Teacher gifts: No mugs and no ornaments!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

I don’t want to do that. I just want to give a small gift in the spirit of Christmas. If you don’t like that, tough. Throw it in the trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

Perfect, because that's exactly what I got you this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you give me an ornament for Christmas, it will occupy a place on my tree every year. And I will remember the child who gave it to me. Bonus if it’s hand made. If you give me homemade treats, I will happily eat them. I might share them with my family if there are any left. If you make me a card, it will hang on my refrigerator for weeks. If you give me a candle or lotion or a mug, I will be so thankful you took the time to go shopping for me. Literally every teacher friend I know feels the same. I’m not sure who these bitter dcum teachers are. But they shouldn’t be in the classroom.

+1 I work with students living in poverty. If they take time or money I know they don't have to buy or make me something, I am forever grateful and touched.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

So I'm supposed to tell my child that she can't get something for her teacher? I sincerely doubt she will be happy just writing a note. Jeez - just donate or throw stuff away if you don't want it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

So I'm supposed to tell my child that she can't get something for her teacher? I sincerely doubt she will be happy just writing a note. Jeez - just donate or throw stuff away if you don't want it.

And that’s what I do.

[Anonymous]

The Bottom line is the teacher feels belittled and totally unappreciated by receiving a mug or a candle. Would you gift these to anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Bottom line is the teacher feels belittled and totally unappreciated by receiving a mug or a candle. Would you gift these to anyone else?

I don’t feel belittle and unappreciated, I just don’t want you to spend your money on something I will discard or donate. If you buy me a $25 mug, I will still get rid of it.

When I was much younger, my mom would buy $50-100 of clothing for me at various discount clothing stores. I didn’t care about the $5 gift tag, I just had a radically different sense of style. She refused to understand that I like clean lines and neutrals. So one year, she bought a single $100 garment in the same frou-frou style. She thought I’d love it because it was “expensive”. She was so disappointed that I wasn’t thrilled.

I got some really great presents today, including a candy bar that probably cost $1. No mugs. I do like candles in jars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

Perfect, because that's exactly what I got you this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Bottom line is the teacher feels belittled and totally unappreciated by receiving a mug or a candle. Would you gift these to anyone else?

I don’t feel belittle and unappreciated, I just don’t want you to spend your money on something I will discard or donate. If you buy me a $25 mug, I will still get rid of it.

When I was much younger, my mom would buy $50-100 of clothing for me at various discount clothing stores. I didn’t care about the $5 gift tag, I just had a radically different sense of style. She refused to understand that I like clean lines and neutrals. So one year, she bought a single $100 garment in the same frou-frou style. She thought I’d love it because it was “expensive”. She was so disappointed that I wasn’t thrilled.

I got some really great presents today, including a candy bar that probably cost $1. No mugs. I do like candles in jars.

Did you email or send letters home to your parents letting them know this? Because this random personal preference on an anonymous message board benefits no one. For every "I hate mugs and candles" poster are 10 who love them and 50 who appreciate any and everything they receive from students (whether they regift them or not).

This thread was a total fail. Anonymous teachers don't get to dictate what all teachers prefer.

If a thread like this is going to be made, the teacher should include his/her name and school. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Anonymous]

I'm a high school teacher. We get fewer gifts because the kids are older and they have 6-8 teachers. So far I have gotten :

Candy, bark, etc. Not homemade, so I'm cool with it. I appreciate the effort of homemade treats but can not stomach actually eating it.

$45 in amazon gift cards. SUPER unexpected. Appreciated! But unexpected.

A 3 pack of cat themed hot chocolate. My kids loved this and drank it lol

I appreciate it all but don't need or require any of it. A card really is lovely.

Because I think this, I printed little Happy holidays slips, gave them to the kids, and asked them all to write a small note to a teacher/coach/club sponsor who means something to them and told them I would put it in the teacher boxes. Teachers really really love this. We appreciate gifts of course but... if you want to make us really happy, this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

If you were really a teacher then you would know that part of educating children is teaching them to graciously and thoughtfully give to and receive gifts from others. Experiencing the joy of seeing someone you love receive the gift you picked out just for them is part of it, even if it is a cheap ceramic mug filled with a stuffed animal, scented body spray, and a red lobster gift card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

Perfect, because that's exactly what I got you this year.

I will be delighted to get more notes than stuff. I did get some nice stuff yesterday, but guess what? That stuff is already gone. I shared the chocolate with colleagues. The gift cards went to Angel tree. However, I’ve already reread one of the cards. It was so sweet and funny. I don’t think parents realize how much those words matter to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Bottom line is the teacher feels belittled and totally unappreciated by receiving a mug or a candle. Would you gift these to anyone else?

I don’t feel belittle and unappreciated, I just don’t want you to spend your money on something I will discard or donate. If you buy me a $25 mug, I will still get rid of it.

When I was much younger, my mom would buy $50-100 of clothing for me at various discount clothing stores. I didn’t care about the $5 gift tag, I just had a radically different sense of style. She refused to understand that I like clean lines and neutrals. So one year, she bought a single $100 garment in the same frou-frou style. She thought I’d love it because it was “expensive”. She was so disappointed that I wasn’t thrilled.

I got some really great presents today, including a candy bar that probably cost $1. No mugs. I do like candles in jars.

Did you email or send letters home to your parents letting them know this? Because this random personal preference on an anonymous message board benefits no one. For every "I hate mugs and candles" poster are 10 who love them and 50 who appreciate any and everything they receive from students (whether they regift them or not).

This thread was a total fail. Anonymous teachers don't get to dictate what all teachers prefer.

If a thread like this is going to be made, the teacher should include his/her name and school. Otherwise, what's the point?

Just write a card. It will be appreciated every time. Explain to your child that the teacher just really wants them to learn and enjoy the class. This is an important lesson.

[Anonymous]

The teacher posting here likes cards and doesn't want anything else. However not all teachers feel this way. So people are going to give what they give. You can't please everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter picked out a travel mug for her teacher last year. Her teacher came up to me at this year's halloween parade and told me how much she loved it.

You do realize that sometimes the KIDS actually pick out the gifts right? Maybe it isn't what you exactly want but if a child picked it out -- be gracious.

Here’s the thing: I don’t WANT anything. I hate crap and clutter. Please please just ask your child if they would like to write me a note about their favorite thing about our class or something.

So I'm supposed to tell my child that she can't get something for her teacher? I sincerely doubt she will be happy just writing a note. Jeez - just donate or throw stuff away if you don't want it.

And that’s what I do.

I kind of hope you are not my kids teacher.