This Teacher’s Post About School Supplies Makes A Powerful Point About Parenting

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Now that we’re all fully immersed in back-to-school activities, it’s important to remember that buying school supplies is not only a time-honored tradition, but possibly a teachable moment as well—at least according Leland Michael, a math teacher at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

In a viral Facebook post that has since been shared more than 70,000 times, Michael illustrates the difference between parents who understand the importance of school and of buying school supplies, and those who take it for granted.

After being subjected to two separate tirades about the expense of school supplies and a lecture on how teachers should be responsible for purchasing their own supplies (spoiler alert: they are), another father thanked him for being a teacher and handed him a $25 Wal-Mart gift card to help with the cost of supplies.

The kids who heard their parents complaining heard this message: “School is not important enough to spend money on it, teachers are not to be trusted and have bad judgement, and learning does not require investment.”

The kid who’s dad handed me the gift card heard, “School is important enough that we should give more than required to make sure it is successful, teachers should be respected and valued, and learning requires us giving it everything we have.”

Read Michael’s post below:


Massive debate surrounds school supplies, especially when it comes to costs and quantities, but many commenters thanked Michael for the important reminder and perspective.

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About the Author
Jessica Suss
Current high-school English teacher, native Chicagoan, and nut butter enthusiast moonlighting as a writer.

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