A mum has slammed her daughter's school for asking pupils to bring in their own pencils as they run low on supplies. The woman explained how she received an email from her daughter's maths teacher requesting all pupils to bring in "any pencils that need a home" because she doesn't have enough to go around.
The email, titled 'New/Used Pencils Needed', has sparked a debate on social media, with some parents claiming it's a reasonable request, whereas others believe the school should pick up the slack when they run out. When sharing the request on Reddit, the mum wrote: "My daughter's school asking for new or use pencils. How have we gotten to this point? We are failing at a fundamental level.
"The supply list at the beginning of the year includes them so people should get their own, but there are some circumstances where not everyone is able to buy supplies.
"Some of my daughter's supplies are pooled together to help out if kids don’t have them and I’m assuming that pool has run dry."
The email reads: "We are currently in a bit of a pickle in math class - we are OUT of pencils. This is a math teacher's nightmare coming to reality.
"If you have ANY pencils that need a home, we will gladly put them to use in math class. If you know any company that would be willing to donate some pencils that would also be appreciate.
"Thank you to all the pencil elves!"
While the mum couldn't believe the school's request, she went ahead and ordered 300 pencils for her daughter's school because she didn't want her education negatively impacted by their lack of supplies.
Responding to the post, one social media user said: "We are doomed as a society because we don't take care of our kids anymore."
While another user explained: "Every teacher I know buys supplies out of their own pockets because they always, always run out mid year."
A third user said: "As a teacher, pencils are a problem. My pet peeve, the following day, their pencil is missing, or it's been broken in half.
"Some students know that they will get a pencil when needed, and treat it like toilet paper, disposable.
"I have to use my personal money to buy pencils for my students. But that money also affects my own children at home."
One more added: "Public schools receive roughly $15,000 per student, per year, and there's a school without pencils for math, at the end of first semester."
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