education is you don’t complain, you just get it done!

  435. I have no problem buying school supplies or donating extra as I do every year. My problem is that my sons school system requires all supplies be community supplies and they don’t come home for homework or at the end of the year. If my son had his own supplies I would see fit to take the opportunity to TEACH him RESPONSIBILTY and how to care for and account for them. I used supplies for many years over and my son should be able to too. What happened to reduce, reuse, recycle? Oh, that’s right, it’s only a motto when it’s convenient. My son happened to be in a magnet school that was an environmental focus. They teach the kids all about recycling and how to preserve our earth but no one cares about moms hard earned green (and I don’t carry even 20$ purses) or the fact that these supplies are being wasted. Frankly, i have every right to complain about how my money is spent and this year I’m denying the community supply. It’s none of your business what anyone spends their money on or complains about…as long as we are earning it and it’s ours we have EVERY RIGHT to complain AND SHOULD. the problem with society today is that there are so many sheep flocking with the herd. As far as material things go, that’s none of your business either, but I’ll indulge you. I buy everything from consignment, goodwill, and yard sales. I do this so I can afford to live in the better school district for my son, so that I can afford the college fund I pay monthly to for both of my sons, and so I can afford to clothe and feed my children as one father doesn’t help at all. Nevermind my retirement, that’s going towards a ridiculous amount of extra dry erase (expo preferred) markers because my sons school thinks that in a class of over 20 each parent should provide 4. Just 20 multiplied by 4 is 80. Why does a teacher of 3rd graders need 80 dry erase markers? I’ll tell u why…because they are being provided by a group of people who aren’t questioning why, where, who, or how much…. Parents. We are just doing as we are told. If students and teachers had to answer to someone for their consumption I’m sure a lot less supplies would be lost, broken, or misused. For some reason people take my opinion as though I’m saying we shouldn’t have to buy supplies or that teachers should have to….THATS NOT WHAT IM SAYING AT ALL. I’m saying that I don’t agree with how my school system is doing it and I made a stand. Teachers should make a stand too. They chose a job that pays horribly and requires ridiculous responsibilities, but they chose it. We can all choose to make a change.

  436. THIS MAKES NANNY MAD–MY GRAND DAUGHTER WORKED HARD TO GET A DEGREE TO HELP CHILDREN–BY THE WAY SHE PROBABLY CARES MORE FOR THE CHILDREN THAN THE PARENT-AND A PARENT DOES NOT WANT TO HELP HER CHILDREN GET A GOOD EDUCATION–MY GRAND DAUGHTER HAS TO BEG HER SCHOOL KIDS TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK SO THEY CAN GET A BETTER JOB THAN WORKING AT FAST FOODD PLACES!! MOTHERS AND FATHERS, TEACHERS ARE TO HELP YOU–NOT TAKE YOUR PLACE–GET YOUR ________ OUT THERE AND HELP YOUR CHILDREN MAKE SOMETHING OF THMSELVE–THEN THEY WONT HAVE TO GO ON WELFARE OR STEAL FOR WHAT THEY WANT!!!!! FROM NANNY AMEN AND AMEN

  437. Thank you for your comment. I am a kindergarten teacher and I do spend more than I should in school supplies and resources to do my job, granted no one tells me I have to do it, I choose to do it. I do it because most of the time I only get half the supplies that is requested. Whatever the reason is, I want to make sure every student has what they need to learn.

  438. Great article! I taught elementary school for 40 years and I couldn’t even begin to add up all I spent. But it made my job so much more fun and helped the children enjoy their learning.

  439. I just want to point out that if this woman had three daughters who each needed to bring 6 markers, she could have purchased 2 10-packs which would give each girl six markers with only two spare. And she would probably be spending less per marker to purchase the larger packs.

  440. I am a mother of 2 not yet in school. While I agree with many points in this article, I personally think some teachers ask way too much in their supply lists. Asking for specific brands that are usually the most expensive and expecting parents to buy some supplies is asking too much and a little bit greedy. Put the minimum on students supply lists and any special items a teacher just wants, the teacher should provide. How often in the real world after schooling, does your job give you a supply list of things to buy? If they do, it’s usually minimal and fairly inexpensive. If you choose to buy outrageous items or say items to decorate your office, you pay for it.

  441. In most classrooms, students use these Expo markers on individual wipe-off boards. They are not solely for the teacher. Students use them for word study, spelling and math, just to name a few. Some supplies are pooled for use by all, and some are for the individual student. Most teachers, including myself, supply above and beyond what is brought by their students. I also bought supplies for students who came with nothing, because I didn’t want them to suffer or be embarrassed. I’m retired now, however.

  442. As an elementary school teacher to a lower economic status school, I am always buying extra supplies! I appreciate so much you posting this! Amen to it all! Thanks for appreciating us! We love parents who are involved and appreciate our hard work!

  443. As a teacher I thank you for recognizing what is helpful in running a classroom. I teach high school and don’t have the opportunity to ask my students or their families for classroom supplies. They are required to have a folder, writing utensil, and paper for my class. I don’t consider this an unreasonable request. I provide tissues in my classroom because I cannot stand to hear the snuffing” that takes place if they don’t have a tissue. And, for the record, toilet paper is not the same! I just finished shopping for a few tables for my classroom and both my husband and daughter asked me if I would be reimbursed. When I said no they both asked why I was spending my own money for “classroom” supplies. My response– “because it makes it a little easier to work with and help my students”!

  444. I am an educator and I have mixed feelings on this because I see too many things on the supply list that are either things the school should take care of and/or lists that are too specific…even as far as listing the brand the students HAVE to purchase. Really? As a parent, I get aggravated when I see a cleaning supply on the supply list. I know a couple others made comments about ‘community supplies’, but as a parent, I am purchasing my daughter’s items…not to be shared with the entire class. She rarely got to use her scissors because I bought her a nice pair that cut well while many others didn’t, so every time it was time to ‘cut’, someone had hers….or when there were not many crayons at her table because the kid who tears up everything had already destroyed them all, etc.Then later in the year, we get notes to send in more because they don’t have enough. If my child was using her own and taking care of them, I wouldn’t have to do it several times throughout the year. Having kids buy an entire ream of copy paper is interesting as well. What are my taxes going for? Remember, I said I am an educator and have spent lots of my own money in my classroom, but I also see the waste and mismanagement that often takes place. Why should I have to buy the teacher’s post-its to write herself notes on? Now we are even buying their construction paper and sending it in…….We do have to send in tissues and I have no problem with that. I know it is not a teacher’s responsibility to supply tissues for my child or anyone else’s who has a cold. Besides the school fees and the long list of supplies, many of which aren’t appropriate as supplies, we constantly get notes to send in things to school so they can do a project—many times the night before it is going to happen. If the teacher chooses to do projects that are going to take a lot of special items, maybe they need to think twice….and if that isn’t enough, we are to sign up to be a room parent or parties and special events. It’s most definitely not that I don’t want to do these things, because I do, but the line needs drawn somewhere. It is generally the same handful of parents who supply everything and even parents who can afford helping with parties, etc. choose not to sign up and/or send in something. As far as some saying they have to buy paper towels, diapers, etc…while I know you do it for the love of child and what you do, you shouldn’t have to do that. Now as an administrator, I also know how much money the district gets for special needs students, so some of that should be directed in other channels…..I could go on, but I’m a bit ‘all over the place’.

  445. Maybe that mother shops at a goodwill or other second hand store to get her purses and shoes. You want a cookie cause you bought the 16 pack of markers? Get over yourself, please. This entire article was just so you could pat yourself on the back for your perceived good deed. Next time leave out all the judgment and self praise and maybe I’ll take you seriously.

  446. I graduated eleven years ago. We were only required to bring in supplies that we as students would need and use ourselves. My nieces and nephews now attend the same school. It is ridiculous what the teachers ask for. No problem helping a student that needs it, but seriously five packs of crayons and they must be name brand?!! It’s one thing to help and another to supply everything.

  447. As a teacher, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know we are appreciated by many but it’s the few that speak the loudest.

  448. I agree that our public school system is a steal for what wonderful teachers we have. Sure there are some teachers out there who shouldn’t be teaching but I guarantee you that most of the teachers I’ve met are awesome wonderful people who would literally give their lives to educate, make sure our kids are safe, watch over them for 7 hours a day 5 days a week and send them home happy and smiling at the end of the day. They have one of the hardest and sometimes least appreciated jobs in the world. So folks, buy the big sizes of school supplies and send the extra to the teacher, They deserve our undying appreciation.

  449. As a parent my complaint is not purchasing the items but I think it should be mandatory for everyone and for those that say they can’t afford it I believe they should prove that they can’t I always help out the schools but what really boils my blood is that I pull up to the school in a broke down cobalt ( nothing wrong with that) but I get everything in the supply list then I have a lady pull up in a Lexus truck brand new very nice name brand close living in government housing (RENT FREE) and bring their children to school with nothing so all the supplies we had to bring will jow supply this child which I don’t don’t mind if the parent would at least bring SOMETHINGS FEOM THE LIST I mean come on r u serious simply PATHETIC!!!

  450. While I appreciate this article and every point you made, the analogy of the hospital is WAY off. We all know that the visit to said doctor is going to cost you a couple hundred dollars to cover the cost and application of said shot. If I could bring in my own supplies, I would in a heartbeat!!

  451. Thank YOU, I’m a teacher and a single mom. My son has special needs. After insurance and other deductions, I bring home $900 twice a month, while $845 for my small 2 bedroom home (nothing fancy). I struggle to pay doctor and therapy copays, struggle to have grocery money for my son to eat healthy so he can maybe do better. I go without my medications (thyroid, lymphedema) so my son has what he needs. My van is struggling day to day to operate but as you see on my income I can’t afford a payment or new nor repairs! I don’t even get a living wage…and I STILL end up having to buy things for my classroom:( THIS month I don’t even know where grocery money is coming from as my basic expenses/utitilies is short….

  452. Amen sister!!!! I bought the big pack as well!!!! LOL. In all seriousness, thank you for posting this beautifully written message in support of our educators!!!!

  453. It is shocking to see all of the arguing going on here about tissues! Yes, I am sure that there is some wastage happening with kids using them just to waste time, but the end result is that you have kids using a tissue instead of their finger or their hand. You’re helping to prevent the spread of the flu/colds. Illnesses which in the end will cost you more money than a box of tissue. My daughter always informs me if they are out of tissues and I try to help anytime I can. You can purchase a box for less than a candy bar. I’ve seen boxes of tissues on sale for $ .49! I’ve also sent in hand sanitizer when requested. I appreciate the idea of preventing illness. I purchased both of these tonight for $1.58. That’s a small price to pay to help prevent illness…

  454. I would hate to even imagine how much money I spent for my students and classroom over the course of my 43-year career! You either pay for what is needed out of your pocket or student will do without.

