Teacher telling ds to share his own equipment.

[Gigglebrain]

So ds is in year 7, I had to buy all his equipment (glue, pens, pencils, etc), as the school does not provide anything. I have no argument with this as I know that schools are struggling, however, .he has told me that he’s run out of his gluestick and needs a new one, as his teachers make him share all his stuff with others in the class.
We are on a major budget, and I struggle to pay for things like this. Aibu to be annoyed about this.

Write a note to the teacher to clarify. Ask if students are to provide their own equipment for their own use and, if so, why has your equipment been handed out to the rest of the class. Inform her that it's already run out and you will now have to replace much sooner than expected, which you cannot afford to keep doing.

And tell your son to say no to his teacher. It's his. The rest of the class need to bring their own.

Ah gluestick wars, wr have those. In ds2's class the rule is share with everyone or share with no one, to avoid the "Jane can use mine but you can't" squabbling. Consequently ds2 shares with no one as I cant afford 1 per week and because he always seems tk end up back of the queue even when it's his gluestuck.

Crikey this is awful - we have not reached this stage at my kids school yet.

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the class parents to have a collection and buy a shared lot of this kind of equipment?

Don’t give him a new one.
There is nothing that needs to be glued so badly that his education will suffer. He can glue when he gets home.
Or borrow someone else’s!

I wouldn't have thought a glue stick would have lasted more than 1/2 a term regardless of whether or not he was sharing it and it is very common for parents to provide stationery essentials in secondary school.

I would maybe email his form tutor and ask what the expectation is but honestly I wouldn't expect them to be able to do much about the situation, it could be just as likely that he is sharing it amongst his friends.

I know that's probably not what you want to hear but I really don't think there is much they can do. On a side note if you have a works shop near you they have pritt sticks for cheap and you can also buy it in bulk, lots of 10 or more, cheaply from ebay.

Oh sorry I didn't notice it was secondary. Yep, no more gluesticks.

In year 7 it's normal to provide your own pencil case content isn't it?

We're abroad and provide everything - including exercise books and paint brushes - right from day 1, but I used to teach secondary in the UK and school provided paper/ exercise books but kids provided pens, pencils, rulers, glue sticks etc. The exception would be art and other practical subjects where the teacher would have supplies.

That aside no he shouldn't have to share with the whole class, that's mad.

Is that in a random subject like history or maths where glue sticks aren't standard kit, or in art or another practical subject where you'd expect to use glue?

Obviously it's the specific subject teacher you need to drop a polite note in his planner to, not form tutor.

I told him to say no, he said he did and was told he had to share.

If you’re struggling to afford a new one just don’t buy one. He can borrow someone else’s or use the teachers for a while.
I don’t see what complaining will achieve. It’s not going to mean the school or other parents have more money for glue-sticks.
Maybe you and a few other parents could sort out some kind of fundraiser for equipment?

I imagine someone hasnt got one or has left theirs at home and teacher says can somebody lend you theirs rather than say x let the class use yours. It is very common ti have fo provide your own stationery at secondary school. It is also quite common to get a text asking parents to ensure the right equipment is sent in.

No id be complaining about that.but then I was even disturbed by a teacher in my GCSE exams to borrow rulers etc

The more you bail the kids out the more people won't bother sending in stuff knowing full well someone else will have to lend theirs

Starting secondary costs enough as it is without having to kit out kids that arent yours.

I'd be writing a very strongly worded letter and any detentions for disobeying would not be attended

I told him to say no, he said he did and was told he had to share.

If he is being told to share then I would possibly speak to the teacher involved about what they are expected to do if they don't have the equipment.

It is worth noting that he of course may be exaggerating that he has to share with the whole class. Please keep that in mind before you discuss the issue.

What does the school guidance say OP? At ds1's secondary all pupils must be properly equipped so no reason to share. If they don't have to be equipped then dont equip him until you can afford to replace.

Also bear in mind that he may be under peer pressure to share but doesnt want to tell you so is blaming the teacher.

Write him a note banning him from sharing, then he can say he's not allowed.

They need some little extras.

You can write notes/kick up a fuss all you like. The teacher has far far better things to do than to give a shit about glue sticks and to police the sharing of 11 year olds - it's not reception ffs.

In year 7, I think they eat gluesticks my dd went through about 4 a term!

Buy cheap ones from poundland, they glue the same as branded ones.

They do indeed, Rosetti

Thank heavens for our recent budget.

Don't write a note. What 11 year old wants to be the one with a note from Mummy saying he isn't allowed to share a glue stick.

I would ring in about that and make the teacher aware he isn’t to share any more.

Spaghetti, where did I say I was going to do that, my question is Aibu to be annoyed.

I was responding more to the people who were saying to write a note sorry Gigglebrain. It is annoying but it's par for the course with school supplies and there's really not much you can do about it unfortunately.

My experience is that glue sticks are pretty communal. They share until their's has run out, then it's their turn to share with the others. I felt indignant at the beginning when it seemed like mine were coming home every week needing a new one. Then in conversation we found that all the parents were finding their dc talking about sharing the stuff.

Personally I'd prefer if the schools (especially juniors) asked for a donation and provided it as it stops the sharing and pinching of nicer equipment.

I think part of the problem is, that when glue sticks are provided, very often the lids are left off and they dry out, maybe they think that if the children have their own, they’ll take more care of them.

But that doesn’t answer your question and I think you are not being unreasonable to expect your child not to have to share with others. Unfortunately, many don’t have heir own, despite repeated requests. You would be amazed at th number of childrensition who are in school with no bag, no means of writing, pens, pencils or any type of stationery.

I think you should say that you don’t want him to share his things because you aren’t in a position to keep replacing them.