Class mom communicates with her law firm work email but forgets to inform teacher's birthday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Law firms typically don't prevent their employees -- much less their partners -- from using their work email for personal business. It certainly isn't ILLEGAL. What an absolutely bizarre claim. Even the federal government doesn't prevent employees for using work email for certain discrete personal tasks, though there are obviously more restrictions.

My husband gets school email to his work address because gmail is blocked on the hospital computer and he doesn't want to miss emails during the work day constantly. Why assume that she's "flexing"? Not to mention that half of DC is a lawyer and many folks are partners... It's not really the flex you apparently think it is.

I have my primary personal emails forward to my work account because otherwise I won't see them quickly. It's just a way to triage, and I usually write back from the work account because Outlook has shortcuts that make typing faster. I don't go to the trouble of deleting my signature, and, yes, I'm a partner. This is all because I am trying to juggle but this chain reminds me why I stopped all volunteering at my school. My way of doing things is the only way it would be possible, and apparently, some people would have concluded that I am a not-so-nice person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

+1 I’ve been a room mother and we have never done this.

[Anonymous]

Are teachers birthdays a thing? I have never heard of this.
Op you have too much time on your hands that you are posting about someone forgetting to tell you it’s a teachers birthday and judging them for it. You obv just feel feelings about her being successful working mom and you presumably being sahm and want to judge her. Just stop. She may not have another email and she is trying her best. Signed - working mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers birthdays a thing? I have never heard of this.
Op you have too much time on your hands that you are posting about someone forgetting to tell you it’s a teachers birthday and judging them for it. You obv just feel feelings about her being successful working mom and you presumably being sahm and want to judge her. Just stop. She may not have another email and she is trying her best. Signed - working mom

Presumably a SAHM? Seems OP is not the only person judging on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, fess up: What schools actually celebrate teacher birthdays? Because I think this whole thing was started by a troll

Only the schools with VERY ENGAGED parents. Sorry your school sucks. We are about our teachers. This is the norm and the correct way. It's very common.

To suggest otherwise makes you a dinosaur, unengaged parent, or one of the poors.

Teachers' birthdays are private information. They won't all share it, which is their right, and the only right thing to do would be to celebrate everyone so if you cannot, you don't. That's what we do because we care about our teachers at our school as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

+1 I’ve been a room mother and we have never done this.

Our school in FCPS always asks us to celebrate the teacher’s birthday. Every grade K-6 they have let parents know and we can choose to send in a card or small gift, or sometimes they collect for a class gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, fess up: What schools actually celebrate teacher birthdays? Because I think this whole thing was started by a troll

Only the schools with VERY ENGAGED parents. Sorry your school sucks. We are about our teachers. This is the norm and the correct way. It's very common.

To suggest otherwise makes you a dinosaur, unengaged parent, or one of the poors.

Teachers' birthdays are private information. They won't all share it, which is their right, and the only right thing to do would be to celebrate everyone so if you cannot, you don't. That's what we do because we care about our teachers at our school as well.

Baloney. If the teacher didn't care then they just wouldn't participate. This isn't an equity for teachers thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

Plus 1

+1 I’ve never once seen this done.

I see this in all my kids private schools. I wonder if this is a public vs private school thing.

No, it’s not. Each school has its own culture, whether public or private. Our public elementary has very engaged parents. There’s a parent liaison who coordinates with all room parents. Each room parent receives communications they’re supposed to pass on to all class parents about grade-specific things. They also distribute a form to room parents for the teacher to fill out at the beginning of the year. It asks when their birthday is, and then asks all their favorites: restaurant, candy, dessert, lunch, stores where they shop, hobbies, things they collect, etc. Room parents then collect money from parents and use the form to celebrate the teacher’s birthday, holidays, teacher appreciation, end of year.

Being engaged in the kids' education and classroom activities has nothing to do with celebrating teachers' birthdays.

“Engaged” might not have been the most appropriate word. Is there a word that encompasses “so eager to support teachers in any way possible that they’ll go to great lengths”? Right before winter break, teachers are encouraged to bring the gifts they’re giving their family members in to the school and students’ parents wrap the gifts for the teachers to save them time.

WHAT??? There is just no way in the universe I can imagine parents wrapping presents for the teachers.

+1 what pto president in their right mind would ever think parents have time to DO MORE before the holidays? I barely have time to wrap my own presents. I track holiday spirit week, provide snacks for the class party, get a teacher gift, and what ever else they ask of us. There's special holiday activities for my kids extracurricular, my office has a potluck. I have to Christmas shop and have things ready for 2-3 different family gatherings in December, and sometimes prep for over night guests.

Can you even imagine being asked to wrap presents for the teachers? I would laugh maniacally in the asker's face.

[Anonymous]

It’s my 24th year teaching and I’ve never been asked by students or parents to celebrate my birthday. I wouldn’t want to share that at work. Maybe with my coworker friends but not with my students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

+1 I’ve been a room mother and we have never done this.

Our school in FCPS always asks us to celebrate the teacher’s birthday. Every grade K-6 they have let parents know and we can choose to send in a card or small gift, or sometimes they collect for a class gift.

It’s your school. I’m the 24 year teacher veteran and my kids attended FCPS. I’ve worked at two different FCPS schools. No teacher birthday celebrations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

Plus 1

+1 I’ve never once seen this done.

I see this in all my kids private schools. I wonder if this is a public vs private school thing.

