Whine About it Wednesday!
 Guess what? I’m whining about school again. Yes, yes, I know it’s getting tedious. I’m sorry.
BUT…
A couple of weeks ago here we had a tax free weekend on back-to- school supplies. It would have been nice if we’d had the teacher lists from the school beforehand so we could have taken advantage of that benefit. After all, school is expensive enough and every little bit helps. But, alas, we didn’t get the lists.Â
Instead we got them last Friday, a week late.Â
Fine. Moving on.Â
But once again, in addition to the first round of lists there are even more lists–lists which are adding up to more than another $80 in addition to the $200 worth of supplies we’ve already gotten. And did the upper-grade teachers get together and discuss the logistics of EACH of them asking for a 2 or 3 inch binder per class??? 
 Where, pray tell, are the kids supposed to put all these binders, not to mention the books? We’re talking 21 inches of binder–the 
things won’t all fit in their backpacks. Couldn’t they combine some of the binders? Why does every teacher have to have a binder unto themselves? Is this a status thing? I just don’t get it. (And if you are a teacher and you are reading this, I do not envy nor want your job and have a tremendous amout of respect for the work that you do. Really. It’s just this one little issue that has me annoyed…. )
Also, both of my kids have to dress out for P.E. and the shorts must be purchased through the school. Given my why-can’t-we-go-to-uniforms rant from a couple of weeks ago I find this intensely ironic.
 Argh!!!!Â
**I’m blogging at The Soapbox Queens today, too, where it is “Wicked Wednesday” and I promise it’s a much happier topic. 
August 15th, 2007 at 4:39 am
Yes, one does think they’d consider the logistics of at least 4 classes (no binder required for PE or Band) with 2-3 inch binders. And I’d be p.o.’ed about the tax-free thing.
I’m whining about being bloated. I did the ultimate bad thing last night. Parked my butt in front of the t.v. and watched Cops, meanwhile scarfing 16 hot wings dipped in bleu cheese dressing and washing it down with two beers. Then I went to bed. Now I understand why they say don’t eat in front of the t.v. I should’ve never ate all 16. I should’ve never dipped them in two packets of dressing. And then to crawl in bed twenty minutes later….blech. I didn’t sleep well and I feel as if I just ate wings for breakfast.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:51 am
I have wondered if there was a rational thought process to school supplies, period! But glad to see the binder issue is country wide, my son caried almost 2 back packs last year, plus the fact the time between periods doesn’t allow time to use the locker he was assigned, clear away from most of his classes.
Up here he doesn’t get a supply list til 1st day of school, by then all the stores are out of the required items!
And don’t get me started on clothes and dress codes! I am all for uniforms but alas, the public schools aren’t.
Ok, enough ranting, I feel better now, til I am in the local WalMart pushing and shoving for that last 2 inch binder!!
Jen, I feel for you, here have some Alka Seltzer
!
Have a good one ladies!!
August 15th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Well I can’t complain about the school list. The school sent it home last year in the final report card. I did not wait until tax free day did not want to fight the crowd. Did go buy a few clothes and shoes that weekend. I do have one school problem their is a child with the same name as mine at the school. Last year he was in 1st. Mine in Kindergarten. It got a little confusing then. But the other kid is in first again this year. So yesterday we get a note saying that we owe for lunches. We paid two weeks in advance and we have only had one week of school. So it maybe like this the rest of the year. What is so bad is their first names are the same but spelled different. Have a great day.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:45 am
AC is so proud of her backpack this year, she doesn’t seem to realize there’s nothing in it.
I guess that will change, though.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Jen, I had no idea you weren’t supposed to eat in front of the TV! That’s where I routinely park my butt for my lunch break. PB&J and Paula Deen.
Sarah, this year we ended up ordering backpacks from LL Bean. They’re more expensive on the front end, but after buying 2 backpacks for both kids last year we decided it would be worth it.
Susan, that’s wonderful that they sent the list at the end of the year–you actually had a prayer of finding everything.
And I feel for you on the lunch issue. There were many times I had to go to the school and ask for print outs because the Boy’s money seemed to vanish and yet the Girl’s was good. Some other kid was using his number and depleting the account. 
