How much are you giving teachers this holiday?

[Anonymous]

$25 Amazon gift cards for middle school teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

If this is the case why not ask for more class supplies from the school administration, make a request to the PTA or send a message to the parents in the class specifically to help buy said supplies.

Buying classroom supplies expecting to be reimbursed with gifts seems questionable to me.

We are not allowed to make any requests to the PTA, nor is there any money in the budget from school admin. My principal is just as likely to give me money out of her own pocket though. And my parents are poor, so I can't ask them. And no, I don't "expect" any gift for anything. I buy things for my students and my classroom because I love them. Period. Technically, I don't "have to" buy anything. But I would never want a classroom for my own children without books, without games or toys, without a fish tank, without basic supplies, without science or art materials so I make sure my students have those things. I want my students to have the same kind of classroom my own children get.

I'm so freaking tired of hearing from people b#tch#ing about teacher gifts. If you don't want to give anything or can't give anything, it's totally fine. I do my job based on an internal sense of care and dedication. The best gift you can give a teacher is to ensure your child is respectful, does their homework (or is read to at night if they are too little for homework) and has their basic needs met.

This seems to have hit a nerve with you. If you don’t expect any gifts just say so and leave it at that. At the two schools my child went to, teachers made requests during PTA meetings, or the teacher sent out a wish list on Amazon for books and games. I don’t think a fish tank helps tremendously with the educational outcome of the students, I’m fine if there isn’t any in my child’s class.

The reason the gifts are frown upon by many people is that it creates the appearance of unfairness. I’ve witnessed that the kid whose parent brings gifts gets the highest grade, while kid reading at 99 percentile doesn’t. Not saying you do this, but it does happen and it needs to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

+1

I don’t need 30 coffee mugs or cute gift things you found on Pinterest and seemed to be in a contest with your Bunco group for who can make the most outrageous ridiculous thing! It is going to go in the dumpster at the back of school.

A letter to my principal and school board is far more appreciated. I love your kids but admin is another story sometimes.

No gifts cards either. If you must, give cash. Every. Single. Gift card last year had either already been used by folks going through the racks with scanners or were for stores that went out of business. I also don’t drink coffee.

Get me a bottle of wine or a vape pen and I would be thrilled! I partake to be handle most parents!

They aren't activated until you get to the register, but good try.

Not the PP, but my teacher SIL has a drawer full of unused gift cards. It isn't that she doesn't want to use them, but mainly she forgets she has them, it is a pain to carry them, or whenever you need it, it isn't with you

If it’s a target, Amazon, or visa gift card it is very easy to use it online. You don’t have to carry it w you. If it’s for a restaurant or small local shop or something, you are correct that it often is forgotten in a drawer.

-former teacher who always used Amazon, visa, and target gift cards. Even Walmart. But also had a drawer full of Starbucks and various restaurant gift cards.

(And also agree a nice note/card/email is by far the best teacher gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

Teachers aren’t required to either. Much of what teachers buy are non essential items

It depends where you teach. I taught high school in an underfunded school in an underfunded district w a lot of low income students and I went out of my own pocket to buy many of the essential school supplies for my students (notebooks, pens, pencils, even backpacks), and also used my own money to always keep healthy snacks in the classroom for students who were always hungry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

Thank you for understanding the difference.

Yes and your kid likely sees their dr once or twice per year for 30 mins whereas they’re w their teacher 180 days per year for 7 hours! It’s a totally different relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

Thank you for understanding the difference.

Yes and your kid likely sees their dr once or twice per year for 30 mins whereas they’re w their teacher 180 days per year for 7 hours! It’s a totally different relationship.

We pay taxes for public schools and tuition at private schools. Being a teacher is not a high paying job, but there are other benefits like free summers relative job security, you get to do what you love etc.

We pay tips for hospitality workers, earning bare minimum. The other poster put it well, teachers are education professionals.

[Anonymous]

$50 Amazon gift card to 8 teachers and 2 staff members. We are skipping gifts to each other (but not kids) this year.

[Anonymous]

$25 Target gift cards to each daughter’s primary teacher, as well as two aftercare staff and two aftercare directors (longtime center we’ve been to where they also attend all summer and used to be daycare/preschool)

[Anonymous]

$200 each
$100 for outside school classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

If this is the case why not ask for more class supplies from the school administration, make a request to the PTA or send a message to the parents in the class specifically to help buy said supplies.

Buying classroom supplies expecting to be reimbursed with gifts seems questionable to me.

We are not allowed to make any requests to the PTA, nor is there any money in the budget from school admin. My principal is just as likely to give me money out of her own pocket though. And my parents are poor, so I can't ask them. And no, I don't "expect" any gift for anything. I buy things for my students and my classroom because I love them. Period. Technically, I don't "have to" buy anything. But I would never want a classroom for my own children without books, without games or toys, without a fish tank, without basic supplies, without science or art materials so I make sure my students have those things. I want my students to have the same kind of classroom my own children get.

I'm so freaking tired of hearing from people b#tch#ing about teacher gifts. If you don't want to give anything or can't give anything, it's totally fine. I do my job based on an internal sense of care and dedication. The best gift you can give a teacher is to ensure your child is respectful, does their homework (or is read to at night if they are too little for homework) and has their basic needs met.