  455. Thank you! I always spent hundreds of dollars on school supplies for my classroom. We do the same for my husband classroom. We do this because these things are not supplied to us by the school system.

  456. As a 1st grade teacher, I just want to say THANK YOU! My kids use whiteboards every day, and I probably spend $100 a year on Expo markers alone! I appreciate your kindness and thoughtfulness!

  457. Thank you for your research. Now multiply the average spent out of pocket by 37 years. That would be clise to what I spent before retiring.

  458. I agree with the overall point of your article but:

    “What if you went to the hospital and you needed, say a shot? You pay for the syringe, medicine, alcohol pads, and the materials needed for the nurse and physician to do their job. If they told you that either a) you needed to pay a supply fee for the syringe, medicine, alcohol pads and the materials needed to perform this job or b) you had to bring the supplies, you would probably either pay the fee, or bring the supplies so that the nurse and physician could do their jobs.”

    We do pay for the syringe, the medicine, the alcohol pads. We also pay for the electricity, the water, the “free” TV and the food.

    Again, I support your position but your comparison is a bit off the mark.

  459. THANK YOU! I also spend money on school supplies for my own children, sending extras for their class, and spend money on my students for their supplies as well!

  460. I agree with this EXCEPT at our public school here in MA they charge $3400 tuition for full day kindergarten. They still have a supply list and beg for money all year (the parent group does), we pay for field trips etc. The only reason I take issue is because this money does not go into the kindergarten program, our K teachers still have wish lists. Because our district does not receive grants they can do whatever they want with the money so..to the town budget it goes. I do still buy supplies and send in extras when we can afford them but it sits wrong when we pay so much that first year. Once they are tuition free im more than happy to donate and do extra. It is completely unfair to the K teachers and the K parents. I have 2 kids and they are 1 year apart in school so almost 7K in 2 years for full day. I could send them 1/2 day, we choose not to only because they both seriously benefit in different ways from full day. They do not inform the parents that the money does not go into the K program.

  461. As a teacher who has spent hundreds of dollars on school supplies, not only for my classroom, but for my students, I can definitely appreciate this article. However, as a parent, I get very upset when I am asked to send extra “needed” supplies in February, only to see boxes upon boxes of unused school supplies lining the school’s hallways the last week of school, being donated to other schools overseas. It would be much more hellpful to parents (especially to those of us on a teacher’s salary) if they would either send those supplies home with the students, or inventory them for next year, and reduce the amount of supplies parents need to buy.

  462. Thank you for the support! I am not sure where your school district is, but the public school I work in, has a starting pay of $34,000 for a first year teacher! The teachers in your district are starting out at almost $10,000 more than we do!! Thanks for spelling it out, truthfully, and supporting your children’s teachers. They are lucky to have your support!

  463. I am a teacher too and it is true that we spend a lot out of pocket on school supplies. We often buy double because supplies run out in the middle of the year and crayons no longer cost .97! I appreciate the article and hopefully it will encourage parents to donate to the classroom.

  464. Your article is the best thank you a teacher can get! The time and energy you put into outlining the money teachers spend out of their own pocket is spot on.
    I spent $2,000.00 this year so my students would have a tablet to use in the classroom. Taxes allow teachers to deduct $250 a year!
    Teachers do not get any of the perks that the police, fire, and military families get!
    Luckily I teach because I love my job not for the money!
    My son graduated college last year, was employed immediately and now one year later makes more money than I do and I have my masters degree!
    I do need to disclose I teach at a school where the parents give us their time, their money, they send their kids to school ready to learn and for that I’m thankful!

  465. We already pay taxes for that crap. It is the states fault. We shouldn’t have to buy anything else!!!!! You opinion is your opinion, but I pay a lot in taxes so I expect the teachers to have what they need…but not get it from me again!!!

  466. I was a public school teacher for many years and spent a considerable amount of my own money to provide instructional .materials. I now teach future teachers at a small college. One of my favorite lessons involves taking actual school supply lists and having students calculate the costs. They are shocked! I think it’s great when families can afford.to buy the myriad of things that teachers would like. What happens when they can’t? I know there’s no good answer but maybe your child will be in a class where students are encouraged to share supplies, where stapled recycled paper (only one side used for photocopies) become notebooks, where cereal boxes can be cut open and used for poster paper, etc. Maybe we could raise a generation of children who recycle, reuse, & share. And if you can afford extras, by all means, gift teachers with them. It’s amazing how wonderful a new pack of markers or a box of tissues can be!

  467. As a former teacher and mom of 2, I can relate to both sides. I spent my entire in school budget on printer cartidges each year bc mine disappeared over the summer months…my expenses were between 1000 to 3000 each year. I had a whopping $100 to cover over 500 students. I had to fight to even claim that money each year, never knowing if I would be deemed important enough to receive the funds. I also remember sending supplies at one school that my child never got to use while at the other school the system was much more efficient because every parent pitched in. It all comes down to the school and its culture. Good teachers give everything they have to their students and rarely complain bc so many people have this attitude. I have felt frustrated trying to afford the fees, wish lists, and supply lists, but I know what it’s like to face a group of students wearing $200 shoes and no supplies. (My kids had one pair of tennis shoes I got on sale btw.) Parents everywhere should try to understand what it takes to adequately provide for a classroom of students whose parents send nothing. Parents should also think about what it would be like to spend part of their paycheck each week on things in their work environment just to scrape by for another week. Trying to decide between your family and other people’s children who end up depending on you is tough. Hats off to teachers and parents who support them.

  468. I can see that there is a vast amount of difference across the country when it comes to school supply policies, staff salaries, and expectations for teachers, custodians, etc. I am 60 years old, and didn’t have to bring supplies to kindergarten, but from first grade through high school, my parents had to buy my school supplies. Apparently, in some places it’s totally different. When my own children were in school, I received a school supply list every year for each child. Now my grandchildren get a list every year.

    In our school, which is a rural, poverty-impacted school, we try to keep our supply lists short, but have no choice. Either we teachers buy the supplies ourselves, or the parents do. Our district used to supply tissue for the year, but not any more. No one is penalized for not bringing supplies. We get donations from the staff, former teachers, and local churches to help those who don’t have supplies.

    Every year, I buy several packages of boys and girls underwear and socks, and look for sweats at garage sales so that I have clothing for my students who have accidents at school. I buy every child in my class a pair of gloves at the dollar store when it gets cold, because I can’t bear to see them playing outside with freezing hands. I don’t expect a medal, or pity for this, it’s my choice because it makes my classroom run smoothly, and I care passionately about my students.

    Our district has run out of copy paper for the last two years before the end of the year. We started asking for donations, but now our superintendent says he will find a way to get the budget increased. Times are tough, and there is no economic recovery where we live. Due to the increases in insurance every year, my paycheck has gone down or stayed the same for the last four years. But I am thankful to have a job doing what I love!

  469. I refused to buy markers, paper towels, hand sanitizer, Kleenex for the start of school this year. I can’t afford it. I will however, send those supplies in 3 months after a big bulk has been used. It breaks up my expenses and when teachers have some room they can restock. I had trash bags on the list last year. TRASH BAGS. Sigh.

  470. I buy school supplies for 3 kids a year. This year I combined their lists and checked all the sales adds and spent all of $72.00 (only needing one backpack because I had stocked up last year when they went on clearance). I went to 4 different stores in our area but I got EVERYTHING on their lists. Shop around a bit and get the deals! With that being said I turn around and share my savings with the people who are teaching my children. I send tissues, hand sanitizer and paper towels every month or so. I am also a couponer so when I can find really good couponing deals I send extra supplies in.

    I am a full time student and my husband works 40-50 even 60+ hours a week to support us and we can find a little extra to give twords our communities children. Even $5 a paycheck towards my kids learning/health isn’t much. People should be ashamed that they think it is OK that the teachers already give so much to our children and should be expected to pay even more for OUR children!!

    If you feel you shouldn’t have to pay for anything or are offended because they are asked for something so little extra you should keep your kids at home and home school!

    1. I forgot to mention that IF a family is totally unable to purchase these items that’s understandable but too many of the ones who can, don’t!

  471. Wow! Thank you for this article! I am a Kindergarten teacher, and have two classes (an AM and a PM class). The study sounds quite accurate. I can’t tell you how much per year I spend on supplies, stickers, awards, treasure box items, etc.! …Especially when I have double the students, I go through twice as many supplies. I really appreciate your positive outlook on educators! It means a lot to know that there are parents who value teachers!

  472. That’s what happens in the realm of entitlement. You don’t see privte schools doing nearly as much of that! Mostly because parents pay to have their kids there and they are mo responsible with their money. You look at the books of an average public school and the increases in funding rarely go to where they are needed. If they went to classroom supplies and teaching supplies instead of other places, this problem would be drastically different.

  473. I am not a teacher but what we call a Teacher Aide here is Queensland Australia…..I buy Tissues for students to use in our Library…I buy all sorts of resources for our Bulletin Boards and then make them in my own time…..Teachers here are the same and spend many hundreds of $$$$ of their own money…a new Graduate may spend much more as they set up their first classroom…

  474. That was nice of you to go the extra mile…but I must really question the school systems in the US and how funds are bugeted and destributed. Schools rake in millions of $ in taxes each year (school tax) based on property values in that school district. It still amazes me that on top of it all, teaches and parents still need to spend that money. I just did some research about EXPO markers. They are the ones used for a whiteboard, right? Why does every student need six whiteboard markers? Whatever happened to blackboards and chalk? Does every pupil have their own pocket-whiteboard? Teachers please respond because I feel the heart of the problem is being overlooked in this article.

    As for the complainers at the store, perhaps not enough has been explained to them why they need these supplies. Whether you are rich or poor, I believe a bit of resource management needs to be taught to everyone in the “throw away society” of America.

  475. When people can barely feed there families and then there children come home with lists of items to be purchased it can sometimes get overwhelming. At my children’s school my daughter came home staing she was going to get points taken from her unless she brought in, and this is the funny part, expo markers. I did not buy them with the original list nor did I buy tissues or hand sanitizer. Why? Because I could not afford to!!! I did good getting what I could. Then when my daughter tells me she is going to be punished because we are poor I flipped!! I went to the school the next day and asked the teacher very calmly if what my child had told me and the response was YES. I then pulled out my electric bill handed it to him and told him if he would like to pay that then I could gladly purchase his expo markers and tissues and hand sanitizer. He looked at me stupid. I then told him if one point got taken from my child for being poor I would sue his ass off. I walked out then went straight to the board of education. Teacher at this said school are not allowed to ask for anything but basic school supplies now nor or they to punish if a child does not bring even the basics. It is sometime beyond our control that we can not buy these extras and is not a child’s fault.

