Parents divided over purchasing classroom supplies

Picking out folders and notebooks and even pencils is a fun back-to-school ritual. For decades, kids have looked forward to getting the trendiest (or most offbeat) school supplies to express their personality.

But these days, many kids are dismayed to discover that picking out school supplies is a bit pointless. That’s because the supplies won’t belong to them, at least not entirely. They will be distributed to the class.

In recent years, parents have been asked to purchase paper towels, glue sticks and other supplies to ensure classrooms are well-stocked. This is not without controversy. Parents who look forward to buying kid-specific items, knowing it will be an exciting thing for their children, have been vocal about this annoyance.

Shared supplies: one parent

This year, Ohio mom Frances Chie (@lovefranceschiee) sparked a heated debate on TikTok by saying she would continue to buy personalized items for her 3-year-old.

“If my baby wants Disney princess pencils, a pencil case (and) an eraser, and I go buy them, why doesn’t she use them?” Chie said in a TikTok video that has now gone viral.

Many parents agreed, saying they, too, were tired of classroom supply lists. One commenter even said they would make sure their children could use the supplies they purchased.

“I will individually label each crayon with my child’s name on the box of 128 crayons,” the commenter wrote on the post.

Shared supplies: Teacher side

However, many teachers took to the comments section to rant about how quickly supplies were being depleted and how much it cost teachers themselves to stock their classrooms with supplies.

Chie herself even admits in the film that she was surprised to learn that teachers often had to pay for supplies out of their own pockets. She said she would personally be happy to donate additional classroom supplies, such as paper towels, to help ease the load.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), about 95% of teachers spend at least some of their own funds on school supplies. The average educator pays between $500 and $750 per year, but in underfunded districts, teachers often have a heavier burden to make sure students get what they need.

Not everyone can afford school supplies

So it’s important to remember that there’s a bigger problem here than our kids not getting the right colored folders.

While it’s certainly disappointing not to be able to purchase personalized items for your child if your child’s classroom is distributing supplies, it’s also important to remember that not every parent has access to Staples ( Shop at Staples or Target and buy them everything they need. That’s why some states don’t make school supplies a requirement, but a requirement.

Forget new sneakers and sweatshirts. In the recession, more and more children don’t even have notebooks and pencils. But the responsibility for stocking classrooms shouldn’t fall solely on already underpaid teachers.

While the system may not be perfect, this is where classroom supply lists come in and become common. Personally, I know this is the standard for my children in their early school years. It’s annoying at first, but when you realize that many kids won’t show up with personalized supplies or no supplies at all, it stops feeling miserable about not getting what your kids want.

student self expression

In fact, there are many ways for children to express themselves on their first day at school. If you’re lucky enough to be able to buy your kids something they really need, or even some things they want, then dress them in the cutest clothes you can find. Let them dye their hair pink and wear brand new Nike sneakers, tube jeans and authentic Taylor merchandise. Go crazy.

There were a lot of exciting things about the first day. Sharing pencils won’t ruin their mood too much. In fact, maybe this is a lesson we all need – not just kids.