New items on the back-to-school lists this year include cleaning spray, baby wipes, and cotton balls. It’s not for making a diorama or some kind of cheap puppet. Rather, with budgets slashed all over, schools have had to resort to asking the kids to pick up basic cleaning supplies for the school along with their usual TrapperKeepers and notebooks.
Scissors, Glue, Pencils? Check. Cleaning Spray? [NYT]
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I was in elementary school about 15 years ago and we still had to bring in all that stuff. Tissues, paper towels, etc. They give you a list on the first day.
um hell to the no! what am I paying taxes for???? come on now…do we have to start furnishing our own desks too?
Cut the sports budgets and you solve most budget woes.
MY daughter has been offered “upgrading” in her classes in high school for bringing in Kleenex and cleaning supplies too. How many boxes of Kleenex for an A? That’s the way to motivate kids to do well in school – Slack off all semester and then bring in $50 worth of supplies to make the grade!
It’s not new this year to me, baby wipes have been on my list for as long as I can remember. No actual cleaning supplies yet but I have had teachers ask for extra bottles of spray cleaners to clean desks and wipes for that purpose. I am on the PTO board at my school and have even heard of a school who asked their PTO board to pay for construction paper for the year! Seriously, at an elementary school? ! What the hell are they spending their money on if they can’t buy paper?
I was disgusted to find out that our local High School now charges a “locker rental fee”. When we were in school, the school itself was responsible for making sure that every kid had their own locker, just bring your own lock. If the teachers themselves are responsible for cleaning their own rooms I can understand parents donating some basic supplies so it doesn’t have to come out of pocket from the teacher. Bleach wipes are especially handy in an elementary classroom….. sooooo….. muuuuuuch…. snottttttttt….
i’d save tehe receipts and as for a tax reduction or reimbursement from my state’s board of education
i’d save tehe receipts and as for a tax reduction or reimbursement from my state’s board of education, or any politician that didn’t sign off on education bills
Well, in Japan, they don’t even hire custodial staffs. Students and staff (administrators too) are responsible for cleaning the schools. It certainly encourages them from making fewer messes.
I am okay with kids bringing cleaning supplies and the students and staff cleaning the school. This would be a good way to cut the budget and instill some hard work and responsibility into students.
When I was in school (84-97) it was always considered part of our back-to-school stuff to bring some form of consumable “cleaning” item, usually towels, TP, kleenex, windex…
That was in 3 school districts, and one private school….
Back then I don’t think it was as much about budget as it was about community and responsibility (waste not want not)
When kids have to buy their own desks…that’s gonna be a problem