  476. From a 1st grade teacher who not only buys supplies out of pocket, but food and treats for lessons, incentives to keep working hard, and beginning of the year, holiday (Christmas, Valentine’s, etc.), and end of the year gifts, I applaude you and thank you for supporting us! Without you, we would not be able to do what we do… and our families/financial support systems thank you for that!!!

  477. I don’t have the high dollar clothes etc that u mentioned and then barely making end meat. In fact right now I am struggling to feed my kids. I understand that teachers pay out of pocket but maybe school districts need to look at where they’re spending their money. Stop sending multi million dollars on sports arenas and sports programs and and put that money in the school supplies.

    another thing you got wrong when you said would you go to the doctor and pay a fee for the syringe and the alcohol pads and all that stuff guess what have you ever looked at an itemized list of what you pay for it your doctor you pay for each individual band aid syringe and even stuff you don’t use

  478. Wow!! Parents everywhere need to read this. I spend at least $1,000 of my own money every year. I would MUCH rather spend that money on professional literature and course work so that I can keep abreast on the latest in education–so that I can be the best teacher I can be for my students–than to spend that money on EXPO markers. And besides, really, you’re nit-picking what your child’s teacher wants to have so they can learn in their classroom? What are you saying about how much you value your child’s education when you gripe IN FRONT OF THEM about spending a few bucks on markers!

  479. & the bigger container of antibacterial gel…..it doesn’t cost THAT much more to go ahead & get the bigger amount. They are my (God’s) children after all.

  480. As a parent, I can tell you that supply shopping drives me crazy! It is possible I may have said something like this while being led on the wild goose chase for the required 2 inch maroon binder (Yes they were very specific and the only place to get said color binder was on-line for $25.) I digress…As a teacher, the supplies are being purchased for the whole year and trust me, 6 expo markers are not enough because your students is going to draw with them when they are not supposed to, will loose the cap during class and just throw the whole marker away, or will bang it on the board until it is dead within one class period of opening the package. Then they’ll ask me for one and I’ll have no choice by to give them one I have purchased for myself and they will destroy it too.

  481. Thank you!!! I could add so much more but you hit the nail on the head, So I simply want to say a huge THANK YOU!

  482. My opinion the school should be responsible to buy them not the teacher,we all pay taxes. If every student buys for instance dry erase markers for lets say 2 grades in a row they dont use all of them markers they should have a good supply of them in that school should not have to buy them every year that’s for sure.

  483. I am so grateful that you took the time to break that down! Another fun fact…that starting salary you mentioned is just under the starting salary for a teacher with a Master’s degree where I teach. I began teaching six years ago, and I make $2,000 less than that. Starting salaries have gone up, but my FIRST raise as a teacher (this is my second career) is coming this year, in January, and it will add about $80/month to my paycheck. I am glad for it, but it doesn’t quite cover what was lost from my paycheck when the payroll taxcuts were rolled back, OR when the state reduced the amount it was contributing to our retirement and the county kindly made up for that. In making up for it, my technical salary did go up, but the change in taxes took more money out of my paycheck. So yes, the implication is that I am less valuable as an employee than a 23-year-old fresh out of the university.

    I don’t mean this as a complaint, but there are lots of teachers out there that are gaining time and experience who are paid less than the starting salaries in their areas. The starting salary gives a false idea of what most teachers bring home!

  484. Thank you for taking the time to understand and appreciate teachers! It is not a job to me …. It’s a calling

  485. As a teacher in NC, I thank you for helping your children’s teacher. It means more to them than you will ever know.

  486. I am a mom who’s daughter graduated college and began teaching in Livingston Parish. I appreciate your article. She has spent well over $500! I also work at a middle school around Alexandria,La. Our only supply list is paper, pencils and pens and a $20 school fee and I get complaints about them paying the $20. There would be a lot less complaints if every parent worked a day in a school. Thanks again for your article.

  487. Amen! As a teacher, I just bought 20 markers last night knowing that will last me a couple of months if the students don’t use them.

  488. As a parent I have no issue sending supplies that the classroom needs to operate. I do wish that the teachers would either A. Cut back on what they ask for ( half of what I buy at the begging of the year comes back home and I can almost never be reused the following year due to how specific my district is about why we bring) or b. Have a place in the school where the extra can be stored for the next year. At least then whatever wasn’tused can go to a child that can afford supplies. Even just giving the parents that option. It is frustrating when you purchase, just for example 18 spiral note books ( across my 4 kids) to have 10 sent home unused.

  489. I wish the first part about what they had on wasn’t in there. They could have very well got the clothes from Goodwill or a thrift store. I personally have given a Coach purse snd expensive clothes that were given to me to a family center. Takes away from the importance of the rest of the article. Think I will copy and past to share but not the first portion.

  490. As a classroom teacher who just spent close to $100 so far on school things – from my summer school money I thank you for your insight and for sharing it with others. This is a sore spot for me. I wish more parents and community members had your point of view. But, bottom line, we do it for the children, because we want the best for them and we want to do our best job so they can succeed. I will continue to do it.

  491. I completely 100% agree with you and your article. When my son went to public school we also bought extra supplies to help get through the year. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure I complained the whole time, but we still got everything on the list. We did this for two reasons: 1) there are truly families out there who can’t afford these supplies and, as acknowledged in your article, the teachers often make up for this from their own pocket. 2) the beginning of the year has the cheapest prices on said necessities, so why not stock up while they are so cheap. With all that being said I have to point out that we do pay for hospital supplies. Trust me, it’s included in your bill. Ten years ago I took my infant son in for an emergency breathing treatment, it cost me over $800! You better believe I was charged for every piece of plastic tubing we touched. I worked healthcare for a decade, I’ve heard so many stories of medical bill nightmares you wouldn’t believe.

  492. I completely agree with having to help support the classroom however, the writer is this post is passing judgement. Just because you see what they are wearing or have in their possession doesn’t mean they paid what you think. Could be very nice knock offs or bought on eBay used. You don’t know until you walk in their shoes. Now as for the teachers you defend, I feel that’s great but the average pay you speak about, where I come from, is more than what a family working 2 full time jobs make. As a full time worker and mother is two attending school this year I will buy my children their school supplies which is my duty. However, just because you compared jobs to that of drs and having supplies isn’t accurate. We as patients do pay for those supplies just like we as citizens pay school taxes. No our taxes may not be enough to where we do need to help but, I as a full time worker buy my own supplies to do my job and I don’t get a special tax write off as teachers do. So if citizens of meager funds or whatever their situation is happen to vocally complain and you find that offensive or whatever then, you as the listener can also be viewed as an offender just for judging.

    1. The average teacher’s salary is not very large. I’m starting my 11th year and just got my Master’s degree. I just reached the $40,000 mark in my pay. I guarantee that is less than any other profession in which the highest level of education is a Master’s degree. It is also far less than the combined salary of two full time jobs.

  493. Thank you! A teacher in New Jersey. Not all school districts can supply their pupils with the materials they need. Once your a teacher you always go shopping for your “kids” because that is all you think about.It’s a great job because you want the kids you teach to successful, but you think about how they always will make more money than you. Being a teacher means getting the short end of the money bag, but the rewards are priceless!

  494. Just the other day I was in a store shopping for school supplies for my class room. I heard similar complaints form a women standing next to me. As I filled my cart with pencils, notebooks, colored pencils, folders and compo books. She looked in my cart and said, ” Don’t you think the school should supply these things for our kids. I hate spending my money on this stuff.” I told her I was a teacher and was buying supplies from my classroom. I told her that each year at least 1/2 of my class comes with no supplies. I told her we are given a $250 dollar budget a year to spend on classroom supplies. That barely covers the paper, pencils, pens, markers etc.We are given no supplies by the district, other than the the $250 and rest we buy on our own. I told her I, and all the teachers I know, buy all the supplies we need for projects, science experiments, plays, and celebrations. I told her I don’t mind spending the money because if the students are prepared and have the supplies they need, they will be better prepared to learn. She apologized and said she didn’t know all that and will let her friends know.

  495. Thank you. Teachers love children. We do what needs to be done for our kids to learn, just like moms do what needs to be done for their kids to do everything else.

  496. As the wife of a teacher I know how hard it is for him to not have the right supplies and certain things he needs he is unable to get paid back for. Last school year he worked over 1000 hours after school and on weekends with students not to mention $1200 he spent on supplies out of pocket. A lot of times when he works early/late or on weekends with students he will have me cook a meal for them which also comes out of pocket. He loves his job which is why I don’t say anything to him about it but it does make it hard on us when he has to buy so many supplies for students in his class that we have to cancel anniversary dinners, weekend getaways, or even just cutting back our grocery budget so that he can buy supplies for his classes.

  497. I too am a teacher (Onslow Co. NC, making much less than 43k) and a mother of two kids, so I buy what’s on the list for them + my classroom. Thank you for sharing!

  498. As a husband of a previous early elementary teacher, I can say that we spent well over $1000 each year on my wife’s classroom filling in supplies out of our own pocket. I believe it depends on what the state is willing to provide a particular school (and who knows who) as some schools seem better funded and require less additional help from families and teachers.

  499. I am in the process of setting up my classroom. I have had to buy student supplies, furniture, books, etc. As a new teacher I shudder to think what I have spent so I can do my job and offer my students something that many of them cannot afford (high poverty school). As far as pay though, I get paid $10,000 less (starting is $34,200 before taxes, insurance and dues). I do it because I love what I do and the students. My husband complains that my job is a no-profit venture. Oh yeah, I have two kids of mine own in college, two more in high school, two in middle, and the youngest is in first grade. I think I paid less in fees and supplies for the 5 youngest than I did on my own classroom. I’ll buy that 10 pack and put the four extra in my classroom!

  500. I do not mind buying most things but when they start asking for cleaning supplies hell NO and I will buy my kids things they need no extra my list had paper plates zip lock bags Clorox wipes really I do not think so there was even baby wipes listed some teachers go overboard

  501. I personally don’t mind buying school supplies for my kids. I accept that responsibility. I do however feel it has gotten out of hand. I buy the cheapest brand bc who needs designer crayons. What makes me mad is the school asking for 3 dozen pencils and my child only gets to keep 2. She needed 9 extra large glue sticks. She only got to use 1. I remember being little, we wrote our name on our stuff and if it ran out throughout the year, we had to buy more. Why am I paying for other children?

