State should not force schools to provide students with school supplies

This year, California has instituted a policy that prohibits schools from posting a required list of school supplies.

This is because of a lawsuit against the state in 2010. Now, free public education and the school supplies that come with it are universally offered to students. In Doe v. State of California, which began in September 2010, a minor, Jane Doe, demanded that the state pay fees and purchase materials for educational activities. The plaintiffs signed a settlement agreement that requires school districts to comply with the law.

This year, California has instituted a policy that prohibits schools from posting a required list of school supplies.

For years, the entire country has advertised the idea that public education provides all students with the same opportunities. However, some parents are unable to purchase paper or other supplies for their children. With this new law, public education becomes free for students and their families — the way it should be.

However, while this law helps students and families, the state has not provided schools with sufficient money to fund all the supplies. According to the California Department of Education, approximately $8,223 is allocated for each K-12 pupil each year. It is not enough to cover the additional student school supplies along with the annual materials, like microscope slides or whiteboard markers.

Because of this, schools are scrambling to figure out how to deal with this law. According to a story in the San Jose Mercury News, many schools are unsure about what they are allowed to ask from students since many students cannot pay for all the necessary supplies.

Additionally, schools are expected to pay for class field trips and other activities that are included as part of the school curriculum. Most of these trips are expensive — according to the Mercury News, they can cost up to $350. Out-of-state trips for competitions or sports can cost even more. Since parents are not contributing to the price of these trips, school funds are likely to be rapidly depleting.

Currently, many schools are asking for donations from communities to supplement funding. In addition, it is difficult for Parent Teacher Associations across the state to scrape together enough money to pay for these supplies.

The teachers are unfairly affected since funds at some schools are running out. Many of them have had to pay for class supplies out of their own pockets. They have already suffered enough from furlough days over the past years, especially in low-income districts. Teachers are an essential part of the school equation and should not have to pay for students’ supplies.

To fully benefit most students, the state needs to rethink this law. The schools must first have enough money to properly fund the students.

Additionally, instead of the school paying for all supplies and events, schools should only be required to pay for the necessities: pens, paper, calculators, folders and the like.

Field trips are a great educational supplement, but schools should look to donations and fund-raisiers to help cover the costs. No video or lecture can truly compete with these field trips, but schools should not focus primarily on funding field trips.

This law has affected our school as well. For example, the English department is no longer allowed to charge freshmen for grammar books as the money now must come from the school budget.

A free public education is a great idea. However, it is essential that teachers receive fair pay and that schools are not scrambling to pay for supplies.

The law needs to be thought through more carefully, and the state need to make sure that schools have enough money to pay for these new supplies and that teachers and administration are in good shape to give students the necessities associated with a good education.