Teacher gifts: No mugs and no ornaments!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m a Jewish former teacher. Should I hang ornaments on a tree when I don’t have one?

No. Definitely pull them out and scowl at them every year because the kids didn't get you were Jewish and just assumed their lovely teacher would like this ornament they picked out.

I'm not Christian either but "Y'all need Jesus" Both of you.

What would you do if someone nicely gave you something for which you have no need and likely something you have received dozens of every few years? Keep it - so you have a pile of stuff or can’t close a cabinet? Donate it? If you get brownies and are on a diet or get nuts and you’re allergic or get a sweater that doesn’t fit or an the 30th ornament that you have no use for - what would you do with it?

I'd say thank you -- because its the thought that counts. You can do whatever you want with the gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m a Jewish former teacher. Should I hang ornaments on a tree when I don’t have one?

No. Definitely pull them out and scowl at them every year because the kids didn't get you were Jewish and just assumed their lovely teacher would like this ornament they picked out.

I'm not Christian either but "Y'all need Jesus" Both of you.

What would you do if someone nicely gave you something for which you have no need and likely something you have received dozens of every few years? Keep it - so you have a pile of stuff or can’t close a cabinet? Donate it? If you get brownies and are on a diet or get nuts and you’re allergic or get a sweater that doesn’t fit or an the 30th ornament that you have no use for - what would you do with it?

I'd say thank you -- because its the thought that counts. You can do whatever you want with the gifts.

That’s exactly what we do as teachers. We love the thought, but not all gifts. We’re human - just like everyone else who receives a gift consisting of an object not wanted. It’s as if some people think we shouldn’t have an opinion on the substance of the gift just because it’s from a student or that we should treasure any item from a student and loving use it and fondly think of the kid. Uh, no. I love the student donor and the thought from that student - always.

[Anonymous]

Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

It isn't a 'mental load'. Just drop it in the dumpster on your way out to the parking lot at 3pm. You need not worry one second more about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

You kind of have a point until the judgmental characterizations in bold. THAT is distasteful.

The point is that teachers get gifts from their kids. Some of them are thoughtful, if not what you would want. Most professions get no gifts. So, your thanking them and doing whatever you want with them is exactly what you should be doing. Or, as the pp says, please send a note to the room parent or directly to the parents saying "no gifts please." That will save you the hassle altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

You kind of have a point until the judgmental characterizations in bold. THAT is distasteful.

The point is that teachers get gifts from their kids. Some of them are thoughtful, if not what you would want. Most professions get no gifts. So, your thanking them and doing whatever you want with them is exactly what you should be doing. Or, as the pp says, please send a note to the room parent or directly to the parents saying "no gifts please." That will save you the hassle altogether.

You’re ridiculous. Teachers can feel anyway they want about gifts as long as they are gracious about them. There’s nothing distasteful about it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

No, I am saying that if you don't want gifts, make it known up front and send a note to the parents (if you can muster the strength to write a polite memo) rather than bitching on the internet. I also think that you should not have the PTA and room parent passing the hat to get you 'stuff' that you maintain that you don't want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

No, I am saying that if you don't want gifts, make it known up front and send a note to the parents (if you can muster the strength to write a polite memo) rather than bitching on the internet. I also think that you should not have the PTA and room parent passing the hat to get you 'stuff' that you maintain that you don't want.

If a teacher sent a note at the beginning of the year saying please don’t buy me any gifts this year, 10 people would be on here posting about it and 1000 people would be on here responding to those posts saying she’s rude to even expect a gift. You really think if a teacher said please don’t get me any gifts the room parent or other kids and parents would get her nothing and the mug problem goes away?

[Anonymous]

Teachers don’t ask the room parents to “pass the hat.” The room parents just do it. Grow up and have a little faith in your teachers, will ya?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh another thread bashing teachers! I don’t ask for the gifts- then I have this huge mental load of figuring out what to do with these gifts! The people who are considerate enough to ask, hey what do you really want? Are bashed- and everyone comes out of the woodwork to yell at teachers for being greedy! I never asked for your gift! I don’t want your cheap dollar store find! I just want to teach your kid, to have your support, and some smiles and confidence in me! We love your kid, we’re trying our best, we make mistakes! Oh, and gift cards.

Here's a thought, send a letter at the beginning of the year letting all the parents know that you feel overburdened by all the gifts and want nothing at all. Make sure that the room parent and the PTA get a copy. Don't have anyone pass the hat for you. I'd hate to cause you anguish and all.

Different poster here: I don’t get it. Are you saying she should want a cheap dollar store find? You understand a teacher is human. If you would like 32 mismatch mugs saying World’s Greatest Teacher and are stamped “not dishwasher or microwave safe” on the bottom, great for you. Others can have differing opinions. I’m sure I’m your life you’ve received an unwanted gift. We smile, profusely thank the donor, wrote a thank you note, and donate it. You make it seem like the poster is ungrateful because she doesn’t actually want whatever is given to her. In another state, a wealthy child once gave me a sweater with no tags on it, an egg stain on it and a button missing. It was a bright green cardigan. I thanked her in person and in writing. I appreciated the gesture but neither wanted nor retained the gift. Guess you think I was ungrateful as well?

No, I am saying that if you don't want gifts, make it known up front and send a note to the parents (if you can muster the strength to write a polite memo) rather than bitching on the internet. I also think that you should not have the PTA and room parent passing the hat to get you 'stuff' that you maintain that you don't want.

If a teacher sent a note at the beginning of the year saying please don’t buy me any gifts this year, 10 people would be on here posting about it and 1000 people would be on here responding to those posts saying she’s rude to even expect a gift. You really think if a teacher said please don’t get me any gifts the room parent or other kids and parents would get her nothing and the mug problem goes away?

Yes. People only buy the gifts because this area has some weird expectation about bribing teachers. In other areas, teachers are not given gifts by many (or even any) of their students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers don’t ask the room parents to “pass the hat.” The room parents just do it. Grow up and have a little faith in your teachers, will ya?

If she doesn't want it, she should tell said room parent. Saves everyone some trouble, yes?

[Anonymous]

Like the other pp said, I also agree this area has weird expectations about gifts at holidays and getting people gifts almost as bribes.

Never gave teacher gifts any where else I have lived, a holiday card with a note was given instead.

[Anonymous]

It would be so awesome if this weird culture of giving teachers gifts would end. I cannot believe the baskets filled with hundreds of dollars of goodies that our teachers receive. Even worse, our school has started collecting class funds (twice as much as they used to when my oldest was in ES) and then using about 1/3 of it for gifts for specials teachers we’ve never met. Without asking us in advance.

I encourage all teachers to be professionals and make it clear to the parents and the PTA that you no longer want Christmas, birthday and end of year gifts from families.