Holiday gifts for teachers

[Anonymous]

My DC is in elementary school. The class parent is asking families to contribute $25 each for a teacher gift from the class. The same parent organized a birthday gift for the teacher in the same amount last month. I have never heard of students giving a birthday present to a teacher. I feel like this is all too much. The class parent asked for feedback over a mass email, but I don't want to be publicly shamed for saying I think $10 is more appropriate.

What do you typically give to an elementary teacher? If a gift card, how much?

[Anonymous]

That’s a pretty standard amount for Christmas but like you I haven’t we’ve been asked for a birthday contribution for a teacher before. I think that would have been the time to speak up, not for this gift. As always though you should just give what you feel comfortable with, whatever the suggested amount is.

[Anonymous]

Is this a private school? At our school (MCPS), the room parents can ask for VOLUNTARY donations of $25 max, that covers class events, teacher's holiday and end of school year gifts. When DC was in a private school, I told the room parent that I already prepared a gift for the teacher so I didn't contribute to the class gift nor sign the group card. Honestly, I would rather give $25 gift card directly to the teacher with a handwritten card by my DC, than contributing $25 as part of the class gift because not all parents contributed but all kids signed their names on the card.

[Anonymous]

We give $20 gift card

[Anonymous]

I would not have contributed to a birthday gift for a teacher. We do $15 for holiday gift, and $15-$20 for end of year. $25 is too much for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is in elementary school. The class parent is asking families to contribute $25 each for a teacher gift from the class. The same parent organized a birthday gift for the teacher in the same amount last month. I have never heard of students giving a birthday present to a teacher. I feel like this is all too much. The class parent asked for feedback over a mass email, but I don't want to be publicly shamed for saying I think $10 is more appropriate.

What do you typically give to an elementary teacher? If a gift card, how much?

Is this a suggested amount? A room parent can’t demand a certain amount. I’m sure you’re misinterpreting this since you sound a bit clueless. Either way, $10 is way too little to contribute to a class gift. $15-$20 is standard.

[Anonymous]

I think that is a bit much to demand. Some parents do not have that much money to give. We usually give a $25 gift card at the holidays and at the end of the year but from just our child. If they’re demanding $25 from each kid and there’s 20 kids , so they want $500? I think that’s a lot , what is the gift supposed to be?

[Anonymous]

As a public school teacher, that sounds outrageous to me. I sometimes got much appreciated gift cards, or baked goods, which I really appreciated because it’s so hectic at holiday time that anything that cut down on my need to bake was wonderful.

[Anonymous]

I was asked by the room parent to contribute to a birthday gift for the teacher when my kid was in preschool. I did not. That’s just nuts.

[Anonymous]

This is outrageous. $500 for a teacher gift when there will be teacher appreciation week coming up? $5 each is more like it. I'll be lucky if my kids even give me a gift for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

In the past, the room parents collected $25 per family for classroom teacher and the 4 special teachers (art, PE, music, librarian) - total 5 teachers.

[Anonymous]

We do $25 every year for a group gift but that includes the classroom assistant. It's usually $15 for the teacher plus $10 for the aide.

[Anonymous]

I do #25 for Christmas and end of year. I would not do a birthday.
It is wrong for a room parent to request a set amount. We are at a focus school and I know a lot of parents would struggle with that amount.
I would complain to the PTA or Principal, whoever is in charge of room parents.

[Anonymous]

And then there was this other thread where someone contributed $50 for a baby shower gift and the organizing parent didn't contribute.

People, learn your lessons. If you wish to contribute a decent amount like $25, give it on your own instead of the class gift where some people give and some people don't.

You would think adults wouldn't behave this way, but there are some people who pocket some of the money and don't actually give the teacher everything that was collected.

One of my kids room parent was good about sending out emails on what was given to teacher as a Christmas gift and TA gift. The other one didn't send anything at all. Who knows what she did with the class donation. Two parties a year would not cost more than $5/per child.

[Anonymous]

I usually donate $15 to the class gift regardless of what is recommended. I just send the $$ via pay pal and do not say anything other than gift from Ms. (teacher's name) from (child's). However, in your situation with two $25 requests, I would send a polite email directly to the parent to let her know that there are parents in the class who are unable to make that type of contribution several times person year especially if they have multiple children.