School's back on - and the parents are struggling (toon)

[Mira]

[NYC_SKP]

1. We need a toon showing how teachers have to spend hundreds of own $$$$

and can't even write the expenses off their taxes.

[enlightenment]

2. Does your teachers credit union

offer personal loans specifically to help them buy the supplies that the district won't? Ours does.

http://www.silverstatecu.com/personal-and-vehicle-loans/educational-employee-loans/classroom-supply-loan.aspx

[NYC_SKP]

3. I no longer teach, but GF is a second grade teacher, I'll pass this on.

Of course, while a loan helps, it's still a travesty that schools often don't supply what was once taken for granted, like pencils and paper.

And, while parents are asked to provide these things for their children, if they don't somebody has to.

Teachers shouldn't have to shell out any personal funds for supplies.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[enlightenment]

5. Oh, I agree absolutely.

It is a travesty - and it should be a national embarrassment.

I consider myself fortunate that my kid was in school before they had to supply their own toilet tissue and they only needed a half-page list of supplies. I don't know how parents afford it today - and I sure as hell don't understand why teachers' are expected to foot the bill that the districts ignore.

[christx30]

14. Last year I went to a PTA meeting

because my son (8 years old) was performing. During the meeting, the woman that did special education stood up and requested money for wipes. Apparently she takes care of kids that have accidents during the day. While requesting the money, she was in tears, and looked embarrassed that she had to ask for that. This is a woman that takes care of kids, and the district can't fork over anything for that.
The PTA granted the money. Also my wife and I went to Target and got a huge box of wipes.

[NYC_SKP]

15. Thank you.

I'm still involved in education, no longer in the classroom, and I know how much it means to teachers that there are people like you and your wife who will step up.

[christx30]

16. I'm thankful there are people

like you in the classroom that care about the kids and aren't just in it for the (according to republicans) huge, lavish paycheck. It's not all Mercedes and yacht parties, ya know.

[WinstonSmith4740]

7. Where do you teach?

I'm at Cheyenne High...had no idea our credit union did this! Thanks!

[enlightenment]

12. CSN.

But I know a lot of K-12 teachers. As much as I'd like for it not to be necessary, it is - so I'm glad I could share it.

And, by the way - thanks for your service. It takes special people to teach the young. Especially teenagers (and especially in our school district and state).

I salute you.

[WinstonSmith4740]

18. Thanks, and back at you!

I push as many of my kids towards CSN as I can. My niece LOVED it there...she was lost at UNLV with the huge classes, etc. She had gone to high school up here in the Moapa Valley, so she had a serious case of culture shock. She ended up taking a year off and then went back to CSN for her Associate's. She would have never graduated from UNLV without that transition from CSN.

Yeah, the kids can be tough, but I've noticed a serious shift in the last couple of years. The incoming Freshmen last year and this year are really nice! Polite, holding doors open, saying "Good Morning" and (gasp!) smiling! A vast majority of the boys are even wearing their pants where they belong!! And I'm sure you've experienced this...the toughest kids are the ones who need us the most. Nothing like that "A-HA!" moment!

[enlightenment]

19. Precisely.

Watching the light go on and hearing the first, hesitant new questions that come from that 'ah ha' moment. That's what makes teaching fun.

Delighted your niece had a successful college experience; I'm not surprised that the transition worked better than the straight to uni experience. Large classes, small town student population, and almost complete autonomy (that doesn't always translate to almost complete responsibility) is a tough wake-up call, even for kids who come from the city and think they have it all sorted.

Have a great school year!

[dsc]

4. this is one thing Mississippi, of all places, gets right

In the Constitution of MS the phrase a right to a free and public education appears and that has been defined to mean that a MS school child can't be expected to have to buy anything at all. It is all supplied by the school.

[japple]

9. Well, hell!!! Thank God for Mississippi! Those of us in the Southern states always use

to excuse our states from being last in everything.

Mississippi has often been spurned for being last-in-place for almost everything. I know that I have often given MS hell for not having adequate rest stops. Sure, the WELCOME CENTERS are great, but there is nothing in between--no rest stops, no restrooms, nothing. But if the school kids in MS don't have to supply notebook paper, composition books, hand sanitizer, kleenex, pencils, markers, erasers, paper towels, sanitary wipes, etc, etc, like they do in Georgia...well, I'll willingly pass through Mississippi without taking a pee break.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

11. That's wonderful.

I was horrified when I moved to Houston from the northeast as saw poor kids were expected to pay for that part of their education. I have spent a fortune trying to help them.

[Hoppy]

13. Same with N.J. If its required, schools gotta pay for it.

[rpannier]

8. If they became a corporation I wonder if they could write it off

If I ever go back to America and decide to teach (again) I may try that

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

10. Now that I run my own preschool, I get to write off all of my business expenses.

As a teacher, I could only write off $250. There's a special circle of hell for people who take money from teachers and give it to those who already have too much.

[RandySF]

20. Neither teachers nor parents should have to go through this.

[RandySF]

6. And private schools are no easier on supplies.

[BrotherIvan]

17. I remember going to the school supply every year with my mother and buying a carload of supplies

Her classroom received one pack of paper for the whole year and 3 boxes of pencils!

I know many parents who are literally drowning in the lists that are sent home of what is required. It's very expensive.

But we need more war toys so shaddap!