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Moms Talk: Are The Schools Asking For Too Much In Supplies And Donations?

Your Alpharetta-Milton Moms Council is answering your question today and invites you to join in on the discussion.

Each week, the Alpharetta-Milton Moms Council gets emailed questions from the readers who click the email the author button. This group of moms answers the question with individual opinions and then turns the question back to the readers.

You can add your answer and opinion simply by adding it to the comments section at the end of the article. We would love to hear from you and invite you to join in on this week's discussion.

Patch received an email from one Alpharetta-Milton reader who wrote:

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Every year we get these notices from the schools asking us to buy a long list of supplies for the kids to use in the classroom. In recent years, it has gotten worse. Now we are buying white board markers and post its among other supplies for the teachers too. I thought the public school system was suppose to be free. I worry about the families who can not afford all of these supplies. 

Q: Do you think that the public schools are asking for too much in supplies and donations for the schools? 

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A: I have to agree that it seems to be getting to be more and more every year. I also have noticed that throughout the year, parents are asked to send in more supplies as well when the classes run out. I do not mind it though, personally. I would rather have to send in the items to my child's class then to have the class go without it. I would actually be happy if the teachers would request more consumable supplies for the kids to do more hands on and fun activities throughout the day. The once-a-week art class just is not enough creative time for elementary kids. They should get to do fun projects in all of their subjects. Tammy Bester, mom of 3

A: Every August when school begins my mom friends and I get together and complain about the never ending school list, fundraisers, and classroom donations, but my children go to a Title 1 school and with that I feel comes a sort of responsibility to add to the community supply so that each child can have pencils to write with and notebooks to take notes on. I do not agree with supplying our teachers with whiteboard markers, red pens to correct papers with (yes that was actually on our list this year), etc. I feel that the PTA should help us get those supplies that our teachers need to educate our children. The bottom line here, I feel, is I know that my daughters and I are fortunate enough to be able to purchase our supplies, so if I have to spend a few extra dollars so a classmate can have the supplies they need then I will, and my greatest hope is that if I am ever in the position where I need a helping hand there will be another family there to lift us up and help out. -Lori Salata, mom of 2

A:  Yes! I do. And what really gets me annoyed is the fact that these lists are a group effort, usually by all the grade level teachers. So when school starts, I always come to find that they really don't need this, and they really don't need that. I don't appreciate the fact that parents are asked fo spend so much money on someone else's whim. Start with a few basic suppplies, then let us wait until school starts and find out from our child's actual teacher what they REALLY would like them to have. 

Yes, I do believe that basic school supplies should be supplied through the schools. I do understand reality, but I do feel that what is absolutely necessary, should come through the schools to maintain equality, and not make it an issue between the haves and have nots.  Why should some families stress over the cost of "public" school? 

Yes, budgets are tight. But maybe we need to start moving to a paperless world in school (at least as they get older). Reality is such that when they enter the work force, they will need to be able to communicate and file their work electronically. Ultimately, it is probaly cheaper for schools to issue laptops and be done with the paper and the text books. I know many parents out there would be horrified at the thought... but it is what will be expected of them. Why not let school be the place where they master it? -Audrey Greenwood, mom of 3

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