[grania]

$480 isn't a lot, spread over more than 30 weeks to the teaching year. When I was a full-time teacher, I never spent anything I'd complain about.

I spent seven of my retired years in very fine company. I was an urban public school substitute. Those are the people who have a gripe about the cost of supplies. Substitutes have to purchase enough supplies to have on hand so that they can make supplies and materials available. Very often, everything is locked up in that classroom. And those substitutes? They're providing for the students from an income that's much less than the teacher.

NEVER ONCE did a teacher offer to reimburse me. But then again, when I was a full-time classroom teacher, it never occurred to me what a burden this was on substitutes.

[jurroppi1]

Makes me wonder why I have to provide all sorts of classroom supplies on top of the supplies my child needs and all of the property taxes I pay that keep going up while levies and referendums keep getting passed adding even more revenue directly into the stream and raising my taxes even more.

Then, on the last day of school my child comes home with a horde of “classroom” materials that were never used by anyone.

[sheana]

I substituted for years and always carried a bag full of stickers and awards (small candies, crayons, colored pencils, etc). I also bought some supplies for projects I came up with. I never spent much. They all came from the dollar store.

[1Old Pro]

spending nearly $480 a year, far more than the federal $250 tax deduction available to teachers.

My wife spends that on a single "recognition" lunch for her team (out of her/my own pocket)

[cherry]

what a farce....as if no other employee ever donated extra time and supplies for their work place...

I am so tired of sanctifying teachers as if their ship don't stink...