Teachers asking for freebies on Facebook

[astersugar]

Forgive the provocative title. But can someone explain this? I'm part of a few community reuse sites which are wonderful. Great for finding new homes for things and picking up things for free. Over the past week I've seen about four or five different teachers asking for toys for their new classes in September. Is this really how it works? Is this normal across the country? Is it really the case that teachers either have to beg for hand me downs or dip into their own pockets to properly resource their classrooms? It's been quite eye opening this week. I know I could ask one of the teachers this but I don't want to cause offence and my instincts say they're doing the very best they can so I don't want to open a can of worms on their posts. But does anyone work in education here who can explain this? I naively thought that schools would have funding to purchase learning resources, toys etc or at least the PTA would cover this... Seems I was very wrong.

A friends daughter is a primary school teacher and in the past she's bought pens, paper, laminater/wallets etc which is kind of wrong as these are classroom basics and should be supplied.
Nothing wrong though with passing on pre loved games/toys, I've Freecycled many items my children have grown out of over the years.

On another note someone asked on a free site if anyone had a large smart TV to gift, the one the residents watch had broken and they didn't have one and were missing watching programmes. Got the Shite ripped out of them as it was a private CH with extortionate fees.

Living in one of the most under funded education authorities this is a norm in my area too - especially at primary where teachers are trying to scrape together resources for role play areas etc. A teaching friend of mine couldn't even get basic materials to support phonics teaching in her yr 1 class out of her school budget. It's a sad state of affairs but the chronic underfunding of Education after sequential Tory governments has left most schools financially short. But oh well, at least we have blue passports now .

Can schools join the Smile Amazon program and also have a wish list?

Yep. Friend of mine scours charity shops for copies of Roald Dahl books so she has enough for her nature groups.

I don't see it as an issue that teachers are asking for items on reuse sites. This is exactly what they are for. My children love it when a toy or book they have outgrown can be donated to the school so it reinforces positive messages in children too. Reusing where practicable should become the norm.
Underfunding is an issue, but it's the same in every public sector organisation. Schools/teachers are able to ask for donations. Some other publicly funded institutions can't ask for resources because they have to remain impartial.

My friend is a teacher. School is in a really deprived area and lots of the children have complex needs or challenging home lives. It's heartbreaking to hear how underfunded it is. She regularly buys resources herself.

Yep. Nearly all my own kids stuff ended up on my classroom. And when I was teaching I used to spend Sunday mornings at car boot sales looking for things for work. I worked in a special school, so the most random things were of use to me for fine motor activities and sensory stuff. We had to practice the same skill over and over and over again, so the only way we could vary it was to have as many different materials as possible. So I was the one buying ice cube trays and pom poms and all manner of things.
Today (I'm retired now) I would definitely be all over the freecycle sites and similar.

State-school funding has been deliberately and purposefully reduced since the Tories took power. Despite the lies told to the media about increasing education budgets etc. real terms funding has been lower than the levels in 2010 since 2010 and the Government has just U-turned on their promise to bring funding levels back to the 2010 levels by 2025. They know that they are underfunding education and are happy with the choice that they have made because it's not one that costs them votes.

As such, yes, schools and teachers are always looking to secure free, second-hand or third-hand resources or school staff are buying things from their own pocket. Even some of the furniture in my room are things I've had to buy myself.

Yes, teachers are having to provide more and more resources as schools are so squeezed for cash.

I left teaching 8 years ago but even then I used to spend at least £100 a year on boxes of glue sticks, felt tips etc. I never had to buy books but I have heard friends who are still teaching say they're having to glue old textbooks together as they don't have the budget for new.

Add to that the loss of many TA's, HRO's, full time senco positions etc and, well, I think it's clear that this is not a great time for education! And still the government like us all to think that teachers are lazy, only work 9-3 and all stayed at home during lockdown! Just so much bullshit.

I'm afraid the culprit lies in parliament, as is the case for the NHS.

If teachers are asking for resources in any way possible then they are trying their hardest to do the best for their pupils. Where's the harm in that?

Whilst employees continue to fund their employers business nothing will change. Whether this is school teachers for classroom items or working a lot of free unpaid overtime it's all the same. If the business isn't fit for purpose then nothing will change.

I gifted the classroom I'd done work experience in at uni a collection of books and craft materials. The teacher was over the moon that I'd thought to get glue sticks. Seems they're essentially the holy grail of school gifts.

It's stuck and we now donate items to my son's school semi regularly. Things like pencils, glue sticks, colouring pens and pencils are always gratefully received and I keep an eye on which brands they're using to know what to get.

