By Carol Fisher-Linn
We all have a favorite teacher in our memory banks who had a profound influence on our lives. It’s a fact that teachers personally invest their hearts into every child they teach, and many invest with their checkbooks.
Not every school is in need of help filling supplies for their students, but many in the Cattaraugus and Chautauqua school systems absolutely do. A mini survey of some of the area schools gave this writer some insights into the role schools play in the life of their students and their families.
Since 2015, AdoptAClassroom.org has surveyed our national community of teachers about how much they spend out of pocket on school supplies. In spring 2023, they conducted their semi-annual spending survey with responses from over 3200 teachers in all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. They covered them all asking if they spent their own money. The answer was a resounding yes. They said they spent an average of $860 out-of-pocket money for classroom supplies in the 2022-2023 school year and expect to spend more this year. “Teacher out-of-pocket spending has increased 44% since 2015 when we began surveying teachers.”
I followed a thread on social media where teachers told of some of the items they need to bring to school. Mind you, there is some money budgeted for supplies, but in many schools the allocated dollars don’t go far enough. The list is endless with 84% of teachers saying that paper, pencils, tablets, pens are at the head of the list. Some teachers say they need to buy technology, bookshelves (and books) for their rooms, and even special desks and wobble stools for their students to stay focused. Snacks are a big item, as are fidget toys like spinners, fidget cubes, pop-its, squishies and inclusive/adaptive materials.
A conversation with a local school superintendent revealed that some schools in high poverty districts will get free supplies from organizations like The Teacher’s Desk out of Buffalo. Here are some of their numbers: 230 eligible schools in 9 WNY counties shop at The Teacher’s Desk. Over 130,000 students receive new supplies annually. 6,000 teachers shopped with them in the last school year. Donors like Kids in Need Foundation make it possible for this program to give away $6M of supplies every year. It is with the help of 200 weekly volunteers that they make this program available to all WNY schools. Interested in helping? Reach out to them at https://www.theteachersdesk.org. 716-348-3412
As a result of this conversation, this writer also learned that schools that appear to be affluent and in no need can be very deceiving. Even communities like Ellicottville have families who are living paycheck-to-paycheck, or hand-to-mouth if there is no paycheck. As a result, clothing closets are set up in many schools where students can find a gently worn but still useable winter coat, boots, shoes and even (new) underwear. Schools also have closets with shelves sometimes bordering on empty that need household items like toaster ovens, coffee pots, or other necessary household items for needy families. If you have household items you no longer use but are in good working order, you can contact your school principal or call the school office and ask to be connected to the school social worker. You will find the guidance you are seeking through them.
Fact: According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 8% of teachers walk away from teaching annually. Last year, it was 13%. 16% of teachers work a second job to support their love of teaching. 13% stated they could buy supplies only because they have a spouse or partner working. Why do they do this? Because not every student’s family can provide their child equal access to supplies, books, and other items at home. Yet, the teachers say, every student should have the same opportunities in the classroom. They understand students are experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness and they want to give them an equal playing field with other students.
Another program, AdoptAClassroom.org is a national program funded by many large corporations. Their information can be found at https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/corporate-sponsorship/
If you are a teacher in need of school supplies, reach out to TheTeachersDesk.org or to Adopt A Classroom for the supplies your students need by registering at AdoptAClassroom.org.