No, it’s not. Each school has its own culture, whether public or private. Our public elementary has very engaged parents. There’s a parent liaison who coordinates with all room parents. Each room parent receives communications they’re supposed to pass on to all class parents about grade-specific things. They also distribute a form to room parents for the teacher to fill out at the beginning of the year. It asks when their birthday is, and then asks all their favorites: restaurant, candy, dessert, lunch, stores where they shop, hobbies, things they collect, etc. Room parents then collect money from parents and use the form to celebrate the teacher’s birthday, holidays, teacher appreciation, end of year.

Being engaged in the kids' education and classroom activities has nothing to do with celebrating teachers' birthdays.

“Engaged” might not have been the most appropriate word. Is there a word that encompasses “so eager to support teachers in any way possible that they’ll go to great lengths”? Right before winter break, teachers are encouraged to bring the gifts they’re giving their family members in to the school and students’ parents wrap the gifts for the teachers to save them time.

WHAT??? There is just no way in the universe I can imagine parents wrapping presents for the teachers.

+1 what pto president in their right mind would ever think parents have time to DO MORE before the holidays? I barely have time to wrap my own presents. I track holiday spirit week, provide snacks for the class party, get a teacher gift, and what ever else they ask of us. There's special holiday activities for my kids extracurricular, my office has a potluck. I have to Christmas shop and have things ready for 2-3 different family gatherings in December, and sometimes prep for over night guests.

Can you even imagine being asked to wrap presents for the teachers? I would laugh maniacally in the asker's face.

This is a gossipy train wreck waiting to happen. "she bought her kids WHAT on a teachers salary?" "Oh she must have married rich". "Plastic toys! How low class!" "Who buys their daughter a crop top! What trash!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

Plus 1

+1 I’ve never once seen this done.

I see this in all my kids private schools. I wonder if this is a public vs private school thing.

No, it’s not. Each school has its own culture, whether public or private. Our public elementary has very engaged parents. There’s a parent liaison who coordinates with all room parents. Each room parent receives communications they’re supposed to pass on to all class parents about grade-specific things. They also distribute a form to room parents for the teacher to fill out at the beginning of the year. It asks when their birthday is, and then asks all their favorites: restaurant, candy, dessert, lunch, stores where they shop, hobbies, things they collect, etc. Room parents then collect money from parents and use the form to celebrate the teacher’s birthday, holidays, teacher appreciation, end of year.

Being engaged in the kids' education and classroom activities has nothing to do with celebrating teachers' birthdays.

“Engaged” might not have been the most appropriate word. Is there a word that encompasses “so eager to support teachers in any way possible that they’ll go to great lengths”? Right before winter break, teachers are encouraged to bring the gifts they’re giving their family members in to the school and students’ parents wrap the gifts for the teachers to save them time.

WHAT??? There is just no way in the universe I can imagine parents wrapping presents for the teachers.

Is this for second graders in FCPS?

No, MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Can we just agree to not feel obligated to celebrate adult birthdays? Unless they are family milestone birthdays, like your grandma turning 90?

[Anonymous]

Why didn't you volunteer to be room parent if you think you could do it better than her?


*You sound jealous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not normal to celebrate the teacher’s birthday

Plus 1

+1 I’ve never once seen this done.

I see this in all my kids private schools. I wonder if this is a public vs private school thing.

No, it’s not. Each school has its own culture, whether public or private. Our public elementary has very engaged parents. There’s a parent liaison who coordinates with all room parents. Each room parent receives communications they’re supposed to pass on to all class parents about grade-specific things. They also distribute a form to room parents for the teacher to fill out at the beginning of the year. It asks when their birthday is, and then asks all their favorites: restaurant, candy, dessert, lunch, stores where they shop, hobbies, things they collect, etc. Room parents then collect money from parents and use the form to celebrate the teacher’s birthday, holidays, teacher appreciation, end of year.

Being engaged in the kids' education and classroom activities has nothing to do with celebrating teachers' birthdays.

“Engaged” might not have been the most appropriate word. Is there a word that encompasses “so eager to support teachers in any way possible that they’ll go to great lengths”? Right before winter break, teachers are encouraged to bring the gifts they’re giving their family members in to the school and students’ parents wrap the gifts for the teachers to save them time.

WHAT??? There is just no way in the universe I can imagine parents wrapping presents for the teachers.

+1 what pto president in their right mind would ever think parents have time to DO MORE before the holidays? I barely have time to wrap my own presents. I track holiday spirit week, provide snacks for the class party, get a teacher gift, and what ever else they ask of us. There's special holiday activities for my kids extracurricular, my office has a potluck. I have to Christmas shop and have things ready for 2-3 different family gatherings in December, and sometimes prep for over night guests.

Can you even imagine being asked to wrap presents for the teachers? I would laugh maniacally in the asker's face.

This is a gossipy train wreck waiting to happen. "she bought her kids WHAT on a teachers salary?" "Oh she must have married rich". "Plastic toys! How low class!" "Who buys their daughter a crop top! What trash!"

I thought it was pretty ludicrous too, so I never did it until our last year at the school, and then I just wanted to see it in action. I signed up for a one hour shift with a friend. There were 2 other moms and a dad. I think there may have been a comment or two about how adorable a gift for an infant was, but other than that, the volunteers didn’t discuss what they were wrapping. Parents came in throughout the day to help. The teachers were very appreciative. It beat volunteering in the heat for field day.