  502. Love this. We have a hard time buying them but we do it. Also during the year my kids will tell me if the class is running out of something. At Walmart I can but several glue sticks and pencils for less then $10. We’re low income but school is important and I want my children and other children to have what they need.

  503. not to mention the money they spend to have in class books and to decorate their classrooms to furnish your kids with the best learning experience possible. there is a difference in economic backgrounds at each school. my daughter teaches at a school from a very poor area in our county, therefore more money comes out of her pocket.(she also has supply lists for her children) most teachers are not in it for the money, it’s a passion to help make your children the best they can be.

  504. I think this misses the mark. The battle shouldn’t be between parents and teachers, it should be about looking at where our tax money is going in our school systems and how to properly find education. Teachers should not have to buy furniture, supplies or equipment for their rooms. Aside from a few trinkets and a backpack, parents shouldn’t have to supply those things either. How we fund education says a lot about our society ad it’s conversations like these that distract from the real social issue.

  505. Thank you for caring about those of us who sometimes give until it hurts. One thing I wish parents could understand is that those Expo markers are not for the teacher to use.

    In this day and age of increased rigor in the classroom, we ask students to have more discussions with their classmates. During those discussions, students use dry erase boards (which most teachers buy a sheet of that from a lumber yard and have cut up -again putting out money if their own) and the Expo markers to talk through the problem or situation. The markers never touch the teacher’s hands. Parents are asked to buy the markers for their own child to use not the teacher.

    Teachers buy their own Expo markers and try their best to make them last all year. But as students come to school without them every year, guess who gets to pay for more Expo markers? Yes, the teacher not the parents. I do wish parents would understand that we try our best to only ask for things that their child really needs.

  506. Here’s an idea. How about those of you who complain about buying school supplies take your children out of school and pay daycare expenses instead (about $140.00 weekly). Then that 50.00 to 100.00 you spend on school supplies won’t seem like so much. Here’s another idea if you’re guilty of complaining about having to provide supplies for YOUR child, and feel like your taxes, or the teacher should supply YOUR child with educational supplies. Maybe YOUR child doesn’t need that expensive cell phone just because they want it. Maybe they don’t need those 400.00 game boxes, or 40.00 games that go with it. Maybe you could get rid of cable TV, stop getting your nails done weekly, stop buying lunches out every day. There are numerous ways to cut back when you need to. Maybe cut back on going to the movies, and handing your kids money for recreational use. Maybe Suzie doesn’t need that $100.00 pair of blue jeans because she left the other $100.00 pair of blue jeans at her friends house. Maybe when Johnnie loses his cell phone that you paid $250.00 for, instead of paying the 100.00 deductible to replace it, you could take that money and buy school supplies. Johnnie will thank you later because he’s learning responsibility. Maybe that new house you’re living in (payments $1500.00 monthly), or that new car ($400-500.00 monthly) is a drain on your budget and you’re realizing that keeping up with the Joneses carries a steep price. But the price shouldn’t be sending YOUR child to school without necessities and expecting the teacher to make up the difference. It this hits a nerve, I’m sorry for you. I’m not sorry I said it. I can’t count the phones I’ve confiscated in class because kids can’t put them down. I can’t count the conversations I’ve heard about the money spent on x-boxes, new shoes, clothing labels, the latest movies the kids have seen in the theater, the most recent vacations, etc,. Yet these same parents won’t send supplies to school. If you’re a struggling parent, barely making ends meet, I’m sorry because I’ve been there and teachers appreciate that you send supplies and even extra’s. It’s the one’s that have the most that complain the most.

  507. I have been a teacher for over 30 years. I could have retired by now with the amount of my money I have spent on school supplies during these 30 years of teaching. I am not complaining as I love children but enough is ENOUGH! These people could not do my job for one day much less 30 years. Thank you for this article. I am not looking for accolades, just some common courtesy and respect.

  508. While I completely agree teachers are underpaid and under appreciated I would like to say a few things. As the kids age we need to consider the world they are going to use these skills. Expo markers aren’t available when I need to do basic math at the store. Notebook paper is not handy when I need to jot down a critical problem in my life while in my car and can’t wait. Kleenex isn’t always available if I sneeze quickly and away from home.

    True, abstract concepts are taught with supplies but life skills and application procedure is taught out there.

    Maybe we can take children on campus grounds and learn with real physical tools not conceptual creations occasionally. For the teachers that do that, thank you!

    Be kind to your schools they are only helping to raise your kids 1/2 of the hours they are awake weekly. 🙂

  509. Thank you for writing this. As a rural small town Texas teacher, been teaching for 8 years, I’m not even up to $40k a year. And starting out in an area like this in Texas, the pay is at poverty level. Folks, I’m still paying for my college education too along with my daughter who is now attending college. I don’t ask for much and am always appreciative with anything I get. Complaining isn’t something admissible because it generates negativity. I believe the public school system does the best they can with what they have to work with. If people don’t like it or agree with it, they should pass on their complaints and hopefully ideas to the government. Maybe things eventually could change.

  510. If only all parents had your logic! Thank you so much for your support! Hubster & I are both teachers in a rural district, and we spend a small fortune on supplies for our kids!

  511. Amen!! You’re preaching to a choir member! 42years in the wonderful profession of working with children. Still is rewarding and still spending those bucks!

  512. Expo markers are on my students supply list for the students use. We have lap boards that we use everyday and those markers go quick. Supplies on the list aren’t always for the teacher

  513. Frankly, I don’t think teachers OR parents should have to pay for the supplies. When we can spend trillions of taxpayers money on war… taxpayers should be covering the cost of education. I do think it is presumptuous to know what that person can or cannot afford. People who seem wealthy, have financial emergencies all of the time… illness and hospital bills don’t just happen to the poor.. etc. Yes, I agree we should be bothered that teachers pay out of pocket; but, I don’t think we should be attacking people you don’t even know. If you can afford it, how lucky for you.

  514. I really appreciate your article! I am not sure as a teacher I spend as much as others because I am VERY frugal and only get the VERY best deals, but I really appreciate when parents help us out! Thanks for voicing your concern!

  515. Okay, now you’ve got me going. I’m old, no question, but when I went to school the school supplied just about everything a student needed – even pencils for children in the lower grades. I’m getting sick and tired of tea party members and sobbing hearts telling me that I can either ignore the plight of students or veterans or whomever and be heartless or I can send money to support them. I already send money. It’s called “taxes”! And you selfish, ignorant tea party members send our taxes and our jobs overseas, use our soldiers to support your need for oil in the Middle East, then imply WE’RE selfish if we don’t support (meaning “send money”) to our troops. How about if you live up to your own responsibilities. Then I won’t have to send more money to the soldiers you sent to war and the students and teachers you deprived.

  516. Great article!!! I’m a former teacher and I still sub. Have been in many districts and in every one of them the students use the markers more than the teachers, another reason not to complain because as with all the supplies it’s not for the teacher’s benefit, but your child’s!

  517. Your thoughts have merit, except in some cases, it’s too much for some families. Where I live, those supplies are required for every student, regardless of income, to purchase for the classroom. This includes kids on TANF, food stamps, and free lunch. In our district, if a kid does NOT bring the supplies, they get an automatic 5% taken off their final year grade. That’s insane.

  518. Well, I just bought over $100 in school supplies for my kindergartener ( including headphones with volume control) and I’m not happy. I pay hefty school taxes and as a stay at home mom (ex Pre-K teacher) I think the school supply lists are rediculous. I had to buy 8 boxes of crayons and 5 packages of markers for example. These supply lists are to compensate for those students who don’t buy school supplies which I would be happy to contribute to those in need but should not be required to accommodate for them before hand. There are plenty of avenues for children to obtain supplies via government programs or private groups such as our church but the lists should not be so extravagant.

  519. Thank you for understanding and supporting teachers. As an elementary teacher whose kids were low income minority students, I usually spent at least $1000 every year on things like Expo markers, erasers, bookmarks, classroom books and other supplies. I never minded spending the money, but it hurts when parents take advantage of the situation.

  520. Thank you for writing this. I am a 6th grade teacher and I spend at least $500 each year on things for my classroom, and often it’s more than that.

  521. You do pay a fee for syringes, alcohol wipes and the actual vaccine. A lot of people have this paid by their insurance. But trust me, you do pay for it. Not everyone has as nice an insurance plan as teachers do. I am a nurse and I do pay for school supplies for my 3 children. Half of which were returned at the end of the year. Please base your comments on facts not ignorance.

  522. I agree that teachers should not have to pay for school supplies, but neither should parents. That is part of what our taxes are supposed to be for. When are we going to wake up & start holding politicians accountable for how much money they waste on stupid stuff? Until that happens, no good complaining. Just keep shelling out.

  523. As a teacher, I appreciate this– but I also think it’s a shame to ask families to supply these items, because school districts spend so much $$ on curriculae to meet ridiculous testing requirements. If parents and communities demanded that districts would choose to use curriculae that were not required to be updated/renewed/repurchased yearly– districts could afford to provide these things to their teachers. In 15 years of teaching, and as a department chair, I have seen funds for supplies dwindle (We used to be supplied large cartons of glue, Expo markers, printer paper, construction paper, crayola markers and crayons– as needed) to one pack of construction paper and two packs of pencils– while our programs purchased consumable textbooks (good for one year, as students write on them, pull pages out, etc.). It’s a financial racket, and kids/families and teachers eat the cost.

    So, while $.97 a day doesn’t sound like a bad deal– parents, your taxes have already paid into the system. We need to start looking at district spending. Families should buy notebooks, paper, pencils, pens and a container to store them in at school. The rest really should be supplied by the school.

    I will also add that my kids’ elementary school works very hard to conserve any items and teachers base their supply lists based on what they truly need. My daughter’s K teacher told me one year she requested 6-packs of glue sticks, and realized she had enough left over to take it off the list for next year, and the following year she still had enough to ask kids to just purchase two glue sticks. Her first grade teacher did her supply list AFTER school started, and grouped supplies into table groups to reduce overconsuming. We live in an affluent community and while most families can afford supplies– excessive consumption is something we try to be mindful about. Some teachers are just supply hoarders, too.

