We have to get a ton of supplies, as well as things like kleenex, clorox wipes and such. What alot of people don't realize, at least where I am, if the teachers don't get these things from the kids, they have to pay for them themselves. I don't think alot of people realize how much these teachers pay out of their own pockets. Alot of the class supplies are paid for by the teachers themselves. I'm not saying this is right, therefore justifying asking parents for money, just the way it is. People around here keep voting to not pay for certain taxes, then wonder why school days, certain classes, etc, are being cut. I realize that many people will say that there are enough taxes, it just needs to be allocated better. I agree with this. However, so many people are struggling, like ourselves, their afraid to vote anything that has the word "tax" in it. Just my 2 cents.
Please note, I am just like the op, I'm getting very tired of having to pay for all the stuff that came standard in school when I was a kid. Definitley some tough times we are going through.