Class fund non-participants: where do you think the party food comes from??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

"There aren't enough contributions to allow for that. I see two options. 1. Use sign up genius and ask parents to supply some treats.
2. Cancel parties due to lack of interest. Which one should I do?"

Another option is to step down as room mom and let the teacher handle it.

Not being a martyr but I’d pay myself before doing this. Teachers are appreciated little enough. I’m not signing up for a job and then Bowing out nor am I signing up for a job to help the teacher and disregarding her requests for what She wants.

Then stop compaining.

My husband is a teacher. I would be embarrassed if he demanded pizza parties etc.

Your teacher might adjust her expectations if she knows it's a problem, but I'm not sure you actually want a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:haven't read through this whole thread, but I think some of these parents really need to get their own lives. don't you have anything better to think about than throwing pizza parties for your kid's classroom?

I’m a room parent for an upper elementary classroom. The teacher asked to two class parties this year during lunchtime and includes pizza. She even told me where to order and how many of cheese and how many of pepperoni I should order. How would you like me to handle this?

"There aren't enough contributions to allow for that. I see two options. 1. Use sign up genius and ask parents to supply some treats.
2. Cancel parties due to lack of interest. Which one should I do?"

Another option is to step down as room mom and let the teacher handle it.

Not being a martyr but I’d pay myself before doing this. Teachers are appreciated little enough. I’m not signing up for a job and then Bowing out nor am I signing up for a job to help the teacher and disregarding her requests for what She wants.

Then stop compaining.

My husband is a teacher. I would be embarrassed if he demanded pizza parties etc.

Your teacher might adjust her expectations if she knows it's a problem, but I'm not sure you actually want a solution.

+1 As a million other posters said before, buy some mini-cupcakes (7 or 8$ for 24 grocery store ones)+a bag of pretzels (2$) and call it a day. You don't cancel the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to give the teacher a gift out of that pot of money? Aren't most people individually giving teachers a gift/tip for Christmas?

We did one year at the day care/preschool and then it moved to the room mom collecting and giving a group gift. The concern was that kids whose parents gave more money would get special treatment and there were parents who could not afford to give a gift, our daycare had scholarships.

Ever since we have been at DS's ES we have contributed to a class gift fund. There is an email that goes out asking for contributions and we send money to the room mom, usually via a pay pal account. The email includes the words "Please give if you are comfortable and can, we understand that not everyone is able to contribute." and "You are more then welcome to give your own present if you would prefer." I think most parents donate to the group gift and some have their kids write a special card. We had 52 kids across the two class rooms and gave each teacher $500 in gift cards. That works out to $28 per teacher. I know that our family gave more then that, but we have one child. He had classmates who have three other siblings at the same school, I suspect that they give less.

And I am totally cool with that. We have one kid and are able to donate what we donate.

I like that it is a class gift and not an individual gift because it has to be hard to be the kid who doesn't give a gift because you can't afford to or don't know to or to give the home made gift when other kids give something store bought. I am sure the teachers prefer the gift card to whatever ridiculousness we might have bought them.

A $500 gift for a teacher is crazy. I don't spend that much for my kid's Christmas gifts.

You don't spend $29 on your kids Christmas present? It was money contributed by 52 families. That doesn't strike me as excessive. We would have give a $25 gift card per teacher if we gave a solo gift so the amount strikes me as not all that out of line. Now, I have one child and both of us work good jobs so that amount is perfectly comfortable for us. No one was assigned amount to chip in, people chipped in what they wanted to and that was the final total. (shrugs)

For 52 kids, ask for $2 per kid, that gives you $104. Give each teacher $50 and spend $2 for each card. That is reasonable.

Our room mom just asked people to contribute what they were comfortable with and used the money that she received. So if the room mom asks for a set amount, people are annoyed. If the room mom leaves it open ended, people think the end result is crazy. (shrugs)

The end amount averages out to about what we have spent individually as a family so I am fine with it.

I prefer the method our room mom used, she accepted what people where willing to give and passed that on to the teachers. No one was pressured to chip in or participate. The fact that amount was more then other classes gifts is, to me, irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to give the teacher a gift out of that pot of money? Aren't most people individually giving teachers a gift/tip for Christmas?

We did one year at the day care/preschool and then it moved to the room mom collecting and giving a group gift. The concern was that kids whose parents gave more money would get special treatment and there were parents who could not afford to give a gift, our daycare had scholarships.

Ever since we have been at DS's ES we have contributed to a class gift fund. There is an email that goes out asking for contributions and we send money to the room mom, usually via a pay pal account. The email includes the words "Please give if you are comfortable and can, we understand that not everyone is able to contribute." and "You are more then welcome to give your own present if you would prefer." I think most parents donate to the group gift and some have their kids write a special card. We had 52 kids across the two class rooms and gave each teacher $500 in gift cards. That works out to $28 per teacher. I know that our family gave more then that, but we have one child. He had classmates who have three other siblings at the same school, I suspect that they give less.

And I am totally cool with that. We have one kid and are able to donate what we donate.

