Anonymous wrote:Its a known fact teacher quality is one of the most important determinants in the quality of you childs education. More so than class size or dollars spent per child for instance. If your private school has lower teacher compensation on average i really dont see how your school is attracting the best teachers. There may be exceptions here or there but on average teacher quality will be inferior to a school that pays more. Please before enrolling your dc in a private school ask where teacher comp is relative to the average. If its not top quartile i would say chose another school or go to publc school.
To the poster about currying favor you are right that it makes no sense in a year end gift unless one has the same teacher over several years as in some montessoris .
Anonymous wrote:Its a known fact teacher quality is one of the most important determinants in the quality of you childs education. More so than class size or dollars spent per child for instance. If your private school has lower teacher compensation on average i really dont see how your school is attracting the best teachers. There may be exceptions here or there but on average teacher quality will be inferior to a school that pays more. Please before enrolling your dc in a private school ask where teacher comp is relative to the average. If its not top quartile i would say chose another school or go to publc school.
To the poster about currying favor you are right that it makes no sense in a year end gift unless one has the same teacher over several years as in some montessoris .
Anonymous wrote:OP. It seems to me you are all victims of peer pressure or are trying to curry favor with the teacher. When was the last time you gave a gift to your local policeman or police precint for protecting you or fire dept for keeping you safe or town mayor. I would venture the answer is never.
To the poster who thinks the private school teachers are paid less than public school counterparts i would tell you switch schools because you are paying a private school tuition for a worse education for your child than sending your child to public school.
Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, you might have a point if your outsized tuition went mostly to the teacher's salary. As it is, most private school teachers are paid less than their public school counterparts and do not enjoy as many benefits (pension, etc) as teachers in public school.
So, yes, I'd say you were cheap.
That said, teacher appreciation and gift giving and the like should be voluntary. If you want to be cheap (your word, not mine), that is totally your right. Of course, I doubt your last statement is true, though. You probably do get gifts for doing your job. You just don't see them that way. Everything from the holiday bonuses to the holiday parties or even congratulatory brunch or bagels in the break room are gifts for doing your job. So, too, are breaks in gym memberships, free parking, and other perks. There is nothing wrong with any of them, and there isn't anything wrong with thanking a teacher at the end of the year with a gift.
Anonymous wrote:Parents have been pooling funds for a year end gift to their DC teacher. Is it just that I'm cheap but i think my outsized tuition should be gift enough? No one gives me a gift for doing my job.