Back to School
School supplies are basic needs
all children must have them
churches now often provide
what parents do not.
All children must have them
pencils and notebooks are cheap
but some parents cannot buy.
Churches now often provide
"God's work our hands"
whatever one does for the least of these....
What parents do not
give to their children others supply
as one way to live their faith.
This Trimeric is written for the dVerse Poetics prompt "Back to School." My church collects school supplies and fills them into little backpacks this time of year for children whose families cannot afford school supplies. I took the photo of some of the school supplies that have been collected.
It is both a shame that some parents cannot afford rather basic school supplies, and equally sad that it is the churches, and not the school districts, that provide what young children need to study. The form works well as a means to stress your point.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great thing to do. Kinda sad though schools can't provide the basics.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeleteAt work they do a collection this time of year for school supplies and then they are donated locally to help those who cannot afford them. It seems like we have a broken system when schools cannot provide these needed items. I know some teachers take money out of their own pockets to buy supplies and that doesn't seem right either.
They are much needed. I had a kid today tell me they did not have money for lunch even on the first day. I took care of her. The schools themselves have no money. What supplies there are in schools comes from the pocketbooks of the teachers. We have several of those organizations around and I try to point students families toward them.
ReplyDeletei remember we couldn't afford to buy school books when i was a kid - there was the possibility though to borrow them in school which was a good thing
ReplyDeletethere should be govt. supports & also schools should have funds for such kids...it's good that churches take care of these pupils...in our State govt. supply books, give pecuniary aid for school uniform and also midday meal....i like the repetition in the poem focusing on the points...a nice form Mary...
ReplyDeleteSome things I think should not be the parent's responsibility at all... pencils and books should be provided by school. In Sweden its actually against the law that parents should be obliged to provide anything extra for school, and of course books etc...
ReplyDeleteThen there are the extra silver-lining that we can help with, extra tutoring, school-trips... Kids from poor areas will always have need (maybe giving away an old computer for instance)...
We are having a drive here as well ~ I know these things are cheap but sadly not all can afford them ~ The children are blessed to even go to school as some sadly can't afford to pay for their schooling ~
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that your church does that, Mary. So many families struggle to get by, this must be such a great blessing for them.
ReplyDeleteEducation has been a political red headed step child for decades, teachers underpaid, difficulty with providing the essentials. (Nice to hear from Brian). My wife is an itinerant teacher in several districts, & what's offered to students, like free lunches or supplies, can vary. I'm voting for Bernie Sanders; then we'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteAh, that is sad - yes, all these things do cost quite a bit of money. I'm fortunate enough to be reasonably comfortable financially, but I do get all frowny when I calculate the cost for two children when you also add shoes, sports clothes, folders, compasses etc. etc. And then they promptly lose half of them...
ReplyDeleteI like this a lot. What a great way for churches to show the love of God. I actually linked back to this from my post as another example of a Trimeric, which I tried today. Peace, Linda
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear of churches that help students this way...there's a similar collection in our community to help provide for students' supplies!
ReplyDeleteAh.. yes.. the church continues to
ReplyDeleteserve the function of the village
supplying school needs for
life that parents often
can no longer do
without help..
and perhaps
the emotiOnal
ways of heArt
expressING as SpiRit
as human balanced
mind and body soUl
are among the
greaTest
school
tools
Church
can and
WILL
provide
for all schools
greatEST needs
to be met ALL Now..:)
Great idea..no child should have to pay for his own supplies...I think of less fortunate countries where he schools may have no floor or not enough supples, but they manage to teach in that environment anyway.
ReplyDelete"others supply
ReplyDeleteas one way to live their faith." such a heart warming thought Mary - love this.
... and it's more than supplies that's missing... nice angle on the prompt
ReplyDeleteSuch a noble thing to do. It takes a lot of thinking and untiring efforts. But worth it when the kids gleefully show their happiness when getting them!
ReplyDeleteHank
We have an outreach center that helps those in need...good work!
ReplyDeleteA great point to emphasize in a back to school poem. We have to look at the emotional side of this too...how the child must feel when he or she does not have the supplies he needs. Schools expect so much to be provided by the parents and this is just not always possible.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness there are teachers like Brian.
The smell of brand new school supplies was heaven to me, as a child. But for some families it was/is just another challenge (one way or another) to work through.
ReplyDelete