I like that it is a class gift and not an individual gift because it has to be hard to be the kid who doesn't give a gift because you can't afford to or don't know to or to give the home made gift when other kids give something store bought. I am sure the teachers prefer the gift card to whatever ridiculousness we might have bought them.

A $500 gift for a teacher is crazy. I don't spend that much for my kid's Christmas gifts.

You don't spend $29 on your kids Christmas present? It was money contributed by 52 families. That doesn't strike me as excessive. We would have give a $25 gift card per teacher if we gave a solo gift so the amount strikes me as not all that out of line. Now, I have one child and both of us work good jobs so that amount is perfectly comfortable for us. No one was assigned amount to chip in, people chipped in what they wanted to and that was the final total. (shrugs)

For 52 kids, ask for $2 per kid, that gives you $104. Give each teacher $50 and spend $2 for each card. That is reasonable.

Our room mom just asked people to contribute what they were comfortable with and used the money that she received. So if the room mom asks for a set amount, people are annoyed. If the room mom leaves it open ended, people think the end result is crazy. (shrugs)

The end amount averages out to about what we have spent individually as a family so I am fine with it.

I prefer the method our room mom used, she accepted what people where willing to give and passed that on to the teachers. No one was pressured to chip in or participate. The fact that amount was more then other classes gifts is, to me, irrelevant.

I'd be fired on the spot if I accepted $1 from a client, vendor etc. It is both unnecessary and unprofessional for teachers to accept money or gifts from parents and students. How did we as a group get to a place where this is not only accepted, but practically required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to give the teacher a gift out of that pot of money? Aren't most people individually giving teachers a gift/tip for Christmas?

We did one year at the day care/preschool and then it moved to the room mom collecting and giving a group gift. The concern was that kids whose parents gave more money would get special treatment and there were parents who could not afford to give a gift, our daycare had scholarships.

Ever since we have been at DS's ES we have contributed to a class gift fund. There is an email that goes out asking for contributions and we send money to the room mom, usually via a pay pal account. The email includes the words "Please give if you are comfortable and can, we understand that not everyone is able to contribute." and "You are more then welcome to give your own present if you would prefer." I think most parents donate to the group gift and some have their kids write a special card. We had 52 kids across the two class rooms and gave each teacher $500 in gift cards. That works out to $28 per teacher. I know that our family gave more then that, but we have one child. He had classmates who have three other siblings at the same school, I suspect that they give less.

And I am totally cool with that. We have one kid and are able to donate what we donate.

I like that it is a class gift and not an individual gift because it has to be hard to be the kid who doesn't give a gift because you can't afford to or don't know to or to give the home made gift when other kids give something store bought. I am sure the teachers prefer the gift card to whatever ridiculousness we might have bought them.

A $500 gift for a teacher is crazy. I don't spend that much for my kid's Christmas gifts.

You don't spend $29 on your kids Christmas present? It was money contributed by 52 families. That doesn't strike me as excessive. We would have give a $25 gift card per teacher if we gave a solo gift so the amount strikes me as not all that out of line. Now, I have one child and both of us work good jobs so that amount is perfectly comfortable for us. No one was assigned amount to chip in, people chipped in what they wanted to and that was the final total. (shrugs)

For 52 kids, ask for $2 per kid, that gives you $104. Give each teacher $50 and spend $2 for each card. That is reasonable.

Our room mom just asked people to contribute what they were comfortable with and used the money that she received. So if the room mom asks for a set amount, people are annoyed. If the room mom leaves it open ended, people think the end result is crazy. (shrugs)

The end amount averages out to about what we have spent individually as a family so I am fine with it.

I prefer the method our room mom used, she accepted what people where willing to give and passed that on to the teachers. No one was pressured to chip in or participate. The fact that amount was more then other classes gifts is, to me, irrelevant.

I'd be fired on the spot if I accepted $1 from a client, vendor etc. It is both unnecessary and unprofessional for teachers to accept money or gifts from parents and students. How did we as a group get to a place where this is not only accepted, but practically required?

I think a holiday gift and/or end of year gift is fine but not multiple gifts through the year. MCPS has gift limits but it doesn't sound like many follow them. I have no issue donating anything needed to the classroom/parties and we contribute a lot but birthday's, the week long teacher appreciation (one day is plenty), etc. is over the top. They are paid to do their job and many make a decent salary and benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

$125 is a good amount for a party but it depends on who and how you do it. I can do pizza, fruit, cupcakes or a treat and water/juice easily on that but someone else may not as that is why this thread got started. But, to me, $125 should be given to the teacher and $475 to parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

It says the $125 was for 2 parties. That is $62.50 per party, which is fine, but What I am questioning is the disparity between what is spent on the students and what is given to the teacher.

$125 is a good amount for a party but it depends on who and how you do it. I can do pizza, fruit, cupcakes or a treat and water/juice easily on that but someone else may not as that is why this thread got started. But, to me, $125 should be given to the teacher and $475 to parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

Yep, a bribe. Exactly. How’d you figure it out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

$125 is a good amount for a party but it depends on who and how you do it. I can do pizza, fruit, cupcakes or a treat and water/juice easily on that but someone else may not as that is why this thread got started. But, to me, $125 should be given to the teacher and $475 to parties.

