Tomorrow is Dallas ISD big school supply give away. People with be lined up before dawn for the gibsmedat.
I actually do teach in a suburb of Dallas. My school is about 80% “economically disadvantaged” students. Every year I give the kids a large plastic tote that is kept on shelves for them to keep their school supplies in. I tell the kids that they are responsible for their own supplies and no one is to go into their tote except them. If they wish to loan out things to other students that is fine, but I don’t collect them into a “community” pile. I give the teachers who do that a hard time. At open house I get the same two reactions to my class policy every year. The parents who bought their kid’s supplies are grateful, while the parents who didn’t supply anything at all are pretty sullen. For those kids who don’t bring any supplies at all I have a large box of old crayons that I have picked up off of the floor over the years, and for writing I let them use those little golf pencils. If anyone thinks that is harsh then please explain why I consistently get more parents request that I become their child’s teacher than the other teachers in my grade level.
I always thought the box of old crayons was cool when I was little.
Wow, did I have enough type-ohs in that or what? Never fails when I post from my phone.
Not heartless at all! I’ve had students unable to take Scantron tests because they had no pencils. I put pens and pencils in a community jar when I find them on the floor, but I refuse to supply them to “economically disadvantaged” students who dress better than me. I had a student flip out on me one test day because there were two pencils, my pencils, on my desk and I refused to give him one. His mama came in and complained, but I stood my ground. I require one novel per school year that costs about $8.00, but many copies are also readily available through our public library system. Last year about 20 students simply did not get the novel. I also refused to give them special treatment. I feel like Dagney Taggart, where I’m not yet at the point whe I can go Galt. I still think I can make a difference.
< high-5> to you!