Anonymous wrote:$20 is very reasonable.

The vast majority of parents can afford it. Ones who really can't can opt out, of course.

Teacher here, please don't do this. Please please don't do this. If you want to give me a gift that's fine. If you want to send out 1 email saying "If anyone wants to join, please give at your discretion", but setting a cost, or implying that people need to "opt out" rather than "opting in", is absolutely unacceptable.

I would much much rather get nothing than know that you're creating this kind of class division in my class.

$20 is very reasonable.

The vast majority of parents can afford it. Ones who really can't can opt out, of course.

There are kids in my son's school who live in million dollar houses, and others whose families can't really afford lunch. Be careful about asking a set amount. It is very alienating, and school shouldn't be alienating.

Anonymous wrote:Public charter and we give $50. I'm also a teacher and would ask people to PLEASE not send cookies, chocolate or Starbucks gift cards. In my case, most of it ends up at homeless shelters because I realistically can't eat that much. I know the recipients are happy, but it can be a lot of time and energy to try to unload this stuff or risk spoilage.

Agreed. I am by no means ungrateful and write thank you notes to all the students, but I travel at Christmas and most of these gifts just can't get used in my home. I disagree about the Starbucks cards though. I love those!! Even our non-coffee drinking teachers enjoy the cold drinks there.

Our school asks the parents for $40 dues at the start of the year. That pays for all class parties, a group gift for myself, our aide and specials teachers at Christmas and end of the year and other miscellaneous things.

Public charter and we give $50. I'm also a teacher and would ask people to PLEASE not send cookies, chocolate or Starbucks gift cards. In my case, most of it ends up at homeless shelters because I realistically can't eat that much. I know the recipients are happy, but it can be a lot of time and energy to try to unload this stuff or risk spoilage.

Private, we contribute $25 and give $5o on our own

This year one class was $30 and the other 35 to support several class parties and teacher gifts..... We aren't asked to donate throughout the year...even food as this fund will cover it.

Anonymous wrote:And even I'd someone doesn't donate, please don't omit their name from the card.

What we do is give $50 and ask that half be counted as from my child, and half be counted from a child whose parents can't financially contribute. We always pay double the amount for field trips for the same reason as well.

Anonymous wrote:Op here- public, elementary but curious what private give in a group situation. How does one ask people privately- call them. This sounds like too much work and makes people uncomfortable. Maybe I'll ditch it and get something on my own.

Yes, please do that. Smart move. I'm someone who can contribute, but have decided that my kids and I will bake cookies for their teachers. That's just where we are. And FWIW, I was an elementary classroom teacher for 15 years. I never received a class group gift. I have always loved and appreciated all the individual gifts--the homemade baked goods, the tacky ornaments, the hand drawn cards and the bath gift items that I would never use. I would hate it if any family felt pressure to donate money for a gift for me. That's not why I did my job.

Op here- public, elementary but curious what private give in a group situation. How does one ask people privately- call them. This sounds like too much work and makes people uncomfortable. Maybe I'll ditch it and get something on my own.

And even I'd someone doesn't donate, please don't omit their name from the card.

This is a public school. You have no idea what parents' financial situations are, and now you're putting them in an awkward position. If they don't donate, they risk disapproval. I'm a charter school parent, and I hate this shakedown.

I've found that you get more by not asking publicly. If people do ask I tell them some people give $10, other significantly more (which is true). The range then becomes between $20 and $50 for those who donate. FWIW, this is a DC charter school.

Is this a public or private school? What age?

2 teachers 18 kids, $20 per parent?