Thank you gift cards for LOR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did $250 per teacher.

Same.
Private HS.

[Anonymous]

Thank you note and cash.

[Anonymous]

Spouse of teacher. Nothing is expected truly. However gift cards are a welcome surprise. we’ve also received gift items like bottles of wine at a private school. The thoughtfulness is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At their FCPS high school, my kids gave a thank you note with a $10 gift certificate to each teacher who wrote an LOR (2 for 1 kid and 3 for the other).

These people took 2-3 hours of their time to do something they didn’t have to do. I’m glad you think their time was worth $10.

What if the teacher forgot to send it in before the deadline? No thank you to gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At their FCPS high school, my kids gave a thank you note with a $10 gift certificate to each teacher who wrote an LOR (2 for 1 kid and 3 for the other).

These people took 2-3 hours of their time to do something they didn’t have to do. I’m glad you think their time was worth $10.

What if the teacher forgot to send it in before the deadline? No thank you to gift?

No, do it, but couple of years later.

[Anonymous]

I write 30-40 a year (private high school). Each takes about an hour to write.

I’ve written over 200 since I started at this school. I’ve received two thank you cards total. No gifts.

I don’t think a gift is necessary, but a card is a nice touch. We write these on our own time and we don’t have a lot of time to begin with.

[Anonymous]

My guess is the $250 private school ones are well written and specific. What a great quid pro quo (side money maker and a good loc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is the $250 private school ones are well written and specific. What a great quid pro quo (side money maker and a good loc).

I posted above you. Mine are very well-written and specific. I meet with each student before I write the letter so I can figure out what skills / traits to highlight. I want my letter to complement the application. Many of us do this.

It’s simply unusual to get paid for LOC, even at private schools. Most students seem to believe it’s just a part of a teacher’s job. (It’s not.)

Also… I don’t like the idea of quid pro quo. That just feels so, so wrong. I don’t write these letters to make side money. Ew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is the $250 private school ones are well written and specific. What a great quid pro quo (side money maker and a good loc).

I posted above you. Mine are very well-written and specific. I meet with each student before I write the letter so I can figure out what skills / traits to highlight. I want my letter to complement the application. Many of us do this.

It’s simply unusual to get paid for LOC, even at private schools. Most students seem to believe it’s just a part of a teacher’s job. (It’s not.)

Also… I don’t like the idea of quid pro quo. That just feels so, so wrong. I don’t write these letters to make side money. Ew.

And yet it is not unusual according to many responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is the $250 private school ones are well written and specific. What a great quid pro quo (side money maker and a good loc).

I posted above you. Mine are very well-written and specific. I meet with each student before I write the letter so I can figure out what skills / traits to highlight. I want my letter to complement the application. Many of us do this.

It’s simply unusual to get paid for LOC, even at private schools. Most students seem to believe it’s just a part of a teacher’s job. (It’s not.)

Also… I don’t like the idea of quid pro quo. That just feels so, so wrong. I don’t write these letters to make side money. Ew.

And yet it is not unusual according to many responses.

It’s very unusual. This is DCUM and hardly an accurate representation of parents everywhere.

Most LOR go unacknowledged.

I don’t know a single teacher who has received $200 for a LOR. Not one.

[Anonymous]

Plan to give $100 each and nice card from DC. Private school.

[Anonymous]

Does nobody think this is crazy unethical??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does nobody think this is crazy unethical??

I do. A card is appropriate and appreciated. Money feels wrong.
- teacher who posted above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does nobody think this is crazy unethical??

Both the teachers who responded said yes, it feels unethical to accept money. I'm a third teacher adding to that.

The good news is in real life, the biggest gift I ever received for one was a hoodie from their college of choice, and that was a child I had taught for 3 straight years (and tutored the 4th). Big gifts just aren't a thing outside a very small, very privileged portion of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does nobody think this is crazy unethical??

I do. A card is appropriate and appreciated. Money feels wrong.
- teacher who posted above

I’m actually surprised schools don’t have a policy against it. Also, how is it not part of the job when it’s such an integrated part of the college application process? Our private school carves out specific teacher workdays for them, which I think makes sense.