Yup. Ours had some really expensive hobby items in addition to the books and book accessories. They had a rock tumbler kit one year I remember wanting really bad. My grandparents ended up getting me one for Christmas. I recall a telescope one year as well.
While I totally agree with you, this meme isn’t referring to college text books. It’s referring to school supplies and clothes for elementary school children.
The vast majority of public schools in the US are severely underfunded and don’t have enough supplies like markers, disinfectant, crayons, pencils, etc to provide kids and teachers don’t make very much money, yet they often come out of pocket to buy supplies. What has happened as a result, is parents have to purchase many of these supplies to send to school with their kids for the whole classroom to have the items they need. I have three kids in kindergarten and second grade. Their school supply lists were about $150 each. With creative shopping for sales, we managed to get everything about $150 cheaper than listed. We are waiting for the tax-free weekend to buy clothes for all of them.
Gotta love the good ol’ US of A and it’s hatred of the poors.