  524. I think your point could be better made without judging the family for being extravagant. Your story stands strong on it’s own, and it is such a positive message, bringing up the negative remarks about the family cheapens that. You don’t truly know… those things you spoke of could have been given to them by their other parent, and that person could be more well off than the mother buying the markers.
    You never know.
    Good info, and teachers deserve all the best!!!

  525. Thank you form a teacher who this means the world to. Last year I spent 300 on supplies my students could not afford and needed for themselves – pens, pencils, paper, folders. This doesn’t begin to cover what i spent for my in class use

  526. I greatly appreciate this article; however, one of the stats is misleading. You have posted: ‘The National School Supply & Equipment Association did a study last year on this very subject. Public school teachers spent 1.6 billion dollars of their own money to buy school supplies to do their job. When polled, 99.5% of all public school teachers spent $485 out of their pocket for supplies during the 2012-13 year.’ Actually, this was the amount of the national average of what teachers spent, not how much 99.5% of them EACH spent.

    Here it is from the article: “The study found that 99.5 percent of all public school teachers spent some amount of money out of pocket, with the national average for 2013-2013 coming in at $485 among those surveyed.”

    Just a clarification…I know as a teacher myself, while I did spend money out of pocket, I didn’t spent $485. (About half of that.) Thank you again for the article!

  527. Thank you for this article….I’m a teacher in North Carolina (we’ve not had a raise in 7 years), yet every teacher I know, does not hesitate to buy what’s needed for her classroom. I even know some that supplies food for the little ones who come in hungry…

  528. In the whole scheme of things, teaching is as important as any other profession, yet rarely do teachers get paid what they should AND most states certainly do not have educational budgets to give them the salaries they deserve, much less fund supplies that children need in the classroom. How ridiculous that a person would begrudge such a paltry expenditure. I’m sure she doesn’t bat an eye at paying triple digits for a pair of shoes she’ll wear once to party…

  529. As a teacher who thinks of my students needs first, I thank you! Every year I spend a lot of money out of pocket so my students can have the materials they need. I totally appreciate an extra glue stick here or markers there. It adds up very quickly especially when you have 7 or 8 students who come in with nothing and you supply it all for them.

  530. Thank you for raising awareness as to what teachers have to shell out of our pocket so that the children have what they need. I have taught for 22 years and I honestly believe there are some parents that intentionally don’t send their child with supplies because they know the teacher will not let that child do without! The same holds true for field trips. Thank you for this article. I only wish it reached more people.

  531. I’m a teacher, and I partly agree with you. Sporting expensive bags and clothing while spouting off at the mouth about their opinionated viewpoint of their child’s school supply list certainly doesn’t help, nor does it aide as a posititive attitude about school.

    I, too, spend too much money for my classroom, so my students have a unique, less traditional method to enhance learning. However, I do NOT REQUIRE my students to buy any materials beyond the standard supplies such as paper, pencil, composition book, and their choice of colors. Having said this, should a family like to donate other non-essential supplies such as expo markers, duct tape, index cards, sticky notes, etc., then any teacher would be much appreciative. I may have also unhappily questioned the reason to purchase expo markers, as I feel it should be a district/school cost.

    All in all, most will have their own perspective in regards to school supplies; I’m fortunate enough to understand many if these perspectives.

  532. Another teacher here, expressing thanks for parents like you. I teach Kindergarten, and I am blessed to have a couple parents like you in my classes each year. I still spend tons of my own money, but having parents who understand what we do and support like this is priceless!

  533. My last year in a classroom I was put in a trailer out by the bus lanes. I got a desk, a file cabinet and a chair. I had to buy my own trash can for the classroom and dry erase boards to hand on the bare walls. I was given two dry erase markers by the school, three pens, and a box of staples. I don’t even remember if I got a stapler or not.

  534. I just want to jump thru this computer and hug you!!!!! I am going into my 10 year of teaching and it kills me to hear parents complaining about the cost of supplies. It’s usually the ones that can afford that complain the loudest. What’s up with that? Here’s another thought… most of the supplies students need are available year round! Go ahead and pick up a little at a time and then it’s not such a huge budget slap in Aug.

  535. I just spent my paycheck on the school supplies needed for the coming school year for my two children (entering 3rd & 4th graders)! Thank you teachers for all that you do to educate our future leaders!

  536. Every year during the open house I present my daughter’s teachers with a bag of supplies….including 6-10 boxes of Kleenex. Always in reusable totes. I do it again in January when they return after winter break. They appreciate it…and I appreciate them. 🙂

  537. What are all my tax dollars for the school district going towards then? I work in the private sector and all my tools are provided for, pens, pencils, paper, etc.

  538. I don’t see why it’s so special that teachers have to buy their supplies? In my jobs I purchased my own supplies and I know many others did as well. It was no one else’s responsibility to provide me with a notebook or portfolio to carry my notes in, I used my home computer to make projects for work and bought my own pens, post it notes, etc. In terms of salary lets not forget that most teachers are off for the summer giving them them the opportunity to pick up more money by working a job over the summer or the opportunity to be on vacation for 12 weeks, unheard of in any other job. So why is everyone always weeping over the teachers salary? I’m not against contributing to school supplies but I’d like an honest answer as to why everyone makes it out to be this unjust hardship that teachers have to spend their own money when there are plenty of professionals and civil servants who buy their own supplies for work as well? My mom taught for 40 years and never once had a “woe is me” moment because she spent her own money, my father had his own business…guess who bought his work supplies…him. See my point? It is not unique at all to purchase work supplies out of your own pocket.

  539. Thank you so much for standing up for teacher. I’m a para and I always buy my own supplies and I also buy a lot of the students. Trust me when I say I do not make a lot of money. So once again I thank you.

  540. Thank you sweet lady! I am a teacher who pays out of pocket every year so each child can have what they need. I do not make big money but I love what I do. I am grateful that a few people like you will go the extra mile for us. Thank you so much.

  541. I married a teacher. My wife taught for forty years. Never a year went by that she did not spend money on her classroom. The last few years before she retired it was not uncommon to watch her spend in excess of a thousand dollars a year. She taught second grade and she could not bear to see children without proper supplies so she supplemented the ones who did not have them, We do not live in a poor school district, but we do have families who are struggling. If you can afford the extras in life,, you can afford to buy a few extra pencils or markers,, and do it without complaining.

  542. Graduated in the early 70s. Didn’t have to bring anything unt 7th grade and then, through, HS I brought notebook, pencils and paper. That’s it. Call BS all you want. The truth is the truth

  543. I’m a teacher, and this made me cry. It is so rare to find understanding and empathy for teachers. It’s refreshing not to be the whipping boy for all of society’s ills.

  544. My starting salary when I started teaching four years ago was $26,500. Needless to say, it has not gone up much since then. I often buy supplies for my students. I do not mind so much because it gives us the tools we need to succeed in the classroom. However, I do mind when parents complain that I ask students to bring in a box of kleenexes. Thank you for this article.

  545. I have watched schools throw out leftover supplies at the end of the school year. The problem shouldn’t be this parent with expensive personal items. It should be in providing using and recycling supplies and distributing them among students and classrooms so that our hard earned money isn’t wasted. If I need to buy 12 boxes of Kleenex for my children to use and you fill a dumpster with them at the end of the year you can bet I’ll be in the aisle complaining too.

  546. Thank you for writing this! Funny thing is, we teachers have children too and we are having to purchase the supplies for our children too. I am the insurance provider for our family and so my taxes and all take out 40+% of my paycheck. Times are definitely tight!

  547. Thank you for your article! My first year teaching they gave me a pack of twelve markers and a ream of paper. Not a box of paper but a single ream of printer paper. I was teaching Spanish to 500+ students in a K-8 school. It was interesting, but my kids were GREAT!

    LOL…Your picture of all those beautiful dry erase markers made my pupils dilate! 🙂

  548. Thank you. I read this after my first day back to teacher in-services to prepare for the coming year. We heard all about budget constraints, no raises, billionaires who are funding a state ballot item targeted at major changes on our teacher retention system, and how we should be prepared for really anybody to come back at any time and be an active shooter. It’s the beginning of my 24th year in the classroom and new challenges keep turning up. The minute that parents, teachers, communities, and kids all get together on the same page, things are really going to click. Until then, well, on behalf of teachers everywhere, we love markers. 😉

  549. I think you could have picked a better example than paying extra for the syringe and medical supplies, because you already do pay for them. There are a great many problems with our public school system and the fact that it’s underfunded all around is likely the primary cause. There are more that I could rant about, but that’s good enough.

  550. I get $100 a year from the PTA to buy things for the classroom. Last year, I spent it on nonfiction books to support the new Common Core. The students loved them and learned so much, but $100 for books does not go very far when you have 26 students. Supplies come from generous parents, and I make a point of telling them how much I appreciate their generosity. I spent $650 for books to equip my daughter’s classroom (new teacher), $300 for supplies for her class, and over $400 for art supplies and math manipulatives for my own classroom. $1,350 from my family funds would buy us quite a bit. I have argued with our district for book funds and technology funding. The technology in my classroom (2 i-pad minis, 3 laptops, and an interactive whiteboard) were bought through grants which I spent countless hours of my own time writing. My district provided 1 computer that was 12 years old. It was so slow that it took twice as long to do attendance and report cards. By the way, report cards take 11 hours to fill out and write comments, and these are done on my own time. I wish that more parents would realize the state of educational funding in our country, and that the government would reevaluate priorities.

  551. As a 28 year veteran teacher who always feels bad asking for supplies from my parents, thank you for reminding me it’s ok!

  552. Nobody knows how much a teacher spends out of pocket unless they are one or has one in their family. I think it is disgusting that they only makes a small wage, no social security when they retire and who knows if they will even have a retirement fund and now adays from what I hear most of the parents just think its a babysitting service because they don’t care if the homework is done or what kind of future their children will have. I could go on and on about so many things and teachers. Give them a break and buy 16 markers. 6 boxes of Kleenex, 10 erasers just consider it a loan for what your children are going to accomplish when they grow up. I am 62 and getting the impression that no one cares if our children are educated or not. Think the US is behind now and messed up just wait till these uneducated children start running for office and running our country.

  553. Great article! Thank you! I teach in a K-8 school, and I can also tell you that teachers are the first to buy from kids selling fundraising items, the first to donate to a family in need, often buy personal items such as clothing, soap, or toothbrushes for kids who are lacking those items, and often foot the bill for kids who can’t afford to attend field trips. I wonder if any of that was included. Not sure that the politicians who keep cutting funding for education would do the same.

  554. As a high school English teacher, I use several packs of EXPO markers throughout the year. I buy my own for the whiteboard. THANK YOU for this article and for buying them for the teacher.

