Has teacher appreciation week gotten out of hand?

[Anonymous]

At our school, the PTA takes care of events on two of the days and the classroom parent takes care of the rest of the days. All the parents have to do is send in money (anywhere from $1 to $20 is perfectly fine!).

I'm the class parent for both my daughters' respective classes. The parents in my oldest daughter's class find it too hard to donate money apparently. That sucks.

[Anonymous]

At our elementary school, the PTA pays for lunch and snack breaks for the teachers during this week. The kids are supposed to give daily, themed, but non-monetary gifts: bring in a flower one day, a used book for the classroom, write a card or draw a picture, say thank you to a staff member. Our PTA has stressed that this is the time for kids to say thank you. The room parents have collected money for Christmas, birthday and year end gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's only a big deal in elementary school. It's barely acknowledged by middle/high school.

This. I cranked out over 15 college rec letters for former students last fall. Didn't even realize teacher appreciation week was upon us!

(And I don't expect gifts from students for writing the letter, but a thank you note would be nice)

[Anonymous]

With 3 kids in elementary school, the daily stuff is way too much. I'd rather just do one "really" nice thing than have to remember a little thing each day.

[Anonymous]

Our school does teacher apprecation in the fall and spring and the new principal is promoting that we do the entire "official" week as well.

Yes, it is out of hand.

[Anonymous]

We love and appreciate our teachers.I am on the PTA board and we will be paying

for lunch and ? gifts.parents do not have to buy gifts.make sure your kids or you write a nice note to the teacher.simple and nice!!

[Anonymous]

I don't think praising teachers and doing a few special things for those who do a thankless job for an "entire 5 days" is that much of a hardship. The fact that you do says a lot about your priorities in life. Slow down already.

[Anonymous]

Silly question- how does Teacher Appreciation Week mesh with the end of the year. Are we still supposed to do end of the year gifts too? Or is it purposely at the end of the year to cover that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers are underappreciated and they do very important work for little compensation, but I don't remember there ever being even a teacher appreciation day in the past, and now it's a whole week and we're supposed to bring something every day?! Are we really expected to participate in every day of the whole week? Everything these days seems so over the top, whether it's Christmas, birthday parties, and now this.

At our school there is something simple every day but not everyone contributes everyday. There is a sign-up-genius with about 40 slots to fill for a school of 550 students. Sadly, most lazy-ass parents don't have time to fill in one slot and it sounds like you are one of them - and complaining to boot.

A lot of lazy-ass parents have full time jobs in addition to other duties of which you might know nothing. Stop judging others and worry about yourself.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in Catholic school, but the room parents send out a letter at the beginning of each school year and ask for a voluntary donation of $50 per child to take care of Christmas, teacher birthday, teacher appreciation, and end-of-year gifts. The room parents then buy the gift when the particular date is close and send out an email to the class parents explaining what was given to the teacher (a gift certificate for a massage and a gift card to Ann Taylor, for example). They also send a reminder email as the time gets closer in case the kids want to draw a card or write a note for the teacher's birthday or teacher appreciation week. I realize that there certainly schools and families that couldn't afford a $50 donation, either in a lump sum or throughout the year, but it works for our school, and I appreciate it as a parent.

My kids' preschool took the "bring something different in every day of teacher appreciation week" approach (a single flower to create a bouquet, color a picture, write a note, etc) and it was a bit much for two working parents with kids in multiple classrooms.

[Anonymous]

HS teacher here. Teacher appreciation week is unacknowledged by our school and students. This attitude doesn't bother me at all. I would much rather people seriously discuss pay raises and perception of teachers (e.g., I feel that teachers should be viewed in the same company as doctors, lawyers, engineers rather than nurses, firefighters, police officers. Changing that uniquely American perspective would attract more people to the profession. But I digress...)

My kids are in elementary school. Every year, I get a flyer talking about teacher appreciation week, and I promptly recycle it. I don't mind if others want to throw a little party for the elementary school staff or give them something each and every day during the week, as long as these others don't pressure me to get involved or call me "lazy-ass."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers are underappreciated and they do very important work for little compensation, but I don't remember there ever being even a teacher appreciation day in the past, and now it's a whole week and we're supposed to bring something every day?! Are we really expected to participate in every day of the whole week? Everything these days seems so over the top, whether it's Christmas, birthday parties, and now this.

At our school there is something simple every day but not everyone contributes everyday. There is a sign-up-genius with about 40 slots to fill for a school of 550 students. Sadly, most lazy-ass parents don't have time to fill in one slot and it sounds like you are one of them - and complaining to boot.

A lot of lazy-ass parents have full time jobs in addition to other duties of which you might know nothing. Stop judging others and worry about yourself.

Working full-time does not get you a get-out-of-parenting card. Do you think it is only SAHM that should help or be involved in the school? Our entire PTA board is working parents and many are involved in the school. If you can't bring in a bagels or a fruit platter ONE day a year because you work full time, you are a LAZY-ASS PARENT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS teacher here. Teacher appreciation week is unacknowledged by our school and students. This attitude doesn't bother me at all. I would much rather people seriously discuss pay raises and perception of teachers (e.g., I feel that teachers should be viewed in the same company as doctors, lawyers, engineers rather than nurses, firefighters, police officers. Changing that uniquely American perspective would attract more people to the profession. But I digress...)

My kids are in elementary school. Every year, I get a flyer talking about teacher appreciation week, and I promptly recycle it. I don't mind if others want to throw a little party for the elementary school staff or give them something each and every day during the week, as long as these others don't pressure me to get involved or call me "lazy-ass."

What an extremely insulting post. Not only did you just bash a bunch of honorable careers, you also bashed your child's teachers and school and anyone wanting to say thank you to them. But yet, you want to be treated seriously like a lawyer and you don't want to be called a lazy ass for not encouraging fellow teachers. Charming way to teach your kids to be thankful of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silly question- how does Teacher Appreciation Week mesh with the end of the year. Are we still supposed to do end of the year gifts too? Or is it purposely at the end of the year to cover that?

also, to clarify, our PTA is asking for gift cards and money. This is end of year and personal stuff to me...
I would rather bring in bagels or donuts or fruit... what should I do?

[Anonymous]

Just give from the heart and appreciate your kids teachers.