Resourced Challenged: The Classroom’s Bare Supply Closet
Back-to-school supply shopping is never a fun experience. But it’s essential to send children to school prepared and set up for success. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Studies show that many students are coming to school unprepared and that teachers are paying out of their own pockets in order to help bridge the gap.
According to TIME, teachers spend an average of $500 per year on school supplies out of their own pockets. There is a huge problem here!
Teachers should not be spending large amounts of their own money for the classroom, nor should children be going to school without the proper supplies. There’s a clear need for students and teachers to both be better set up for success.
Because of the lack of student preparedness, classrooms and teachers have had to become more dependent on finding creative ways to keep the basics stocked in their classroom.
Some have turned to crowdfunding, which relies on family, friends, and strangers on the internet for funding. Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union, says “I am embarrassed for our profession and our school district that people have to resort to these tactics.”
Teachers are not getting the support that they need to have a successful learning environment in the classroom. In an attempt combat these odds, teachers are taking matters into their own hands.
The National School Supply and Equipment Association compiled a survey in 2015 and found that 99.5% of all public school teachers dip into their own pockets to equip their classrooms.
These are outstanding numbers, and something needs to change. Teachers, we would love to hear more from you about this problem so we can better come up with a solution. Share your personal experience with purchasing school supplies for your classroom by replying in the Comments section below!
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