  555. I love the point of the article, to lend a hand. My degree is in education, but I did not teach in my own classroom in public school, like I had planned. By the time I finished, I had one child and was soon hoping to have at least another. Problem…given estimated expenses to get to work (gas, small amount for clothes, etc.) plus day care for one…net would have been $100 per month. That is a lot of work to only really bring home $100 toward bills such as rent, food, and electricity. With two in daycare, I would have paid several hundred each month in order to teach. So, I have used my skills elsewhere.

    I find it really interesting that most of the comments are a tissue/TP debate. Personally, I have no trouble sending in a couple of boxes per child each year. My child will go through probably at least 2 boxes by themselves throughout the year! That does not include cold and allergy seasons. And, I really don’t care if I over provide some basic items for my child such that someone else benefits. It is called being generous, and I want to develop a generous spirit in my kids. My kids want to take items for their classroom. And, I don’t dare quench that when it’s reasonable…such as picking out (with no prompting) one or two specific items on the teacher’s wish list.

  556. Well my original response didn’t go through. I hate that I didn’t copy it first. (It wasn’t anything bad, I must have hit the wrong button) Anyway, I think people need to spend some time in a classroom and I’m not talking about one day watching the teacher and talking about everything he/she is doing “wrong.” Really spend some time and see what it takes to make a classroom run smoothly. And FYI…many teachers have Expo markers fro kids to use. You probably won’t believe it, but we actually have to teach them how to use those so that we don’t have to ask you to buy them more frequently. (Some of your kiddos are heavy handed or smash the ends rendering them useless) I personally buy my own supplies so whatever you are sending please believe your child is using it.

  557. Thank you sooo much….last year, being my first year, I spent almost $1,000.00 on school supplies. This year I have already spent approximately $300.00 and school not in yet…..So, yes we do spend out own money. I want to do a good job and I want my students to have the extras, because many of them cannot afford them themselves….

  558. When I was in school, I didn’t care if it was toilet paper or Kleenex, just as long as I could blow my nose. Just saying. Also, as to the one who said it is a “health hazard”. They are all made of the same thing.

  559. This just shows that we really don’t value education in this country…. the coach purses are worth so much more than being able to think!

  560. Great article but also as a teacher, the supplies are usually for your own child anyway.. so this woman is actually sending her child in unprepared and then in turn has to “grub” off another student that came in prepared…i can just keep going on..

  561. As a teacher I thank you and we dont even have expo markers on our list.. I have the best job in the world but people lile you make it even better

  562. agree. My mother retired a year ago from being a public school teacher for 40 years. Kindergarten. She would regularly check all the advertisements for the box stores to find the school supply sales to make sure her students were supplied. Not to mention Christmas parties at school, she would prepare by getting books from Scholastic and a school supply item or two to put together for gifts. Working 12 hour days at school, going home for dinner and then doing 3 hours of more school work planning. On the flip side of this target article, there are a lot of legit parents that really can’t afford the basic costs of cheap school supplies for a $1 a day.

  563. Hmmmmm … two packs of 10 would have given them 20 markers, divided among 3 girls would have been 6 markers per girl with only 2 left over.
    Maybe mother and the girls need some extra math classes!d
    As a retired educator, my wife and I used to budget about 10% of my GROSS income for supplies I used in the classroom (above and beyond what the school provided). I wanted my students to get the best education I could provide, even if it required digging into my own pocket to make that happen. The financial reward for teaching in those days was not much, but at least I felt good about what I had done at the end of the day!

  564. Ok I can understand where the person writing this article is saying, but I have also seen some of these list. A box of 24 Crayola crayons which you can buy on sale for .50 but that is not what is requested they want the Crayola washable crayons 24 ct that are $2.50 a box. One year my cousin’s school requested just one of her sons bring 100 pencils, a specific brand of pencil. We spent weeks trying to find enough of those pencils to fulfill the requirement and he was in elementary school. When I was in school we bought all the required school supplies, my mother labeled everything and sent it to school with us. When we colored, or needed paper, or construction paper or pencils we used our own. I always brought home any of my supplies at the end of the year. The crayons that were well worn and used. The notebooks with a few sheets of paper left. The worn folders. If we ran out of pencils during the year the teacher sent home a note saying I had run out of pencils, or paper and my parents replaced them. When I was older I told my parents myself. We sent in tissues, but not ziplocks, and paper towels and hand sanitizer and etc. I went to one of the poorer school districts not the poorest but certainly not the richest. But now kids don’t come home with any supplies at the end of the year not even the scissors or rulers. We had scissors, rulers, etc that my mother would send with us the next year and if I didn’t need them my brother or sister did if they needed them. So I can see both sides of this. I am a parent but I homeschool my children and pay for everything they need but I try and help my sister who is a single mother when she needs it. I stockpile crayons, pencils, paper, notebooks etc. when the school supplies first come out and all on sale. Will pick up $5 of stuff here & $5 of stuff there. We always have more than we need for the year and I didn’t spend a ton on money.

  565. I never comment on posts, but I have to say, as a NYC public middle school teacher, I appreciate your support. It’s nice to see that there are parents that understand how we feel. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

  566. Okay, I totally agree. However, your analogy of a patient paying for their own medical supplies hit home. We do pay for those. You might have been better off using the doctor having to pay for those supplies. I wonder if they would buy them, or if we’d be back to the day when they sterilized and reused then resterilized syringes. Sorry, it is just a store point and a subject of my own blog.

  567. as a retired teacher , I spent lots and lots of money over the 35 years I taught. Not only for supplies for my students and myself, but snacks as rewards for hungry kids that did their work. I also paid for student lunches when there wasn’t enough money in their account. I bought clothes and coats for those needing them, shoes also. Teachers do a lot for their students that the general public does not know about. Besides spending our hard earned money on our students , we give them the love and acceptance they may not be receiving at home.

  568. I am very touched by your letter. I am currently a teacher, 21 years now, in fifth grade. I struggle to buy my students supplies and prepare my classroom to make it inviting and encouraging learning space. This year I spent $300 BEFORE I bought my own children supplies and clothes. I work in a low income school so often students can not afford the supplies needed. As a teacher, I can not sit and watch a child struggle because he/she does not have what they need. It often blows my mind that it is the kids that come in with extra supplies are the ones I know can’t afford them. As you said, many parents don’t realize the money we spend to help their children learn… Throughout the year… and that we have our own children to care for. I recently had a close friend say to me… You get reimbursed for the materials you buy right?… I laughed and said are you kidding me… No. The school budget is so low that we are lucky to have paper and pencils for the kids. She was shocked. So thank you for the letter that may open a few parents eyes… If they read it.

  569. Bravo and well written!!!! I recently stood behind a teacher buying supplies for her classroom and she spent over $150.00 out of her own pocket for basics – Pencils, tables, pocket folders, and other items I can’t remember. She said something that hit me “You won’t believe how many show up with nothing”. I also had a couple of lines of thought on that comment for a long while, because I got 2 spiral notebooks for a .25 cents each, Pack of mechanical pencils for 1.29 and loose leaf paper for .79 cents. Were the parents like the person you wrote about?? Were the kids just forgetful?? Makes one wonder if the word RESPONSIBILITY is going the same way as Manners – long gone and forgotten.

  570. I am sure you have a great point but when I got to our line, “Let’s say, for shits and giggles”, I stopped reading. I may agree with your point but I will never know because I refuse to read trash like that and allow it into my thinking.

  571. NEA is one of the most powerful lobby’s in America. Until some major overhaul, revolt happens we will continue to quibble about money and markers, parents and teachers. Instead of placing the responsibility for ‘not enough money in the classroom’ where it belongs SQUARELY ON ADMINISTRATION AND NEA GREED!

  572. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! As a school teacher who has no supplies and must buy everything out of pocket your article really hit home. Now with my own children in daycare I must provide items for them as well. I easily spend $500+ every year on pencils, markers, colored pencils, soil, pots and plants for my horticulture classroom each year. I try to apply and write grants as much as possible to help offset some of the costs for my classroom. Kudos!

  573. $43,000 starting pay is a fairly high paying district. I will make a little over half that amount next year. I have a Bachelors in elementary education, a Masters in secondary math, and about 10 years of experience. I am blessed to teach a multi age classroom of 4th-8th grade students in rural Montana. I spend several hundred dollars each year out of pocket. I don’t do it for the money. I teach because the kids deserve the best. And parents like you are the icing on the cake! Thanks for being a great advocate.

  574. I spend well over $343. It is very costly to decorate a classroom and instruct effectively. No one realizes the challenges teachers face daily and even while on vacation or holiday. I care about my students and do what is essential in spite of the cost. I am no longer a full time educator, retired, but work as a substitute.

  575. Well put. I spend more than you estimate in your article. In my 18th year of teaching, I just accepted a teaching position that pays $27,500 a year. That includes the extra $3,000 for my experience and a $1,000 bonus.

  576. Excellent article!!! I just spent $80 on composition books yesterday. I haven’t even begun to buy supplies for my classroom. I buy pencils, pens, paper, etc., only to have my students break them in half, make paper airplanes, or wad up the paper on the floor so that the maintenance people will have to pick it up. Not only should parents be told what teachers do for “their” children, the also need to teach their children to be grateful for the things their teachers do for them.

  577. Thank you. I am on vacation. Upon returning home, I have to buy school supplies fora 5th, 7th, and an 8th grader. Not to mention my own 1st grade classroom. Thank you for spreading the message.

  578. From all the teachers out there; thank you for caring enough to write the article and for supporting us! We need schools to get more creative with their fundraising efforts so that teachers are gifted money to spend rather than reaching into their own pockets. How this became acceptable from the public’s perspective I will never understand. We love our job and your kids plenty but I am careful not to go into debt to do it.

  579. I have 8 kids…I buy supplies throughout the year and stock up…we also try torecycle all our supplies each year. I do ask teachers what the necessities are. I also do not donate all the communal items at the start of the year. I ask in the parent teacher conferences what the class needs. I am actively involved in our parent teacher club which donates $200-300 dollars to each teacher for their supplies. we work hard to do fundraising events to help provide the teachers and school with things they need to help our children learn. we also do a work day oce a week to help teachers grade, staple, print…anything we can to help with our children. we want our children to use what they have, share with others and make our school a community.

