More than one teacher friend has told me they spend lots of their own dough on supplies and goodies for the kiddos. I imagined a few odds and sods from the dollar store. But these stark 'before' and 'after' images from B.C. public schools reveal just how much teachers invest of their of accord.
In the lead up to the strike action this week, teachers in the province started removing things they bought with their own pay cheque and the result will cause jaws to drop.
Without the teachers' supplies, the spaces look joyless and barren. In many cases, all that's left is the odd whiteboard and a scattering of desks and chairs, the bare bones of the classroom.
"Teachers spend their own personal money to personalize their classrooms and make their classroom functional, organized, and inviting," says Vancouver teacher Wendy Lau. "With only what the school board provides, the classrooms are very bland and cold."
Obviously some percentage of fundraising by parent advisory committees (PAC) goes toward augmenting classroom supplies.
Still, these images speak for themselves. And it begs the question: where exactly is public school boards funding going because there's certainly no evidence of spending in the classroom.
Lau estimates that some years she spent more than $1,000 on supplies alone, even though her school is located in an affluent neighbourhood. She relies on donations and salvages as many items as she can, with the help of Krazy Glue.
Imagine buying your own office supplies out of your salary... Yeah, didn't think so. So the next time you open your mouth to trash talk a teacher, remember the dedication and generosity evidenced in these photos.
Of course no one forces teachers to shell out their cash to equip and decorate their classrooms, but aren't you happy they do?
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