What happend to school supplies?

Remember the days that going to pick out school supplies was the most awesome event ever? You could get those neato Lisa Frank folders, or grab an awesome Chicago Bears one?? It was the best thing to get to personalize and pick out folders and notebooks and more. You got to decide which crayons to get Rose Art or Crayola? You even got to decide what kind of paper to use, wide rule or college rule?

Well, after shopping for my 1st grader this weekend he and I were both very disappointed. Does he have the Ninja Turtles or the Chima stuff he wanted, NO. It is not because I would not let him. It was all thanks to a lovely piece of paper from the school which specified what brands and items to get as well as the folders. We have plain blue plastic, yes plastic not paper, folder that we are not allowed to put his name or anything on. We have a plain pencil box that is also not allowed to have his name on it. We had to have Crayola crayons and markers, which while I prefer them what if I wanted a choice. What ever happened to a kid getting to be excited about going back to school? Education is a great thing, really it is the key and the backbone to our kids futures and is what helps them become smart enough to one day realize that they have to take care of us as parents when we get old and gray. Who am I kidding, I am already graying!! Anyway, my point is, let them express themselves. Let them want to come to school. Some kids do not want to be there and if something like picking out a Chima folder will help them want to go, then by all means let them!!!