  580. I don’t know where some of you are shopping but it should not cost $800 for school supplies. They do not need all new backpacks, crayons, notebooks, folders, and so on. My kids do not get new things until the old is gone. If there is paper left in the notebook, they use it this year. If the crayons aren’t broken, i gather up a selection of colors and they take them. The backpacks last several years if taken care of(and they are from 5 Below not expensive). They can use the same stapler, ruler, and glue stick leftover from the big pack bought last year. I don’t even shop for new clothes just because it is school time, they get clothes only when theirs get too small or are worn out. We have got to stop the entitlement mentality in our kids and teach them to be frugal and responsible. I also wait until the first day of school and get the exact list of supplies needed. Many times my children did not even use the folders or notebooks that were on the list. I am a stay at home mom and we only have one income so i am very careful with my finances. And to speak to the person that said his parents and grandparents bought supplies too, that is incorrect, at least with my experience. The school taxes paid for all that was needed not the teachers nor parents. As a last thought, where are the billions of dollars from the lotteries that was suppose to go to the schools?????

  581. I believe most of what you say is lost on the community at large. I am a teacher in a public school, and my own kids go to Catholic school. Consequently, I buy supplies for my students in class as well as a huge list of supplies for my own children and their teachers. I would like to cease buying supplies for the kids in my class, simply because I am a single mom of two kids, but it is a small price to pay for an educated group of individuals. I might have a kid sitting in front of me who has the possibility of finding the cure for cancer. He/she may not be able to do so without the daily snack I give them because they are homeless or so poor they cannot afford to eat three meals a day. Kids can’t learn if they are worried about food, shelter or safety. Brain research tells us that much. Teachers are givers, and they rarely complain about what they do to help kids. They aren’t counting up receipts, typically. They see NEED, and they try to be proactive. My first reaction to those who have kids in the system and also those who don’t, is to visit schools and campuses in your area. See the NEED and REACT accordingly. Be a part of the solution. I want educated citizens in my future. Additionally, if teachers are required by their own ethics to buy necessities for the children in front of them, perhaps we can pay them more? Most teachers spend money of pocket for their students. Most teachers work harder than anyone can even surmise-all year long. Pay them.

  582. I agree as someone who can afford to do this but it’s a big strain on someone who cannot. I buy school supplies for my grand kids because my daughter cannot afford the cost of doing so much at one time. There needs to be a better system of spreading this cost throughout the year to help those who cannot put out so much money at once. But I agree we need to help.

  583. Thank you for this article. I don’t think people realize when they walk in a classroom such as my kindergarten, I have purchased with my own money: the carpets, the book shelves, all the books for the children to read with the exception of the little readers that come with the reading “program”, all the center materials, the playground toys, the play doh, the white board/cart for carpet time, all the music tapes for calendar time to teach math, the CD and cassette players for listening centers, plus all the little supplies for the art projects which teach so much more than meets the eye, all the extra instructional materials to supplement the usually very blah programs we’ve been provided (for which the district has not purchased beyond the basics of the program, all the card stock to make the sight word cards for each student to practice at home, etc. I’ve probably spent $10000 on my kindergarten classroom. That’s just for the past seven years. So, those few extra markers…. Really, is it too much to donate?

  584. Thank you for your words and realizing we (teachers) greatly appreciate any and all help we can get with supplies. I would think August is one of the hardest months to get through financially due to items we need for our classrooms.

  585. I’m sorry but I have read and read and read post after post.. Teacher vs Parent parent vs teacher … I am a single mom of 2 boys.. One in college one in middle school. I am under 40 yrs old and when I was a student in elementary school, I don’t ever recall going school supply shopping.. Ever.. The extent of supplies my parents had to buy.. My new backpack and lunchbox.. The rest, the school supplied.. Yes public school in Massachusetts.. I work full time.. Pay my taxes on time.. Where is my $ going??? When they (government) keeps saying we need to increase taxes for education and yet I still hear teachers saying they don’t make enough, or they have to buy supplies.. Or parents saying I’m paying more taxes and still have to buy more supplies.. Well something is just broken with that.. I want to know where all of our money goes.. Literally..I want to know where each Penny is spent when they say it goes to education… Show me.. Then we can increase taxes, or buy supplies or increase teacher salaries based on complete transparency from our government … As jerry says… “Show me the money!”
    Isn’t everyone else curious as to where our $ goes? Taxes increase for education and we (parents and teachers) are having supplying more and more.. Seems backwards doesn’t it????

  586. I have always purchased all the supplies on my kids supply lists, including extras like Kleenex, hand sanitizer, ziplocs and more. There are however two things that I find irritating. First, when the list that is published before the school year isn’t accurate. Invariably after the first few days of school, we get revised lists from a few teachers. Second, is the list that gets longer and longer year after year. Now I understand that as my kids get older they need more expensive things like graphing calculators, but when they need a 3″ binder with 8 tab dividers, 3 subject notebook and composition notebook for one class? That seems excessive to me…especially when every year I wind up with notebooks and composition notebooks that might be 1/4 used.

  587. And this is why I’m thankful that I live in the UK where you pay your taxes and everything is covered for every child. I earn more so I pay more to cover those who are less fortunate. I’m happy to do so in the knowledge that if I was less fortunate my kids would also be taken care of.

    I don’t think of it as a drain, rather as a way of looking after the people in my neighbourhood. It’s all swings and roundabouts.

  588. Thank you!! I teach public school in Michigan and spend between $500-1000 per year to educate a class of 26-28 student with an annual income less than $60,000 before taxes!! I wish more people thought it through the way you have!

  589. I’m not defending the mother who balked at the price of school supplies, but really, aren’t the schools themselves supposed to supply whatever materials are needed to educate our children? I’ve spent I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years on supplies for my seven children as they went through school, but I can remember as a student, even to the last pencil was supplied by the school I attended. Naturally, over the years, government funding has become more and more scarce. Teachers shouldn’t be expected the carry the burden of supplying their students. I believe that responsibility should be shouldered equally by the parents and the schools themselves. And incidentally, the powers that decided we needed a whole new system of teaching aka…..common core, should also carry some of the burden. It is utter stupidity to require all students to start off with new textbooks costing upwards of $40 or more per book and expect either school or parent to go along with a program they weren’t even consulted about. It all smells of greed at the expense of our own children. Shame on our Education system for using our children in their struggle to wrestle more dollars for their cause which doesn’t benefit the ones it proclaims to.

  590. As a veteran teacher (beginning year 31), I want to thank you for your article. Teachers are definitely unsung heroes. We invest so much in so many ways that it is nice to be appreciated occasionally.

  591. Thank you for taking the time to explain this. My daughter teaches high school children with Autism and spends a lot of money on supplies to help educate them, because she loves teaching and this is the field of education she chose. She spent 5 years in college to get her degree her extra year was for special education. She is only 29 years old and has $80,000.00 in loans for this education, so based on that she will have her loans (about the same as a house note) paid off in about 5 more years, total of 10 years. I have seen her go weeks on eating cereal not because she likes it, but because she chose to make a difference by educating children.

  592. As a teacher I too appreciate your article. I work in an urban district where we never know what supplies we will have in our classrooms and most of our parents don’t have the means to get their kids supplies. My first year I was put into a classroom that had nothing…no exaggeration…and went and spent over $2000 in a week to build a classroom for my students. I sometimes think some people under appreciate what teachers actually put into their classrooms out of their own pocket

  593. I saw this on Huffington Post, and I had to come here to leave you a comment. Thank you, from the very bottom of my teacher heart, thank you.

  594. And that is why I have my kids in a charter school b/c the funding goes directly to the classroom & the teachers, not a union.

  595. Although I do not have any school age children myself (yet) I felt compelled to throw my 2 cents in on this article. I for one will be the one complaining in the school supply aisle of the store. Where I live I pay over $1500 a year in taxes that go to the school district. You mean to tell me that out of that $1500 the school district can’t budget enough to buy school supplies for all of the schools? It’s a disgrace when the parents of children are “required” to purchase school supplies for the class. Why should a parent be responsible for purchasing school supplies for the classroom? Isn’t that the job of the school district or the school itself? If teachers are not getting all of the supplies they need why not take it up with the school or superintendent? Don’t pass the buck along to the parents who have already paid their taxes that is supposed to cover these supplies in the first place.

  596. Thank you so much! I spend way more than that on my school supplies, as a teacher. Last year, I spent close to $1,500 as a first year teacher and my school only reimbursed me $50 out of that. Last year, most of my students did not have their supplies (and I had 17 students). I hope this year is different! And to that woman who complained about the EXTRA markers she MIGHT HAVE had to buy for the TEACHER, it was actually going to be used BY the teacher for YOUR KID.

  597. I work in a very high poverty elementary school, with over 800 students. I never assume students will bring supplies, so I buy “communal” supplies (markers, crayons, pencils, etc.) and individual supplies (folders, notebooks, binders) for every child in my classroom, shopping around most of the summer for the best deals, to the tune of $5-8 per student (I usually have 24-27 students). Usually about 5-6 students bring in supplies, and anything they have labeled with their name, they get to use personally. Some choose to share their communal supplies, some do not, and that is fine in our room. I feel blessed when I see students and parents bring in tissues and pencils, as those are the things we run out of the most. We always thank the students with their names on the tissue and other supplies when we use it, and when it runs out, a child will often bring in 1-2 boxes to save the day, but I also buy items throughout the year whenever there is a good sale. I am not sharing to complain about the purchases, as I’m used to it and it makes all of my high-needs students feel like they are prepared for learning and have what they need, so no learning time is wasted. However, I do feel bad for the new teachers each year, since they buy these things in the summer and September and don’t get a paycheck until October, as well as making significantly less in their first 3-5 years teaching. As many people have said, teachers want the best for your children, just as you do. We also have to consider our own families, and take care of them. Sometimes I feel like my daughter goes without so I can buy for my students, and as a parent as well as a teacher, that is a hard decision to have to make … thank you to all the parents that send in supplies, in any quantity, even if it is just a few things on the list. It is much appreciated!!

  598. I think the frustration in buying classroom supplies (as opposed to school supplies for individual students) stems from the fact that we, as a community, are already paying for classroom supplies via our taxes. So being asked to then buy more classroom supplies is frustrating and a relatively recent development.

    School districts should be more responsible in how they’re budgeting the resources they have and we as a community should be paying more attention to what the school district’s budget needs are (even if that means raising taxes).

    1. Well remember that taxpayers with no children are paying as a community for classroom supplies too – if we had kids in school, those taxes would be a lot easier for us to swallow.

      So on your second point, you’re basically you’re saying we should raise taxes so that everyone can pay for your kids supplies, not just you? No thanks!

  599. We need more parents like you. It is true that we teachers have to pay out of pocket and Sony get credit for it. Thank you for this post and helping out you children’s teacher.

