California teachers: Paying for school supplies themselves — and more

10-12-2010

By Kristin Kloberdanz/Time

To secure writing materials for her classroom, Sandi Sidor is willing to jump through a lot of hoops these days. Make that throw: "I will toss beanbags through anything for a packet of pens," says the fifth-grade teacher in Redlands, Calif., who seeks out competitions and fairs at office-supply stores in order to win a few materials. Just this month, she won three free boxes of pencils: "I have a good arm." Welcome back to school in budget-strapped California, where pencils, paper and textbooks are indeed prized goods — and their availability in classrooms is increasingly dependent upon the resourcefulness of teachers. As a matter of financial survival, teachers share tips for donation websites, clip coupons together in staff rooms and learn how to spruce up garage-sale items (bought with their own pennies, of course). (more…)

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California teachers: Paying for school supplies themselves — and more

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