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All Purpose Bitching About School Supply Shopping List

ScarletKnight41 Aug 19 2005 05:18 PM

You guys have heard me complain about school supply lists from Hell before. I figured I'd start a thread, because in the next few weeks those of us in the Northeast are likely to have some contributions to this thread (and Hottie should feel free to jump in if he's already been on any scavenger hunts). Typically, by high school the teachers don't send home such lists, and leave supplies up to the family's discretion unless a particular (and expensive) calculator is needed. I'm awaiting my 12-year-old's middle school supply list with trepidation, because that's where the worst of the scavenger hunt items are typically included. So, to date, I've just received a supply list for MK. Most of it isn't too bad, although why "Friskars for Kids" scissors are specified is a little confounding (perhaps one of the teachers' husbands works for Friskars? Who knows....). But so far the only item on his 4th grade list that I haven't found yet are 1 1/2" x 2" Post It notes. Do they even make them so small? The 3x3" ones are aready pretty tiny - why wouldn't they be good enough? Are they going to be reading teeny tiny little books this year?

cooby Aug 19 2005 09:01 PM

My son starts 11th grade Wednesday. His list: 1) Car 2) Deoderant 3) Hair detangler

ScarletKnight41 Aug 19 2005 09:02 PM

I went to Staples this evening. I had to choose between 2x2" notes and 1 3/8 x 1 7/8" tags. I bought the latter. The damn teacher better accept them.

cooby Aug 19 2005 09:06 PM

So, to date, I've just received a supply list for MK. Most of it isn't too bad, although why "Friskars for Kids" scissors are specified is a little confounding (perhaps one of the teachers' husbands works for Friskars Sounds like they're going to be doing scrapbooking

Johnny Dickshot Aug 19 2005 10:02 PM

Have you tried the supply room at your place of business?

ScarletKnight41 Aug 19 2005 10:04 PM

This IS my place of business. I did ask D-Dad, but the Post It Notes at his office are all larger than Munchkin-sized.

cooby Aug 19 2005 10:06 PM

Size chart from the official Post It website

ScarletKnight41 Aug 19 2005 10:07 PM

I knew she sent us on a wild goose chase. Just knew it!

KC Aug 19 2005 10:09 PM

If I'm not back tomorrow ... I shot myself. No, really.

cooby Aug 19 2005 10:10 PM

Shaddup! You wait'll you have kids!

Iubitul Aug 19 2005 11:02 PM

KC wrote: If I'm not back tomorrow ... I shot myself. No, really. Thanks Kase - I have kids, and I'm about to shoot myself, too.

KC Aug 20 2005 09:28 AM

I can't shoot myself. Who'd step-in in these times of crisis if I did? Scarlet, I can score ya some 1 1/2's by 2's. I can get yellow, blue, pink, and I think green. Cooby's chart is flawed.

Rockin' Doc Aug 20 2005 09:50 AM

KC - "Scarlet, I can score ya some 1 1/2's by 2's. I can get yellow, blue, pink, and I think green. Cooby's chart is flawed." KC once again saves the day. Since not all "sticky notes" are Post It brand, there exists a variety of sizes and colors available through other companies.

KC Aug 20 2005 09:58 AM

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2&partNumber=129957

cooby Aug 20 2005 10:00 AM

KC, could you score me a car for my son?

ScarletKnight41 Aug 20 2005 10:14 AM

Thanks Bro. MK is entering an upper elementary school where the teachers aren't known for understanding or flexibility. Starting him off on the right foot there is a big deal! lubitul can't shot himself either - I need him to get through my IT class this fall.

cooby Aug 20 2005 10:31 AM

upper elementary school where the teachers aren't known for understanding or flexibility. I think I just thought of a nifty idea for getting Miss Cooby off to a good start with her students' moms....

ScarletKnight41 Aug 20 2005 10:50 AM

Tell cooby jr. that, when coming up with class supply lists, she should keep these things in mind - 1) Don't get brand specific. If you do like a certain brand, and it's very common (i.e., Crayola), that's ok, but don't make the parents seek out a specific variety of Crayola crayons when, really, any box will do. Moms don't mind buying crayons and markers and glue sticks for the beginning of the school year. But when you need such and such a brand of 36 crayons and some other brand with 12 fine tipped markers (pastel only) and Elmer's special reserve glue, it's a pain in the neck (One year D-Dad and I went to over a dozen stores looking for soft cover marble composition notebooks. They did not exist. I still haven't forgiven that teacher); and 2) If she has a real need for a specific item, she should ask the parents to send in money so that she could buy the item for the class. Off the top of my head I can't think of any item that's worth the hassle, but it beats scavenger hunts. MK's teachers asked for $3 for unspecified class supplies, and I'm glad to send that in. If she really wants to get off on the right track with her students' parents, tell her to keep the supply list as simple and generic as possible.

