School kids without school supplies

**Padfoot** · 30-01-2013 10:38 AM

No K Mart or Big W here, and Target Country is dismal. They have very little, and it really isn't cheap. Cheaper than the local uniform shop, but still more than I paid at the Townsville uniform shop for a private school. Many families here have no car.

**Stormy** · 30-01-2013 11:35 AM

Why don't they just do what we used to do? Rip last year's work out of the exercise book and use the same one again and put a different sticker on it. Same with coloured pencils and crayons, just reuse them again. I knew some kids who went to school with brand new everything each year but those of us with thrifty parents had last years stuff and just topped up where needed.

And we didn't exactly live in a low socioeconomic area either....it's just that neither of my parents could stand seeing stuff wasted.

**Naomi** · 30-01-2013 11:40 AM

From memory our exercise books were provided in primary school, not sure about pencils etc. though we occasionally got new stationery for Christmas (it was the only time we did, most of our Christmas presents came in the form of new clothes or school items).

I think KMart here was selling school shorts for something insane like $3 or $5, I read it on a friend's FB. Does the school uniform shop also sell second hand uniforms? All three schools I've been involved with so far do a roaring trade in second hand uniforms.

**Padfoot** · 30-01-2013 12:42 PM

No second hand uniform shop. Only at the private schools. I rang to enquire about the Learnjng For Life program, they don't cater to here. I don't know the family's situation, but I do know most houses are cheap to rent or buy here. In fact, I found a 4brm house, fully fenced yard, $185/week to rent. So I don't know what their money is spent on. It just seems sad, so many kids miss out.

**happyasapiginmud** · 02-02-2013 10:19 PM

Our local school does not have a second hand uniform shop but ask that everyone take their unwanted uniform to the local op shop.....the local op shop has a large rack of second hand uniforms which they sell very cheaply. All unclaimed lost property goes to the op shop too.
Our local primary provide all books etc and you pay a small annual fee to the school......parents on lower incomes are covered for these fees through the EMA (Educationl Monetary allowance??).
It must be different at different schools and in different states.