Stop with the gift cards!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We think you’re underpaid and want to give you money to help make up the gap. But it’s tacky/not acceptable to give you cash so we give you gift cards. We make crazy salaries for doing far less actual work than you do, so please, just take our money.

Different teacher here. This teacher is not the majority. I appreciate any token of thanks. I think most people know how hard it is to be a teacher monetarily in this area. I give gift cards to my son’s daycare teachers. I am just as happy with a thoughtful card which I save. I think it is the thought that counts.

Yes, this. And of course you write thank you notes OP!

No. You definitely don’t have to write thank you notes for the gift cards. The gift cards are a thank you note from the family.

It’s incredibly rude not to at the very least send a thank you note if you’re receiving a gift card.

At the very least send a thank you note? Are you for real? Your HS teacher has just under 150 students. If even a third of their students bring a card/gift you expect them to send thank you note to each family? Go to SIS, get the email address for the parents, write a personal note for each? And that is the least you expect? For each thank you card? Or only for gift cards because we should value them more than the thank you card that doesn’t have money attached to it? Don’t you see how absurd this is? Please, keep your money!!

You have email addresses for each and every parent. Send a one-line thank you email. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how OP responds to several posts, but can’t take two seconds to explain why donating the gift cards to the staff of a nursing home would be such a horrible idea.

I thought I was clear: I don’t feel comfortable getting gift cards (or any gifts for that matter) from my students. It makes me feel awkward, it stresses me out. I tried to explain my reasons the best I could. I do not want to handle any money gifted to me by students. If you really care about the teachers, may be ask if they are ok with receiving gifts or if they would like class supplies or whatever other ideas you might have. If you ask me, I would say I really appreciate the thought but I don’t need anything, thank you! Than you and I are happy! Why do you need to insult me??

Especially as, as I just learned from the link posted above, many of these gifts (over $50) are violation of the FCPS policy.

Ohhhh, so you weren’t raised right? Those who were know that even when you receive a gift you don’t want or don’t like, you take it, you say THANK YOU, and then you are not obligated to keep it. Do tell why you don’t just donate to the staff of a nursing home or the volunteers at the fire station? Tell us why you think it’s more becoming to whine and to discourage us from celebrating other teachers—those who are appreciative and less entitled—than to simply donate unwanted gifts.

NP

Part of this issue is that teachers are in a position of authority over students. They hold what you want your child to get (attention, grades, recommendations). Would you give your boss a large gift, if they were awesome? Most of us probably would not, because it would be seen as sucking up for special privileges or access to promotions or whatever. Maybe something trivial to say, "I appreciate you," but nothing of financial significance.

I donate to the class fund at the beginning of the year so the teacher doesn't have to pay for supplies my child will use. I send in extra pencils when they say they're out in February. But gift cards of any significant value are inappropriate, to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We think you’re underpaid and want to give you money to help make up the gap. But it’s tacky/not acceptable to give you cash so we give you gift cards. We make crazy salaries for doing far less actual work than you do, so please, just take our money.

Different teacher here. This teacher is not the majority. I appreciate any token of thanks. I think most people know how hard it is to be a teacher monetarily in this area. I give gift cards to my son’s daycare teachers. I am just as happy with a thoughtful card which I save. I think it is the thought that counts.

Yes, this. And of course you write thank you notes OP!

No. You definitely don’t have to write thank you notes for the gift cards. The gift cards are a thank you note from the family.

It’s incredibly rude not to at the very least send a thank you note if you’re receiving a gift card.

At the very least send a thank you note? Are you for real? Your HS teacher has just under 150 students. If even a third of their students bring a card/gift you expect them to send thank you note to each family? Go to SIS, get the email address for the parents, write a personal note for each? And that is the least you expect? For each thank you card? Or only for gift cards because we should value them more than the thank you card that doesn’t have money attached to it? Don’t you see how absurd this is? Please, keep your money!!

You have email addresses for each and every parent. Send a one-line thank you email. Done.

+1. I sent an e-gift card to ES teacher last year from my personal email and she never even responded. I still have no idea if she received it.

[Anonymous]

Last gift card I’d send

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you just use it to buy supplies for your class and be grateful

You and those with this attitude are horrible people. I feel sorry for your kid(s) for having to grow up with this type of parenting.

[Anonymous]

OP - We completely understand your feelings and support the decision you deem appropriate for this situation. Please be aware that many posts here are not from TJ parents but rather from individuals who hold a grudge against TJ and aim to cause confusion and disruption at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - We completely understand your feelings and support the decision you deem appropriate for this situation. Please be aware that many posts here are not from TJ parents but rather from individuals who hold a grudge against TJ and aim to cause confusion and disruption at TJ.

Girl, it’s just not that deep. I don’t care what school it is; if you don’t want a gift card, donate it to the staff of a nursing home, a hospital, an animal shelter, a hospice, the list goes on and on. Homeless shelters, women’s shelters and food banks can also probably use them, call the director and find out.

If a gift card is over the allowed limit, return it with a thank you note and an explanation.

Again, some more: it takes OP far more time to whine on this thread than it would take her to even simply post them on Facebook Marketplace and tag them as a gift to someone who can prove they are a teacher, nurse, firefighter, etc.

[Anonymous]

Take the gift card with an assumption that it given without any strings attached. Stay professional as a teacher. Donate it if you are uncomfortable to accept it.
Many others teachers might still hoping to get one. Hope your post won’t discourage parents to give it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how OP responds to several posts, but can’t take two seconds to explain why donating the gift cards to the staff of a nursing home would be such a horrible idea.

NP:

Johnny takes level 1 class with me freshman year, he gets a A, gives me $200 to a restaurant at the end of the year.

