Principle

[sweetpea]

I just need some others input here. First of all every kid in my sons school has to carry a 3 ring zipper binder to every class. On Friday my son comes out with this big white open binder with all his papers and folders hanging out of it. They told him he cant have his own binder because it has a strap on it. Now the school supply list says 2 inch 3 ring trapper keeper with zipper. It has no where on there where it says it cant have a strap. Because i made sure i went and got everything specific to what was on the list. I couldnt go into the school right then and there so i called. Of course you cant get anyone to answer the phone. My husband goes to take my son to school today and takes this binder into the office. The principle says he cant use it and my husband asked for the paper where it says they cant have straps. She cannot produce nothing in writing. She said well we told the kids at orientation. Well first of all my son has not been to orientation since 5th grade. She just basically said he cant use it and he will have to buy another one. That thing cost me $25.
And i just dont have money laying around to go out and buy things that we already have. And hes been using this since the first day of school, which was the end of August.
I am going to tell my son to put his things back in his binder and use it. If they dont like it too bad. They just can not make up the rules as they go along. Am i wrong for being so po'ed at this woman? She should just be happy my son is in school and doing good this year.

[katiekat]

Is it possible you can just cut the strap off?
I would be mad too-if it didn't specifically say "no strap" then how would anyone know?

[sweetpea]

Yes i could cut off the strap. But thats just not the point.

[charliegirl]

I would be mad too. A good trapper keeper isn't cheap and I can't think of any good reason for not allowing them. You could try telling them you can't afford another one and that if they will provide it, you will have him use it. I don't know what else to suggest.

Personally, I get tired of being told I have to purchase specific things for my son when I already have something that will work. Its not so bad now but when I was a single parent raising my daughter, it was a nightmare.

You might try going to a board of education meeting and explaining to them that you think some of the rules are too picky and you think it would be a nice idea for them to let you know at least a month before school starts what the kids will need for the upcoming year. Explain that as you are on a tight budget, it causes a hardship for you to have expenses thrown at you without warning and you know you can't be the only parent in that situation.

[lillian]

sweetpea said:

Yes i could cut off the strap. But thats just not the point.

I'm sorry you spent your money on something the school does not want the children to have, but I would cut off the strap and be done with it. I wouldn't want my child disciplined because of something as easy to take care of as this. It's the old "pick your battles" point. This isn't a huge battle. Let it go for the big ones that may come up.

[katiekat]

I am in no way saying the school is right-I think it's ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as the $100 calculator I had to buy my 11 year old this year. But, I know that here if the kids don't have the exact supplies the school says they are penalized for it. The teacher will take points off of their grade or count it as a missing homework assignment if they don't have the right color folder or some other petty thing. Here, for some reason you are forbidden to use a Trapper Keeper. Anyway I was just suggesting cutting it off rather than spending another $25.

[sweetpea]

I am still mad about it but i'm just going to have to cut off the strap. My son doesnt want any trouble. Which i dont neither but they just cant be changing rules when and where they want to. My son will be going on a field trip and if they get into any kind of trouble they cant go. And i'm not going to put him into that situation.
They did send out the supply list about 3 weeks befor school started. So we went out and got all the supplies befor we even went and registered him for school.
Katie i do understand your point. If i had to buy my son a $100 calculator i would have to hot glue it to his uniform just so he wouldnt lose it.

[jj]

Oh gosh, I missed this yesterday. Ohhhh, I would be so mad too! And that stinks that you have to cut the strap off. (money down the drain)

I guess the school just can't think of every possible "feature" the manufacturers may add to school supplies. I didn't even know they put straps on 3 ring binders. I'm really curious now about why they aren't allowed.

I think your doing the right thing by not making this an issue. You may want to attend the next PTA and suggest they put something on that list that states these things must not have anything "fancy" added to them. The must be just the basics.

And start saving now for the calculator KK was talking about. Man, $100! I wonder how many families out there could never afford that.

[sweetpea]

Yeah the school list says he needs a calculator for 8th grade. Dang i'll have to take out a loan just to get my kids started for school next year.

[puzzled]

sweetpea said:

Yeah the school list says he needs a calculator for 8th grade. Dang i'll have to take out a loan just to get my kids started for school next year.

They added a calculator to the 7th grade school fees list. The cost is only $6, so it must not be as fancy as the $100 one...but it is the model that the school requires them to have for 7th and 8th grade. If they bring it back in the 8th grade, you don't get charged again. Since Chase skipped to 7th grade math, the school issued him one as well.

I would look at the model # the school is wanting and look on ebay......maybe you could get one cheaper....I remember when my oldest was in high school, we spent $90 on one....Chelsea just bought one for her math last year in college, I am gonna pay her half price so I will have it for my math classes.