Books, every school has a library, you don’t need another one in your classroom
Games and toys, you’re at an educational institution, not a day care center
Fish tank, lol, take a field trip to the local zoo or aquarium
Science and art supplies, I’d be curious to know what the list consists of, I’ve seen great teachers do amazing things with cheap supplies.

I helped organize a science fair at my child’s elementary schools. You can set up hands on experiments for an entire class for $20. If you set up a list of things you need I’m sure you’d find some parents to help you with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Room parent suggested $100 per child for the whole year.

I would honestly assume she’s joking. That is so far beyond remotely reasonable that it can’t possibly be real.

One year our room parent splurged and gave the teacher an overnight spa trip to the teacher for her and her husband to enjoy. Then we received an email following that telling us that the room balance was zero and that they had nothing left for the Valentine’s Day party or the end-of-the-year party as she sought additional class funding…

So what? The spa trip probably had no cash value. She still needed cash for the class party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

If this is the case why not ask for more class supplies from the school administration, make a request to the PTA or send a message to the parents in the class specifically to help buy said supplies.

Buying classroom supplies expecting to be reimbursed with gifts seems questionable to me.

We are not allowed to make any requests to the PTA, nor is there any money in the budget from school admin. My principal is just as likely to give me money out of her own pocket though. And my parents are poor, so I can't ask them. And no, I don't "expect" any gift for anything. I buy things for my students and my classroom because I love them. Period. Technically, I don't "have to" buy anything. But I would never want a classroom for my own children without books, without games or toys, without a fish tank, without basic supplies, without science or art materials so I make sure my students have those things. I want my students to have the same kind of classroom my own children get.

I'm so freaking tired of hearing from people b#tch#ing about teacher gifts. If you don't want to give anything or can't give anything, it's totally fine. I do my job based on an internal sense of care and dedication. The best gift you can give a teacher is to ensure your child is respectful, does their homework (or is read to at night if they are too little for homework) and has their basic needs met.

Books, every school has a library, you don’t need another one in your classroom
Games and toys, you’re at an educational institution, not a day care center
Fish tank, lol, take a field trip to the local zoo or aquarium
Science and art supplies, I’d be curious to know what the list consists of, I’ve seen great teachers do amazing things with cheap supplies.

I helped organize a science fair at my child’s elementary schools. You can set up hands on experiments for an entire class for $20. If you set up a list of things you need I’m sure you’d find some parents to help you with.

Obviously, you aren't aware of the research around books in the classroom and outcomes. Games? Yes, I teach kindergarten and kids learn through games. Toys, again, Kindergarten. These are a MUST HAVE. Seriously, go away. Please. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

If this is the case why not ask for more class supplies from the school administration, make a request to the PTA or send a message to the parents in the class specifically to help buy said supplies.

Buying classroom supplies expecting to be reimbursed with gifts seems questionable to me.

I don’t think anyone things teachers are even remotely close to being fully reimbursed by gift cards. And most people realize that school administrators can’t or won’t release more funds for classroom supplies. Maybe a particularly flush PTA can do it, but classroom supplies aren’t as sexy as the other things they like to furnish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I don't tip my doctor, but my doctor is not cutting into their own earnings to buy supplies for my kids. I send gift cards to target for this reason.

If this is the case why not ask for more class supplies from the school administration, make a request to the PTA or send a message to the parents in the class specifically to help buy said supplies.

Buying classroom supplies expecting to be reimbursed with gifts seems questionable to me.

We are not allowed to make any requests to the PTA, nor is there any money in the budget from school admin. My principal is just as likely to give me money out of her own pocket though. And my parents are poor, so I can't ask them. And no, I don't "expect" any gift for anything. I buy things for my students and my classroom because I love them. Period. Technically, I don't "have to" buy anything. But I would never want a classroom for my own children without books, without games or toys, without a fish tank, without basic supplies, without science or art materials so I make sure my students have those things. I want my students to have the same kind of classroom my own children get.

I'm so freaking tired of hearing from people b#tch#ing about teacher gifts. If you don't want to give anything or can't give anything, it's totally fine. I do my job based on an internal sense of care and dedication. The best gift you can give a teacher is to ensure your child is respectful, does their homework (or is read to at night if they are too little for homework) and has their basic needs met.

Books, every school has a library, you don’t need another one in your classroom
Games and toys, you’re at an educational institution, not a day care center
Fish tank, lol, take a field trip to the local zoo or aquarium
Science and art supplies, I’d be curious to know what the list consists of, I’ve seen great teachers do amazing things with cheap supplies.

I helped organize a science fair at my child’s elementary schools. You can set up hands on experiments for an entire class for $20. If you set up a list of things you need I’m sure you’d find some parents to help you with.

Classroom libraries mean children have access to books every day, not just once a week for their specials. I was a poor kid and craved books. I’m glad my teachers had great classroom libraries.

DH learned to play chess in his ES classroom. He was also a poor kid. It sparked a love of math. He became an engineer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I typically give $20 with a small token/gift. I’m so torn this year, because another $40-$50 is really pushing the budget (I have two kids) but also I don’t want to be cheap and only give $10. Are we all doing the same amounts this year or have you cut back?

In HS now, so nothing. And I'm so glad to be done with that. It's not that we weren't generous but it's one more thing. More money spent. And we usually had to "sponsor" staff that were not our DCs teachers, so: 2-3 gifts, plus donating to "winter parties", and volunteering for the same. Now, I don't have to do any of that.