Year end teacher gift

[Anonymous]

Parents have been pooling funds for a year end gift to their DC teacher. Is it just that I'm cheap but i think my outsized tuition should be gift enough? No one gives me a gift for doing my job.

[Anonymous]

You are cheap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents have been pooling funds for a year end gift to their DC teacher. Is it just that I'm cheap but i think my outsized tuition should be gift enough? No one gives me a gift for doing my job.

If you don't want to give, don't give. Don't look for validation here. If it makes you feel better, in the older grades the "group gift" thing ends. (Or maybe you could publish your email address and charitable DCUM readers could pool together and get you a gift for doing your job, thus soothing your resentment.)

[Anonymous]

Well, OP, you might have a point if your outsized tuition went mostly to the teacher's salary. As it is, most private school teachers are paid less than their public school counterparts and do not enjoy as many benefits (pension, etc) as teachers in public school.

So, yes, I'd say you were cheap.

That said, teacher appreciation and gift giving and the like should be voluntary. If you want to be cheap (your word, not mine), that is totally your right. Of course, I doubt your last statement is true, though. You probably do get gifts for doing your job. You just don't see them that way. Everything from the holiday bonuses to the holiday parties or even congratulatory brunch or bagels in the break room are gifts for doing your job. So, too, are breaks in gym memberships, free parking, and other perks. There is nothing wrong with any of them, and there isn't anything wrong with thanking a teacher at the end of the year with a gift.

[Anonymous]

For the people who do give gifts, what do you give? What would be an appropriate gift? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, you might have a point if your outsized tuition went mostly to the teacher's salary. As it is, most private school teachers are paid less than their public school counterparts and do not enjoy as many benefits (pension, etc) as teachers in public school.

So, yes, I'd say you were cheap.

That said, teacher appreciation and gift giving and the like should be voluntary. If you want to be cheap (your word, not mine), that is totally your right. Of course, I doubt your last statement is true, though. You probably do get gifts for doing your job. You just don't see them that way. Everything from the holiday bonuses to the holiday parties or even congratulatory brunch or bagels in the break room are gifts for doing your job. So, too, are breaks in gym memberships, free parking, and other perks. There is nothing wrong with any of them, and there isn't anything wrong with thanking a teacher at the end of the year with a gift.

Not OP and we do give a gift to the teachers - and with all the specials, there are a lot of teachers! Wishing there was a group collection at our school but there isn't...

But my main reason for posting is that I couldn't help but notice that I don't get ANY of these things at my job! We even all chip in for the holiday party...held in our conference room...

[Anonymous]

We generally do a small gift, along with a thoughtful card from the child. Along the lines of a gift card to b and n or Starbucks, or a pretty orchid, or something personal they would like, i.e. If we know their hobbies, we might tailor it that way. The school culture varies from place to place, but they really don't want you giving extravagant, expensive gifts at my kid's school.

[Anonymous]

OP. It seems to me you are all victims of peer pressure or are trying to curry favor with the teacher. When was the last time you gave a gift to your local policeman or police precint for protecting you or fire dept for keeping you safe or town mayor. I would venture the answer is never.

To the poster who thinks the private school teachers are paid less than public school counterparts i would tell you switch schools because you are paying a private school tuition for a worse education for your child than sending your child to public school.

[Anonymous]

To OP: as the honey badger might say, thanks, stupid.

Some awesome insight there. And some compelling analogies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. It seems to me you are all victims of peer pressure or are trying to curry favor with the teacher. When was the last time you gave a gift to your local policeman or police precint for protecting you or fire dept for keeping you safe or town mayor. I would venture the answer is never.

To the poster who thinks the private school teachers are paid less than public school counterparts i would tell you switch schools because you are paying a private school tuition for a worse education for your child than sending your child to public school.

If this is the OP, FYI your post is unintelligible. Among other things, it is a matter of public record that private school teachers are paid less than their their public school counterparts; it does not follow however that your child (who appears to go to private school given the location of your post) is therefore receiving a worse education.

If you're not a troll, you appear to be stewing in resentment. Don't give, fine, but don't act like your decision gives you the moral high ground. (And yep, people will think you're cheap. And probably rude too judging from your posts.)

[Anonymous]

Did you have teacher appreciation week? If so, I would not get a gift.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how a year end gift would "curry favor" with teachers. The school year is over and the child's work is done. Grades are turned in.

If you're interested in currying favor with the teachers (or just outright bribing them), it would probably be advantageous to your child to start earlier in the year with the gifts. The gifts then could actually influence the teachers.

GMAFB.

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troll

[Anonymous]

Its a known fact teacher quality is one of the most important determinants in the quality of you childs education. More so than class size or dollars spent per child for instance. If your private school has lower teacher compensation on average i really dont see how your school is attracting the best teachers. There may be exceptions here or there but on average teacher quality will be inferior to a school that pays more. Please before enrolling your dc in a private school ask where teacher comp is relative to the average. If its not top quartile i would say chose another school or go to publc school.

To the poster about currying favor you are right that it makes no sense in a year end gift unless one has the same teacher over several years as in some montessoris .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its a known fact teacher quality is one of the most important determinants in the quality of you childs education. More so than class size or dollars spent per child for instance. If your private school has lower teacher compensation on average i really dont see how your school is attracting the best teachers. There may be exceptions here or there but on average teacher quality will be inferior to a school that pays more. Please before enrolling your dc in a private school ask where teacher comp is relative to the average. If its not top quartile i would say chose another school or go to publc school.

To the poster about currying favor you are right that it makes no sense in a year end gift unless one has the same teacher over several years as in some montessoris .

Hilarious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its a known fact teacher quality is one of the most important determinants in the quality of you childs education. More so than class size or dollars spent per child for instance. If your private school has lower teacher compensation on average i really dont see how your school is attracting the best teachers. There may be exceptions here or there but on average teacher quality will be inferior to a school that pays more. Please before enrolling your dc in a private school ask where teacher comp is relative to the average. If its not top quartile i would say chose another school or go to publc school.

To the poster about currying favor you are right that it makes no sense in a year end gift unless one has the same teacher over several years as in some montessoris .

Maybe the best teachers aren't those motivated purely by money. Maybe they value other things such as flexible curricula, autonomy, access to resources, leadership support, etc...