Re: 128 students suspended at Ind. school

On 30 Aug 2006 21:12:08 -0700, npardue@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:


Nan wrote:
On 30 Aug 2006 10:10:22 -0700, npardue@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:


Nan wrote:
On 30 Aug 2006 09:20:35 -0700, npardue@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Once again, I'm having a hard time envisioning a family that couldn't
afford a pen and notebook.

Well, just because you can't envision something doesn't mean it's not
reality for many families.

For most classes the only other suplies are
the textbooks, which are handed out at the start of the year. (In
Shaina's classes, the extra fee for art was mentioned in the course
catalog. The calculator was not. Her other classes (English, Japanese,
Biology) have, so far, required nothing else beyond pencils/pens and
paper and access to a computer. (Available at the public library for
families without home access.)

As long as they have a valid library card (at least in our city),
which can't be obtained unless the required ID is supplied to obtain a
card, and one must live in the township of the library.

In our city, any county resident can get a library card. (Out of
county-residents can too, but it costs money.) And, if you go to the
public schools you are, obviously, a county resident. The university
libraries are also available to anyone in the state, though the
computers (except for access to the library catalog) require a
university log-in.

Tecnically, everyone in our city can get one, too. County residents
cannot, unless there is a library in their township, or they're
willing to pay for the card. There are 2 townships that don't have a
branch library, so those folks are out of luck.
A patron must be a property owner or live in a rental in which the
landlord pays property taxes.
2 valid ID's are required, along with proof of address.
This area's illegal alien population has grown by leaps and bounds.
Many of them don't have the proper ID, so they won't be able to
receive a card.

Some
townships don't have libraries, so those residents are out of luck
unless they want to pay an annual fee for a card.

Oh, and transportation to the library.

But obviously the 'tardy' applies to the fact that the student has to
leave the classroom and go to his/her locker,and is counted tardy
because s/he 'arrives' in class when s/he is actually prepared to work.

If a student truly could not afford necessary supplies, the student or
his/her parent would discuss the situation with the teacher or
counselor, and a solution would be found.

Well, since you can't envision being so poor that buying a pen and
notebook (which aren't the only supplies needed, btw) may mean missing
a meal,

Ok... it's not like it should be any sort of surprise to this family
that, come mid-August, they're going to need school supplies. So, every
week they drop a dime in a box. One year later they have $5.20. Which
is more than enough to buy a pack of pens and some notebooks. (Again,
Staples and K-Mart routinely have notebooks for around 10 cents each
during school supply time.)

You're assuming that it would even occur to a family that struggles
mightily, to put that dime in a box. When I was in that position, I
was more concerned about keeping the electricity and heat on, and food
on the table.

I don't disagree that school supplies can be had very cheaply. I'm
simply pointing out that your resources, including how you'd plan for
something, isn't available to everyone.

No, I DON'T believe that there are more than a vanishingly small
percentage of families in this country that can't afford to buy a
couple of pens and notebooks for their school-age children. (And a
similarly small subset of those families would be so proud that they'd
let the children flunk out of school rather than ask for assistance.
[See below.])

Like I said, you've never been that poor. It's not about being so
proud you'd let your child flunk rather than ask. This issue isn't as
cut and dried as some of you would like to think it is.

Nan
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: 128 students suspended at Ind. school
    ... reality for many families. ... I've been in a lot of different libraries up ... is more than enough to buy a pack of pens and some notebooks. ... Staples and K-Mart routinely have notebooks for around 10 cents each ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: 128 students suspended at Ind. school
    ... reality for many families. ... libraries are also available to anyone in the state, ... is more than enough to buy a pack of pens and some notebooks. ... Staples and K-Mart routinely have notebooks for around 10 cents each ...
    (misc.kids)
  • Re: Wonderland
    ... we not allowed to use pens in libraries anywhere any more? ... Or do we have to do all our writing in pencil these days, ... PS 'elvira' is spamtrapped - please reply to 'elviraspam' at cockaigne dot org dot uk if you ...
    (uk.media.radio.archers)
  • Re: Wonderland
    ... heinous offence of wanting to write in my own notebook with - oh, ... Aren't libraries suppposed to be havens for students? ... write, en masse, in notebooks, with pens. ... climate camps and a few other safe protests and he's only 3. ...
    (uk.media.radio.archers)
  • Re: Wonderland
    ... heinous offence of wanting to write in my own notebook with - oh, ... Aren't libraries suppposed to be havens for students? ... write, en masse, in notebooks, with pens. ...
    (uk.media.radio.archers)