My son has to have 5 large and 5 small, why? The small were no problem and easy to find, $1 for a 6 pack at Target. But the large were hard to find, finally I found the Elmers at Walmart for $1.56 a piece Elmers was the only brand of large glue sticks I could find and a brand was not specified. Though I have to say the only brand specification was on crayons and I don't blame them for only wanting Crayola, they are the best, RoseArt sucks. I love to color and would rather spend .20 on the crayola than the .12 on the roseart. To me the .08 is worth spending to get much better quality.

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~*JAMI*~ GO RED SOX! WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Wow, sounds like you actually got off easy with only 10 large gluesticks. Kaleb, who started 1st grade this year, had to have 10 large sticks PLUS 20 regular sticks, along with all the other supplies you listed except that his "Enrichment Fee" was $20. He also had to take LYSOL, one box of BAND-AIDS, a box of THERMOMETER COVERS and a DISPOSABLE CAMERA!!! Now, I think that is ridiculous. These schools are depending on the parents to supply items that they I think they should be responsible for maintaining. Kaleb had to take 2 boxes of Kleenex, 2 rolls of paper towels, 2 boxes of baby wipes, 2 bottles of Germ-X and 2 refill size bottles of SoftSoap anti-bacterial liquid soap. I know what you're thinking.....he must attend a Private School. NOPE, public school. He had other items on list also, we spent over $100 on the supplies he had to have. I think some of the requests were obsurd....who ever said education was free?!

WOW!!!!

Ya know, I want my child to have the best education possible and have all the things it takes available for them to learn, but each year these lists get longer and longer. Add in snacks that are to be sent a couple times per month and lunches that cost on the average of $22 per child, it gets to be a lot. I just have one question....Aren't our taxes supposed to pay for school supplies???? When I went to school, they were provided, the snack was provided, it was a small milk and a graham cracker, but it was something. I don't think it's fair that a teacher should ever have to take money out of her pocket to cover supplies (I have heard that some do). I feel a little guilty complaining, but this goes up and up with more and more requested every year.

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

I think it depends on the school and where you live. Here in Chicago public schools really are in a crisis (anyone see the Oprah special about a week ago???) There is such a discrepency between Public, Private, City, Suburban, Charter/Magnet, etc etc etc. I have chosen to send my dd to private (catholic) school this year and the school supply list is comparable to public school last year. My mom always bought our supplies and donated anything else that was neccesary so I always fully expected to do the same for my kids and I do. I think it's a part of education. everyone in this country wants a free ride and I understand that some supplies really are unnecessary, but there are solutions. Parents have to accept that some things are necessary to educate your child and spending money on that is one of the responsibilities we take on when we choose to have children. Parents who are able should donate extras whenever possible so that those that truly don't have anything can learn too. Until major changes are made in the School systems this is reality and there's nothing you can do but suck it up and get the supplies.

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Our house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy. ~Author Unknown

I'd check by walmart first. I paid .20 cents for a two pack of elmer's glue sticks a few weeks ago. I can't imagine paying 2.59 for them.You'd hear me all down the aisles complaining about that price.That's a ridiculous waste of money!

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Crystal Ann

I bought twice the amout of small glue sticks (at 10 cents each) instead of large one. I can't imagine why you have to have the large ones? Don't the little ones glue just as well?

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~Happiness is a large family~

Thirty glue sticks!?!? Are they feeding them to them for snacks???

I LOVE buying school supplies...we always had to buy them when we were little too and it was SO exciting to get all of that fun new stuff. I STILL love looking at it all and buying it all. However, I must confess I'd not pay that much for ONE glue stick. I'm not sure why the request Elmer's...every glue stick I've ever bought says "non-toxic" on it. When we were in school and the school provided our paste or glue, what the teacher usually had was the Ross brand. As for some glue sticks not working, I bought several packs of the Elmer's at Wal-Mart about three years ago and at least one out of every two-pack was dried up when we opened it. Since they were running a special on them for $.05 per pack, I didn't complain, I felt we got our money's worth, but it was frustrating knowing that Elmer's was supposed to be one of the best brands out there.

Just a thought: My sister works in a really poor school and I was looking at her huge list last year and was asking why they were asking for brand-specific items. She said that she doesn't care what the kids show up with - almost half show up with nothing and she pays for it all out of her pocket. Anyway - she said that the PTA sells school supplies and often gets brand-name stuff cheaper than off-brand because they buy in volume. Then, the list is made using what the PTA will be selling. She said at the end of the year when they make up the list it doesn't have brands on it.

My mom buys hand sanitizer, kleenex and those markers for the wipe-off board at Sam's for her to be nice. She and her other teacher friends told me that if I want my son's kindergarten teacher to love us, I should show up with a box of kleenex and hand sanitizer every month - they said it laughing, but I'm sure everything counts. I thought it was sad last year when I bought a ton of pencils for almost nothing at Target (clearance) and she was so excited.

Our school is in a much better area than my sister's, but I still plan on stocking up at the Target clearance after school starts, not only for my sister but for my DS's teacher as well!!!

abbysmommy-Thirty glue sticks!?!? Are they feeding them to them for snacks???
That made me laugh! I cant imagine each child in the classroom needing that many glue sticks that is redicoulous! (SP??)
Our kindergarten list isnt too bad. Nothing crazy. But our Preschool list, I dont really like it.
2 boxes of snack crackers
1 pkg 12 DOUBLE roll toilet paper
3 boxes kleenex
1 box 5 oz snack cups
1 box of bandaids
1 washable, foldable nap mat-have to order this somewhere online.

I havent got any supplies yet. I am planning on getting it all this week. Preschool doesnt start until sept. 4th, so i have time to order it.

I do agree I think that crayola is better quality than roseart and I will spend a few cents more for things like that.

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Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

Shoot, they would have gotten the big ol' box of Office Max glue sticks that were on for $1.99 for 24 a few weeks ago, and they would have LIKED it if it were me!

TOILET PAPER!?!??!!!! Since when do schools not provide that!? I'd be making a call to the school board to find out exactly what the toilet paper budget is being spent on.

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