Wow, South Carolina schools start next week already! It sure still seems like summer to me.
I live in one of the poorest counties of the state and I imagine most parents will be emptying their pockets at Walmart this weekend to stock up on school clothes and school supplies for the kids, taking advantage of tax free sales the state allows for a few days.
As a teacher for most of my life, I had many memorable students, dozens for their wonderful qualities, a few that sorely tried my commitment to teaching. The ones that pulled hardest at my heart strings were the ones whose parents (or grandparents) were clueless, living in poverty, addicted, or otherwise unable to provide adequately for their children.
These are the kids who come to school on the first day with the disintegrating ratty backpack from last year and nothing much inside it while their classmates fling brightly colored new everything into their cubbies or desks.
While classroom teachers almost always have a stash of school supplies for those students, those supplies come out of the teachers' own pockets, and there is never enough.
In mid summer schools publish a student supply list on the school's website of items necessary for each grade.
Would you consider giving a child a great start to the school year
by filling a backpack for a child or two
and dropping it off at your neighborhood school?
I found two brand new bags (though gently used would have been fine), a Purple print messenger bag for a girl and a black backpack for a boy, at a charity shop for $3.50 each. I used the supply list for a 4th grade boy and one for a 5th grade girl and spent about $50 total. There are brightly colored scissors, sharp new crayons, neon post-it notes, folders and binders with sparkles and super heroes, crazy pencils.
I bought the brightest everything I could find and I hope when two little kids open those backpacks and fling that stuff into their lockers, they are going to feel like it's Christmas in September with the most exciting year of their lives ahead!
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Wonderful post, Cynthia. I work with a non-profit organization in my town that campaigns for funds to provide school supplies for needy children. Many of their parents are regular (every six months) clients of the agency. Based on the family resources, children qualify for these items. They get new backpacks, along with all the other supplies from kindergarten through 5th grade. I have a memory from when I was a child of my small box of crayons compared to some with huge boxes of crayons, and remember feeling disappointed. Very rewarding to help out now.
ReplyDeleteYes, a former teacher myself, I still feel that tug as August winds down.
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more publicity for drives to help out kids like that in my part of the country.
I also taught in a school of have/have not children. Our PTA used to have fund drives to provide backpacks with supplies for the children who weren't able to get them.It always saddened me to have them see all the things they couldn't have that many of their classmates did. I love your cartoons. They bring back so many wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, I am certain you have made two kids and their teachers very happy! :)
ReplyDeleteHighly commendable of the State to allow Tax Free Sales for educational purposes.
ReplyDeleteColin
In Europe most countries start school on 1st or 15th September. There are not any tax free days but the poor families can give xtra money for school supplies and clothes. So I have 3 weeks holidays more here as a techer and it is a mid summer in Europe
ReplyDeleteI know what you are talking about as I was a teacher. I remember buying shoes for a little boy who had none. You have done a great thing providing two kids with new school stuff. Who chooses which kids get the present.
ReplyDeleteLucky those kids are for finding a person with a big heart. My friend's a public school teacher and I know that she always buys extra school supplies to provide those students who are coming from families who can't afford much. She's great, she does care truly about her students.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have a great heart. Highly commendable that you get tax free days.
ReplyDeleteWhat a kind thing to do. I bet those two recipients were thrilled to bits. Great there are free tax days for the parents when purchasing.
ReplyDeleteWhen teaching in Augusta, Georgia one year I took one of my students Christmas shopping for him and his siblings, I think it's the only Christmas he ever had.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thing you are doing! Oh Cynthia, this post struck such a chord with me! My last 2 postings were in areas where so many children had dirty clothes, no food and no school equipment. In the previous 30 years I also taught such children but not in the numbers of the later postings. Like most teachers I would quietly buy supplies and organise food via our tuck shops ( canteens) it would break my heart to see the conditions these children lived in. My knitting group provides warm sweaters for one school region and we collect stationery supplies for them too. I always hope that such children can use education to improve their lives but ultimately the family lifestyle is usually what they follow :-(
ReplyDeleteWell done, Cynthia! Our county is one of the poorest here. Christmas sees special efforts for kids who won't be getting much otherwise....
ReplyDeleteThat's an exciting start to the term for a couple of children. I think all teachers have provided children in their classes with a variety of extra. I always had extra food with me for those who hadn't had any breakfast.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest sister (just declared cancer free for another six months) is a retired teacher. I know how much she gave and helped children. Some people never have a clue what a teacher does. The children will remember. Teaching is a calling more than it is a career. Thank you for answering the call.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post to read. I love your enthusiasm for educatio and your heart for those who are disadvantaged. Thank you for your kindness. I'm sure the boy and the girl will love their supplies.
ReplyDeleteCynthia, what a treat you are! I can only imagine how grateful those two children will be when they see what you have found for them. This year I helped my son and his ex-wife get the children ready for school by buying all their school supplies and then took the children shopping at a consignment store for new school clothes. I spent way too much and am thankful the school didn't require so many supplies when my children attended school.
ReplyDeleteCynthia, that is such a great thing to do. Children remember those kindnesses forever.
ReplyDeleteI was a teacher, too (though in my day, the schools supplied all the paper, pencils, etc.) Realizing how much it costs parents (and teachers), I've donated money for supplies for students for several years. I like the feeling of helping children get ready to learn.
ReplyDeleteArgh yes the trials and tribulations of a teacher, loved the cartoons and with it the thought of needing to keep so up to date with all the latest technology! Education is the greatest gift of life, I work with Asylum Seekers some of whom have no work rights, no Medicare rights and the one that gets the biggest smile of all if approved no study rights... It's a lovely idea to drop off a backpack full of school supplies.
ReplyDeleteWren x