Anonymous wrote:you people are so lazy. if you don't want to do it then don't. no one is forcing you. if your DC doesn't bring in a flower and sees all the other kids doing it.... i don't care. the pta's organize these things because left to their own devices most parents forget or send in a bunch of junk. so the friendly reminder - gift card day - is really a message - 'don't be so cheap, go get a gift card and send it in on wednesday or we know you'll forget about it'.

Thanks, but I can remember to be appreciative on my own terms. Frankly I find your post rather patronizing.

If you don't like it, don't participate - don't give and don't receive. It's not like anyone is forcing you. I haven't been anywhere other than Title 1 schools so maybe it's different in the wealthier areas but Teacher Appreciation Week is a time when many of the low income parents are able to do something for the teachers without spending more than what they have and contribute towards something meaningful to the staff (not just the teachers, all the staff). But, if it bothers you so much, decline to participate. Chances are, no one will notice. No big deal.

It's like a military invasion at my N. Arlington school, down to orders on what to bring when. I think you might be shot if you deviate.

Anonymous wrote:you people are so lazy. if you don't want to do it then don't. no one is forcing you. if your DC doesn't bring in a flower and sees all the other kids doing it.... i don't care. the pta's organize these things because left to their own devices most parents forget or send in a bunch of junk. so the friendly reminder - gift card day - is really a message - 'don't be so cheap, go get a gift card and send it in on wednesday or we know you'll forget about it'.

wow. And all this post does is makes me want to wash my hands of the whole thing!!!

Uh-oh, I often give cute kitchen towels as housewarming gifts, hostess gifts, etc, should I get a new idea? Do people hate getting these?

you people are so lazy. if you don't want to do it then don't. no one is forcing you. if your DC doesn't bring in a flower and sees all the other kids doing it.... i don't care. the pta's organize these things because left to their own devices most parents forget or send in a bunch of junk. so the friendly reminder - gift card day - is really a message - 'don't be so cheap, go get a gift card and send it in on wednesday or we know you'll forget about it'.

Yes!!!! that is true, it is like we are forcing it. I appreciate my child's teachers and we always do things at the end of the year (NOT lotion or hand towels, geeez) But this is out of control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i appreciate that our pta takes over and runs the whole event. sending in a flower and a card is not much work for the parent and reinforces with the children that the teachers should be appreciated for their hard work.

OP here, who wants forced appreciation? Most people bring in something small or a card for the last day of school anyway. Our list is not just "flower and a card," it's a gift card (for Gift Card Bingo), school supplies to replenish the stock, flowers, and a card. All on specific days. Again, forced appreciation.

I don't think it is "forced" appreciation b/c people will choose to participate in the idea or not. It's just an "organized" giving so that people who don't know whether they should do something can feel like they are participating in a little way that adds up to something much bigger. I'm sure you don't need a million chocolates or sweets, but the idea of bringing in a flower on one day and/or some school supplies on another and/or a thank-you card on another day is fine. No one is required, but it gives many of us some structure to "appreciating" our teachers. We don't know if it would be inappropriate to give you a $10 gift card to Target and yet, if lots of people (but not "everyone") gives a $5 card, they add up to something useful. Plus, by organizing small gifts that can add up to something useful, YOU (Ms. Teacher), don't end up with 500 kitchen hand towels, bath/body lotions and apple knick/knacks.... so, you might think twice about complaining here.

Anonymous wrote:i appreciate that our pta takes over and runs the whole event. sending in a flower and a card is not much work for the parent and reinforces with the children that the teachers should be appreciated for their hard work.

OP here, who wants forced appreciation? Most people bring in something small or a card for the last day of school anyway. Our list is not just "flower and a card," it's a gift card (for Gift Card Bingo), school supplies to replenish the stock, flowers, and a card. All on specific days. Again, forced appreciation.

i appreciate that our pta takes over and runs the whole event. sending in a flower and a card is not much work for the parent and reinforces with the children that the teachers should be appreciated for their hard work. the pta runs everything else - and I like the fact that all the teachers in the school are appreciated, not just the homeroom teachers.

I always felt this way for the poor teachers in that there is so much junk.....chocolate, breakfasts, lunches, cookie day. Every time I go to workroom to help it is loaded with junk - most of the year. One teacher started right out of college a few years back....tiny, adorable, etc. She has gained at least 30 or more pounds in 3 years. With the class birthdays, parties, holidays, it is never ending. I am not the food police as I love my sweets but when I worked full time I hated all the food events and I hate all the food events placed in front of my kids. Yes, we can all say no but this is so hard to do when it is repeatedly offered. One year, I did get a massage service to donate time. Was trying to think of Something that was not food.

Agreed! My kids' old elementary school PTO used to do a whole series of things like "Parents - please have your child bring in a single flower from your garden on Mondays"; "Bake a treat for teachers on Tuesday" etc. It was very presumptuous and annoying.

I am also a teacher (HS) and our school takes care of it all except for one PTSA lunch where parents can bring in food.

At my son's school, they have asked for donations for the various breakfasts/lunches, etc. but no one is forced to do anything if they don't want to/can't. No idea what we will be expected to do for my son's class - our room parent has been pretty much MIA all year.

I agree with you!!!! 1000x over! I contribute a lot throughout the year by volunteering at least 2 hours in each kids classroom each week (I have twins) I send in supplies when they are needed.

I like some of the suggestions a flower, that's nice and something that mostly everyone can get it's spring..... but chocolates, how many chocolates will the teacher actually eat they have 24 kids in class.

I like that the PTA(ours) has scheduled some breakfast and lunches, that's nice but again asking parents.... ugh!

First off, I AM a teacher and I appreciate what I do, and what my colleagues do. But it doesn't sit well with me that our PTA (FCPS) is sending mailings about specifics for us to send in each day with our kids, for their teachers (and, again, for me). A lot of us feel this way, but the others won't let it slide so please don't tell me to bring this to the board or the PTA because I"ll be slaughtered.

As a parent, I don't like being told when and how to appreciate all my kids' teachers, though I do appreciate them, no question. And I do my own things during the year to show them. But it's not right to impose this "such and such on Monday, this on Tuesday, this on Wednesday" thing. That just comes across as greedy and obnoxious.

So please, parents, don't feel bad if you feel as I do. Most of us teachers would just like to be "appreciated" with good communication from home, good behavior and effort from your children, and maybe a homemade card at the end of the year.