Back to school = $$$$

Things have changed since I attended public school. Back in the day, schools provided most of the supplies necessary for elementary students ... crayons, pencils, paper ... and only occasionally did we have to supplement that list with something like a scrapbook for 4th grade Virginia history. Once we entered the higher grades of middle- and high school, we needed to purchase notebooks, notebook paper, pencils, pens, and other supplies.

I have noticed in the past 10 years or so that school supply lists have grown. Every year I look at the lists, which can be found at Target, Wal-Mart, Staples, and other locations, out of curiosity.

This year my interest was piqued when I heard that a Chesterfield kindergarten teacher was asking each student -- each student -- to bring 15 -- that's fifteen -- glue sticks.

In a classroom of 20 students, that would be a total of 300 glue sticks. What on earth does a kindergarten class need with 300 glue sticks?

I picked up supply lists for some Valley area elementary schools and started doing the math. Here's what one kindergarten teacher requested:

1 4-oz. bottle white glue
1 pkg. 8-count crayons (not jumbo)
1 16-count pkg crayons for January
1 empty frosting contain (for crayon storage)
1 pair child's round-tip metal scissors
1 set of fine markers (classic colors)
1 set of broad markers (classic colors)
1 spiral notebook (wide ruled, 3-subject)
1 resting mat, rug, or large towel
2 glue sticks (large)
1 two-pocket folder
Book bag or backpack, one that can easily be opened up by child on his/her own without adult help.

That's for kindergarten. Let's ring it up:

1 4-oz. bottle white glue = $0.89 (estimated)
1 pkg. 8-count crayons (not jumbo) = $0.50 (estimated)
1 16-count pkg crayons for January = $1.99
1 empty frosting container (for crayon storage) = free (minus the $1.39 cost for frosting -- I'm guessing they mean cake icing container)
1 pair child's round-tip metal scissors = $0.50 (estimated)
1 set of fine markers (classic colors) = $1.50 (on sale at Target)
1 set of broad markers (classic colors) = $1.50 (on sale at Target)
1 spiral notebook (wide ruled, 3-subject) = $0.50 (estimated)
1 resting mat, rug, or large towel = $5-10
2 glue sticks (large) = $0.39 for pack of 3 (on sale at Walgreens)
1 two-pocket folder = $0.10/paper or $0.25/plastic (on sale at Target)
Book bag or backpack, one that can easily be opened up by child on his/her own without adult help. = $9 and up

If I added correctly, on the low end it totals about $21.87. One could argue that is not very much money ... but for families who have more than one child, it could add up fast. And that was only kindergarten ... once you get into the upper elementary grades they request much of what is listed on the kindergarten list plus Lysol or Clorox wipes, sandwich and gallon-sized ziploc bags, highlighters, headphones for computer lab, and more.

When I taught my children at home, we used the Calvert curriculum for grades K-8. The box arrived for each child and was completely self-contained for, at that time, $500-800: textbooks, notebooks, pencils, crayons, rulers, erasers -- everything needed for that year.

Calvert purposely includes all supplies because they ship to missionaries and world travelers (some Calvert families spend years sailing around the world with their kids) who may not have ready access to Crayola crayons. Many of the elementary textbooks were Macmillan and others used in the public school system.

Public schools continue to receive increased funding as well as Virginia lottery proceeds. Their per-pupil allotment varies according to locality but is usually in the $5,000-10,000 range. If Calvert could provide all supplies including textbooks at $800 per student, it seems that school systems could buy supplies in bulk thus lowering the parent cost per child each school year.

If someone can clue me in as to why schools do not provide supplies, I'm listening.