Is it appropriate to give $100 gift cards to teachers/counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s not bribe! The teachers spent hours filling out forms and writing recommendations.

It just feels that $25 is a measly amount for work it took.

You need remedial lessons in ethics, OP. We all know it takes effort to write a letter of recommendation. We've grateful to the teachers who write them. I've had to write some, in academia. It's a slog, honestly. I would have refused any gift that was linked to my efforts.

YOU CANNOT TIE ANY MATERIAL GIFT TO A RECOMMENDATION. HOW CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THIS? IT IS SEEN AS PAYMENT. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FREE AND YOU CAN'T PAY FOR THEM.

Why don't you match effort for effort, and have your child come up with a really well-written letter of thanks that touches on qualities specific to that teacher? You guys can get some high quality stationery, practice your best handwriting, etc. MAKE THE EFFORT, instead of using your wealth by tucking in a bill or gift card and calling it a day.

Seriously.

This should be pinned to the top of this subforum.

[Anonymous]

Id like to see a teacher look a kid straight in the eye and say- you cause a lot of classroom trouble, and stress all year long and the only reason you passed is because my boss makes me pass everyone. No reference. Get out of my classroom.

That teacher would be fired so fast.

[Anonymous]

OP here again.

This is AFTER the recs were submitted, not before. So our gift cards are not influencing the results.

Of course, DC is writing a proper handwritten letter to each teacher thanking them. That goes without saying.

[Anonymous]

Just wait until teacher appreciation week or the end of the school year and give a gift with a nice note that goes beyond appreciation for the recommendation letter. Give whatever you are comfortable with that doesn’t exceed the maximum allowed (every county has its own policy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again.

This is AFTER the recs were submitted, not before. So our gift cards are not influencing the results.

Of course, DC is writing a proper handwritten letter to each teacher thanking them. That goes without saying.

Is your child still on this teacher's roster for the year? If so, please wait until final grades are submitted. Regardless of intentions, it's a poor look and puts the teacher in an awkward place. When the child ends up at an 89.8 and is asking for the A-, that $100 comes to mind really fast, and that's not fair.

[Anonymous]

I remember when they fired a bunch of teachers at my school the staff took all their gift card presents and gave them to the unemployed folks as they will have financial burden of no paycheck after slaving for the school system with all the admin crap.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t do this. It puts us in a very awkward situation.

A thank you note is sufficient and very appreciated! For every 50 letters I write, I get 1-2 thank you notes.

I’m always a little surprised by the lack of thank yous, but then I remind myself that most people believe this is part of our job requirements. (It isn’t and we can decline.)

[Anonymous]

Wait until the end of the school year if you decide to give the teacher a large gift card.

[Anonymous]

Sure there might be a tiny chance that your kids actually get the A all by themselves and there may be no need to grease the wheels with bribery.

[Anonymous]

The fact that bribery is normalized is disgusting and immoral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Id like to see a teacher look a kid straight in the eye and say- you cause a lot of classroom trouble, and stress all year long and the only reason you passed is because my boss makes me pass everyone. No reference. Get out of my classroom.

That teacher would be fired so fast.

I've told kids that I don't think I can write a strong letter in support of them and suggest they find a different teacher. I let them read between the lines.

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s fine and will be appreciated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again.

This is AFTER the recs were submitted, not before. So our gift cards are not influencing the results.

Of course, DC is writing a proper handwritten letter to each teacher thanking them. That goes without saying.

Is your child still on this teacher's roster for the year? If so, please wait until final grades are submitted. Regardless of intentions, it's a poor look and puts the teacher in an awkward place. When the child ends up at an 89.8 and is asking for the A-, that $100 comes to mind really fast, and that's not fair.

The kid shouldn’t have to ask.. I’d bump even for free

[Anonymous]

I had parents and students that got pissed at a B because they gave a a dollar store mug. They made a fuss to admin and made my life harder.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Totally appropriate!