When does the madness stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our room parent asked for $50 each and gave the teacher a $1200 Visa gift card. i thought that it was over the toip but did not want my child to be singled out as a non giver.

Was this a private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My "favorite" is when one of the moms who sells something offers to pony up one of her items: Longaberger baskets, jewelry, etc.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our room parent asked for $50 each and gave the teacher a $1200 Visa gift card. i thought that it was over the toip but did not want my child to be singled out as a non giver.

Was this a private school?

Holy crap! That does seem over the top. My admin would never allow a room parent to do that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our room parent asked for $50 each and gave the teacher a $1200 Visa gift card. i thought that it was over the toip but did not want my child to be singled out as a non giver.

Was this a private school?

Holy crap! That does seem over the top. My admin would never allow a room parent to do that!

I smell a troll...there is no way 24 kids (which would likely be the full class) each brought in $50. We're in a solidly upper-middle-class neighborhood, and only about half of the class participates in anything. We're talking single flowers and homemade cards, never mind 50 bucks apiece.

Please, troll, spend your online time elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

There are 32 kids in the class and 24 did give $50 apparently as we received a note from the teacher thanking everyone for the generous gift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 32 kids in the class and 24 did give $50 apparently as we received a note from the teacher thanking everyone for the generous gift.

Did the principal know about it?

[Anonymous]

This is such a tough one. I'm one of those "PTA" moms, although there's no PTA at our school, I was just sort of roped into it.

Our teachers are incredible, and we do appreciate them throughout the year. I hate asking people for money, and I also think the week long thing is a bit much. That stated, I also didn't want to just say "HEY - Appreciate your teacher this week!" and have those families that could afford the $300 gift card do that, and the families that couldn't feel like they had to donate something they don't have.

So, the outcome was this weeklong "guide-line" flower day, art work day, etc. It seems like a lot, but we went out of our way t make sure the parents had plenty of notice and didn't feel pressured. (One parent did breakfast completely on her own, and ony a handful of others did lunch day.) That left flowers, art, and a do-it-yourself day. I'm sure teachers wouldn't fault any of te children for not particiapting or for not giving an expensive gift. The week was written as a guideline and, honestly, with the lower-income, time-stretched parents in mind. "Pick a flower on the way to school" etc. I hope no one took it as big brother, I honestly felt I was helping out by giving a guideline that was easy, doable, and cheap so that if you were having a hard time you wouldn't feel badly.

On the other hand, I didn't want the teachers to feel less love than their counterparts who were getting spa days and $1200 gift certificates (!) It's a touch balance, for someone who literally shapes your child's world, I think it's the leas we can do.

[Anonymous]

I am a fcps teacher. I will tell you that the best things I receive are notes from kids and parents. Gift cards are nice but so much better is a card or note stating how you have helped/influenced a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a fcps teacher. I will tell you that the best things I receive are notes from kids and parents. Gift cards are nice but so much better is a card or note stating how you have helped/influenced a child.

I agree and mentioned this in one of my earlier posts. I've asked my principal to include those letters in my local file.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure teachers wouldn't fault any of te children for not particiapting or for not giving an expensive gift.

I'm a former first grade teacher. The problem here is the child whose parent chooses not to participate feels terrible.

[Anonymous]

cont.
I recommend that the room parent send a letter with suggestions, and leave it at that. At some point during the year, a group gift is okay--but, please, not every event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm sure teachers wouldn't fault any of te children for not particiapting or for not giving an expensive gift.

I'm a former first grade teacher. The problem here is the child whose parent chooses not to participate feels terrible.

+1. At DC' s school, some parents choose not to participate because they can't afford to. At some magnet schools or AAP centers in Title I schools, there can be a huge disparity in parent wealth, and the organizing parents tend to be the more affluent ones, so often times the gift suggestions can be too much. This is especially hard for some parents if the parent has to contribute to multiple classrooms.

[Anonymous]

The gifts should always be modest. We can show are appreciation for the teachers at manageable numbers.

In my experience, the class moms are either well meaning people, or people trying to get favor with the teachers. This year, for example, with the flowers, it was called out to take them from your garden.

The $50/student is excessive. But what is worse are the parents that give large gifts individually. My favorite was the teacher that, upon being given a $100 starbucks gift card, told the parent (not the 2nd grader) that she could not accept it. It was too much. (I heard about it when the parent was complaining about the GBRS score ). Bribery 0, teacher ethics 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The gifts should always be modest. We can show are appreciation for the teachers at manageable numbers.

In my experience, the class moms are either well meaning people, or people trying to get favor with the teachers. This year, for example, with the flowers, it was called out to take them from your garden.

The $50/student is excessive. But what is worse are the parents that give large gifts individually. My favorite was the teacher that, upon being given a $100 starbucks gift card, told the parent (not the 2nd grader) that she could not accept it. It was too much. (I heard about it when the parent was complaining about the GBRS score ). Bribery 0, teacher ethics 1.

That's why I think year end gifts given on the last day of school are most appropriate. That way you can avoid the appearance of trying to influence the teacher.

[Anonymous]

That's why I think year end gifts given on the last day of school are most appropriate. That way you can avoid the appearance of trying to influence the teacher.

Absolutely! End of year comes close to Teacher Appreciation. Affluent people should realize everyone is not!