Our school list here in Canada is very similar except no paper towels, Ziploc bags but we have other things like binders. Then there's all the supplies for the endless projects. We're asked to contribute Kleenex because the school board doesn't pay for this.

I approve of uniforms for high school students for the reasons Perna mentioned. It's not practical for younger kids considering they grow so fast. In one more year my daughter will be starting high school so I have to decide to send her to the separate school that has uniforms or the public -no uniforms.

When I went to high school I wore a uniform and I liked it. No worries about what to wear. Having 2 girls myself, it can be a headache worrying about clothes some mornings.

I think you could get some other parents involved and go to the parent meetings. I agree 8 hrs a day is too much. You can also ask them where physical education fits in - I know they cut this out in many U.S. schools.