Outgrown books are another one. So many donate them elsewhere, most schools will have your arm off for good condition reading books.

The funding sadly just isn't there, and especially in areas with a lower average income the PTA isn't always successful in raising enough to do it all.

Call me a cynic but that's exactly what the Tory Government want. If state-funding education fails and "the people" demand better, they can say that the state education system does not and cannot work. Doing so, they can then move the academisation drive up to the next ideological level: privatisation.

For me, that's the very reason they are underfunding education, and the NHS too for that matter.

I’ve had to buy a bookcase and a desk chair this year (so that I can occasionally sit down in my classroom). I’ve spent hundreds on equipment over the last couple of years, including books and pencils. It’s so, so sad

I think you are over estimating the income of many people - the people who have to choose whether to heat or eat. Education should be funded through taxation and making sure the big companies and supermarkets rich pay up should be the first call.

If this is the 'norm' now and it seems it is.
The school should be doing it not leaving it it individual teachers.
Buying pencils! Whaat? That is up to the parents NOT the school.
Where is their commitment or their pride?

I think this always happened. When my DS was at primary school my DF would regularly provide paper, pencils, sunflowers. He did lots of work around the school for free as well.

I gave chocolate eggs for everyone for easter one year.

I think we all tried to do a bit to make the money stretch further.

I teach KS1. There is nothing beyond the very basics.
Last year I spent nearly £100 on cooking ingredients for a number of sessions for the D and T curriculum.
I bought seeds, soil and pots for science.
I bought straws, wheels and paint for D and T.
I spent about £50 on snacks and drinks to take on a school trip.
I bring in toys my children have grown out of, shoes and coats they've grown out of and purchased sun hats to keep children safe in the summer.
The answer would be no if I asked school as there is no money. I believe in a broad and balanced curriculum so it's spend much own money or don't do it.

Our KS2 classes were out of pencils and glue sticks for the last month plus of school this year, and we desperately scrounged about for them and asked children to make sure they had their own with them, like they're supposed to.

We've been out of photocopy paper several times this year; nightmare.

We had no 'card' to speak of for art in school for the entire last term at least.

No new trays of pens for the children to colour with this year, had to make do with half trays of semi-functioning pens.

There is no money.

Yep, echoing previous posters.
I was a primary teacher - bought books / toys / craft items / even small bits of furniture out of my own pocket. Also donated a lot of excellent quality toys that used to belong my own children.
All the other teachers in my school did the same.

And another (ex teacher and now primary governor, in my case) echoing what’s already been said; the financial situation in schools was bad when I was teaching several years ago, and it’s now almost unimaginably worse.

I spent hundreds of pounds on my own money on resources when I was teaching primary. Now my own DD is starting Reception in September and we’re spending the summer gradually gathering whatever resources we can for her new class. Planning on doing a big Baker Ross order of glue sticks, card, art resources etc just before she starts. We’re lucky in that we are aware of the issues in schools and have the spare income to try to help out where we can. We also chose DD’s school partly on the pragmatic grounds that the parents there were more affluent and able to top up funds and resources where needed - not a great thing to base such an important decision on, but that’s where we are at the moment.

Completely forgot about the £££ spent on cooking lessons!

Most people wouldn't be able to afford this. There's a cost of living crisis.
And actually this is what we pay taxes for (not to give money to tory donors via dodgy contracts).

Many parents refuse to pay transport costs to swimming lessons that at curriculum.mandanted but not fully funded.

Our Primary Reception class raised a huge sum to give to the teacher and TAs at Christmas and at the end of the school year.

I think a lovely voucher for the TAs is important, but when you are talking hundreds of pounds for the teacher, they might prefer a cheque to spend in their classroom rather than a John Lewis voucher.

Also, DH and I are teachers who have always spent a lot on making our classroom experience work. Are these expenses tax deductible?

My classroom library has been resourced through my own children's discarded books, and those I've been able to pick up via Facebook etc. I now have three full bookcases full of quality teen fiction and it makes a huge difference in the day to day of my classroom (English teacher).

I buy highlighters every year, and rubbers and my my own stapler.

We have no money. It's sad but I teach fewer novels than I do poetry/short stories/dramatic performances because the ones in our book cupboard are shite and we can't afford to buy new ones.

Also, every week I buy the snacks for study club. And boxes of breakfast bars for the kids who turn up to school hungry. There's no money to refund me, but kids can't learn on an empty stomach. They are very grateful and always thank me for having something available.