NAPERVILLE, Ill., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the
recession, schools across the nation are scaling back budgets,
leaving classrooms in need of some of the most basic supplies like
pens, paper, and notebooks. According to the OfficeMax® "National
Teaching Realities Survey"(1) conducted by Kelton Research in
April 2010, the classroom is still
thriving, however, due to dedicated teachers who admittedly go
above and beyond the call of duty to create the best learning
environment for their students. For nearly all (97%) teachers, this
means frequently dipping into their own pockets to purchase
necessary supplies because most (69%) educators believe that having
the right tools in the classroom is essential for their success as
a teacher.
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As school budgets continue to shrink, seven in ten teachers
report their schools are not able to provide them with all the
necessary tools to effectively teach their students, and 79% of
educators say their classrooms are in need of more items that they
currently lack such as essential classroom supplies, paper
products, and arts and crafts supplies. Struggling to work with
limited resources, six in ten (63%) educators wish they were able
to give their students more school supplies, books or rewards, and
67% of teachers want more funding to select the supplies they need
for their classrooms.
Selflessly devoted, the majority (82%) of teachers think it is
their responsibility to ensure students have the best learning
experience possible – no matter the price tag – spending an average
of $623 of their own money on
supplies for their students each year. Everyday classroom supplies
such as pencils and pens (78%), prizes and incentives (72%), and
arts and crafts supplies (72%) top the list of purchases teachers
make using their own cash.
Willing to do whatever it takes, some teachers said they would
give up two vacation days (32%), their lunch hour for one month
(28%), part of their summer vacation (25%), or free periods for the
rest of the semester (24%) to ensure their students had the best
possible learning environment. While most teachers are happy to go
the extra mile, almost three in ten teachers (28%) admit their
families have had to sacrifice extra luxuries as a result of the
money they spend on their classrooms.
Realizing they cannot do it alone, teachers have been forced to
take additional measures to make ends meet in the classroom. Eight
in ten (80%) educators, who have ever been short on funds for their
classroom, have sent a note home to parents requesting specific
supply donations. In addition, educators have asked school
administrators for more funding (55%), reached out to local
businesses for donations (48%) and conducted fundraising programs
(41%) to secure much needed financial support.
Surprisingly, a majority (65%) of teachers think most parents
are unaware that many educators use their personal money to provide
classroom supplies for their students. Yet, teachers are not
looking for recognition but rather support from parents through
efforts such as attending more school board meetings to speak out
on their behalf (69%), donating school supplies to their classroom
(68%), and helping organize fundraisers or drives to raise money
for classroom supplies (60%).
"Teachers play such an important role supporting, inspiring, and
educating our children, and we think it's wrong that they are also
personally bearing costs to provide classroom supplies," said
Bob Thacker, senior vice president
of marketing and advertising for OfficeMax. "In response, OfficeMax
donates millions of dollars worth of school supplies to teachers
each year. During this Teacher Appreciation Week, we urge everyone
to think of a teacher who positively impacted their life and thank
them with a gift card or supplies for their classroom. Teachers
need our support now more than ever."
To help garner support for educators nationwide, OfficeMax and
nonprofit Adopt-A-Classroom founded the national "A Day Made
Better" cause to lead the fight to end teacher-funded classrooms.
Since 2007, the companies have directly funded over 3,600
classrooms and helped secure donations for over 10,000 classrooms
through AdoptAClassroom.com. To learn more about the cause or get
involved, please visit www.adaymadebetter.com.
About OfficeMax
OfficeMax Incorporated (NYSE: OMX) is a leader in both
business-to-business office products solutions and retail office
equipment. The OfficeMax mission is simple. We help our customers
do their best work. The company provides office supplies and paper
, in-store print and document services through OfficeMax ImPress®,
technology products and solutions, and office furniture to
consumers and to large, medium and small businesses. OfficeMax
customers are served by more than 30,000 associates through direct
sales, catalogs, e-commerce and more than 1,000 stores. For more
information, visit OfficeMax.com.
Research Methodological Notes
The OfficeMax Teacher Survey was conducted by Kelton Research
between April 19th and April 23rd,
2010 using Random Digit Dialing of listed and unlisted
numbers. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation.
The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the
number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing
the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100
that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 5.7
percentage points from the result that would be obtained if
interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe
represented by the sample.
(1) A national telephone study among 300 American teachers
of grades K-8
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SOURCE OfficeMax Incorporated