Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 8, 2022. It has since been updated. There's a shortage of teachers across America, reflecting the low pay for teachers and inadequate investment in education. One teacher shared a video clip of her kindergarten class and how poorly it was furnished. The teacher, who goes by @progressivemama on TikTok, said the lack of investment in school was forcing teachers like her to spend their own money to help provide basic requirements in a classroom, such as books, shelves, and classroom staples, among other things. The video showed her panning the camera across the classroom, revealing empty shelves with no books and no proper chairs for kids to use. The video soon garnered more than 388,000 views and 35,600 likes.

Teacher’s video shows empty kindergarten classroom, says she is forced to spend money on supplies

“Communal” school supply lists are rattling parents on TikTok, with some asking, “Why should I buy scissors and highlighters for other children?”. For many families, back-to-school shopping includes notebooks, markers and folders, not just for their kids but for their peers as well. While certain states require schools to provide basic supplies, classroom budgets are tight. To ensure that all children have enough supplies — we’ve seen how kids treat pencils, right? — teachers often have two options: pay for a portion of supplies themselves, usually without reimbursement, or create “wish lists” requesting families to contribute bulk items once or twice a year.

Should parents buy school supplies for the entire class? TikTok is divided

HuffPost

Skills that kids practice at home can lead to success in the classroom.

What Teachers Wish Parents Would Do To Prepare Kids For The School Year

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A Dime Saved

3 in 4 Parents Believe That Schools Ask Them To Buy Too Many Back to School Supplies, Here Are 10 Ways To Save Money. Your kid’s education is crucial. But that multi-colored sparkly folder they’re eyeing up might not be nearly as necessary.

3 in 4 Parents Believe That Schools Ask Them To Buy Too Many Back to School Supplies

Once considered a rarity among American families, during the COVID-19 pandemic homeschooling came to the forefront as parents scrambled to put together educational options that made sense for their kids. Parents who have had children in school for many years may find the idea of homeschooling confusing and complicated. You...

Tips for Homeschooling Your Children

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NewsNinja

A lady is cautioning others about purchasing budget earrings from Amazon, Shein, and H&M, after she experienced keloid formations on her earlobes due to wearing them. On a TikTok post that has garnered more than 334,000 likes, Sailor Rozema (@sailor.rozema), a content creator, shares a warning with her community of "dangly earring girls": the inexpensive jewelry found in fast fashion can have negative impacts on your well-being.

‘I’ll never be wearing earrings for the rest of my life’: Customer warns against buying from Shein

Kindergarten marks a significant milestone in a child's life and can be a daunting experience for both children and parents. Navigating this new chapter smoothly requires preparation, patience, and a lot of love. Here’s a comprehensive guide to surviving kindergarten from a parent’s point of view, highlighting the do's and don’ts to help you and your child make the most of this exciting journey.

Surviving Kindergarten

Entrepreneur

Maria Washington and her husband Aaron realized they were on to something.

Her Son Struggled In School. After Helping Him Become an 'A' Student, She Started a Business to Replicate Their Success.

TIME

We are in a new wave of public school closures. Yours could be next, write Jessica Alcantara and Laura Petty.

Project 2025’s Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Already Started

Lunchbox claims his wife has no sense of humor because of a backpack he wanted to send his kid to school with. Their oldest child is starting Kindergarten, so they went back to school shopping for a new backpack, and he wanted to find a fun one. He bought him a Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey backpack. He thought it would be hilarious to send him to the first day of school with it to see everyone's reaction, and then he could use the backpack he picked up. His wife did not think it was funny because when people saw it, she thought they’d judge them and talk badly about them behind their backs. Lunchbox thought it would be a funny trick because the kids won’t know what it is, but the adults will and think they’re cool parents. He thought it would also be a great way to meet other parents because they’d think their fun parents. He also thought 20 years from now it’d be funny to look back on his first day of school pictures and see him wearing the backpack.

Lunchbox Claims His Wife Has No Sense Of Humor With Incident With Their Kid

Pine Mountain Club, CA

Elaine Salmon said she was getting her classroom ready for students when a bear entered.

Bear walks into classroom ahead of 1st day of school

South Dakota State

Herbie J Pilato

Former child star Bobby Buntrock's life ended in tragedy. Best known as Harold “Sport” Baxter on the popular 1960s TV sitcom Hazel, Butrock died at only 21 years old in a car accident in 1974.

The Tragic Death of Child Star Bobby Buntrock, and How TV's 'Hazel' Shirley Booth Protected him

Wisconsin State

The majority of coins don't hold much value - a penny is worth just one cent, a nickel five, and a dime ten, but on occasion, the coins that make up your loose change can be worth way more than face value. That's definitely the case for some quarters in circulation that are worth over $2,000. The coins to be on the lookout for are Wisconsin state quarters that came out in 2004. The backs of all of those quarters show a wheel of cheese, a cow, and an ear of corn, but the valuable ones have something particularly special going on with the corn.

2004 Quarters Are Worth $2000, And One Might Be In Your Pocket Right Now

The US Sun

ONLY half of recent high school graduates are planning to attend a four-year college or university, contrary to popular belief, according to new research. A survey of 1,000 recent public high school graduates (ages 18 and 19) and 1,000 parents of public high school students found that just 22% felt “very prepared” for life after […]

US high school students are ditching 4-year college plans & want to take five ‘less traditional’ routes after graduation

California State

San Diego, CA

Going back to school this month is happening as a rise in COVD cases is happening in San Diego and up and down the state. It’s not anywhere close to what the numbers were in 2020 and 2021, but county public health officials in San Diego and many other California counties have reported higher positive test rates the last several weeks.

Something to Think About as Your Kids Head Back to School

Camden, NJ

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Cornelius, NC

Morristown Minute

CAMDEN, N.J. – Lisa Smith, 61, of Cornelius, North Carolina, has admitted to her role in a fraudulent scheme involving over $3.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that Smith pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court on July 17, 2024, to a charge of bank fraud conspiracy.

Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.5M COVID Relief Scam

When you’re dating someone, even if you’re really into them, they may suddenly do something that makes you wonder what you ever saw in them. A post on Reddit’s Ask Men section has guys calling out the little things that have that effect. It asks, “What are the things that girls do that make you lose interest?”

Little Things Women Do That Make Guys Lose Interest

Rhode Island State

Two longtime Cranston businesses have announced they are closing. In a social media post made on Tuesday, Solitro's Bakery said its owner is retiring and they will be closing after 75 years in business. The bakery's last official day will be August 18. "After 75 years in business, we have...

Iconic Italian Bakery, Restaurant Both Closing In Cranston

The state's Department of Health has issued a warning after a Rhode Islander died from a Vibrio bacteria infection this month. Officials say beachgoers with open wounds should avoid brackish sand salt water because they may be exposed to Vibrio. Open wounds can include recent cuts, scrapes, surgery sites and...

Doctors Warn Of Flesh Eating Bacteria- Danger To Open Wounds

Florida State

Uncovering Florida

Most people are guilty of doing it at least once in their lives, many people do it by accident, some do it because they find it fun, and others do it for reasons like honoring loved ones. Regardless of the situation, just about everyone has released a balloon. The difference is that intentionally releasing balloons is now illegal by House Bill 321’s standards.

Law Signed By DeSantis Makes It Illegal To Release Balloons In Florida

NewsBreak

Q&A of the Day – The Cost of Sending Kids Back to School

Q&A of the Day – The Cost of Sending Kids Back to School. Each day I feature a listener question sent by one of these methods....

Q&A of the Day – The Cost of Sending Kids Back to School

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