Take heed, elementary teachers, administrators and parents: PENCILS ONLY. No pens, no exceptions. Enforce it.
As the image says, ‘Paid for by the Council for No Trapper Keepers.‘
When I googled “no trapper keepers” I got ~25,000 results, most of which are school supply lists that ban the Trapper Keeper. I had no idea the TKs caused such problems.
I do wish the public service announcement had specified Dixon Ticonderoga pencils and banned those rotten Empire makes, but I’ll take what I can get.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Robert Talbert 09.19.07 at 12:31 pm
I don’t get it — what’s the big deal about 3rd graders using pens? Are they afraid they’ll mark all over themselves? I have problems keeping my 1-year old from doing that but I would think a 3rd grader would be past that.
Some of those Google search results — sheesh! It sounds like Soviet Russia.
Tyler 09.19.07 at 3:26 pm
I don’t usually comment, but I’m fired up about the Dixon Ticonderoga pencil post. Fired. Up.
Suzie Creamcheese 09.19.07 at 8:53 pm
Does Eberhart Faber still manufacture pencils. I loved those red pencils with the gold script. Just something about the feel.
Matthew 09.19.07 at 8:58 pm
Robert,
Although this comic was meant to be humorous, I really do have a reason for banning pens until a certain level. I’m interested in whether day-to-day teachers would agree, so I might get around to putting the admittedly-unscientific thoughts down sometime soon.
And you’re right on with those Google results… seriously, what IS the problem with Trapper Keepers? I know the velcro sound sucks, but is it that much of a problem? Is there something I’m missing here? I’d love for someone to explain this to me.
Matthew 09.19.07 at 8:59 pm
Tyler,
I knew I’d eventually touch on a subject you cared deeply about. I, too, would defend to the death the virtue of the DT pencil.
Matthew 09.19.07 at 9:00 pm
Suzie,
I have sad news for you:
“Eberhard Faber’s popular US writing pencil operations were acquired by Faber-Castell USA in 1994 before being bought by Newell (Sanford) and eventually rolled into the Paper Mate brand.”
I’m not hip to the pencil scene anymore so I don’t know whether EF sold operations and share or if PaperMate continues to produce pencils with the EF name.
EF, DT and Sanford have always been fine with me. Berol/Empire, though? Inferior. INFERIOR.
Robert Talbert 09.20.07 at 11:28 am
Matt - Some of the second and third page results from the Google query make some mention about Trapper Keepers being larger than the desks they are sitting on. OK, I can see how that might be an issue, sort of. But do you have to make it sound like there’s papal injunction against using them? Geez, people, it’s just a notebook. Get bigger desks or something.
Matthew 09.20.07 at 5:36 pm
Yeah, I’m with you on the Keepers. The size part could be an issue, but I have a tough time believing that it’s a critical issue facing education. Then again, I’m not an elementary teacher, so I couldn’t possibly understand the true ramifications of Trapper Keepers in the classroom.
NYC Math Teacher 09.22.07 at 4:37 pm
I am a 6th grade math teacher. I allow pens or pencils in class, but only pencils or erasable pens on tests (for obvious reasons).
I haven’t seen a Trapper Keeper in years (I used one in 8th grade). I don’t allow looseleafs — only bound composition or spiral notebooks. Why? Those looseleaf notebooks tend to shed their contents rather easily.
Matthew 09.22.07 at 4:38 pm
That was my other reaction… “They still make those?!?”
Gary Stager 09.26.07 at 4:13 pm
I wrote about related back-to-school shopping issues here:
http://districtadministration.com/pulse/commentpost.aspx?news=no&postid=48161