It's just a token of appreciation for doing the difficult job of being with a couple dozen children all day long. You probably don't want to go out for coffee with me in person, so I got you a Starbucks card. I don't consider it charity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So don't! I promise you, absolutely no one is keeping score. I taught for many many years, and the majority of families didn't give or the room parent would organize one class wide gift and I had no idea who did/didn't contribute. Please don't give out of a sense of obligation.

That is not why I am asking. I am not complaining. I only seek to understand the reasons behind this American tradition.

America has a really strong tipping culture. Businesses underpay their staff, and consumers feel compelled to give extra compensation for their services.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what shildren/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

Have you ever worked in an office? It's customary to send holiday gifts to your clients, generally things that are edible but sometimes other things as well. No one is mortified by this arrangement.

Gifts TO clients. Not FROM clients. Are you actually stating that teachers are the students clients? Really?

Ma'am. If you really want to make a difference, take this up with the other parents at your kids school. There's a culture of gift giving, maybe you can single handedly change that!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what shildren/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

Have you ever worked in an office? It's customary to send holiday gifts to your clients, generally things that are edible but sometimes other things as well. No one is mortified by this arrangement.

Gifts TO clients. Not FROM clients. Are you actually stating that teachers are the students clients? Really?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what children/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

I don't think you should slam every teacher. My spouse is a teacher and there is no expectation of gifts. Would you suggest that he return the gift card? The homemade fudge and note? Or what? Do you hate teachers? I don't think you would last one day teaching children. my spouse chose the profession because they wanted to teach and change someone's life.

what have you done?

Pay a ton in taxes to pay his wages and raised a responsible child.
He is not a saint or hero, just a person doing a job like the majority of adult humans.
My husband is a cop that keeps you and yours safe, what have you done?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So don't! I promise you, absolutely no one is keeping score. I taught for many many years, and the majority of families didn't give or the room parent would organize one class wide gift and I had no idea who did/didn't contribute. Please don't give out of a sense of obligation.

I think that is OP's point. Some parents cheap out, and OP does not want to be THAT parent.

OP is definitely hates giving gifts to teachers but doesn't have enough self confidence to just not do it. No one cares. Really.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what shildren/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

Have you ever worked in an office? It's customary to send holiday gifts to your clients, generally things that are edible but sometimes other things as well. No one is mortified by this arrangement.

Some of our teachers have gone above and beyond and I want to show appreciation.
I grew up in England and we didn’t do it there either. I don’t mind it.

Anonymous wrote:So don't! I promise you, absolutely no one is keeping score. I taught for many many years, and the majority of families didn't give or the room parent would organize one class wide gift and I had no idea who did/didn't contribute. Please don't give out of a sense of obligation.

I think that is OP's point. Some parents cheap out, and OP does not want to be THAT parent.

Well, when I was a kid, we did give a homemade treat or small gift. Now, there are food allergies etc. and everyone has enough crap. So, I give a gift card so the teacher can do what they want with it, to meet their needs. Target can be for fun impractical gifts, groceries, or the school supplies they pay for out of pocket. I’m just trying to show appreciation without giving them something that might not be their favorite.

I also bet the teachers in Europe are better compensated and more respected than here. So, I don’t think of it as charity, but I do know people aren’t in teaching for the money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what shildren/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

I don't think you should slam every teacher. My spouse is a teacher and there is no expectation of gifts. Would you suggest that he return the gift card? The homemade fudge and note? Or what? Do you hate teachers? I don't think you would last one day teaching children. my spouse chose the profession because they wanted to teach and change someone's life.

what have you done?

I’d say that it’s always been customary to acknowledge people who matter to you with thoughtful gifts. These used to be things like handmade cards or homemade cookies — given to teachers (and others) by the students. More recently, as parents have realized both that teachers are often underpaid and that they often spend considerable amounts of money for their classrooms and students, parents who can, give more tangible gifts — and gift cards are more flexible, and possibly more appreciated then yet another ceramic mug filled with drug store candy. Gifts are further constrained by limits on the types of gifts that some employees are allowed to accept, and a reluctance —that many people share — to eat homemade food (vs professionally wrapped food).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But it not the boss giving $500 is it?
Any professional outside of teaching would be mortified if the people that are in their care were expected to give them gifts.
But teachers in the US have become so spoiled with gifts, they actually put out into the universe what shildren/people should gift them. It is so gross and narcissistic.

Just chalk it up to a cultural difference. It's pretty clear you aren't trying to understand so do what you want and let it go. If you give a gift card the teacher will not be offended or insulted. If you don't give a gift card, the teacher is not going to look at you any differently. It's fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school teachers are notoriously underpaid. That's why some people do it

So it’s charity. The $500+ in gift cards they get will allow them to buy presents for their kids. I would be humiliated if I were a teacher and this is the reason parents give me gift cards.

So if your boss gives you $500 you would be humiliated? What a strange response!

But that’s it!!!!! I am NOT the teacher’s boss!!!!

But perhaps parents think they are? Teachers don’t work for me…