How much are you giving teachers this holiday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

I wish my principal acknowledged these types of notes. I have had a few parents send an email to the principal, blind copying me, regarding something positive regarding me as a teacher. Not once has my principal even acknowledged these messages. The principal only seems to brag about parent emails if they are in praise of the administration, but seems to ignore emails praising teachers.

I also had two parents nominate me for teacher of the year, which resulted in hearing crickets from the administration of my school.They never said a word about either nomination, and instead ignored the nominations, choosing to identify a different teacher for the award. Our former principal acknowledged EVERYONE who was nominated, even if they decided not to move someone along to the next level. EVERYONE who was nominated at all received a certificate from the school. Not anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$50 gift card for his teacher

$25 gift card for his bus driver

We have no limits AFAIK in our district.

MCPS and PGCPS have $20 gift limits. Any district in Maryland is going to have a limit— it will probably be $20, but it is up to the district to specify it.

DCPS has a $25 limit.

Arlington Public Schools has a $100 limit over the course of a year. FCPS doesn't have a formal limit, but discourages gifts.

Who cares.

[Anonymous]

I used to give $100 for both my older children's Teachers and TAs (four in total) but I am extremely displeased with my eldest child's experience with her teacher this year and I'm considering docking her. Or just not participating at all. Love the younger child's teachers, though. Definitely want to gift them.

[Anonymous]

If the class mom collects money for a cash gift for the teacher do you also give gift cards/gifts on top of that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:0

I do fulfill wishlists of supplies or books they want for the class room.

That’s to benefit your child’s learning, not a gift to the teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zero because it’s not really a thing anymore I think.

I used to run the entire teacher appreciation program at our school pre-covid. I don’t bother anymore and I’m sure no one even notices the difference.

The teachers notice….

[Anonymous]

$25 each teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$50 gift card for his teacher

$25 gift card for his bus driver

We have no limits AFAIK in our district.

MCPS and PGCPS have $20 gift limits. Any district in Maryland is going to have a limit— it will probably be $20, but it is up to the district to specify it.

DCPS has a $25 limit.

Arlington Public Schools has a $100 limit over the course of a year. FCPS doesn't have a formal limit, but discourages gifts.

Who cares.

No teacher is going to give back or report a gift over the limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$50 gift card for his teacher

$25 gift card for his bus driver

We have no limits AFAIK in our district.

MCPS and PGCPS have $20 gift limits. Any district in Maryland is going to have a limit— it will probably be $20, but it is up to the district to specify it.

DCPS has a $25 limit.

Arlington Public Schools has a $100 limit over the course of a year. FCPS doesn't have a formal limit, but discourages gifts.

And yet none of these districts has put a limit on how much a teacher can pay out of pocket for classroom supplies. Hm. I will continue to exceed these limits and if ever challenged by an administrator I would tell them the difference was my repaying the teacher for a portion of their supply costs.

I love you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$10 per teacher-- my kids are middle school/high school level along with a 3-5 sentence letter from my kid thanking them. non-generic letter with specifics included. Will repeat at end of year (high school has block scheduling so will be a different set of teachers.)

6 teachers in middle school x 1 kid
4 teachers in high school x 2 kids

I think honestly the teachers appreciate the letter from the kid more than the gift card, but we do both.

I stopped altogether in MS and HS. The teachers don't really know the kids and definitely don't know the parents. They are all just phoning it in.

We give the the specific teachers DS wants to thank--there are usually 2-3 each year that really click with him and he wants to appreciate them. This year math, history, and art, $10 each.

Thank you, PP, for noticing that we aren’t all phoning it in. I’m a high school teacher and I work very hard to get to know my students. I attend their games, performances, etc. I take their interests into account when I select texts for classroom activities. I am grateful that you notice and appreciate what those teachers have done for your son.

(No, I don’t need a gift! I just resent the former poster’s comment that high school teachers don’t know the kids. Ouch.)

They're just a nasty jerk. Don't take it personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

+1

I don’t need 30 coffee mugs or cute gift things you found on Pinterest and seemed to be in a contest with your Bunco group for who can make the most outrageous ridiculous thing! It is going to go in the dumpster at the back of school.

A letter to my principal and school board is far more appreciated. I love your kids but admin is another story sometimes.

No gifts cards either. If you must, give cash. Every. Single. Gift card last year had either already been used by folks going through the racks with scanners or were for stores that went out of business. I also don’t drink coffee.

Get me a bottle of wine or a vape pen and I would be thrilled! I partake to be handle most parents!

They aren't activated until you get to the register, but good try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to give $100 for both my older children's Teachers and TAs (four in total) but I am extremely displeased with my eldest child's experience with her teacher this year and I'm considering docking her. Or just not participating at all. Love the younger child's teachers, though. Definitely want to gift them.

You vastly overestimate your own importance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher. Please don't give me anything, unless it's a letter to my principal (and if you really like me, copied to higher-ups) about what a great teacher I am (and why). I also love homemade cards or notes or drawings from your children, if they are inclined to do so without you forcing them. Otherwise, I'm an educational professional, not your friend, your nanny, or your relative. I don't need a gift or a tip. I mean, you wouldn't give one to your doctor.

+1

I don’t need 30 coffee mugs or cute gift things you found on Pinterest and seemed to be in a contest with your Bunco group for who can make the most outrageous ridiculous thing! It is going to go in the dumpster at the back of school.

A letter to my principal and school board is far more appreciated. I love your kids but admin is another story sometimes.

No gifts cards either. If you must, give cash. Every. Single. Gift card last year had either already been used by folks going through the racks with scanners or were for stores that went out of business. I also don’t drink coffee.

Get me a bottle of wine or a vape pen and I would be thrilled! I partake to be handle most parents!

They aren't activated until you get to the register, but good try.

Not the PP, but my teacher SIL has a drawer full of unused gift cards. It isn't that she doesn't want to use them, but mainly she forgets she has them, it is a pain to carry them, or whenever you need it, it isn't with you

[Anonymous]

200

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$10 per teacher-- my kids are middle school/high school level along with a 3-5 sentence letter from my kid thanking them. non-generic letter with specifics included. Will repeat at end of year (high school has block scheduling so will be a different set of teachers.)

6 teachers in middle school x 1 kid
4 teachers in high school x 2 kids

I think honestly the teachers appreciate the letter from the kid more than the gift card, but we do both.

I stopped altogether in MS and HS. The teachers don't really know the kids and definitely don't know the parents. They are all just phoning it in.

We give the the specific teachers DS wants to thank--there are usually 2-3 each year that really click with him and he wants to appreciate them. This year math, history, and art, $10 each.

Thank you, PP, for noticing that we aren’t all phoning it in. I’m a high school teacher and I work very hard to get to know my students. I attend their games, performances, etc. I take their interests into account when I select texts for classroom activities. I am grateful that you notice and appreciate what those teachers have done for your son.

(No, I don’t need a gift! I just resent the former poster’s comment that high school teachers don’t know the kids. Ouch.)

I’m that PP and I shouldn’t have said “all.” However we have been extremely disappointed in both the attitude and effort of my two DD’s teachers in MS. Yea they are one or two who stand out as caring and conscientious, but they are by far the exception. It’s really sad. I’m not sure if private school would be better (we are in public in Loudoun.)