As a teacher, I’m tired of begging for what I need to do my job

It’s that time of year again: Time for me to create my wish list for my students this fall.

As a special education teacher in North Philly, I am a little more than conflicted about being forced into a fund-raising corner to get my kids the supplies they need each year. The Philadelphia School District provides teachers with some basic materials to start (pencils, erasers, notebooks, etc.), but it’s never everything that I need to last for the whole year. This year, I created my list while working at a gym, the second job I took to make ends meet. Needless to say, if my school can’t provide everything I need for my classroom, I likely won’t be able to cover the cost all by myself.

I am not alone, as the hashtag #clearthelist — about buying teachers and their students the things they need for their classrooms — has gained momentum in the past couple of years. Usually, it is referring to an Amazon wish list or a DonorsChoose list that the teachers themselves created. (And yes, I get the irony that large corporations like Amazon are profiting from this fund-raiser all while paying less in taxes than I do.)

We’re not asking for fancy gadgets like espresso machines — on my wish list, I have pencils, Expo markers, pencil grips, and other basic classroom needs. I have a few “fun” items like fidgets and stress balls, but most of the list consists of things I need to do my job at a basic level.

“If teachers are so important, why am I begging for the necessities to do my job?”

While every school district differs, the School District of Philadelphia reimburses teachers up to $200 to buy necessary materials. However, we must supply receipts for purchases by a certain date or we do not get the refund. Typically, I spend closer to $500 each year on extra supplies, but I can only claim $250 of unreimbursed expenses on my taxes each year.

When it comes to getting my necessary materials, it’s not just the money that irks me. I am spending my personal, unpaid time creating the list, making sure I have enough for each student, sharing it on all my social media pages, managing the packages on my stoop to make sure they do not get swiped, and then lugging them to my school. I do not own a car, so I rely on the kindness of my friends and coworkers, as well as the patience of my fellow SEPTA riders as I carry large bags.

I am human, not some sort of angelic “hero” (as we so often like to portray teachers). So let’s discuss how twisted it is that I have to manage my own fund-raiser each year for the basic supplies I need to do my job. Why aren’t these supplies readily available to me? What other jobs and careers expect you to fund-raise for your work materials? While my non-teacher peers are out comping “business” lunches, I am pleading to acquaintances on Facebook to buy my students some dry-erase markers. It’s embarrassing. (On that note, please do help a teacher if you can. A comprehensive list by state can be found here.)

» READ MORE: Pa.’s teacher shortage is now a ‘crisis.’ Here’s how the state plans to bring in thousands of educators by 2025

I love my job, and I am honored to teach Philadelphia’s youth, but it is no wonder that people are leaving the teaching profession nationwide. The state is facing a teacher shortage of crisis proportions, and the Department of Education has issued a series of recommendations, including making it easier to get certified, and doing more recruitment, even as early as high school. I’m glad the department is sounding the alarm and creating a plan, but I would like to see more efforts to address the very real struggles that teachers face every day, such as needing supplies. This will not only recruit teachers but also retain them.

Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Eric Hagerty has said that “teaching is the profession that unlocks the workforce for all other professions, so we must find ways to encourage more individuals to answer the call and enter the classroom.”

If teachers are so important, why am I begging for the necessities to do my job?

Nicole Wyglendowski proudly teaches special education for the School District of Philadelphia in North Philadelphia.