I’ve also seen US teachers spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets to stock classrooms.
I spent a lot of time in European schools and I’ve never heard of teachers having to stock their own classrooms or fundraise for things like playgrounds, etc.
They are over qualified and underpaid. They are also underappreciated with who it matters, those that pay them.
They need to supply their ideas because they do it because they care. They have my upmost respect. Them and health care professionals work their asses off. At least with healthcare, they have decent paycheck.