Brings back memories.  Our boss back at the club I used to work at finally had to say “NO MORE” binders after one of my colleagues fell in love with them for files.  I’ll bet we had fifty of the things.  I don’t recall the price, but since that was 1980-1983, I imagine it was comparable after inflation.

I like binders, too. But man, a filing cabinet would be a whole lot more economical than scores of binders. No wonder your boss put his foot down.

I’d never had to buy a 4” binder before, so I didn’t expect the huge jump in price. There’s like a $10 difference between a 4” binder and a 2” binder. You wouldn’t think the extra width in the spine would cost *that* much extra.

Y’know, I just don’t get it.  Why would a high school senior be required to use some particular model of binder for a course? 

Why should anyone else care whether I take my notes in a spiral notebook and stuff the handouts in a file folder, or scribble on index cards and jam the papers in my pants pockets, or whatever?  Isn’t performance—doing well on assignments and tests—the only important consideration?  Who cares how you get there?

In order to be successful in life, one must learn how to follow directions and obey rules. Didn’t you know that? I have no idea why the special requirements. Other than that’s what the teacher thinks is the best method. I don’t know his rationale. I do know that if students don’t have the required supplies, it’s equivalent to a failed quiz grade. Whether this particular teacher would enforce the failed quiz grade penalty is open to question, but he was adamant about everyone having a 4” binder.

When I bought my school supplies and text books this year, I almost choked at both check-outs. Prices were outrageous, and I only got cheapy supplies. (Couldn’t do much about the text books, except to wish I had written them myself and was collecting royalties!)

Having a big bookcase of wide binders is a pretty standard way of filing things here.  4 inches is huge though, just over 100 mm.  Standard here is 80 mm, and a quick look at one of the online office supply stores here and they cost about EUR 3.50.  Someone’s making a killing at Staples.

My sons at college have individual textbooks that cost $300 a piece! Nearly everyone has a laptop computer. The textbook lasts at best two semesters before they sell it back for $25, and the computer may get them through 4 years of college, but maybe not.

Steph, yes I think someone at Staples is making a killing. They used to advertise constantly about being the place to shop for saving money. That changed a couple of years ago. I’ve thought their prices have been rather high for a while now.

Pablo, that’s something we get to look forward to next year. Oy.

Lynn, I sympathize. It’s a racket. You’ve gotta have the texbooks and supplies and someone is making a lot of money off it.