As an elementary teacher I have to jump in on this.
By the end of the year they are mangled, dull, and barely hanging together. Usually I have bought 10 or more extra pair to replace the lost and broken ones (most of the time they stretch them waaaay out till the screw gives way). I have never made it through the school year without having to purchase extra folders, scissors, pencils, glue sticks, and markers. So if you really wanted a pair of used 69 cent scissors back at the end of the year I could probably scrounge some up and send a pair home but I would chuckle about it.
It is just infuriating and I may just change my policy and not pool anything (in my room we pool markers, glue sticks, pencils, index cards, and notebook paper). The students can now keep it all in their desks and when they run out they can borrow from a neighbor or use saved scraps. No extras available at all through my own money. And let me tell you some kids can go through 24 pencils in about a month and I'm sure the same parents who are griping now will not like getting a monthly email letting them know little Johnny needs more pencils and will be writing with my 1 inch saved nubs until she sends them. Because god forbid he should use something of mine or someone elses and/or not take home perfectly unused pencils at the end of the year.
I have also had parents complain that they couldn't bring in "cute" pencils or folders. I just tell them that if it's that important then they are certainly welcome to buck the system (said in a nicer way of course). With the pencils please send in a hand held sharpener because I sharpen all the pencils before school to avoid wasting classtime and most foil glitter etc don't work in my electric sharpener (which I've learned the hard way not to let the kids use - $60 of my money down the drain bc of someone stuffing crayons in it). If a special pencil is lost I can't take academic time to launch an investigation, interview witnesses, and take statements. So, if they will be terribly upset about this they should keep it at home. As for the folders it is definitely easier to say take out your green math folder. However, if Johnny must have a zebra print I will still just say take out your green math folder and he needs to be able to follow that direction as promptly as the other students. Also, if he gets confused which subject is "zebra" it will be his job to sort out his own papers and find missing objects, I won't take classtime to assist and take away from other's learning.
