Imagine showing up to school with no supplies because your family cannot afford them. As an educator who has worked in a variety of districts, I have seen how this can affect students. The more perceptive teachers sometimes quietly supply the students with what they need. Many students, however, suffer the embarrassment of being labeled “unprepared” or “scatterbrained” or “lazy”. And teacher-funded classrooms are not the solution–the most gifted teachers should not have to sacrifice more of their salary out of love for their pupils.
As an Elmer’s paid Bag It Forward ambassador, I was given $100 via Collective Bias to shop for two bags of school supplies — for my daughter and for a family in need…