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School supplies bring out the kid in all
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
August 10, 2005
The return of school age children to the classroom recently sparked a discussion between myself and several friends. Everywhere we look there are back-to-school specials at the stores, and the school supplieshave taken a featured location in places such as Wal-Mart, Target and office supply stores.
There are several 20-something-year-olds that agree that new school supplies ranks right up there with birthday parties, recess and the latest cartoon craze. None of us can help feeling like a kid when faced with certain items synonymous with school days.
New school supplies always made going back to school fun. Freshly sharpened pencils, that box of crayons, notebook paper, spirals, folders, scissors, glue. All the school-year essentials stuffed into a backpack with the boxes of Kleenex tissue.
I remember getting all my new supplies and having them waiting for that first day of school. They'd practically taunt me, tempting me to try them out.
I'll just write my name on one sheet of paper. Oh look, a place for owner information. I should fill that in ahead of time. Maybe I need to make sure everything fits in my school box and/or pencil case. What is the best way to put things in my bag? Maybe I should make sure none of the items are torn or something.
School supplies. Who knew school supplies could be so much fun?
School supplies were always something that you wanted to make sure to fit in with your peers. If everyone had a certain brand of notebook, you wanted to have that same notebook. This was important business.
I remember some of the most unique items that came and went through my school years. There were zipper binders, gel pens and liquid filled highlighters. There was the Squiggle Wiggle writer, 3-D effect binders and pens with multiple colored ink.
When one person showed up with a new item, everyone else had to have it.
That first day of school was as much a chance to finally use your own supplies as it was to scope out everyone else's. For even as it was important to fit in with classmates by having the same brands, supplies gave a chance to make yourself an individual.
I remember countless folders with their own pizzazz. Spirals always seemed to have some interesting design on them. Pens, pencils, and even notebook paper found its way into being unique for the individual. Sometimes, it was important to not be just like everyone else. It was a mild way to dare to be different.
Today I read over school supply lists, and I am surprised by how much things have changed in the years since I was in grade school. Yet at the same time, its comforting to see various supplies have remained the same. Number 2 pencils, crayons and Fiskar scissors. Folders (with pockets and brads... which the later you start shopping the more those become like trying to find the lost city of Atlantis), notebook paper and spirals.
However, as an adult, I now understand why certain requests for supplies were denied. Things get expensive, and money is tight for almost everyone these days.
While many school supplies are "must haves" they also are "can't affords." It takes some of the fun out of supply shopping. It adds yet one more challenge to the ordeal. As if fighting hundreds of other parents and trying to figure out just how big a "medium size pencil bag" is so your child is in compliance with what the teacher has asked they bring.
It's a challenge for adults, but its also like Christmas to children. Sometimes new supplies are incentive to get a child to go to school that first day. It's a chance to show off to their peers their new "toys." It's a chance to fit in while being an individual.
Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe
The Marlin Democrat
August 10, 2005
The return of school age children to the classroom recently sparked a discussion between myself and several friends. Everywhere we look there are back-to-school specials at the stores, and the school supplieshave taken a featured location in places such as Wal-Mart, Target and office supply stores.
There are several 20-something-year-olds that agree that new school supplies ranks right up there with birthday parties, recess and the latest cartoon craze. None of us can help feeling like a kid when faced with certain items synonymous with school days.
New school supplies always made going back to school fun. Freshly sharpened pencils, that box of crayons, notebook paper, spirals, folders, scissors, glue. All the school-year essentials stuffed into a backpack with the boxes of Kleenex tissue.
I remember getting all my new supplies and having them waiting for that first day of school. They'd practically taunt me, tempting me to try them out.
I'll just write my name on one sheet of paper. Oh look, a place for owner information. I should fill that in ahead of time. Maybe I need to make sure everything fits in my school box and/or pencil case. What is the best way to put things in my bag? Maybe I should make sure none of the items are torn or something.
School supplies. Who knew school supplies could be so much fun?
School supplies were always something that you wanted to make sure to fit in with your peers. If everyone had a certain brand of notebook, you wanted to have that same notebook. This was important business.
I remember some of the most unique items that came and went through my school years. There were zipper binders, gel pens and liquid filled highlighters. There was the Squiggle Wiggle writer, 3-D effect binders and pens with multiple colored ink.
When one person showed up with a new item, everyone else had to have it.
That first day of school was as much a chance to finally use your own supplies as it was to scope out everyone else's. For even as it was important to fit in with classmates by having the same brands, supplies gave a chance to make yourself an individual.
I remember countless folders with their own pizzazz. Spirals always seemed to have some interesting design on them. Pens, pencils, and even notebook paper found its way into being unique for the individual. Sometimes, it was important to not be just like everyone else. It was a mild way to dare to be different.
Today I read over school supply lists, and I am surprised by how much things have changed in the years since I was in grade school. Yet at the same time, its comforting to see various supplies have remained the same. Number 2 pencils, crayons and Fiskar scissors. Folders (with pockets and brads... which the later you start shopping the more those become like trying to find the lost city of Atlantis), notebook paper and spirals.
However, as an adult, I now understand why certain requests for supplies were denied. Things get expensive, and money is tight for almost everyone these days.
While many school supplies are "must haves" they also are "can't affords." It takes some of the fun out of supply shopping. It adds yet one more challenge to the ordeal. As if fighting hundreds of other parents and trying to figure out just how big a "medium size pencil bag" is so your child is in compliance with what the teacher has asked they bring.
It's a challenge for adults, but its also like Christmas to children. Sometimes new supplies are incentive to get a child to go to school that first day. It's a chance to show off to their peers their new "toys." It's a chance to fit in while being an individual.
