I’m not a teacher, but many educators are close to me—two grandmothers, my father, two out of three siblings, a sister-in-law, and even my neighbor. (And let me tell you, they’re all amazing!) The back-to-school shopping experience has always been a two-part endeavor: first, gathering supplies for my daughters, and second, acquiring essentials for the teachers I know and respect.
Teachers often need a variety of items, from decorations to engage students to basic supplies like dry-erase boards and notebooks. It’s not just parents who are spending money during this time. Some people may view teachers as superhuman, capable of instilling not just academic knowledge but also lessons in kindness and empathy. But asking them to also act as interior decorators and personal shoppers for their classrooms? That’s a tall order.
Moreover, in the era of Covid, anything teachers purchase for their classrooms must undergo rigorous cleaning processes. Is it reasonable to expect them to buy items that could be damaged in this process? Absolutely not. A teacher I spoke with recently shared that they would be doing much less decorating this year because any paper materials would need to be laminated for sanitation. And let’s be honest, lamination isn’t cheap.
Teachers often find themselves purchasing basic supplies like notebooks, folders, and even snacks to ensure their students have what they need. The expectation that they will provide for their classrooms while juggling the needs of students is overwhelming.
What Are Teachers Actually Buying?
Every school has different requirements, even within the same district. For example, the school my daughters attend has a completely different supply list than those of some teachers I know in the same district. This discrepancy can be surprising, especially when teachers are left to create their own supply lists based on what they have already bought or what activities they have planned.
Teachers often end up buying basic supplies and food for their classrooms since some students rely on school meals for nourishment. This situation underscores the fact that teachers are not parents. While parents may occasionally forget items, teachers face these challenges every day. For many students, school represents a stable environment where they are fed and feel secure.
Recognizing that students’ basic needs must be met before any learning can take place is crucial. The additional expenses teachers incur significantly exceed what their contracts stipulate.
If This is the Expectation, Pay Teachers What They Deserve
Here’s a thought: why not offer teachers fair compensation? It’s common knowledge that teaching isn’t a lucrative career choice; rather, teachers are driven by passion and a desire to make a difference. The service they provide is invaluable and has only intensified over the past year and a half as they navigated unprecedented challenges—from developing remote learning plans during school closures to managing the complexities of in-person instruction amid a pandemic.
If schools expect educators to fulfill these multifaceted roles—teaching, feeding, and supporting students—they must provide adequate compensation. The current tax deduction for teachers’ expenses is a mere $250, which is laughable. With an average class size of around 25 students, this translates to only $10 per student for the entire year. Teachers are incredible individuals who genuinely care about their students’ education and experiences, and they often spend far beyond their means.
This ongoing struggle isn’t new; teachers have been investing time, effort, and their own money into their students for decades, and the pressure has only escalated due to the pandemic. Is this acceptable? Absolutely not. It’s time to examine how government funds are allocated and why teachers are being asked to fill the gaps.
As a parent of school-aged children, I see the hard work teachers put in. If there are extra supplies needed, please reach out. Want to plan a special classroom activity? Just ask! I’m sure more parents would be willing to help than you might think, and it’s a simple way to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
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