Who deems each child has 250 pencils? Why are teachers supplementing supplies in classrooms because inadequate school budgets do not meet classroom needs? 

Public school funds are being siphoned to charter and private schools. President Donald Trump looking at trade war with his tariffs is disregarding lower classes in the United States. Assuming each child has 250 pencils or has multiple dolls is coming from someone who does not know how working-class and lower-middle-class families live. 

Turning the other way or ignoring these ongoing speculative statements that reflect upper-class families, beware what is happening while delving deeply into others’ tight money pockets as they’re surviving in our country. Those $125 sneakers are a tough buy for a working family; how hard is it becoming for ordinary folks to have decent footwear with prices being $300-plus? 

My father was a hardworking man with the stance that no matter what a family did not have, they needed good food and quality footwear in order to be able to work and earn what they needed to survive. 

Pencils, dolls, sneakers need to be looked at in light of what each family can afford and not go without because those with money can have what they want and need. Each of us needs a pencil to learn and budget our finances, giving a child the joy of that doll or toy car, and well-fitting sneakers in our life's journey. The president is so removed from real folks' lives that all these statements mean nothing to him, except for control, power and making money for him and his cronies. Many of us do not have multiples of things that can be cut without affecting our lives. 

Kath Allen

Peterborough