At First Glance

With August comes the dreaded phrase, "back to school."  Professional educators are always eager to return to the classroom and begin another year.  In fact, one of the most enjoyable things about teaching is the opportunity to begin again.  The job has a built-in reset.
We usually hear the phrase when it is attached to commercials about school clothing or school supplies.  Both of those rituals are usually a welcome experience.  Who doesn't like putting together a new notebook and re-stocking one's stash of paper clips, staples, binder paper, and perhaps a couple of new items that will soon become either poor choices or unnecessary.
In my first decade in the classroom, I looked forward to buying a few new shirts and a couple pairs of pants destined to occupy that spot in the closet for "school clothes."
Along with the familiar ads reminding us that the 2018-19 school year is almost upon us has come something new.  Not first time new, but in the last few years new.  In my town we have a huge
school supply drive, reminding us that many children are often forced to return to their local school inadequately supplied for the year ahead.  It's well-meaning.  But it begs an important question.  Why are so many students (presumably public school students) unable to purchase their own school supplies?  And of course, what does this say about our culture and country?

My intention here is not to diminish a charitable effort or to question anybody's intent.  It just seems to me that an equal amount of effort thrown in the direction of an equitable distribution of wealth, or a fair minimum wage, might be even more desirable.
My guess is that these supply drives are intended for public school kids.  Though, these days with the propensity and complexity of charter schools and academies on the scene, one wonders.  Do we supply kids who choose to stay at home and commit to online education as well.  By the way, one of my favorite ads for this latest version of removing your children from having to share their education with other people's children features a young scholar spouting the line, "It's public school...at home."  No it isn't.  It's you at home and other kids in public school.
School supply drives are unfortunately needed, so I hope they live long and prosper.  I'd just like to hear some mention of why they seem to be so necessary in, arguably, the richest country in the world.