I agree with you about the high costs...it’s shocking how quickly those extra supplies run up the bill.

In Washington state where all but the basics are gradually becoming excluded from the curriculum, this is one way that art is remaining a part of learning (Thanks to NCLB and other like-minded efforts)

I think that as long as these “giant” teaching/learning efforts are not required very often they are a good thing...giving students a varied way to learn and giving those students who are not good writers another way to express their learning.

No. As of yet Amanda has not had to do any such thing. But out here we have had to buy any books that she has had to read in English class, plus the everyday “Free Choice” book. What ever happened to the schools supplying Shakespeare and the like?

Your money was well spent because I now have this addition—or some minor variant—to include in my vocabulary:

“Pleaaaase don’t say anything to him or he’ll make me his bitch for the rest of the year.”

I’d give him an A+ for that alone!

Karan—there will be a major art project to go along with each of the history units this year. It’s just beginning. Unfortunately, they’ll each be a different sort of art, so the supplies for this one won’t be of much use for the next one.

Here the high school decided to make arts into elective courses. Every student has to take one elective each semester. So far, the lad has taken graphic design , creative writing, photography, and drama. Two semesters for each. It seems to work out pretty well.

We have to buy or borrow the summer reading books, but we haven’t had to purchase books during the school year. So far. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that change, but it would bother me less than purchasing a load of art supplies that we’ll never use.

Well, see? There’s always a silver lining, Steve. You get a new phrase and I’m $43 lighter. That’s a pretty derned good deal.

We always have to purchase the extras each semester for the elective classes that the kids take too. The high school reading program goes way beyond just reading at Amanda’s school. She is in for a shock this summer LOL!Wait, maybe I shouldn’t laugh just yet

Ah yes, our students’ pain becomes our pain.

We have to supply some of the equipment for some of the electives. Like the drafting/graphic design supplies and the photography equipment/supplies for photography. Although, the kids did have to make a camera...a pinlight camera (is that the right name?). That’s the 1002nd use for duck tape. And I bought an entire wardrobe at the Army/Navy surplus for one of the drama class productions since they are not funded nor do they get to raid the drama department’s supplies.

Creative writing has been really inexpensive though.