Yes, it's come to this, in America...

[archanglrobriel]

So, I have a friend and she is made of awesomeness. She works for a Major American Name Brand Company and that company recently received some mail from a high school student in East L.A. In the letter it was mentioned that at her high school, which is WILDLY underfunded (as most California schools are now, but especially in the less wealthy areas

Comments

[artbeco]

It's not just the urban schools that are feeling the pinch, but the suburban schools sometimes have more affluent parents who are more active in raising needed funds through things like the PTA and the parents get begged to donate basic supplies. At my guys' elementary school, at the beginning of the year lists of supplies needed are sent out with every kid, and the parents donate what they can. Pencils are always on the list, but so is copy paper and toilet paper. Yeah, the state raided my boys' school fund that was supposed to buy the years' worth of toilet paper. Pathetic.

Wellll

[luckykid13]

I suppose I can understand your shock, but I personally shelled out $40 for pencils this year so far- and most of those were during the Staples "penny" sale. I supply roughly 800 pencils to my class each school year.

It's friggin ridiculous how much money I spend on school supplies. We get supplies rationed out and then have to beg for more, at which point they ignore us until the next ration. I also bought 100 notebooks (They will only supply a Math notebook for each kid), eraser tops, lined paper and folders. I spend anywhere from 5-15% of my salary on supplies to do my job every year.

Of course if I complain I get told, "Well no one goes into teaching for the money." Ummm, point totally missed.

Re: Wellll

[veetor]

Wow -- I thought I was the only one. I'm a first year teacher, and yes -- I've spent a lot of money on supplies this year already. I teach in a poor school, where students are on the Salvation Army wish list. It's sad, really.

And yes, pencils are always needed...

Re: Wellll

[luckykid13]

Yes, like your school, my kids have already signed up with the Salvation Army for Christmas presents. We are also guaranteed free breakfasts and lunches for the next two years- they don't even want the income info, sight unseen- because of the poverty level in the community.

Welcome to our grand education system.