Should teachers stop spending their own personal funds on classroom supplies?

[pazzyanne]

16. I worked as a classroom teacher for 20 years...

and, yes, I was one of those teachers who bought supplies using my own money to do so. The school where I taught let teachers go without raises or contracts for 4 years which put us in the position of being one of the first 3 schools in Minnesota to go out on strike. (Thank god for teacher unions!) Things did improve after 2 weeks on a 53 degree below 0 wind chill experience. With a change in administration a few years later (superintendent) things went from bad to worse. I gave up and left teaching as did 3 others teachers and the elementary principal the same year I left. I wasn't the first to leave nor was I the last. Teaching is a hard job that most people do not realize. No matter how much you love teaching, your students, and the community you live in, things become overwhelming, so change needs to happen to keep you healthy. My fellow teachers and I could not bring about change, so those of us that could moved and many of those out of teaching altogether. I went on to teach in other venues because I loved what I did in my public school classroom. I do appreciate your thoughts and input.