School Supplies

I wonder how much the corporate big heads have their hands in the Department of Education. Before May I wouldn't have even cared quite honestly. I was looking at the kids school supply list a few weeks ago and almost lost my cool. It was just obscene. I don't recall ever having to have the kind of crap they have to nowadays. My youngest has to have 24 glue sticks alone. Twenty four. Glue sticks. And two bottles of glue. Unless they plan on gluing them to their nap-pads (which makes me jealous, btw). I understand it is for art and all, but give me a little break here. Two boxes of crayons, two packs of markers, come on. No mention of a writing tablet or even notebook paper, but all art supplies. I don't understand. But I did get smart and include a pack of wipes in case he has a little accident at school and needs a quick pick-me-up. It wasn't on the list (it was actually on the middles list, go figure), but it made since to me.
The oldest one had a list that made the most since. Scissors, binder, paper, pencils, crayons, paper towels. Pretty much your standard list that i remember taking when I was in my younger years. Nothing fancy, nothing unreasonable.
My real heart-attack came when I looked at the forth grade list. Heavens, what a nightmare. It almost filled the entire page, with a note that said the teacher will have an additional list when they report for Meet the Teachers day. They did, and she did. More notebooks, binders and fees. Unreal. Insane. Frustrating. Two reams of paper he had to have. Two reams of copy paper. Can't the school even buy copy paper. Or buy a freaking projector. I don't mind donating to help, I really don't. But I do despise having to supply the whole class. But I guess the 30 reams of copy paper and 15 reams of pastel paper sitting in the corner will last the year. If not, we need to give them a bigger budget. There is only so much a single guncle can do.