It is back to school time and that means back to school supplies.  This is quite an undertaking in our brave new world.  It takes time, effort and, of course money, lots of money.  According to the National Retail Federation, back-to-school spending will average  $635 for families with K-12 children. Of course one has to have the right clothes, the right shoes. the right back pack, the right headphones, the right lunch box, the right water bottle, etc., etc., etc. It seems as if the list never ends, well at least does not end before the budget has been surpassed. Don’t forget the obligatory calculator that will cost more than last year’s calculator that, of course , is not compatible with this year’s work.  There will probably also be a needed software upgrade on the family computer and a bushel full of USB flash drives so that all that homework done on the computer can be lost on the way to school.  (Teacher: “Johnny where is your homework?” Johnny: “The dog swallowed my USB drive.”)  

Way back in the dark ages, when I was in school, it was much simpler: a  couple of shirts, a pair or two of jeans and a new pair of “sneakers” took care of the clothes.  The school supply list consisted of a School Box (cleverly disguised as Dutch Masters President cigar box), an eraser, a few pencils, a compass, a protractor, a binder and some paper.  

They say kids are smarter, I wonder if today’s tech savvy student would know what to do with a protractor and a compass.