Back-to-school supplies

It's back-to-school shopping season, but before you make your list, you might check twice with your local school district. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson explains why some schools want you

Monday, August 8th 2005, 10:07 am

By: News On 6

It's back-to-school shopping season, but before you make your list, you might check twice with your local school district.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson explains why some schools want you to leave the supplies at home on the first day.

We've all seen school supply checklists in local shopping centers, but often those lists are written by teachers who may have switched grades or switched schools. Tulsa Public Schools is recommending kids come back to school with just a pencil and some paper. Then they'll be sent home with a list of the supplies.

School leaders hope it will help parents to keep from buying a lot of supplies their kids don't need and will never use. Teachers say keeping students' attention after a long summer break is enough of a challenge and the problem just gets worse when kids are trading notebooks, instead of taking notes.

Cherokee Elementary School teacher Terri Wade: "The things that are most intrusive I guess are the trapper keepers that are just huge and there's really not room in the desk for them."

Some school districts like Jenks Public Schools, have organized with PTA groups, to sell parents all the school supplies their kids need in one package. Still other schools, including 44 in Tulsa, say you don't need to buy school supplies at all.