Ben by Daniel Shelton for August 23, 2018

When I was growing up, we had one cramped office supply store in town and my mom and I would head there right after the first day of school. We’d attempt to buy everything on the list but so was the rest of the town and I don’t think the teachers told the store what they’d need to stock. When my kids were growing up, we finally got an Office Max and they had almost everything and anything. Happy was the day when a teacher mailed you a list before school started!

Hit each item on the list and then look for the next one. Don’t try to hit the whole list at once. List are for organizing; not getting overwhelmed by its magnitude.

Remember when schools were funded.

At no time during grade school did i ever buy pencils. Paper was there available to anyone that needed it. Supplies were provided.

All i needed to show up to school with was myself.

Never having had to do something like this, I can only suppose the different colors are for identification. Why not get all binders in one neutral color and a package of colored stickers to mark them? If the teacher complains, I’m sure you’ll know what to tell him/her.

Another good argument for home schooling. My daughter has just been enrolled in University View and seems to be doing well.

I don’t remember ever having a list of specific supplies I needed for school.

I HATED back-to-school shopping when my boys were that age. I fervently wished that we could go back to when the school supplies were issued by the school (at they were in my early elementary school days.)

I don’t remember any lists when we were kids. Just needed peechee folders, pencils, pens (depending on grade), paper, and a good book bag.