Stop with the gift cards!

[Anonymous]

I teach at TJ. And I am here to tell you, parents: please, stop sending gift cards. If you or your child enjoyed the class and learned a lot, and want to show appreciation, write a thank you note. It means a lot getting a handwritten note from a student or a parent! Like really a lot! Especially when they are personal! If you really really appreciate a teacher, send a note to their assistant principal or principal! But stop with the gifts! I take that back - I am all for a small token like something my student made with their hands or a plant or something. But stop with the gift cards!!
I get cards for anywhere between $25 and $200. Any amount bothers me but $100 or $200? That is just so over the top!
Because I am eager to read the card, I open the envelope and if there is a gift cards it just gets mixed with others. By the time I get to redeem I don’t know who the cards are from. Not that it matters unless I was nice enough (and i am not, I am so sorry) to write Thank You for Your Gift note to the parents. Now I wonder if that is expected or if other teachers do that?
Every time I am handed an envelope nowadays, I hope it is just a greeting card. Some times it is. Most of the time it is not. I guess, from now on I will just open it right there and then and hand the gift card back. But then again, I would have to inform the parent I did that so they are aware. More work for me

So please: if you or you child want to express appreciation write a note, if you think I am doing something right and you are trying to figure out how to “truly” thank me write an email to my admin and cc me. Do not send gift cards!!
Teacher

PS: I suspect there are teachers who would disagree with me and actually appreciate gifts. But I still stand by my post. Because you also need to think about students. I had a student this year hand me an envelope with a greeting card who thought she had to apologize that there was no gift cards in it. She actually said “this is for you. But it is nothing, it is just a written card. There is nothing inside”. Inside was a beautiful hand made thank you card with a lovely personal note. And she felt she had to apologize for not giving more. This is ridiculous and it breaks my heart!! I don’t think we need this in our schools.

[Anonymous]

lol ok

[Anonymous]

Wow, OK. Instead of being so entitled and sanctimonious, save the gift cards up and take them to the staff of a nursing home or a hospital or a preschool or an animal shelter at the holidays. What joy that would give to hard-working people.

[Anonymous]

We think you’re underpaid and want to give you money to help make up the gap. But it’s tacky/not acceptable to give you cash so we give you gift cards. We make crazy salaries for doing far less actual work than you do, so please, just take our money.

[Anonymous]

I hope this was not actually written by a TJ teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, OK. Instead of being so entitled and sanctimonious, save the gift cards up and take them to the staff of a nursing home or a hospital or a preschool or an animal shelter at the holidays. What joy that would give to hard-working people.

+1

This has to be a troll who doesn’t want to give her kids’ teachers gift cards.

But I give cold, hard cash. Does that offend your sensibilities, OP, because the time you go to spend the cash you don’t know who it’s from?

[Anonymous]

OP is rude

[Anonymous]

TJ teacher,

It sounds like you view these gifts as a bribe of some sort. Either learn to be gracious about receiving gifts or pass it on to someone who is in need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We think you’re underpaid and want to give you money to help make up the gap. But it’s tacky/not acceptable to give you cash so we give you gift cards. We make crazy salaries for doing far less actual work than you do, so please, just take our money.

NP who is a 2nd year teaching making 65k this year and working my butt off. Thank you. I would appreciate those GCs that op doesn’t want! And also the hand written cards and notes. It’s all a bonus :)

[Anonymous]

Not sure why this is in the AAP thread, but you know who also deserves the GC, the bus drivers who get your kids to and from school everyday, the crossing guard, who is outside in all types of weather. Don't forget them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope this was not actually written by a TJ teacher.

There’s no way.

[Anonymous]

This was very clearly a troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope this was not actually written by a TJ teacher.

There’s no way.

It was. And it is strange that the response is basically “take the money and keep your feelings/opinions to yourself.” From now on, I am definitely returning all those cards. Thank you, take them to the nursing homes and wherever else yourself.

[Anonymous]

Dumb troll post.

[Anonymous]

Can you just use it to buy supplies for your class and be grateful