Reply to Dcps teacher gift limit

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Reply to "Dcps teacher gift limit"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]ok I know that this will sound weird, but... I will say (as a charter school parent here) that as great as teachers are, it's felt a bit odd that the overwhelming majority - we're talking like 80-90% - of fundraising or group activity communication from the school administration or room parents this year has been related to teacher appreciation (birthday presents, cards, gifts; "teacher appreciation week" cash awards; holiday gifts; etc.)

Last week, the class parent at our (not-NW) public school was fundraising with a $250+ gift in mind for the teacher, AND asking us to instruct kids to wear her favorite color to school, AND asking for even more $$$ for us to buy her favorite snack for a class party, AND asking us to have the kids make her a card at home, and...you get the idea. This week, the school is sending messages asking us to contribute cash for a 5-figure target for a "teacher appreciation fund" to give them cash gifts - apparently the several thousand dollars already raised isn't enough for what they have in mind.

Look: I appreciate teachers! they're great! but...how is it that the majority of the public appreciation, energy and fundraising at this school seems to go to them, not the kids? is this normal, and I'm just weird for finding it...weird? the majority of students enrolled qualify for free lunches, and need scholarships (which are currently quite limited!) to afford after-school activities. The playground is falling apart. There are no class excursions more ambitious than "free/almost-free museum day trip once every three months or so."  And we're aiming for $15K to give a teacher their [checks notes] third cash gift in four months?

I don't know. It just feels like, as great as teachers are, if we're making an extra effort to make sure someone feels special, I kind of want the majority of that energy to be directed at - the kids. Like we can and should save SOME for teachers ...but the main focus of school isn't to make sure teachers feel special and happy, is it? it's to make sure kids do. I mean, I'm not saying it's an either/or, just that the priority and emphasis here feels...off. But again - maybe it's just me.[/quote]

This sounds charter specific. We have one in a charter and one in DCPS, and the charter is similarly insane about the goal for teacher supper funds.
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