Next year, I get my rosters for the level 2 sections I teach, and Johnny is on it again. He is sitting at an 89.3 at the end of the year, asking me to please bump it up.

Or Larla gives me a $100 to target at the end of junior year, and then contacts me 3 weeks into summer asking me to write her teacher recommendation for college. I don’t particularly enjoy larla, she’s often late to class, not a strong student, nor have we had any real conversations this year, so I’d rather not write it…but she just paid me.

Do you not see how that’s a potentially awkward/stressful situation, even if I donated the gift cards to the fire station? Just a transactional situation I’d rather avoid.

If you want to give thanks, write an FCPS cares note. We get recognized, our admin is made aware, and it’s clearly for something specific rather than “here’s $100 because you’re poorer than me” or “here’s $200 because I might need you to do my kid a favor down the road”

I know, YOUR intentions are nothing but kind and grateful, but not everyone’s are and it’s really hard to tell sometimes.

Only if you make it one. No one giving you a $100 or $200 gift card thinks that is a lot of money. So just evaluate/respond to these situations how you would if you had received no gift.

Also, what if, instead of gift cards, these students had written you personal notes expressing how much the class and your teaching meant to them. How would you feel about bumoing the grade or writing the recommendation then?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, OP.

My public elementary and private high school did not allow gifts to teachers unless they were handmade, etc. I think that is appropriate.

I think it's a conflict of interest for parents to be giving cash or gift cards to teachers.

[Anonymous]

If is simply not right to give money or gift card to teachers. Period.
You want to thank them? Ask your child what is going on in class and write a very personal thank you letter.
You want to really thank them? Write a letter to admin about how great of a teacher they are. Include details.
You want to donate because you feel financially superior? Donate to school or whatever charity of your choice. Write the name of a teacher or school in comments if you wish.
You think teachers are underpaid? Write to / call SB representative.
Teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how OP responds to several posts, but can’t take two seconds to explain why donating the gift cards to the staff of a nursing home would be such a horrible idea.

I thought I was clear: I don’t feel comfortable getting gift cards (or any gifts for that matter) from my students. It makes me feel awkward, it stresses me out. I tried to explain my reasons the best I could. I do not want to handle any money gifted to me by students. If you really care about the teachers, may be ask if they are ok with receiving gifts or if they would like class supplies or whatever other ideas you might have. If you ask me, I would say I really appreciate the thought but I don’t need anything, thank you! Than you and I are happy! Why do you need to insult me??

Especially as, as I just learned from the link posted above, many of these gifts (over $50) are violation of the FCPS policy.

If you are honestly that concerned, then maybe say something at the beginning of the school year instead of posting this in a message board anonymously and telling parents not to give teachers gift cards. Speak for yourself and no one else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - We completely understand your feelings and support the decision you deem appropriate for this situation. Please be aware that many posts here are not from TJ parents but rather from individuals who hold a grudge against TJ and aim to cause confusion and disruption at TJ.

Girl, it’s just not that deep. I don’t care what school it is; if you don’t want a gift card, donate it to the staff of a nursing home, a hospital, an animal shelter, a hospice, the list goes on and on. Homeless shelters, women’s shelters and food banks can also probably use them, call the director and find out.

If a gift card is over the allowed limit, return it with a thank you note and an explanation.

Again, some more: it takes OP far more time to whine on this thread than it would take her to even simply post them on Facebook Marketplace and tag them as a gift to someone who can prove they are a teacher, nurse, firefighter, etc.

I will give you $5 and you must take it and go F yourself. It's not that deep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how OP responds to several posts, but can’t take two seconds to explain why donating the gift cards to the staff of a nursing home would be such a horrible idea.

I thought I was clear: I don’t feel comfortable getting gift cards (or any gifts for that matter) from my students. It makes me feel awkward, it stresses me out. I tried to explain my reasons the best I could. I do not want to handle any money gifted to me by students. If you really care about the teachers, may be ask if they are ok with receiving gifts or if they would like class supplies or whatever other ideas you might have. If you ask me, I would say I really appreciate the thought but I don’t need anything, thank you! Than you and I are happy! Why do you need to insult me??

Especially as, as I just learned from the link posted above, many of these gifts (over $50) are violation of the FCPS policy.

If you are honestly that concerned, then maybe say something at the beginning of the school year instead of posting this in a message board anonymously and telling parents not to give teachers gift cards. Speak for yourself and no one else.

I will next year. Too late and too awkward this year. Honestly, didn’t expect this reaction. Don’t violate the policy linked above ! And we will be ok!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how OP responds to several posts, but can’t take two seconds to explain why donating the gift cards to the staff of a nursing home would be such a horrible idea.

I thought I was clear: I don’t feel comfortable getting gift cards (or any gifts for that matter) from my students. It makes me feel awkward, it stresses me out. I tried to explain my reasons the best I could. I do not want to handle any money gifted to me by students. If you really care about the teachers, may be ask if they are ok with receiving gifts or if they would like class supplies or whatever other ideas you might have. If you ask me, I would say I really appreciate the thought but I don’t need anything, thank you! Than you and I are happy! Why do you need to insult me??

Especially as, as I just learned from the link posted above, many of these gifts (over $50) are violation of the FCPS policy.

Ohhhh, so you weren’t raised right? Those who were know that even when you receive a gift you don’t want or don’t like, you take it, you say THANK YOU, and then you are not obligated to keep it. Do tell why you don’t just donate to the staff of a nursing home or the volunteers at the fire station? Tell us why you think it’s more becoming to whine and to discourage us from celebrating other teachers—those who are appreciative and less entitled—than to simply donate unwanted gifts.

This only applies to social situations. Not weird noblesse oblige from parents to teachers.