Lawrence says he hasn’t made any requests on the new districtwide wish list because he’s found that parents will contribute greatly to his classroom if he explains one-on-one to them the drastic supply needs.
“Most parents understand that we, the teachers, are responsible for supplying the classrooms,” he said. “The essential things we have to have are not provided for.”
 Half Moon Bay High School math teacher Rob Lawrence sits at his desk with a drawer full of school supplies that have been donated to him by parents. To avoid paying for essential materials out of his own pocket, Lawrence creates a wish list every year that is provided to parents to help provide items such as dry erase markers and tissue for his class. |
Early on in his career, Lawrence says he was spending about $1,000 a year to stock his classroom. Starting out at Gilroy Unified School District, Lawrence says he learned quickly that teachers couldn’t expect the school district to provide them with any material for their classes.
“I got nothing from anybody,” he said. “All the supplies were out-of-pocket expenses. And my understanding was at most schools that was the case.”
Coming to teach on the Coastside, Lawrence says he was coming to a school district that was better funded, but still not funded well. The high school math department has had enough money to provide occasional pens and paper to its teachers, but not with any reliability.
Lawrence says the department occasionally has extra money for small items, but often doesn’t have enough to pay for an upgrade to the school’s computers, or to always replace expensive printer cartridges.
Like many of his colleagues, Lawrence says he’s had success soliciting help from the parents. Either by communicating with them at Back to School Night or through the students, parents usually are willing to help out if it directly impacts their children, Lawrence says.
“I know a lot of teachers do this, and if they don’t, that means they’re buying all their own supplies,” he said. “Often parents will ask how they can help before you bring it up.”
Lawrence says he includes a short paragraph on his class syllabus that explains what supplies he needs to teach. Then he makes his students take the syllabus home for their parents to sign.
Lawrence says that about two-thirds of his total supplies are purchased through the generosity of parents.
“It’s just something we’ve sort of accepted as part of our job,” he said. “Those of us with experience reach out and ask for help.”
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