Parents Say Teachers Continue to Ask for School Supplies

I live in Berkeley County and have now received a SECOND list of supplies from my daughters classes.

Call the board of education, report this teacher. Maybe not her name but if all else fails, then report the name.

Ask to speak at the next meeting. You can put a stop to this.

The monies are alloted to take care of the supplies.

I live in Clay County and there are a lot of supplies that we have to get for our kids - and we even passed a levy. BUT some of the teachers (I know for a fact because I seen this and so has other parents) order extra supplies for their rooms and then give those school supplies to their own kids and grandkids for use. Also, I know of a couple of teachers who received digital cameras for their clasrooms but took the cameras home because the "kids will just break them" so the cameras are now the teachers personal property. Funny thing about here is that the average kid has to buy their supplies and stuff. The cheerleaders, band, etc., have to have fundraisers to get the extra stuff they need for their extra activities BUT the football team and the basketball team players HAVE ALL THEY NEED. Oh, and our Superintendent makes....(including all bonuses and extra things) around $115,000 /year. And we are one of the poor counties? Does this make sense?

When teachers stop buying supplies with their own paychecks--your children will suffer!

Teacher_Assistant wrote:

When teachers stop buying supplies with their own paychecks--your children will suffer!

If teachers would budget their money they are given for supplies better then it wouldn't be so bad. But since so many teachers complain they can not live on a teacher's salary then that sends up red flags that they have a problem with budgets.

Maybe like in other states they should raise your taxes because believe me the average tax bill in WV is a quarter of a morgage payment for most of us. But if they did that you would just complain about your taxes. Pay more all year or just buy some supplies.

AJB wrote:

Maybe like in other states they should raise your taxes because believe me the average tax bill in WV is a quarter of a morgage payment for most of us. But if they did that you would just complain about your taxes. Pay more all year or just buy some supplies.

Are you for real? We already pay out the a** on taxes - that is why we can not get any new businesses to come to WV because of our tax rate - we are taxed to death - not to mention MOST schools have levys and the school systems waste most of this money. New computers for the school was fine EXCEPT didn't think it was right to buy an extra for the teacher to take home for personal use (yes, it happened). The funds are also used for the football/basketball teams but any teams that are mostly female have to raise the funds for anything they need themselves. Yes, we would b**** about additional taxes because we are taxed to death. The pay for a lot of jobs here are below average but we pay above average in a lot of areas regarding everyday living expenses. If our govenor would keep his rearend at home and do HIS job about helping us improve our ecomonoy and stop traveling to only God knows where taking his family with him at our expense then maybe we wouldn't complain so much. But it is HARD to agree to any more taxes when our money is being wasted like it is.

Yes I am for real and have you ever owned anything out of your state. If you have you would realize that your yearly tax payments are half of what most of us pay for a morgage every month. I paid 7,400 last year in taxes and we provid everything for school. This year I paid 185.00 just register, 140.00 school supplies list, 65.00 for art, and if I wanted any tpe of sports it was 800.00 fee plus equipment fees. I grew up in WV and still own properties there and I know you people should not be complaining about anything. Not to be rude but if you people hate the way your state is being run maybe you should vote for a different party next time. Also your teachers should be able to take home things from the school because I do not believe you realize how much work they do at home and are not paid for it.

AJB wrote:

Yes I am for real and have you ever owned anything out of your state. If you have you would realize that your yearly tax payments are half of what most of us pay for a morgage every month. I paid 7,400 last year in taxes and we provid everything for school. This year I paid 185.00 just register, 140.00 school supplies list, 65.00 for art, and if I wanted any tpe of sports it was 800.00 fee plus equipment fees. I grew up in WV and still own properties there and I know you people should not be complaining about anything. Not to be rude but if you people hate the way your state is being run maybe you should vote for a different party next time. Also your teachers should be able to take home things from the school because I do not believe you realize how much work they do at home and are not paid for it.

Yes, I have owned property outside WV and while the property taxes are not as high, other taxes are - and as for teachers - MOST don't do anything out of school. They have aides that sit in the classroom and do most of that work plus they have a class period during the day for PLANNING. The get to work around 8 and leave by 3. No, they should NOT take things home because they do not do a lot of their work at home. If they do then it is because they have used their planning period to do other things. Teachers are stealing when they take things home for their own personal use. It is not a perk of the job - most are undereducated to begin with and they complain from the time they set their foot in the door to start teaching. I have seen teacher after teacher who could not even teach the class they were hired for if they were not looking at the book. They cheat on the tests to make scores look better so people will say they have done a good job. It has been reported MORE THAN ONCE that 3 teachers would look over kids shoulders while taking the WESTEST in the spring and then suggest they re-read the question and choose a different answer. As for the way things are, yes I do vote and I try to make changes but too many people keep voting to put the same people back in office even though they need to be OUT of office. I have family members who are teachers and some of them are no better than the ones I complain about. We butt heads because you can say whatever you wish but it is obvious that you are on a teachers side - but from what I see in our local schools - most of the teachers are lazy. My own daughter was a teacher's helper and she spent time grading the papers, setting up computers for different tests, even copying from last years planner to this years planner so the teacher didn't have to do it - and this IS common practice. As for other activities - yes I have paid for several things including trips for We Care Club/FBLA/FFA/TSA etc. but my point is this - teachers are buying supplies and giving it to their own kids instead of using it in classroom like they are supposed to. AGAIN I say, teachers should not be taking anything home - my tax dollars are not for them playing on computers. That is a joke.