KC Aug 20 2005 11:30 AM

I think being specific is important. Think of how the kid with the Yugo crayons feels when the kid next to him has Cadillac crayons. If the teacher specifies what crayons to get, everyone has the same and the Yugo crayon kid doesn't end up in therapy by grade 5 with crayon envy disorder or worse. Studies also show that having the same crayons leads a child down a straighter life-path. Crayon envy disorder can lead to early alcohol abuse and experimenting with drugs. Sometimes it can lead to other crimes too, such as crayon theft. I think you should cut the teacher some slack.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 20 2005 12:17 PM

The problem in this district is that they have us looking for the Cadillac Crayons, special collectors edition. And the search process drives me to drink ;)

cooby Aug 20 2005 02:02 PM

Ms. Cooby's classes start Monday; she doesn't even have a finalized class list yet, I don't think she's worried about what to make them bring...

KC Aug 20 2005 03:26 PM

I don't remember having to bring much to grade school except a notebook or two and a pencil bag. Googlin' around, there a first and second grade classes with their own web pages with lists of required things number 15- 20 items. Oh, and my Casper the Friendly Ghost lunch box, of course.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 20 2005 04:13 PM

Middle school is worse. Each individual teacher has 15-10 items of his/her own. You never know until you actually meet the teacher how much of a stickler he/she is about specific items. Some of them are horror shows if you don't get each and every item exactly as specified.

SwitchHitter Aug 22 2005 02:23 PM

Our school has long, complicated lists. But you can pony up an amount of money that varies with the grade for a complete set that the school put together. It's probably cheaper to do it that way, too, because they get volume pricing on the items.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 22 2005 02:23 PM

I would LOVE a system like that!

ScarletKnight41 Aug 22 2005 04:53 PM

Wow! My 12-year-old's middle school supply list arrived today, and it's surprisingly and refreshingly streamlined! He just needs a couple of binders, some spiral notebooks (no colors specified, thank goodness! Last year the search for a 1" purple binder was rough) and a few other small things. I feel like kissing someone <g>

SI Metman Aug 23 2005 08:28 PM

sheesh, I remember my lists being real short 10 years ago - basically a binder (any binder), looseleaf paper, a couple of marble notebooks and pens/pencils with the occasional ruler or calculator thrown in.

cooby Aug 24 2005 07:27 AM

I kinda remember one year, Scarlett was searching desperately for a certain BRAND of marble notebooks. Teachers in her town must be sadists. Holy man, that was 2001, I remember looking at our Ames for her when it closed that summer....

ScarletKnight41 Aug 24 2005 09:28 AM

cooby wrote: I kinda remember one year, Scarlett was searching desperately for a certain BRAND of marble notebooks. Teachers in her town must be sadists. Holy man, that was 2001, I remember looking at our Ames for her when it closed that summer.... Soft cover marble composition notebooks. Yes, it would have been 2001 - my daughter was starting 7th grade, and she's going into 11th now. Between D-Dad and I, we looked at a dozen stores, and couldn't find them. When you ask about a supply at Staples and they look at you like you have three heads, you know you're in trouble. To top it off, we didn't get the supply list in the mail that year. Our district starts late (the Thursday after Labor Day), and the supply list came home the second day of school. So a lot of the school supplies in our local stores had already been picked through pretty thoroughly by the time our scavenger hunt began. I still hate that social studies teacher, even though my daughter had a good year in that class. I've had to look for certain brands of items. I've had to look for specific types of crayons and color pencils (brand and particular variety specified). I have had to look for specific types of glue sticks. I wouldn't necessarily call these teachers sadists (although I'm not fighting cooby if she insists on calling them that), but I do think that the teachers who go overboard with these demands are control freaks. They want to establish from day one that they are in total control, and that the parents and students need to jump through their hoops. It's a minority of teachers who are like that, but there are enough of them that I truly dread getting the supply lists every fall.

cooby Aug 24 2005 09:34 AM

Ah, but if you are not brand specific, you can open up your class to episodes of petty thievery, jealousy, inadaquecy...the list could go on. I don't think it would be right for a teacher to ask for hard to find, unnecessary details (soft cover composition books or weird sizes of post it notes, for example) but easy to find, common, and above all, affordable for everyone brand names are a must.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 24 2005 09:42 AM

I'm fine when they say, "Buy a box of 24 Crayola Crayons." That's an inexpensive and easy to find item that can be picked up anywhere. But why "Friskars for Kids" scissors when any scissors would do? Who cares what brand of glue stick the kid at the next table uses? Frankly, I'd be very happy to ante up $20 and let the teacher buy whatever he/she wants for the class to use for the year. Everyone would have the same supplies, nobody would own anything, and there would be no reason for anyone to be jealous. True communal living....

cooby Aug 24 2005 09:46 AM

="ScarletKnight41"] But why "Friskars for Kids" scissors when any scissors would do? Who cares what brand of glue stick the kid at the next table uses? . Well, that's what I mean when I say "easy to find, common, and above all, affordable". Friskars for Kids doesn't necessarily sound any of the above to me

seawolf17 Aug 24 2005 09:48 AM

Do they still make Trapper Keepers? I loved those things. They were the coolest school supply ever, back in the day.

