holiday gift question for teachers

[Anonymous]

For five teachers, that sounds quite reasonable (under $10/teacher).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:at our small preschool, they are taking a collection for two teachers and three assistants and want FORTY DOLLARS per family. Is that outrageous or is it just me? (this is our first year in preschool.)

Not unreasonable at all. I plan to chip in $100 for 2 teachers and 2 assistants.

[Anonymous]

whatever happened to homemade cookies and a nice note from the child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:whatever happened to homemade cookies and a nice note from the child?

I don't think home cooking is super-popular for sanitary reasons. They have no clue if you are nasty at home or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was so happy when my son came home with a note from the room mom (I know that's not the right term, but can't think right now) for his kindergarten class saying that tradition is to collect money from all parents and do a big group gift--and they collect once for Christmas and end of year, typical amount given $10.

I know his teacher has teenagers at home, so I may send some cookies right before Christmas (if my 7 month old ever naps enough to let me bake), and I'll have him to a card too.

I like it when it's organized as well. It is so much easier that way for me, and the teacher can get a decent big gift she can use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at our small preschool, they are taking a collection for two teachers and three assistants and want FORTY DOLLARS per family. Is that outrageous or is it just me? (this is our first year in preschool.)

Not unreasonable at all. I plan to chip in $100 for 2 teachers and 2 assistants.

Woah!!! I just wrote the last post saying I like it when the gift is organized, but I was thinking more along the lines of at most $10 per teacher, since there are usually two. So about $20 per family at the most, usually it's more like $10 per family so $5 per teacher. But $40 per family is ridiculous. They shouldn't do an organized gift if there are that many teachers/assts. Jeez. They should leave it up to each individual family what they want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at our small preschool, they are taking a collection for two teachers and three assistants and want FORTY DOLLARS per family. Is that outrageous or is it just me? (this is our first year in preschool.)

Not unreasonable at all. I plan to chip in $100 for 2 teachers and 2 assistants.

Woah!!! I just wrote the last post saying I like it when the gift is organized, but I was thinking more along the lines of at most $10 per teacher, since there are usually two. So about $20 per family at the most, usually it's more like $10 per family so $5 per teacher. But $40 per family is ridiculous. They shouldn't do an organized gift if there are that many teachers/assts. Jeez. They should leave it up to each individual family what they want to do.

I'm the $100 poster and wanted to add that my child is in a 5-day/week all day preschool so maybe we are comparing apples to oranges. I would probably do less if my child were in school less. However, from my point of view, these are people who are warm, loving, and take good care of my child. They don't make a lot of money so I don't think giving them a $40 gift certificate is even remotely expressing my gratitude towards them. Maybe that's just me.

[Anonymous]

I think whatever people feel comfortable with is fine. My concern is that at too many schools it is expected that you will give cash (and lots of it) toward gift cards. If you can afford it great, but I know people who are living above their means who feel that it's the norm and must be done.I don't want my kids to think everything is about money and it you don't give a certain amount then you are being ungrateful. There is nothing wrong with baking cookies and writing a note of thanks. Who knew I would one day say...back in the old days we made gifts for teachers. There were no gift cards. In the old days...we weren't expected to contribute $20/30/40 a parent to a class gift card and then give extra individual gifts. In the old days we actually wrote thank you notes at the end of the year instead of giving gifts and kids treated teachers with respect...in the old days/..

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think it has all gotten a little out of hand. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY appreciate what the teachers do for my children. However, I have friends ho are teachers and they tell me that they do not expect these things. Sure, it makes them happy-- who wouldn't like it?-- but giving $100 per family for each child is out of control. Trust me, families do it at our daycare/preschool. The gifts get out of control there. I haven't experienced gift giving at our elementary school yet, so I don't know how that's going to go down, but our FCPS demosgraphic is not really high income, so I think it will be more reasonable than our preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:at our small preschool, they are taking a collection for two teachers and three assistants and want FORTY DOLLARS per family. Is that outrageous or is it just me? (this is our first year in preschool.)

What is UNACCEPTABLY rude is that someone could demand a certain sum, whatever that sum is. At our (affluent) preschool, I imagine many contributions will be over the top, but the school administrator organizing the donations insists that everything is voluntary, and that we do not even have to contribute at all if we do not wish to do so. I believe she means it, too

If someone had the crassness to "demand" a cash contribution, I would pointedly give a heartfelt thank you photo card to every teacher and NO money.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher, the best gift parents can give me is their support.

However, I do treasure the cards with a few lines expressing appreciation for something that we do in school.

[Anonymous]

I also teach preschool and I have become used to geting the gift cards that is usally how I get my christmas shopping done. As a preschool teacher I get paid just enough to pay my bills with out too much left over so around the holidays I really apprecate the extra money. Even if the controbution is small every little bit helps. I usually get about 200 a year but together (I have 17 students)
I also LOVE the homemade cards, I still have one on my desk from my first year teaching that's the parent got framed for me.

What I don't care for so much is when I get the family christmas card. That photo card type of the whole family that is not even signed. It just seems like you did not even think of me grabbed a stack of cards last minute and passed them out.

[Anonymous]

I love photo cards. They are my favorite type of card!! I get a kick out of seeing the adorable ones of families or of just the kid.