Quote:
Originally Posted by Starlite 
I do see your POV and understand how hard the teachers have it. From a parent's POV, sometimes it's difficult to find the requested supplies if the teacher doesn't provide a supply list early enough. For example, a few years ago I was given an additional supply list 3 weeks after school started. I had a heck of a time finding the items because all the school supply stuff had already been picked over. I had to drive to many different stores to find the stuff and spent a lot of money because I had to get this stuff off-sale. If the parents had been given this list earlier, it would have been easier to find the things and we would have spent less money because the items would have been on sale.
As for requests during the year (paper towels, hand sanitizer, Kleenex), I think parents should expect those because items like that can run out quickly.
I do see your POV and understand how hard the teachers have it. From a parent's POV, sometimes it's difficult to find the requested supplies if the teacher doesn't provide a supply list early enough. For example, a few years ago I was given an additional supply list 3 weeks after school started. I had a heck of a time finding the items because all the school supply stuff had already been picked over. I had to drive to many different stores to find the stuff and spent a lot of money because I had to get this stuff off-sale. If the parents had been given this list earlier, it would have been easier to find the things and we would have spent less money because the items would have been on sale.
As for requests during the year (paper towels, hand sanitizer, Kleenex), I think parents should expect those because items like that can run out quickly.
I know, and I understand the other side, I really do. I just want people to understand it's frustrating for the teachers too, it's frustrating for everyone involved. Nobody likes to be left in the dark until the last minute.
What's the difference between the request at the very beginning or the middle of the school year? It may be an inconvinience and an extra expense, but you do your best to help the teacher. 
The teachers will usually ask for a donation of some antibacterial cleaner wipes or some good tissues but that is it. I make a point to send my oldest to school with a few books for the classroom and some art supplies each year as a gift to her teacher though. This year it is a huge pack of pipe cleaners, pom poms and google eyes that we got on clearance at Michaels for $2.99 and a few books that she no longer wants that are in great shape.