  600. I just stumbled on your blog after reading your piece on Huffington Post and I felt compelled to say thank you for standing up for our public school teachers and helping out in whatever way you’re able. My wife is a public school teacher and I get to see firsthand how she is not appreciated for all of the hard work and effort she puts in everyday. We need more parents like you in every city and town. Thank you again.

  601. I am in AZ and I made $34K my first year teaching. I wish we made as much as LA teachers. Teachers in UT in some districts are making $29K. Thank you for bringing awareness to this. Education and awareness is key.

  602. I’m an education reporter, and we always get a lot of questions from parents about how schools use those supply fees you mentioned. I can’t speak for elsewhere in Louisiana, but here is how it breaks down in Lafayette: http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2015/07/16/schools-spend-class-fees/30261551/

    Because we know how much teachers spend out of their own pockets, we at The Daily Advertiser are also in the middle of our second Adopt-A-Teacher supply drive. Through this program, teachers submit wish lists to us, and we post them online and allow individuals and businesses to “adopt” a teacher(s) and purchase the items on the list. We had 897 teachers submit lists to us this year, and so far almost 600 have been adopted. You can read more about how the program started here: http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2015/07/01/adopt-classroom-generous-acadiana/29572949/

  603. Thank you so much for this article. I am a Special Education teacher in an urban school district in PA. All of the children in my school district get free lunch and breakfast everyday. Poverty runs rampant in our town. I have bought so many school supplies for my classes, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve spent. Thank you for your support! I bet you’ve had some really great teachers along the way

  604. I, for one, was studying to become a teacher and am APPALLED at the type of items requested on supply lists. I don’t have kids, but if I ever do I will not buy nonsense things that my kids aren’t going to personally use. If they get sick, I’ll send them with tissues. I’ll make sure they have personal germ-x bottles clipped onto their bags, and a few paper towel sheets in case of an emergency. If they run out of pencils, they can get one from our stash at home. Teachers CHOOSE their professions. They see articles like this, and do placements in schools. They KNOW how much money they are going to “have to” fork out for teaching supplies. I, for one, think teachers need to take a stand and teach with only what the school provides. If you run out of EXPO markers, don’t rely on the white board (same with chalk). Somehow kids were educated before parents bought paper towels, ziplock bags, tissues, etc. for the class. It’s time to stop coddling the kids, and using school as a daycare. It is a place of learning. Kids NEED pencils, paper, and books. The rest of it can be a fun game that is off the wall. Teach experimentally, and stop relying on pinterest for all of those cutesy pie expensive activities. I realized during my internship that teaching was not for me. I didn’t want to shell out all of my hard earned cash on activities that the administration forced and that they kids got nothing from or supplies that would just be misused and destroyed by kids you can’t discipline. My advice is for the teachers is to grow up and stop expecting a handout from parents. Take up your issues with the government and the powers that be. Ask for higher pay, ask for a bigger supplies budget. STRIKE. Basically, poop or get off the pot!

    1. I don’t mind sending in school supplies. I don’t mind sending in a few extras for kids who don’t have them. I don’t even mind sending in Kleenex/GermX/copy paper/etc. What I do mind is when I send in specific brands (i.e. the brands listed by the teacher) and on the first day of class everything is taken up and redistributed so that instead of the Crayola crayons I sent in, my kid has the dollar store crayons that don’t color or the cheap scissors that don’t cut.

      1. I totally agree. That’s why I have each student put the things that they will use directly (crayons, scissors, etc) in their pencil box and keep it in their desk. the only “community items” are the tissues and liquid soap.

    2. You’re right; we do CHOOSE our profession. And I have never, in 32 years, regretted that choice. BUT parents don’t understand that tissues, crayons, pencils (from your stash at home) and personal germ-x bottles aren’t the only things that make a classroom run smoothly. Asking for supplies is much more practical than striking or thinking that a pay raise is going to come when property taxes are already too high. I hope you’re satisfied with mediocre in your child’s classroom.

  605. I teach in MS at a private school, so my pay is probably literally the lowest in the country. Despite that, I spend a good deal of money on my students. I try very hard to only ask parents for things that I know we will use often and that I cannot afford. It’s ironic that although Mississippi ranks as one of the poorest states in America, we give more to non-profits than any other state in the US. That sense of community and love for others is at the core of my being, and I honestly don’t mind buying things for my students when I have the money to do so. I always have a few parents who offer to buy things for me that are “extra,” like goodies for my treasure chest and band-aids. We really are all a team…thank you to those of you who go above and beyond and do the “extra.” Not only are the supplies nice, it makes teachers feel like we have support. You can tell a lot about what a person cares about by looking at what they spend their money on.

  606. So let me preface my opinion with I am not a parent or a teacher. That being said I know a lot of teachers and parents, I am a student (law school) and my sister is in high school.

    I think you make excellent points about the school supplies lists and what parents contribute versus what teachers contribute. I agree that with how things are today there is good reason for parents to contribute this little bit extra.

    That being said I think sometimes these lists from what I have seen are a bit unfair, especially to the families (unlike the one you described) who really cannot afford it or for those families who don’t know that their tax dollars are leaving teachers out in the cold (I’m less forgiving to this second group). My issue with the lists that I have seen is that they unnecessarily specify name brand items. I’m sure that there could be a list of reasons for this but for most items I don’t see the logic. Expo markers, okay that makes sense because some other brand might ruin the boards and it’s not worth the risk, but Elmers glue, off brand will work just as well, crayola brand (yes I love crayola and sometimes the off brand it’s as good but they would get the job done). These are small things but let’s say you are a mom with three kids and you could get the off brand for half the cost, that adds up.

    Now I said something about taxes, I will talk about the two places I know, which are NJ and SC. In NJ the property taxes are astronomical, my mom has struggled with them for years, if you pay a back breaking about in property tax, it seems reasonable to expect to only supply your student and not the classroom. I’m not saying this always works how it should but in theory it should. In SC property taxes are much more reasonable but the school system is generally in need of help. However to me it seems if you aren’t being killed by property taxes then helping supply the classroom is reasonable.

    The system is generally in need of help. In undergrad I was paying about $7,000 for tuition a year but my professors were responsible for supplying their own expo markers. In law school I pay $22,000 a year in tuition and half way through the year the school runs out of chalk and professors start bringing their own. My point being that at levels of education funding is not always channelled into the classroom.

  607. Thank you. I spend so much on supplies and books for my classroom library. We, as teachers, appreciate it being said.

  608. Well obviously schools should be ponying up that $$ from money they get through taxes. However, since schools are funded through property taxes low income areas don’t receive very much money.

  609. You do pay for those things when you go to a hospital. There’s no job out there that you have to pay to do your job, other than a teacher!

  610. My son is only 14 months so we have yet to have to purchase supplies. Thank you for writing this excellent article and doing the research. We need to appreciate our teachers more and support than. I think I’ll get out later today and donate to a school supply drive, you’ve inspired me.

  611. As a teacher in a private school (who is paid significantly less than those starting teachers), I spend an average of $200 each year – supplies for my kids, supplies for the classroom, and uniforms for at least one student who can’t afford the PE uniforms each year. Buying 4 extra EXPO markers shouldn’t be a source of discomfort for parents. Loved the article. Thank you!

  612. I’m a preschool teacher and our kids have a huge list of supplies for the beginning of the year this year as well. And that does mean, less $$$ I have to invest of my own money and put it toward my 2 high school freshman, 6th grader, and 1st grader and their uniforms and supplies!

  613. To think of what teachers spend of their own money is heartbreaking. Teachers pay for their college education, they decide to teach the future leaders, and it isn’t easy when you have a classroom of children with different personalities and the curriculum that needs to be followed. Teachers are the heartbeat of any school and it is sad when parents don’t see teachers for their true value. I am a mom, I volunteered in both of my children’s classrooms when they were younger and even those few hours I was there helping with a project was exhausting with kids wanting to be involved and some who wanted to do their own thing. I loved my daughter’s kindergarten teacher, I couldn’t imagine what she went through for the first three weeks of school with her, because she cried everyday- from drop off to pick up and the teacher never wavered- she showed support to her every day. The beginning of every school year, their teachers were given a basket of school supplies we had purchased over the summer, and a gift card, for more supplies, and one for coffee. As much as I love Target, Walgreens is my go to place for supplies because of their deals, and while both of my children have graduated, I am still buying packs of pens for 29 cents, pencils, erasers, EXPO markers, when they are on sale, I am stocking up all summer and when the first day of school comes, we bring them to the local elementary school, along with backpacks that go on sale for $3, and if you go at the right time, they are also buy one, get one free. I give so much credit to my children’s teachers and even my own because they chose their profession and without them, I wouldn’t be a college graduate, my son would probably be in jail and my daughter would have dropped out- but with the teachers support and compassion, they were put on the right track.

  614. I’m wondering why the schools (not individual teachers) are not purchasing that stuff with all the tax dollars they receive. Also why people that choose to put their kids in private/parochial schools rather than cesspool environments and brainwashing have to dish out taxes for schools they aren’t using AND pay thousands in tuition – plus uniforms and school supplies.

    1. Tracy, have you ever set foot in a public school?? I teach in a public school and my husband teaches in a private, tuition-based school. Knowing both sides, we decided to send our children to public schools to have highly trained teachers, a richly diverse environment, and a superb education. And they avoid the brainwashing of the private schools and instead learn to think for themselves. In standardized testing, my children exceed the standards, typically scoring above the 95th percentile of students nationwide. Many teachers in private schools don’t even hold valid teacher’s licenses. Don’t make stinky value judgments about things you know nothing about–your ignorance and prejudice are showing.

    2. Tracy- the reason part of your taxes goes to support the public schools, is because we, as an enlightened society, see the value in pooling our money together to pay for things such as roads, transit, police officers, fire fighters, libraries, parks and playgrounds, and schools to benefit our society as a whole.

  615. Thank you! I wish all parents would read this or could think like you! I have been teaching for 14 years and spend a lot each year. I am sure the teachers love you!

  616. I, too, am a former teacher and an assistant principal as well. I am also a parent of an 11 year old daughter who has to have these supplies each year. Your point is well taken. Many times I used my own money to purchase supplies when I was a teacher. It is so easy for the parents to blame the teacher for the list, but usually it’s a list compiled by the teachers at grade level. School systems need to provide the teachers with the supplies they need. The teacher is the soldier on the front and should be supported in everyway that either the system and/or community can provide. I believe it was once stated…it takes a village to raise a child! Great muse on your experience at the EXPO marker aisle!

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