Picket Fence Post

Wow, I’ve gotten more responses to the posting of the school supply lists my three kids received than I have about other hot button topics as of late . . . The folks over at the Boston-oriented blog, Universal Hub, wrote about the lists I posted on the Picket Fence Post earlier this week and there have been comments slamming the teachers for compiling detailed lists for everything from scissors to twin-pocket folders, 10 glue sticks and boxes of tissues.

Universal Hub commenter Lynn asked:

“Could this be the teacher’s way of driving home that the school system is underfunded? That was the first thing that came to mind when I [saw] those lists, since I remember, oh so many years ago, most of that stuff (scissors, glue, markers, crayons, ruler) was provided for us. Heck, sometimes paper and composition books were as well.”

But others were having no part of that line of argument, calling the lists excessive and nit-picky. SwirlyGrrl said teachers who were really in need wouldn’t ask for the kinds of stuff on the lists:

“Micromanagers and control freaks, [in my humble opinion], get real specific and demand some needlessly expensive things without regard for the burdens they impose in shopping time and cost. If you fail to produce these items, you get chewed out for ‘not caring about your kid’s education’ . . .”

Have any of your children received their school supply lists yet? For comparison’s sake, it would be great if you could post your lists in the comments section below so we can get a sense of whether this is just MY kids’ school system, or whether this long-listitis is more widespread an issue.

Bring out your lists!