It says the $125 was for 2 parties. That is $62.50 per party, which is fine, but What I am questioning is the disparity between what is spent on the students and what is given to the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

$125 is a good amount for a party but it depends on who and how you do it. I can do pizza, fruit, cupcakes or a treat and water/juice easily on that but someone else may not as that is why this thread got started. But, to me, $125 should be given to the teacher and $475 to parties.

It says the $125 was for 2 parties. That is $62.50 per party, which is fine, but What I am questioning is the disparity between what is spent on the students and what is given to the teacher.

Do you personally give a gift for teacher appreciation week, end of the year or the holidays? Would you buy for the group gift? If yes to either question, how much would you spend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Her birthday? Mandatory PTA contribution? Absolutely not. I think group gifts are a bit much and parents should do what they are comfortable with. I can easily do a Pizza/cake party with $125.

I agree but I didn’t step up and sign up to be a pta board member nor do I attend the meetings where decisions are made. Do you do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It is voluntary but the party is not. The fact the our class parties must take place over lunch time is not voluntary. The fact that I have to contribute to the pta to teacher appreciation week, get our teacher a gift for teacher appreciation week, get her an Xmas and an end of year gift aren’t really optional either. So I absolutely get that no one has to contribute, plenty don’t, almost all can afford to, all the kids and teacher reap the benefit and it’s annoying. My day goes on as does yours.

But why aren't these optional? People can buy their own gifts for the teachers. There's no need for the room mom to organize a class gift. Likewise, I can't wrap my mind around a school policy mandating that class parties must take place over lunch time and must have whatever number of pizzas ordered from whatever place. Parties at my kids' school take place during the last hour of the day. If they needed a lunchtime party, people would still eat their regular lunch and then have special treats. If the teacher is dictating these things, the teacher needs to take a step back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Which school mandates a teacher appreciation donation per class? That's absurd! On top of that, all of the gifts are unnecessary. Why are you so opposed to just letting the parents give whatever gifts to the teacher that they wish? Also, what teacher needs a birthday gift, teacher appreciation gift, X-mas gift, and end of year gift? That's excessive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

So, most of the money just goes directly to the teacher in the form of 'gifts ' and only $125 benefits the kids at all? And you think that is ok?

In my kid's school, parents bring the food and crafts for the parties. Class dues go to a few big ticket items (like a standard gradewide activity that one parent wouldn't pay for) plus teacher holiday and year end gifts. I'm not seeing how this is detrimental to the kids.

I don't know that it is detrimental to the kids, but it sure doesn't help them. Out of $600, $475 was given directly to the teacher as a 'gift', 'bribe' whatever you want to call it. $125 was spent on the kids. I don't like the aesthetics.

$125 is a good amount for a party but it depends on who and how you do it. I can do pizza, fruit, cupcakes or a treat and water/juice easily on that but someone else may not as that is why this thread got started. But, to me, $125 should be given to the teacher and $475 to parties.

It says the $125 was for 2 parties. That is $62.50 per party, which is fine, but What I am questioning is the disparity between what is spent on the students and what is given to the teacher.

Do you personally give a gift for teacher appreciation week, end of the year or the holidays? Would you buy for the group gift? If yes to either question, how much would you spend?

No. I would not do either. The class fund should cover supplies and parties or field trips if you have them. Really all of the class fund should be spent on the children. If parents want to participate in the 'teacher bribe' that should be either a separate collection or individual gifts. The PP sounds like she just collected for the teacher gifts and did 2 small parties to make it look like she did something for the kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$35 x30 = $1050. No you didn’t bring need that much and no I don’t trust your judgment in spending it. Especially after you bought that ugly art piece from your friend as a class gift. It’s not that I can’t afford it ...

We have 20 in our class. We have to give $100 to the pta for teacher appreciation week. (Mandatory from all classes) That’s $600. If I do $150 for Xmas and $150 for end of year that’s pretty reasonable. That’s less than $7.50 a person. We then have teacher appreciation week for the teacher $125, her birthday $50, that leaves $125 for the two class parties that take place over lunch. Pizza is about $50-$60 per party. I also get cards to accompany the gifts. Our gifts from the class are straight gift cards to places like amazon. I know you’re thinking I’m some thief or shifting money to my friend so she can make a shitty gift for the teacher. I’m actually trying to make it a nice year for the kids and help the teacher. No one else signed up to do the job so I stepped up. Did you? I can’t believe parents actually think not only are they not gonna give but they think I’m somehoe skimming off the top or having friends pocket a profit.

Her birthday? Mandatory PTA contribution? Absolutely not. I think group gifts are a bit much and parents should do what they are comfortable with. I can easily do a Pizza/cake party with $125.

I agree but I didn’t step up and sign up to be a pta board member nor do I attend the meetings where decisions are made. Do you do that?

I tried to be active in the PTA and gave up. They are not welcoming and I don’t agree with how the money is spent. Ie hiring friends for services vs bidding out and they do easy vs best. Depending on the year and teacher I contribute heavily to the classroom.