This story originally appeared on Daily Kos
News of Stephen Colbert's surprise announcement that he was teaming with Donorschoose.org to fund every single teacher-requested grant in South Carolina went mega-viral yesterday. All the attention to the story brought about something else rather extraordinary—readers funding teacher-requested grants nationwide. Reddit users were particularly keen to help and as of last night, these projects were funded:- FL Kindergarten teacher needs a carpet $147 to go- NC Middle School Teacher needs calculators $169 to go- NYC ESL teacher needs basic supplies $195 to go- MO teacher needs basic supplies $128- Louisiana teacher needs copies of "Of Mice and Men" $298 to go- NC teacher needs basic supplies $92 to go- NY teacher needs industrial pencil sharpener $168 to go- MA teacher needs STEM activities $193 to go- NYC teacher needs calculators $99 to go- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $175 to go- Las Vegas teacher needs copies of Dr. Suess $122 to go- IN teacher needs roll down maps $179 to go- TX teacher needs a rocket launcher $337 to go- Louisiana teacher needs a microscope $131 to go- Chicago teacher needs music for band $235 to go- NC Math teacher needs basic supplies $507 to go- NC middle school teacher needs science lab materials $484 to go- CA teacher needs AP Bio supplies $1279 to go- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $121 to go- Philly teacher needs basic supplies $233 to go- NC teacher needs copies of "To Kill a Mockingbird" $476 to go- TX teacher needs basic phys ed supplies $444 to go- FL teacher needs recess supplies $145 to go- Philly teacher needs copy paper $203 to go- MI teacher needs a set of Hardy Boy Books $189 to go- OR mobile library for special needs students needs books $130 to go- NYC teacher needs STEM books $310- NYC teacher needs first grade books $299- OH Preschool teacher to deaf students needs educational toys $158 to go- WA teacher needs play equipment $324 to go- CA special ed teacher needs playdoh $118 to go.- Baltimore teacher needs drums $134 to go- NC teacher needs Dr. Suess books $146 to go- IN teacher needs glue and markers $98 to go- MS teacher needs basic supplies $73 to go- WA teacher needs basic supplies $186 to go- CA teacher needs basic art supplies $171 to go- FL teacher needs basic supplies $149 to go- NM teacher needs basic supplies $172 to go- TN teacher needs crayons $119 to go- NJ teacher needs carpet squares $137 to go- TX teacher needs math tools $172 to go- KY teacher needs STEM materials $91 to go- AR teacher needs a xylophone $288 to go- NC teacher needs copies of "I am Malala" $400 to go.- CA teacher needs copies of "Frankenstein" $546 to go- PA teacher needs copies of Romeo and Juliet $290 to go- TX teacher needs a world map rug $321 to go- CA school librarian needs manga $201 to go- CT teacher needs basic art supplies and heaphones $221- NY librarian needs graphic novels $210 to go- Philly teacher needs art supplies $522 to go- MO teacher needs a carpet $362 to go- CA teacher needs student microscopes $195 to go- IN teacher needs basic supplies $222- CA teacher needs a rocket launcher $468 to go (it's not just Texas that likes to launch rockets)- Chicago special ed teacher needs math toys $264 to go- MN teacher needs math tools $195 to go- IN teacher needs pencil sharpener $78 to goAs many have noted, Colbert's donation is amazing and appreciated, but it is such a shame that our teachers and schools aren't properly funded in the first place. Underpaid teachers nationwide dig into their own pockets on a regular basis to pay for the most basic needs of their students.
