Every July, parents question school supply lists, especially the need for communal supplies like tissues and glue sticks. Veteran educator Lisa Patino recalls communal supplies being common in the '90s with minimal requests from parents. Currently, educators often underfund their classrooms due to low salaries, averaging $46,526, and they spend significant amounts of their own money for supplies. Schools thrive on support from everyone involved, and parents are encouraged to help supply necessary materials for a better communal education experience.
The National Education Association's 2025 review found that the average starting teacher salary in the United States is $46,526. Keeping up with inflation rates, that means teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago - and they're still spending between $500 and $750 of their own money supplying their classroom.
Lisa Patino, a veteran teacher, tells me that even when she was teaching in Florida in the '90s, school supplies were absolutely communal. "Kids had to learn to share...but my budget was like $400 from the school, and things were cheaper," she says.
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