Anyone else fed up with the amount of paper that gets sent home from your kids school?

[jorno67]

I can't take it anymore...There is so much paper! As we are turning into a paperless world the schools seem to be trying to make up for it by sending home worksheets, notices, flyers, homework, spelling lists, newsletters, updates, schedules, account info, invitations, etc...

[MADem]

1. Are the worksheets a substitute for schoolbooks?

Some rich schools give the kids iPads, instead....

[jorno67]

8. No the work sheets go with the textbooks...

[TwilightGardener]

2. You know, my kids are in high school and use laptops for just about everything, so

things are getting better in that regard.

[Fresh_Start]

3. I am thankful that our school communicates

and I can't imagine paperless homework as being beneficial to the students.

[MedicalAdmin]

12. I can.

10 years ago when I was last a teacher I almost achieved it. The kids really liked it. The parents not so much. The administration hated it because I figured out how to do something for about $200 and few hours of my time what they had failed to do by spending about 30,000 ( with a buddies "tech" company - basically some dude they golfed with who attended a weekend seminar and then sold the "program" to his buddy, the superintendent - gahd I fucking hate administrators which is ironic given my current job/ moniker).

I was totally psyched when I saw that some jazz and symphonic bands were using paperless music sheets - now that looked really cool to me.

Our office, sadly is not paperless as our MD just likes paper notes. She's a scribbler. Of course I can type about 120 WPM while she is more of a hunt and peck sorta girl. What I am really excited about is both voice recognition and also video recognition as an adjunct to virtual reality environments. Imagine a physics class where you could actually test you hypothesis of what would happen if one car met another traveling the other way.

[redqueen]

4. Yes!

I really don't need yet another flyer telling me about all the fundraisers that are going on. Even if I wanted a $20 pie, (or whatever), I can't afford it.

Nor can I buy any more school logo shirts or mascot shirts or anything else. They keep on sending forms, though, just in case I change my mind.

[cyberswede]

5. Probably the most reliable way to communicate

Our school does try to make most information available on their website, but many families don't have internet access.

[Cal Carpenter]

18. "many families don't have internet access."

^^^QFT^^^

[woodsprite]

6. We get full page ads or multi-page booklets for their fundraisers, rules, dresscode, etc.,

But their Home Access Center (for checking grades, homework assignments, etc) account and login info came home where one printed 8.5x11 page shrunken to print on 1/4 of an 8.5x11. The darned password and account were almost illegible. I had to get a magnifying glass to read it.

In our school, they allot so much toner/paper per class. If the teacher goes over, they have to provide their own until next month.

[GermanDem]

7. Same here!

When I was in school, we had notebooks, one for each subject, and the books of course. The assortment of flying papers drives me crazy! At least they are now sending out announcements via e-mail, thank you very much!

[SomethingFishy]

9. Hmm, we have a thing called the "Parent Portal"

It's on the school website and they post all the info there. We get only 1 newsletter a month. It works really well as the teachers post all the assignments and you can keep track of your kid every day. Great for the parents, sucks for the kids.

I used to be able to cut classes all the time without my parents knowing. Now I get an automated phone call from the school if my kid is so much as late for class...

[madinmaryland]

14. The portals and email newsletters are great. Though as I mention down thread,

there are many parents that have access to neither (no computer).

[SomethingFishy]

17. Well then I hope those parents aren't complaining

about the amount of paper they are getting. :shrug:

[rjj621]

10. I could do without all the newsletters, updates, notices...etc

Being sent home with my girls in English and Spanish. Twice as much paper for the same information I can look up online. I keep hearing the schools are running out of money and looking for anywhere to cut costs, I can look in my recycle bin and tell them one area to cut costs.

[Papagoose]

11. Man, I wish I had the problem with my kids' schools

Getting information from their teachers is like pulling teeth. I had to make a call to the superintendent's office once last year to get a copy of one of my daughter's report cards...the teacher never sent it home and ignored my multiple request for it.

[madinmaryland]

13. My wife job is to create all of the information packets on a weekly basis.

The reason is that not all families have or can afford a computer to check school information on-line. I am all for the schools doing anything and everything to keep the parents involved in their children's school.

[laundry_queen]

15. I have the opposite problem

No paper. Just email. But because it's email, the teachers think it's great to send 5 of them a day. One for what the kids did and what's for homework. One for the latest fundraiser. One for "oh and I forgot to mention this about the fundraiser!" One for, "Remember hat day is tomorrow!" And always, "Please remember we need volunteers for XYZ event!"

I have 3 kids in 3 different schools and 1 kid at daycare. That's a buttload of email I get each day. Then sometimes on top of that the principal emails as well, or the school counsellor. It seems they think they can fire off 5 different emails every time they have a thought. I appreciate the communication but it should be limited to an email a week unless there is a problem. At this rate, I long for the olden days of the once-a-month newsletter and twice yearly fundraiser. (and yes, I cannot afford to buy anything my kids' schools fundraise with. The crap they sell is obscene).

Oh, and another thing has me frustrated. What is it with teachers sending every fricken piece of work home to sign? I remember when the only things parents had to sign were permission slips for overnight trips and report cards. Now I have to fill out a detailed release form every time the teacher decides to take the kids for a walk, and sign their agenda, homework and tests every night. I hate it. I just don't have time for it. It's gotten ridiculous.
/rant

[laundry_queen]

16. Oh, and another thing

while I'm on a roll. Teachers, please learn how to BCC!!! omg, I don't think I've seen a teacher use BCC yet. There's my email, plastered on the CC list for 30 people I don't know to see.

[mod mom]

19. It was awful when they were in grade school but as they get older

more homework/papers are sent electronically as are messages/announcements. My son's spanish homework (quia) is always submitted electronically as well, thankfully.