Anonymous wrote:I’d love cash. It will help me pay for gas to get to school this week.

-a teacher

+1

Anonymous wrote:Most places cap gifts to government employees at $20. I think cash is tacky so if you want to do this, a gift card is better. Gift cards are no harder to get than cash -- they sell them at literally every grocery store or pharmacy.

That said, I don't even do gift cards anymore. Where I live, teachers make about what I do (over 100k) and it feels odd to be giving them gift cards. They are educated professionals. I nice note feels appropriate.

Disagree on the gift cards. Dh and I have a stash of petty cash that we just pull from. Getting gift cards means driving to Target and telling the cashier how much on every single card. It can be annoying.

Most places cap gifts to government employees at $20. I think cash is tacky so if you want to do this, a gift card is better. Gift cards are no harder to get than cash -- they sell them at literally every grocery store or pharmacy.

That said, I don't even do gift cards anymore. Where I live, teachers make about what I do (over 100k) and it feels odd to be giving them gift cards. They are educated professionals. I nice note feels appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:Op here- so would a $25 gift card be better? I’m supposed to send a gift card in on Friday per the instructions.

No. Stop the gifts. These are educated professionals. Giving money and gift cards feels belittling. Write a note of appreciation

No cash, no gift card. Just a short note.

Op here. We don’t have room parents and no one is organizing anything.

I guess I might just skip it all then. I don’t know that I have enough time to grab gift cards. Tons of teachers and it’s just a big chore.

Cash is fine! Gift card is fine! $30 is within the range of appropriate (I'd do $20, but $30 is very kind).

Please please please do not feel obligated. If your school is telling you to send it a gift card on Friday they are really overstepping.

All 95% of us want is a note of appreciation.

--teacher

Giving a bonsai plant and a card from your kid sounds like an awesome gift! It would NOT be weird at all to give the plant.

I agree that cash gifts are tacky, but if you insist on doing it anyway, you need to check the school’s policy. I think MCPS requires individual gifts be no more than $20. Frequently, room parents take up a collection often including donations for class parties, as well, and give the teacher a sum from the entire class (without specifying who contributed what). If yours isn’t doing this, you could try and organize something, but it might be difficult this late in the year.

Op here- so would a $25 gift card be better? I’m supposed to send a gift card in on Friday per the instructions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is very tacky, please don't do this. Card is fine. A small jade bonsai plant would be a nice gesture and some teachers will prefer that to cut flowers (and if they don't, they will put it in the teacher's lounge for someone who does want it to take).

Do not give teacher's cash tips. Also if giving teachers cash tips was acceptable (it's not) a $30 tip is insulting. So please don't do this.

It’s not a cash tip or a bonus. It’s a token of appreciation. More than $30 is bribery IMO.

Why would more than $30 be bribery but $30 is fine.

It's weird, don't do it. I actually don't care what that other teacher says about wanting it for gas money. Don't give teachers cash, it creates the impression of a bribe or impropriety.

I’d love cash. It will help me pay for gas to get to school this week.

-a teacher

Anonymous wrote:It is very tacky, please don't do this. Card is fine. A small jade bonsai plant would be a nice gesture and some teachers will prefer that to cut flowers (and if they don't, they will put it in the teacher's lounge for someone who does want it to take).

Do not give teacher's cash tips. Also if giving teachers cash tips was acceptable (it's not) a $30 tip is insulting. So please don't do this.

It’s not a cash tip or a bonus. It’s a token of appreciation. More than $30 is bribery IMO.

It is very tacky, please don't do this. Card is fine. A small jade bonsai plant would be a nice gesture and some teachers will prefer that to cut flowers (and if they don't, they will put it in the teacher's lounge for someone who does want it to take).

Do not give teacher's cash tips. Also if giving teachers cash tips was acceptable (it's not) a $30 tip is insulting. So please don't do this.

I’m planning on giving cash for teacher appreciation week to all our teachers ($30). The kids all made nice cards for their teachers and I was going to stick it in.

I’m having some doubts. Is this at all tacky? Why does giving a gift card feel nicer? They’re both technically money. I absolutely don’t want to give a coffee mug or some basket.

Also- a whole bunch of the days want us to bring in flowers. Do teachers want this? Seems like they’d get 10 bouquets at least? I grow small jade bonsai plants. Would it be weird to give one of those instead?