Story time: .....school supplies!!! Being a parent gave me an excuse to watch cartoons, and if I am honest one of my favorite television shows of all time is a cartoon Phineas & Ferb. If you can't hear the theme song playing in your head, you really missed out, ".... There's a 104 days of summer vacation, Til school comes along just to end it, So the annual problem for our generation, Is finding a good way to spend it......"
When you think about the classic shows that cover childhood a few come to mind, but in my opinion none of them cover life as much as the imagination of Phineas & Ferb.....
The country version saw farm boys riding their bikes to fish, hunt and explore the woods. Imaginations running wild, dreaming Indian warriors were hidden behind every tree, and it was possible to build a raft to float the river like Tom and Huck.....
Atlas, as great as summer might be,....when August rolls around thoughts force us to realize school is calling our name. Like most kids I thought school sucked...but I will admit after a summer having limited contact with my friends at least a little part of me looked forward to school starting. I especially remember the excitement of going on the annual trip to buy school supplies.
I remember every year wanting the box of 64 crayons....it had that cool sharpener in the back of the box. The cool folders and notebooks had designs, my favorite ones were baseball and football themes.... My lunchbox was covered by Charlie Brown and the Peanut characters...
The pencils had to be Nos #2, but if you were lucky they weren't just the plain yellow ones.... The night before the first day of school you would lay out your school supplies, planning which subject would be used by a certain folder or notebook. It made a horrible day, (the day summer vacation ended) more bearable......
When my own children got of school age I remember the list, provided by the school it named everything students were expected to bring to school. I clearly remember the disappointment that both folders and notebooks could only be solid colors.... Of course, we all know now students don't get to have their own individual supplies, but are expect to put their stuff into a pile to be available for any student needing one.... Gone forever, was the funniest thing of the school year.
I have seen a lot of different opinions on this topic....by all means this is your chance to speak up, please comment and then forward this essay asking for others to respond as well.
Let me share a lesson I learned long ago. In 1997-98 I tried my hand at selling insurance. It was something I did not enjoy, primarily because I could not turn it off.... One day I saw a friend of mine cross the street, I realized he was avoiding me, because I would try to sell him something! Everyone needs insurance, everyone doesn't need bothered every second of their lives about it..... But, I did learn some valuable lessons during my time selling. An old agent once said, every home we walk into has cable television, and here is the problem you will face. When money is tight they will pay the cable bill before they pay the insurance bill.....
I believe school supplies are the very same. If you expect, and demand parents provide supplies for their children the school supplies will be bought. However, if you give them a way out (community supplies provided by the classroom) they spend their money on some other items cable, nails, hair, alcohol and drugs....and so on.
In the last 50 years schools have lost their way, gone are the days of teaching the 3-R's replaced by social programs. Just look how out of control some programs have become. Some schools in our area Monday through Friday provide Breakfast-Lunch-an Evening Meal.....and then send home a backpack full of food for the weekend.
Isn't that nice....feeding children. But in reality, the schools are just giving parents an excuse not to step up.... I wonder how many homes have the internet and "cable" tv....and all the modern conveniences that also accept free food 7 days a week to feed their children.....
My kids are lucky they attend a school that permits them to buy and use their own supplies. They have the freedom to stand on their own two feet, to make choices and live by the consequences of their choices....
I for one will always remember 1981 when everyone wanted a Trapper Keeper......our folders were bitchin' and snoopy decorated our pencils..... Oh, and mom and dad made sure I had breakfast, lunch and dinner.....