MFS62 Aug 24 2005 09:57 AM

My granddaughter starts pre-school this week. I'll let yu know if they send home anything that specific on the list. Later

ScarletKnight41 Aug 24 2005 10:17 AM

Dare I ask, what are Trapper Keepers?

seawolf17 Aug 24 2005 10:26 AM

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapper_Keeper]Wikipedia[/url] says it best: A Trapper Keeper is a brand of loose-leaf binder. Popular with high school students in the United States and parts of Latin America during the 1980s and 1990s, it featured folders to keep schoolwork and papers and a Velcro closure. It was also immortalized in an episode of South Park, in which a Trapper Keeper tries to take over the world. That's the best photo I could find online quickly. The flap at the top of the photo velcros to the front, and you flap it open and it's a binder/folder thing. IIRC, they were like seven bucks, which was a lot for a school supply, but you had to have one.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 24 2005 10:39 AM

ROFL - these days, seven bucks may or may not get you a three-ring binder. They still do have those kind of all purpose binders, but most years I haven't had to purchase them (I do remember getting them one or two years).

Willets Point Aug 24 2005 10:56 AM

All the cool kids had Trapper Keepers. BTW, I never had a list of school supplies in my educational history. Sure, my Mom & I went supply shopping, but we just stocked up on the stuff we always needed, and if I was taking geometry or something we'd get a protractor.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 24 2005 10:58 AM

Last year I had to buy a $90 calculator for my middle school student.

Willets Point Aug 24 2005 11:01 AM

Kids these days. We weren't allowed to use calculators. We had to use pencil and paper. It sucked. I use a calculator now though.

MFS62 Aug 24 2005 01:01 PM

For more complex calculations, they allowed us to use a slide rule. Think I still have my log log decitrig somewhere. Later

Rockin' Doc Aug 25 2005 08:14 AM

Life was so much simpler when I was a student. I had one Organizer by Mead, one or two mechanical pencils, an eraser, and a pen. That's all I needed for most class work. Now the kids get a list of required supplies that are specific down to the brand (and even the model #) in some instances. Acquiring all the specified items on the lists is much like a scavenger hunt. Luckily, now that both my kids are in high school, the list of required supplies is minimal compared to what it was when they were in middle school.

SI Metman Aug 25 2005 10:56 AM

ScarletKnight41 wrote: Last year I had to buy a $90 calculator for my middle school student. Middle school? Was it a T-83 (or a similar number) graphing calculator, because I didn't have to get that one til junior year of high school.

ScarletKnight41 Aug 25 2005 11:09 AM

SI - frankly, I'm not sure now. Maybe that was for my daughter's math class. I just can't remember. All I know is that spent a fortune at Staples last year.

ScarletKnight41 Sep 27 2005 04:12 PM

This isn't shopping, per se. But today, MK's homework includes bringing in a paper towel tube. Do they mean by tomorrow? I just started a new roll the other day. I would have saved the tube had I known he would need it. What am I supposed to do? Unroll a virtually unused roll of paper towels so he'll have a tube to bring in? These teachers are sticklers - if he doesn't bring one in on time, he'll have to get a missing homework slip signed. cooby - please advise cooby jr. that if she wants parents to send in this kind of thing (off the top of my head, egg cartons are another thing that teachers also request) she should give the kids' parents a few days' notice. Grumble.

cooby Sep 27 2005 04:21 PM

lol, wash your windows and be glad she didn't ask for a TP roll

ScarletKnight41 Sep 27 2005 04:23 PM

Now THAT I could provide more easily.

cooby Sep 27 2005 04:25 PM

You must not use Scott tissue...

ScarletKnight41 Sep 27 2005 04:34 PM

We have five people in this house. Getting through a roll of toilet paper quickly is not a problem.

KC Sep 28 2005 11:27 AM

With a little effort and a little less griping, one could probably remove the cardboard from a roll of paper towels without unrolling them. I'm thinking needle nose pliers ... I'm gonna try it when I get home. And god forbid you have to take eggs out of a carton and place them in a bowl. The horror.

ScarletKnight41 Sep 28 2005 11:34 AM

After years of teachers requesting egg cartons, I actually wised up and have a stash of them in the basement. The problem with egg cartons was that my old refrigerator had an egg holder, so I never had reason to keep the cartons as part of my normal, adult life.