Yes, Princess, I see your point on the crayons, but it's not my choice. The list comes home from school and I need to purchase what is on it. At orientation we take in all the supplies we purchase and sort them into the piles the teacher has made and all the supplies become joint property. So though I wouldn't mind sending MY child to school with used crayons, I can not send those used crayons to be used by the other kids. I mean, I COULD, I suppose, but it's kind of tacky. The same goes with folders and pencil boxes and the list goes on.
The one item on our list that bothered me was candy by the buckets full! The list requires us to buy FOUR LARGE bags of candy each! Just how much candy is she planning to feed my child in 9 months time?! I know it is used for rewards and all, but come on! Presumably that means that in 9 months time my child is going to be eating 4 large bags of candy in addition to the rediculous amount he brings home for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, the 100th day of school, every birthday, and every other "just because I wanted to" holiday that the kids get candy for. They even had an "after Christmas blues" day for which one parent sent home candy! We're not all that much into candy at our house, or at least I try to limit it. Last year I ended up taking one full 1-gallon bag of candy into the school where I teach and stuck it in the teacher's lounge. And that was the cast offs! It's just too much! (Phew.....I feel better. Needed to a rant a little there.
)