Holiday teachers' gifts

[Anonymous]

I recall reading somewhere in our school's literature that gifts to teachers are discouraged at holiday time. They then suggest that if you do want to do something donate to a charity in the teacher's name. Do parents really forgo giving their teacher a gift? Is this just something you read in the parent handbook or something similar, but no one listens to? This is our first year in a private and I don't want to be the only parent who opts out of gift giving or the only who opts in. In our public school we would give something like a Target gift card and a greeting card.

[Anonymous]

Holton discourages gifts but we still give small personal gifts to DC's favorite teachers. DC enjoys wrapping and giving discreetly. Haven't had a teacher yet to turn down a gift.

[Anonymous]

No gifts permitted at our school. When I was growing up my mom always dropped off a basket of cookies/muffins/bagels etc. to the director of the lower school/middle school/upper school, etc. to put in the teacher lounge.

You also should check with the room parent, as some schools/classrooms will take up a cash collection for a joint gift or cash.

[Anonymous]

It's true that a few parents give gifts despite the letter that goes out each winter season asking for toy donations in the box in the dining hall, but most parents abide by the request. A few who have given extravagant gifts have actually embarrassed their children because the gifts became public knowledge and the kids all talked about the gifts. One parent told me she likes to donate money to the annual fund in honor of her child's teachers at the end of the year (when the teacher no longer grades her child's work), but to me that still seems like blatant kissing-up and I could not do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's true that a few parents give gifts despite the letter that goes out each winter season asking for toy donations in the box in the dining hall, but most parents abide by the request. A few who have given extravagant gifts have actually embarrassed their children because the gifts became public knowledge and the kids all talked about the gifts. One parent told me she likes to donate money to the annual fund in honor of her child's teachers at the end of the year (when the teacher no longer grades her child's work), but to me that still seems like blatant kissing-up and I could not do that.

How is that a kiss-up? I would be honored if a family did that for me as a teacher. They work their butts off and some personal appreciation goes a long way.