When does the madness stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sent in $20.00 towards the teachers gift. I am lucky that my kids have had some really great teachers.

I did the same...and I'm frankly grateful the room parent took the lead to get the gifts from those who contributed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought teachers, firefighters, and others who work for the "public good" are granted special mortgages in Fairfax County. I happen to live next to a bunch of teachers. Most of them are married to others who make a lot more money than I do.

On nice days, they are home and sitting on the deck when I return from work. I would like their schedule very much!

Also, teachers around here are paid much more than teachers in other parts of the country. My good friend (with a Masters) started in Fairfax County at $45k. Not a truckload of money but much more than my sister (who also has a Masters) started at in Massachusetts.

I'll be on days that aren't nice, those shiftless teachers are on the couch watching soap operas and eating bon bons.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate my kids' teachers all year long, not just one week. I often send in gift cards, starbucks, chikfila, candles, more gift cards just to say thanks. This week, I am not going all out, I don't feel the need to, I sent in something small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate my kids' teachers all year long, not just one week. I often send in gift cards, starbucks, chikfila, candles, more gift cards just to say thanks. This week, I am not going all out, I don't feel the need to, I sent in something small.

This sounds like bribery to me.

[Anonymous]

+1...going for the GBRS LOL

[Anonymous]

NO, really, thats not the case. I just happen to come from a lineage of teachers, so I really do, genuinley, appreciate all that they do all year long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so this is teacher appreciation WEEK!

Why are the kids/families extorted into bringing in gifts?

Isn't their gift their weekly paychecks and/or every holiday off including the entire summer?

Enough already.

Wow, such a nasty individual. I dare you to say that publicly.

I have said this publicly - minus the weekly paychecks/holiday/summer comment because I know they only get paid for the school year. Think about it - how many do most families acknowledge teachers already on their own? holidays, end of year. Now they're adding birthdays and an entire week. This is getting a little out of control. No adult really needs to be "acknowledged" at work 8 times in a year.

So, I am choosing to not participate this year. We gave a nice gift and a card for the holidays and will do the same at the end of the year. We did not contribute for the teacher's birthday and we will not be contributing this week.

This is my 20th year teaching elementary students in FCPS. I have never known classes to celebrate teachers' birthdays beyond the "happy birthday" wish and maybe some cards, and that's fine. Teacher Appreciation week is fairly low key. I hope nobody feels they have to bring in something. We are having a lunch at 1:00 which is provided by our PTA. Honestly, some of the best ways to show appreciation is to send a letter. Be specific about how the teacher has helped your child. We can add those to our local files or you can copy the principal in an email.

I confused about the "weekly paychecks" part of your statement. We get paid once a month, but either way, why does it matter?

For teacher's birthdays in our school they ask a parent to bring in coffee in the morning to the teacher, a parent to pick up and deliver lunch from the teacher's favorite lunch spot, and then someone provide a cupcakes/cake for the snack time, and then everyone else to contribute money for a gift card. Plus the same thing happens at the holidays with money for a gift card, then 5 days of expected gifs/food for teacher appreciation week. It's a little ridiculous.

As for the weekly paycheck I was just quoting the pp. Doesn't matter how often you get paid, but I was saying that I don't agree with the "teachers get summers off" comment because while you have it off you aren't get paid for it. Your contracted to work a specific timeframe during the year and that's what you are paid for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "troll" is simply saying that there is no need for a PTA orchestrated teacher appreciation week. The "troll"'s point is that teachers are paid for their work, receive great benefits, 3 months a year off, etc. The troll's point is the contrived program guilts everyone into participating, because no parent wants his child to be labeled as the one who did not bring a gift for the teacher. Now that I think about it, maybe its not a "troll" after all, but a rationally thinking individual who does not receive an appreciation week for doing his job, and questioning the need to do one for others who are simply doing their job. Maybe everyone should just thank the teacher in their own way, in their own time, and without big brother telling you to do so.

+100

+101

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate my kids' teachers all year long, not just one week. I often send in gift cards, starbucks, chikfila, candles, more gift cards just to say thanks. This week, I am not going all out, I don't feel the need to, I sent in something small.

WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would happy to receive tissues, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes for teacher appreciation week. Maybe they could rename STUDENT HEALTH appreciation week and parents would actually send in one box of tissues every 6 months instead of me spending 15-30 dollars a month on these supplies.

