Back to School: Then and Now

Next week signals the start of back to school for our kids here in Georgia and as we have been preparing to send them back I noticed that a lot has changed since I was a boy growing up in Scotland. I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere now or if we have just moved forward in the way that we prepare our kids for school.

The first thing that comes to mind is the cost for supplies. Each child gets a supplies list that seems to expand with the start of each school term. Paper, pencils, folders, glue, and all manner of other items that would seem better suited for the home than a school classroom. We are in the fortunate position that the cost of these items isn't that much of a financial burden on us but I can't imagine what it must be like for single parent, or fixed income families. When I was a kid all that stuff was supplied by the school and our parents didn't have to shell out a penny.

Next up is the new outfits you have to buy. I don't suppose you necessarily have to buy them but if your kids are anything like mine then a large chunk of their wardrobe was destroyed over the summer vacation with all manner of tears, mud, and grass stains. You also have to keep in mind how cruel kids can be and if you send yours off with their ratty old clothes they are bound to be the subject of taunting and teasing. Back in my day we had to wear school uniforms and at the start of the year our parents would buy us 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, 2 sweaters, a jacket, 1 pair of dress shoes, and 1 pair of sneakers and we were warned that those items had better last us until the following summer. Everyone dressed the same so there was no real class distinction between the kids which removed a lot of the bullying of those who were not so well off, something we don't see today now that kids are allowed to wear all kinds of designer labels to school.

It's also only a matter of time before us parents start receiving the begging letters from the school. Can we send in more supplies, buy this or that item with all funds going towards supplies, and even money for the teachers because it is their birthday or some other such occasion. Again, how does that family on a tight budget cope when you are made to feel compelled to contribute?

My parents were always taught that education was something that fell upon the government to look after, in regards to books, supplies etc., and it was their job to make sure that we attended, behaved and did our homework. More and more, the burden fall on today's parents to pony up the cash for even the most basic of schooling while our elected officials spend out tax dollars on wars, weapons, and large raises for themselves. Maybe next year instead of jacking up their salaries again they could put that money towards schools and education and make the effort to get our children a better education and ease the already heavy financial burden on the parents. The children are our future but what kind of future can we expect if we can't provide them with the basics for school.