Students Fulfill Teachers’ Wish List

Many schools affected by Orange County’s bankruptcy have been forced to curtail spending, and John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma is no exception.

But this week, a group of students eased the cutbacks a bit for 18 teachers who received $350 worth of electric pencil sharpeners, videotapes, tape recorders and other classroom supplies as part of a “wish list” project.

The school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter solicited requests from teachers last year for simple supplies that would make their jobs easier, chapter President Fherry Tsai said.

The group received 20 requests and was able to buy about one item each for 18 teachers, she said. The items, which included computer supplies such as mouses, printer ribbons and dust covers, were presented during a ceremony at the school.

“A lot of the teachers are underpaid and overworked,” Tsai said. “It’s nice to be able to give them little things that the school can’t buy right now. It’s the little things that kind of make a difference, like being able to use an electric stapler rather than a manual one.”

Chapters of the national organization, designed to help young people develop business skills, are required to develop such projects to help their schools.

Kennedy High School’s chapter came up with the wish list idea during the 1994-95 school year but received only four requests from teachers, said senior Samuel Aborn.

The chapter raised money by selling food and drinks and the school’s football games, Aborn said. This year the response was greater, Aborn said, and the 168-member group was able to raise enough money to grant teachers their wishes.

“Most departments’ budgets have been cut,” said Wilhamenia Van Hunnick, the group’s faculty advisor. “These are things that the teachers had requested that we hope will make their teaching days easier.”