At Home in Indy: School Rules

Not in ours.....at least when my children were back in school. Never heard of that!  That would be sad...I think I would get upset and take it up with the school. That's my kid's stuff...I would say. Not the teacher to decide who's stuff it will be. Goodness, I'm getting upset for Kaly.

We have 16 high school boys for whom we are Legal Guardians, and who attend Teen Challenge High School, a residential Christian-based school and institution.  We often have to provide a large grab bag of notebooks, pens, paper, pencils and the like and then let them dig in...respectfully, that is!  They tend to favor certain colors so we get plenty of blues, reds, greens, and yellows.  They also trade-up or down for certain products, but those their parents send them are theirs to keep and use...and trade.  How is that for some Saturday evening trivia?

Paula - This was not the case when my children were in school, but I suspect times are changing.

Sally - Exactly what I thought! I was upset for her too. She was so sweet about it! But, you knew she really wants what she chose.

Terry - Great trivia! You are one brave woman, 16 boys...... oh, I can not imagine. I can see it happening in your situation and I have provided bags of school goodies before where you knew they would be shared. I think if the school is using this method, they should let the parents know. We would just buy generic.

jennifer - Times are a changing! :)

Paula,

We get a list of "room" supplies every year.  If the teacher took my kids' stuff we would be having a serious discussion about personal property rights.

First I am pissed off on behalf of Kaly and HER butterflies. I agree with Rita and having a talk about personal property rights. Second I have no idea what idiotic ideas the local schools have about supplies here as I have been homeschooling. I do know the last time I checked which was several years ago one grade had to bring a roll of film another grade dry erase markers etc. This would go into a large supply room for the whole staff use. Who knows what they are doing now. Third book rentals??? What about poor families? Do they not get to "rent" the books for the year? I spend less than $100 a year on books for my homeschooling and we get to keep them. Fourth this is a hot topic for me in case you didn't notice :)

Hi Paula,

Interesting question. I know students must now provide their own supplies, yet taking them from individuals, I don't think that's the case.

My daughter's school has a couple of items that are required purchases for the whole class. A-K brings in a box of tissues and L-Z brings in a box of wipes. That is it for community usage. All of the other items we have to buy are for her alone. I would be very upset and talking to the school as well if the teachers were redistributing items we had bought. I have never heard of book rental fees.

Rita - I agree! We had to supply our childrens personal use items and they were the ones using them.

Ashley - Exactly - They are HER butterflies!  I must be behind the times, I have not heard of each grade supplying items such as film and dry erase markers.

As far poor families....maybe that is why they redistribute the supplies. Still, they should let the parents know to buy generic or at least provide an opportunity for people to donate items. $100. book rental is absurd to me.

Schools should be a hot topic for everyone! This is what our taxes pay for, right? Our children are our future leaders!

The school Kaly attends has fairly good scores. Generally, though the Indianapolis Public School system does not. We are not known for our schools! This begs the question.......if the students and their parents are providing the supplies and fees for books, where is the tax money going and why don't we have better schools?

Lynda - That's what I am used to, buying my childrens own supplies, but not the schools or other students.

Melissa - This makes perfect sense! What is going on at Kaly's school makes no sense!

Paula, we share the common items such as the quart bags and dry erase markers, but the school supplies such as notebooks are kept by our children.  My advice?  Write Kaly big and proud across the butterfly notebook front and send it!!!

Hi Paula - jeez, this surely sounds strange to me.  I don't have kids so have no idea if this is the norm here but have not heard anyone talking about it.  How strange to not be able to heep what's yours.  Interesting concept....

Ann

I dunno.  I'd have pitched a big one if Sister Mary Leo had tried to take away my butterfly notebook!  I think that Chris's advice is really good!  

Yes and it ticks me OFF!  Also, my child can not choose notebooks and folders with puppies and butterflies because they do not guarantee that your child will get what you have purchased.  WHAT??!?!?!!

I label the supplies to prevent that.  ARGH. 

This type of stuff was going on years ago when we lived in Colorado. I didn't know it was here but just read Stephanie's comment and it sounds like it is.

When my son was going in 2nd grade in Colorado they threw all the crayons in a bucket so no one would have more crayons than anyone else.  At that time they were in to that outcome based education and we ended up putting them in private Christian school. 

Chris - I like your idea! I'll tell her Mom. Do the parents supply the common items?

Patricia - Kids used to be able to keep the supplies they bought.

Ann - I thought it strange too! I might be okay with it, if the cost of doing so increased the level of education our children received.

Stephanie - My daughter had no idea they did this in previous years. She would have purchased generic. She did put Kaly's name inside the front cover. She said she did so last year. So, some other child has a notebook with someone else's name in the front.

Marchel - I do get the whole "equality" thing. I know when my children were in school, having a certain brand of bookbag was cool. I didn't mind the cost because the bookbags lasted for a couple of years. I know there are others who can not affford such, especially when they have three or four children in school. If they have the rules, they should let the parents know.

I loved school shopping - this time of year I miss my daughters so much :o) glad you got to spend the day with your daughter and granddaughters

thesa - I get to relive the whole thing through my grandkids and love being close to my daughters! I know the feeling of missing your children!:(

Paula - that is how it happens here - though now that we homeschool - what be buy is used by our kids now :-) 

Cyndee: I guess it is more the norm than not - I have been out of touch! Home schooling will definately make sure your child uses what you purchase.

Wow!  I'm with Rita...if I bought it for my kid...it better be around!

Susie - DITTO!

Paula, this is a very sad trend and one I hope does not spread.  Here in Ontario, Canada it was never like that when my sons were in school. They chose their school supplies and kept them.  

I did notice that in high schools around here now, students have to pay a deposit on the textbooks they borrow, and that deposit is returned at the end of the year when they return the books.

Jo  

Jo:  It seems to be popular trend. My children did not have to pay a deposit for books in high school. They only paid for the book if the lost it. Times are changing!

 

I have heard of this in other school districts.  Fortunately for us, the Wallenpaupack school district is fairly well-to-do and has always supplied everything we need (and the teachers purchase things for the classroom as well and gives them to the kids - no joke..pencil boxes, pencils, notebooks..if needed.)

I guess I would really have no problem supplying some paper towels, tissues, and hand soap/sanitizer for the classroom...although with the amount of taxes we pay, plus the amount of taxes generated by all of the vacation homes in the area which do not have children attending the school, I would certainly balk at it a little!

 I would NOT want to purchase dry erase markers for the teacher.  Nor would I want my child's notebook and pencils to be commandeered and given out to someone else!  That would be the LIMIT for me!!! 

Karen -  I have written several articles about our property tax issues. It is huge here right now. My broker wrote the Govenor about the tax issue and his response was the largest portion of out taxes was to support our local schools. If that is true, why are we also buying supplies for the classroom?

Commandeered is a perfect word! One of the fun things about back to school is choosing your supplies.

Paula, if my daughter had been forced to give up a notebook with butterflies, she'd have had a FIT.  So, I'm certain (she's 24 now) that I'd remember a practice such as that.  It seems almost as though the class is purchasing supplies for the system.  If that's the case, state a specific amount per child, let the school make the purchases (with a discount) and simply distribute the items.  It would save the gas that would assist parents with the school attire budget! 

Laurie:   What a terrific idea! You would think an educational system full of master degree professionals could figure out such a plan. It would save time and money!