Schools' BYO tissue demand irks parents

New entrants, Havelock North Primary School, Havelock North, using a tissue to "Trap It" before she "Bins It" - SafeSneeze lesson, "Trap it, Bin it, Wash it, Don't eat it. Photo / NZME.

Schools’ growing list includes basic healthcare item, leading some to say it’s a step too far

Schools' latest stationery demands are making some parents mad enough to cry - especially the discovery that tissues are now listed among their children's essentials.

Parents opening packs or making last-minute purchases this week have been unhappy to find the healthcare basic included, sparking several fiery online debates about whether it's a step too far.

"Ok so I just opened my son's stationery pack to name his items and to my horror there was a box of tissues in it," said a mum from east Auckland, on a forum that sparked more than 150 replies.

"Seriously is the school ... kidding. I'm wondering if next year I'll have to supply him with a desk and chair!"

A search by the Herald found dozens of schools across the country that now ask for one or two boxes of tissues - alongside other much-complained about items such as whiteboard markers, and other "shared" resources such as coloured pencils and photocopy paper.

"At our school, you have to buy whiteboard markers and they can only be black or blue," said Kidspot author Nikki Green, whose children go to Gladstone School. "Since they only sell them cheaply in mixed packs of four, it can definitely add up."

Porcelina Spring said her stationery list included items such as six gluesticks each, whiteboard markers, Sharpie permanent markers, artline pens, highlighters and packets of crayons. "It cost me $134.73 for two children."

While some parents queried if the broader requests should be covered by the school donation, others were understanding, saying the recent decile changes had affected their schools' funding and they were trying to fill the gap.

"I find it annoying that we have to buy the lot and it's put out for the whole class to use," said mum Jess Devonshire. "Schools clearly need more funding."

Liz Kelson, whose son is at Waiau Pa School, does not mind paying for a few extra pencils or a box of tissues to make teachers' jobs easier.

"The reality is that they ask for these things because they use them - they use whiteboard pens, Vivids and highlighters to enrich our children's learning."

Principals said that the whiteboard markers were for the children to use - not teachers. Many schools had mini whiteboards for children to practise printing on or work out maths.

Beachlands primary school principal Brian Gower said most schools stuck to the rule that all "tools of the trade" were school-provided, as were more expensive craft supplies.

According to Consumer NZ, donations can be used to cover "general costs" but state schools cannot charge fees for teaching the curriculum.

Healthcare supplies appear to fall in a grey area.

Schools that asked for tissues yesterday defended the choice, saying children used to have handkerchiefs but now came to school with nothing.

"Tissues cost a lot for schools to provide but one box is not too much to ask parents for," said Howick Primary principal Leyette Callister.

"Otherwise in the past I've had a roll of toilet paper. Not nice! It helps reduce the spread of germs to have plenty of tissues for sure."

Westmere Primary principal Caroline Marino said at their school, the tissue donation was a parent-led initiative. "In reality schools couldn't pay for 670 boxes of tissues," she said. "So parents suggested they could contribute."

Principals' Federation president Denise Torrey, whose school also asks for tissues, said the message was that parents needed to ask what the items were for.

"It's about transparency. Ask your school what your donation is for."