How do you know that they are giving thier own children these supplies and playing on computers. I just do not see any person admitting to this. For the teachers you say have no clue how to teach dosen't your school have a probation period for the teachers to prove thier competency. More than likely teachers try to give these answers because of the no child left behind act. Alot of the schools in are area have lost there federal funding because of low test scores and the only way then to run the schools with limited funding is to either fire teachers or raise taxes and nobody wants either. So your teachers doing that is wrong but they are probably thinking they are saving thier jobs. But I do not agree with that and if caught these teachers should be fired.

AJB wrote:

How do you know that they are giving thier own children these supplies and playing on computers. I just do not see any person admitting to this. For the teachers you say have no clue how to teach dosen't your school have a probation period for the teachers to prove thier competency. More than likely teachers try to give these answers because of the no child left behind act. Alot of the schools in are area have lost there federal funding because of low test scores and the only way then to run the schools with limited funding is to either fire teachers or raise taxes and nobody wants either. So your teachers doing that is wrong but they are probably thinking they are saving thier jobs. But I do not agree with that and if caught these teachers should be fired.

I know they are giving supplies to their kids because I have seen them do it personally time and time again. I was in a classroom after school one day talking to a teacher while my child was finishing up in band practice. The teacher's child walked in and said "mom, I need... for my science project". With that, the teacher handed her the keys, she went to the LOCKED supply closet in the room, got what the needed and locked the door back. I personally asked her why she was letting her daughter use the supplies bought for her classroom and she told me "because I can. They don't monitor what I buy so I just get what she needs" When I asked her about the supplies that were supposed to be for her kids and she replied "let the parents buy them - most of them either have good jobs or can get it through their welfare check". Those were her EXACT words. I talked to her a few minutes more and she admitted that "at least half of everyone here" (at that school) "does the same thing". I went to a yard sale and found supplies (expensive calculators) that had the school code on the back of them. I took 2 of them and walked to pay for the items I got and I questioned the calculators - one of the girls told me "we have a bunch of those. When grandma retired she brought all kinds of that stuff home. All of us grandkids got one of the calculators". This same calculator is priced at $97 in a recent sale flyer and I got 2 of them along with a carrying case for $5. They are Texas Insturments and are very good. They have a hard time firing teachers because of the teachers union. As for the probation period, I don't think they care because we are so hard up for teachers they are taking anyone. I see people teaching in our school system who would routinely flunk a drug test if they were given. I know because I have seen them at our local gas station on the weekends buying their beer and they are so stoned they don't even recognize some of their students (yes, saw that too). I DO NOT base anything I say on gossip. I am angry because of things I personally have seen. This also includes the teachers who belittle kids because they are poor and the kids who are treated the best in school are the teachers kids - even though 2 of them broke into the school, busted a few computers, and spray painted a few walls they are still considered the "top kids". These kids did not get in trouble because of who they are - too many teachers think they are above the law. As for the cheating - the principal won't do anything. He was even approached recently about one of the janitors making a suggestion to go "up the holler" with a young boy at the school. When the mother went to the principal to find out what really happened and wanted the janitor called in to tell her to her face why he wanted her son to "go up the holler" with him the principal REFUSED. Told the mother she was "over-reacting". Even though this is the same janitor that called in sick so he could go to the local bar and get drunk.- he was suspended for 3 days w/o pay for that one - She ended up having to go to the school superintendent and he "promises" to look into it - we'll see.

To AJB you said you believed that teachers should be able to take things home with them that belong to the school? That is stealing!!What kind of examole is that giving to our kids?If one of the kids took something home they would be arrested. I think the teachers have too much power as it is.Just because they are teachers they are always right? I dont have kids in school now but when I did I seen how some were mean to the kids but they are teachers so they are always right? I dont think so. They should be treated like everyone else, get caught stealing go to jail and get fired.

