The high cost of back-to-school

It used to be that school started after Labor Day. Then the starting date became the end of August, and now it’s barely past the middle of August and many schools have already started the new school year. Why? Do they have to start so early because there are so many days off during the school year?

Have parents, students, or teachers requested this earlier starting time? Is there no turning back to a later beginning date?

This also brings to mind class supply lists. Does anyone else find them unreasonable? When did the students start supplying tissues, paper towels, wipes and plastic bags for their rooms? 36 pencils? Since a school year is 176 days, that’s using a new pencil every week. Add to that 12 blue or black pens, a package of red or multicolored pens, colored pencils, dry erase markers, regular markers and highlighters.

Aren’t most kids now doing their work on computers? At the end of the school year does anyone check to see if these supplies were actually needed and used? What happens to what doesn’t get used?

Just wondering.

Barbara Chrisman

Glen Ellyn