Kimberly, it will definitely change. Those backpacks are important.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:52 am
I’m in total agreement, Rhonda.
Doctors wonder why kids today have back, shoulder and neck problems. 
It’s because they have to carry so much stuff and can’t get to their lockers between bells!!
When I was in school, one of the those spiral notebooks with 5 partitions was enough. What’s the deal
August 15th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Ugh! I’m so glad to have this to look forward to! (not!) My daughter’s school e-mailed us a list about a week ago, so at least we haven’t missed every last sale yet. We don’t get lists for my son’s school until after school has already started–whatever!??! At least they’re both still young enough so that the binders aren’t an issue yet. That’s ridiculous! We had only one or two binders total (oh, maybe I’m dating myself!) — and I always wanted one of those fancy Trapper Keepers, but they were sooooo expensive
And for now, the backpacks are mostly for carrying their lunches back and forth, but I know that will soon change…
August 15th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I feel for you all. My son now lives with his dad and I don’t have to worry about it. Of course, he’s 16 so that’s different too. Good luck with the school crap, my sister has 3 in school and it has taken my other 2 sisters and me to help her gather (and purchase) all of it up. That being said have a Wonderful Whiny Wednesday.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
As a former teacher, I can’t imagine why any one WANTS a 2-3 inch binder. My kids had 1″ binders. The reason I needed on separately for my class was because they often turned them in to be graded. Also, my students had lockers they could go to between classes (in the halls) so they didn’t have to carry everything all day.
That said, my daughter’s school keeps saying “no rolling backpacks” and my response is “pfffft.” She’s in a special program and has to change classes (even in the 4th grade) and I don’t want all those heavy books on her back. I’ll get a note from her doctor if I have to.
In our district, the schools send class lists to the stores like Walmart, Target, etc. We could also pick them up from school at any time. Of course, I know they’ll want some different stuff when we go to open house tomorrow night. It’s par for the course.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Kathy, it honestly doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Fedora, I suspect we are around the same age. I always wanted a cool Trapper Keeper as well.
Thanks, Ginger!
Julie, I think a lot of the teachers want the kids to be able to put their disposable books into the binders so that it all fits nicely together. Which would be good, if they *all* didn’t want them. Our school did send supply lists for the lower grades to our area stores, but none of the upper grades–mine are in 7th and 9th this year–got them. And
on the rolling backpack? What possible reason could they care? I’ll bet they’re worried about the floors. 
Still, they should be more concered with the health of the students.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
They might as well have had the chiropractor come to our school for monthly cortisone shots. I had 8 classes and didn’t get a chance to hit my locker until after #5, so I’d have to carry all that junk until then, and swap out for the last three classes at lunchtime. I was in honors and AP classes, so I had books the size of Shakespeare’s unabridged works for each class, a notebook for each, gym clothes, graphing calculator, supplies…who knows what else.
I’m surprised we’re not a generation of hunchbacked trolls.
August 15th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Their objection to rolling backpacks is that the kids can’t put them on the back of their chairs and they take up too much room and people are going to trip. My response it, put all the backpacks in the back of the room. They don’t need them beside their desks all day!
August 15th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Gee whiz, I am showing my age…I still have my Trappers, they hold my drafts
August 15th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I had a Trapper Keeper!!!
We got supply lists at the end of last year too. So I only had to wait to purchase markers/colored pencils, which were marked “Teachers Choice”.
I should have lots of fun when my Drama Queen reaches the upper grades. I hear about it every Monday and Wednesday when she has to bring her hardback reading book home. She’s always been one I had to make carry her backpack. She wants me to carry it.
Now my 3 year old, he wants to carry his own backpack and lunch box, even though its bigger than him. He’s so cute and grown up I want to cry every time I take him to school. Then I walk out doing the freedom dance!
Today was the first day he went to preschool without crying! I’m so excited.
As a whine, my wip isn’t cooperating as well as I’d like. It is coming along much slower than I want it to.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Andrea, I’m glad we’re not a generation of hunchbacked trolls.
Julie, their reason is lame and your solution is perfect. Surely they’ve got a wall they could line them against. Argh!
Sarah, I *wish* I still had a Trapper.
Danniele, I’m so glad your baby is enjoying preschool! I know that’s a relief.