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$100 calculators for school???

Anonymous started this conversation
Aug 28, 2009

I know many parents are freaking out at the prospect of buying school supplies for their kids... believe me, I have been there, done that! And, no, I never received $200 per child for school supplies from the state.

But for those parents of kids entering high school, you may be surprised and shocked to learn that a $100 calculator is on your child's list of required supplies. The TI-183 (or similar version) manufactured by Texas Instruments is fast becoming a required item and at @ $100 a pop, this is ticking a lot of parents off. 

RELAX... 

While it may be required, by the teacher, most states require the SCHOOL to provide them for the student. 

For example: 

from NYS : 

Charging Students for Calculators

The Department has recently received numerous questions regarding the charging of students for calculators.  School districts can require students to provide their own student “supplies.”  Supplies are defined as something which is consumed in use, loses its appearance and shape in use, is expendable, and is inexpensive.  Examples include pencils, pens, paper, etc.  Calculators do not fall into this category and must be considered like classroom teaching materials for which school districts are authorized to levy a tax.  The Department requires the use of calculators for intermediate and high school level mathematics and science assessments.  To the extent that calculators are a necessary part of the educational program, the school district must provide them.  Under no circumstances should students be charged for a calculator or otherwise required to purchase one in order to participate in an educational program.  School districts may purchase, and must still provide calculators, even if operating under a contingent budget if the calculators are required for participation in the educational program. 

 from US Dept of Education

supplies
Supplies are items that are consumed, wear out, or deteriorate through use, or items that lose their identity through fabrication or incorporation into different or more complex units or substances. These include expenditures for general supplies; paper and other materials required for printing and copying; and books, periodicals, and reference materials.
 
Also from the US Dept of Education 
 
The calculator policy has remained the same for grades 4 (four-function) and 8 (scientific) in 2005. For grade 12 in 2005, students were permitted to bring whatever calculator (graphing or scientific) they use in the classroom to the assessment; students who did not bring a calculator were provided with a scientific calculator.
 
 
 
For more information check with your state education department 
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Anonymous
Sep 1, 2009
 in response to sheshe030...   

I completely agree.. there should be parents at home to raise the children.  BUT in this day and age when some parents find it too difficult to to care for themselves, I don't see how they could possibly care fo a child -IF they stick around long enough to even meet them.

 "it may mean selling that boat and motorcycle or second car and buying an old used car to get from A to B."

That is the problem right there - no one wants to give up their stuff! The stuff is more important than the kids. And now, the kids have picked up on that. Watch tv in the afternoons. All you see is what appeals to kids - clothes, shoes, food - and you gotta be "rockin" to look good. These are NOT rock stars, these are kids! Disney and nickelodeon has exploited these kids and personally I think it is disgusting. If I have to see one more teen actor/rock star/ model I am going to puke. Enough with Hannah montana and the freakin jonas brothers - who cares? I am disgusted that these kids are making more in one day than teachers make in a year.  They are talentless hacks who sell more in merchandise because their shows are nothing more commercials for their merchandise. 

Speaking of their shows, have you ever watched this stuff? They do not even qualify as sitcoms. They find the ugliest kids, tell them to scream, run around and act obnoxious for 1/2 and hour and they get paid! This is what our kids are watching - these are their role models. 

Ok Leave it to beaver and lassie were lame - BUT they were applicable for their time and they at least left you with a lesson. The shows today are all about the merchandise- there is no lesson, no morals, no thought.

But again, I digress... When it comes right down to it, it is up to us, as parents to be role models for our children - to set limits and boundaries, to teach acceptable behavior. If the parent is unwilling or unable, then the responsibility falls upon society, or ultimately, the courts. 

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Anonymous
Aug 29, 2009
 in response to sheshe030...   

Vent away! I know exactly what you mean!!! I remember my math teacher -I hated the man! We had to do everything with paper and pencil. IF we got it wrong, he was MEAN about it! He was always making someone cry in class. I remember coming home from school so many times crying because of him. I ended up getting a 98 on the final exam but I dropped his class the following year because I couldn't take the stress.

Today my kids both used the scientific calculator in the math classes (4 years each) and they were basically taught how to use the calculator itself - nothing more. How many of today's kids can do a simple thing like make change for a dollar? Not too many. Basic skills like addition and subtraction are non-existant. And don't even get me started on grammar and punctuation!!! OMG!!! 

As for your little grand daughter, she will be fine... in no time at all she will be reading book after book. It is sad that today's kindergarteners have to learn the basic skills prior to starting school. Where did their childhood go?

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