Why are people so quick to judge teachers as a lazy cheapskates who "demand" some appreciation. If you do not want to participate, then do not send anything is. No one is making you do any of this. If you do not want to buy anything then maybe send in a homemade card from you and your child. Parents on a whole hardly ever say thank you.

P.S. There are other professions that have "appreciation" days/weeks too.

+10000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest Teacher, if our country had our priorities straight, you and your spouse certainly would be able to afford a home in your school's neighborhood. It's shameful that we pay our teachers so little compared to our lawyers, financiers, sports stars, etc.

I'm also embarrassed by this whole thread. Really? A full page of posts obsessing about AAP...but bringing cookies to your teacher is considered madness?

Totally agree. I only read this thread because I knew I would find the sane people. Sounds like some of the complainers are just plain lazy and don't realize that their little snowflake is getting better care at school than they probably are at home, if making a couple of cookies is such a chore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought teachers, firefighters, and others who work for the "public good" are granted special mortgages in Fairfax County. I happen to live next to a bunch of teachers. Most of them are married to others who make a lot more money than I do.

On nice days, they are home and sitting on the deck when I return from work. I would like their schedule very much!

Also, teachers around here are paid much more than teachers in other parts of the country. My good friend (with a Masters) started in Fairfax County at $45k. Not a truckload of money but much more than my sister (who also has a Masters) started at in Massachusetts.

I know of no "special mortgages". Maybe that's a rumor out there along with the fully paid healthcare and being able to retire after 20 years.

Please note that not one teacher has complained about salary in this thread.

[Anonymous]

My son had one teacher who brought in cupcakes or something on her birthday for the class. I've never heard of a school asking parents to do anything for a teacher's birthday. I would think that's not very common?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest Teacher, if our country had our priorities straight, you and your spouse certainly would be able to afford a home in your school's neighborhood. It's shameful that we pay our teachers so little compared to our lawyers, financiers, sports stars, etc.

I'm also embarrassed by this whole thread. Really? A full page of posts obsessing about AAP...but bringing cookies to your teacher is considered madness?

Notice the jobs you mention for the most part are in private industry. Gov. lawyers don't get paid what private practice lawyers get paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, so this is teacher appreciation WEEK!

Why are the kids/families extorted into bringing in gifts?

Isn't their gift their weekly paychecks and/or every holiday off including the entire summer?

Enough already.

Wow, such a nasty individual. I dare you to say that publicly.

I have said this publicly - minus the weekly paychecks/holiday/summer comment because I know they only get paid for the school year. Think about it - how many do most families acknowledge teachers already on their own? holidays, end of year. Now they're adding birthdays and an entire week. This is getting a little out of control. No adult really needs to be "acknowledged" at work 8 times in a year.

So, I am choosing to not participate this year. We gave a nice gift and a card for the holidays and will do the same at the end of the year. We did not contribute for the teacher's birthday and we will not be contributing this week.

Hello?

They get a year's salary for working 198 days.

This is my 20th year teaching elementary students in FCPS. I have never known classes to celebrate teachers' birthdays beyond the "happy birthday" wish and maybe some cards, and that's fine. Teacher Appreciation week is fairly low key. I hope nobody feels they have to bring in something. We are having a lunch at 1:00 which is provided by our PTA. Honestly, some of the best ways to show appreciation is to send a letter. Be specific about how the teacher has helped your child. We can add those to our local files or you can copy the principal in an email.

I confused about the "weekly paychecks" part of your statement. We get paid once a month, but either way, why does it matter?

For teacher's birthdays in our school they ask a parent to bring in coffee in the morning to the teacher, a parent to pick up and deliver lunch from the teacher's favorite lunch spot, and then someone provide a cupcakes/cake for the snack time, and then everyone else to contribute money for a gift card. Plus the same thing happens at the holidays with money for a gift card, then 5 days of expected gifs/food for teacher appreciation week. It's a little ridiculous.

As for the weekly paycheck I was just quoting the pp. Doesn't matter how often you get paid, but I was saying that I don't agree with the "teachers get summers off" comment because while you have it off you aren't get paid for it. Your contracted to work a specific timeframe during the year and that's what you are paid for.

They get a year's salary for working 198 days.