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And go back up and look at all the posts I've made concerning how much I've spent, with very little complaint. I do it out of the goodness of my heart and with the desire to not see my kids struggle without. I really don't care whether you do it or not.
Do teachers in your school/district ever bring this problem up to their superiors or to the union representatives? Have you or others mentioned this your elected representatives in the state government?
I can see where school supplies would be a financial burden in a state/district where the teachers are not paid well. In our school district, the average teacher salary (heck the beginning teachers salary) is higher then the average resident's salary. But, guess what? In our school district, the parents only have to supply the standard school products such as notebooks, paper and pencils. We all know that teachers salaries and the cost of living vary widely across the US. Let's not assume that every teacher is just scraping by.
Scraping by, or well paid, why should teachers have to pay for school supplies for other people's children from their salary?
Of course we have. But any moneys would have to come from property tax increases, which the county commission refuses to put on the ballot, or if they develop the backbone to put it on the ballot, the voters shoot it down with a vengence.
You can't get blood from a turnip. We teach in the 11th richest county in the state, but we are near the bottom (around the 90's) in terms of actual per-pupil expenditures. Of course, this problem persists across the country - systems needing the money, but the public unwilling to part with it.
Of course we have. But any moneys would have to come from property tax increases, which the county commission refuses to put on the ballot, or if they develop the backbone to put it on the ballot, the voters shoot it down with a vengence.
You can't get blood from a turnip. We teach in the 11th richest county in the state, but we are near the bottom (around the 90's) in terms of actual per-pupil expenditures. Of course, this problem persists across the country - systems needing the money, but the public unwilling to part with it.
I am happy to hear that they are not increasing the property taxes, which is a pet peeve of mine. I must agree with you that this is unacceptable, but the real problem is a misallocation of resources/money across this country. If our president can afford to give (yes, that is give, not sell) Egypt brand new fighter jets costing billions (and Egypt is not even our friend), we can certainly afford to better fund our schools.
They don't have to and they are not expected to.
They do it by choice.
The person I replied to implied that teachers who were well paid for their area should. And, yes, there are schools where they are indeed expected to, not to mention, that tax write-off that assumes they will. You are fortunate if you have never worked at a school that expects you to cough up supplies such as tissues and pencils.
First day, the first damned day, today and fully 1/2 of my high school juniors and seniors had no paper or pen(cil).
Forget to tell you what happened. Principal came into one class and asked why the kids weren't writing. One of the brighter kids answered "Because most of us didn't bring a pen.". Principal's response was to turn to me and say "As a 30 year teacher I would expect you to plan better" and then he left.
We have a strained relationship as it is.
Last edited by North Beach Person; 08-19-2013 at 04:14 PM..
Reason: what I forgot
The person I replied to implied that teachers who were well paid for their area should. And, yes, there are schools where they are indeed expected to, not to mention, that tax write-off that assumes they will. You are fortunate if you have never worked at a school that expects you to cough up supplies such as tissues and pencils.
Yes I guess I am. I would expect the parents to supply their children with supplies.
I have been in the poorest of schools and not many are lacking cellphones and nice clothes.
Did teachers bring this on themselves because they spent their own money when no one else did and set a precedent ?
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