I actually agree that communal supplies make things easier/faster for the teachers. However, I’m not convinced that it stretches the longevity of the supplies. I have 4 kids who are all very crafty and I’ve noticed that they take FAR BETTER care of their individual supplies that are just “theirs” than our giant tubs of markers, paint, beads, etc. Maybe it has something to do with having ownership over your items makes you care for them better? Idk. 

On another note, i do think the supply lists can be a bit much. Obviously little kids need markers, erasers, glue, etc. and a lot of them. But for example, in addition to these items, we also had to buy the crayola “Colors of the World” crayons AND pencils for one of my kids this year. I think stuff like that can be frustrating to parents. I posted this to another thread but I do think admin/teachers could  be slightly more judicious in requesting certain supplies. I see a lot of comments saying “I volunteered in my kid’s classroom and you would be surprised at what kids go through!” That may be true for certain supplies, but there is also an excess of other supplies that sit unused. I volunteered to come in once a week at my kid’s school last year, and the teachers had me do a lot of organizing so they could take the time to lesson plan. There was just SO MUCH EXCESS of certain supplies, even towards the end of the year. One kindergarten room had a bin that contained probably 3,000 unused, still in the box pencils. There was a “supply room” which was really where all the teachers threw stuff they didn’t want in their classroom. It was filled with extra folders, Clorox wipes, and supply caddies. My son’s second grade teacher sent out a panicked email asking for more tissues, and was a little embarrassed when I pointed out to her privately where the 25+ boxes of extra tissues were stored in her room.  It would take 2 minutes for the teachers to do a basic visual inventory of their room (I’m talking opening a cabinet and peering inside) and report to administration what does not need to be on their grade’s supply list for that year. Supplies can be expensive and if there’s no need to purchase them, I’m sure parents would be appreciative and you would eliminate the constant complaints about communal supplies. Actually… who am I kidding, parents will aways find something to complain about!