Why do teachers always get the bad rap?? There are many great teachers out there. Why do we expect teachers to pay for their own supplies? Do doctors buy their own medical equipment?? Do the managers at fast food places buy the buns out of their own pocket?? Come On!! I usually find the parents that teacher bash have 'one of those students'. Ones that teachers pray do not get on their class list. Parents who make excuses for their child when he/she gets in trouble.
Try a teacher's job for a day. Just because you were once in school, does not mean you can teach.

School board paid too much .They should trim the top and give in to the teachers.

Speaking from past experience, we buy supplies (and a lot of them...$65.00 in first grade) and we found out what happens to them...The class never seems to get enough to last them until the end of the year. You are not required to buy these items so most parents don't. All supplies are consolidated and are given as the need arises. Our supplies were for all to use and my child did not get to use the things we took. Supplies are put in lockers outside the classroom and are taken in the room when ABSOLUTELY necessary. The crayons are used until they are tiny and too broken then a new box is opened. If too many items are collected, they are held over to start next year..which I would say is very rare. The same parents carry the room as usual..Last year the teacher did not ask for anything. She said we could bring tissues if we so chose to do so. I am tired of supporting this program and my supplies being given to the other children (yes they can afford to buy for their child but chose not to). I will buy anything my child needs if MY child is the one getting the items I buy...
Just my thoughts on the supplies that have gotten way out of hand....

Do not dogg the teachers of WV or any state for that matter. With all the new implementations, teachers are over worked. When did the day come that people complain about buying supplies for their children or for the class. WV's budgets (if you are aware) of certain programs have been cut drastically in the last couple of years. I know teacher personally that will spend their OWN money to buy things for students to use in class. Granted SOME teachers may abuse/use supplies wrongly, but you can't judge ALL teachers but a few who do things inappropriately.

Teacher_Assistant wrote:

When teachers stop buying supplies with their own paychecks--your children will suffer!

I hear you!

Mom wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, I have owned property outside WV and while the property taxes are not as high, other taxes are - and as for teachers - MOST don't do anything out of school. They have aides that sit in the classroom and do most of that work plus they have a class period during the day for PLANNING. The get to work around 8 and leave by 3. No, they should NOT take things home because they do not do a lot of their work at home. If they do then it is because they have used their planning period to do other things. Teachers are stealing when they take things home for their own personal use. It is not a perk of the job - most are undereducated to begin with and they complain from the time they set their foot in the door to start teaching. I have seen teacher after teacher who could not even teach the class they were hired for if they were not looking at the book. They cheat on the tests to make scores look better so people will say they have done a good job. It has been reported MORE THAN ONCE that 3 teachers would look over kids shoulders while taking the WESTEST in the spring and then suggest they re-read the question and choose a different answer. As for the way things are, yes I do vote and I try to make changes but too many people keep voting to put the same people back in office even though they need to be OUT of office. I have family members who are teachers and some of them are no better than the ones I complain about. We butt heads because you can say whatever you wish but it is obvious that you are on a teachers side - but from what I see in our local schools - most of the teachers are lazy. My own daughter was a teacher's helper and she spent time grading the papers, setting up computers for different tests, even copying from last years planner to this years planner so the teacher didn't have to do it - and this IS common practice. As for other activities - yes I have paid for several things including trips for We Care Club/FBLA/FFA/TSA etc. but my point is this - teachers are buying supplies and giving it to their own kids instead of using it in classroom like they are supposed to. AGAIN I say, teachers should not be taking anything home - my tax dollars are not for them playing on computers. That is a joke.

If your child was a TEACHER HELPER then maybe what she was doing was just that......HELPING! If you think for one mintue transferring information from one calendar to another, setting up computers and grading papers is all that teachers do, your wrong. I am not a teacher and wouldn't be, because I know how hard they work. The good ones are very hard workers and I have been blessed to have had GREAT teachers for my son. And if people have this much problem with what teachers do, why BLOG?????????? How about calling the board, filing a formal complaint??????? If that doesnt work, the WV Dept. of Education. They might not listen to one person, but if a group of people have a problem and arent' "trouble makers" then they will listen. Stand up for what you believe in, if you believe your children are being "used" and that what you pay for is being used wrongly........Say something to someone who could change things....NOT TOPIX!!!!!!!!!

Fred wrote:

School board paid too much .They should trim the top and give in to the teachers.

I think everyone in education deserves a pay raise. Period. They work hard to educate our kids and grandkids.

Terri wrote:

I live in Berkeley County and have now received a SECOND list of supplies from my daughters classes.

Maybe the teacher is requesting more supplies...but that doesn't mean you have to send them if you don't want to or can't afford it. I know a lot of parents send supplies anyway because they want to and then the school has more supplies to work with.

Send a nice letter to the teacher telling her that you are thankful that the state has chosen to provide all chldren with supplies.