Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 09:16     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
The parents writing that cash gifts are demeaning are basically not engaged with their kids academic life as well as cheap AF.

How you give is also as important as what you give. And people who never contribute to the school or give tokens of appreciation to teachers should not be commenting about why they don't give. Because no one is interested in knowing their thought process.

If you don't give gifts to teachers anyways, no need to comment here and give your zero cents.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 09:08     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.


Can you not see the difference? Kids love their mothers and this is fun for them and you can work learning into it: handwriting, fine motor skills, art. It’s actually for the kids, they enjoy making these and gifting these to their mothers. Pretty sure you don’t want 30 kids crafts for TAW. I don’t want to participate in a weeks worth of hoopla for teachers plus all the cost for said hoopla plus gift cards. It’s ridiculous and has nothing to do with kids showing their appreciation to their teacher. My kids enjoy writing their teacher a nice note about what they’ve enjoyed in class and what they like about their teacher. That’s should be what teacher appreciation is about. Not a bunch a snacks, gift cards, gift baskets, etc.


NP. I'm a mom and not a teacher. I made my kids all write cards to their teachers and a picture (my youngest two are pre-K and 1st). I also thought as they did it that it was helping their handwriting, fine motor skills and helping to recognize/thank others.

I'm not going to give snacks or their favorite things or make a little basket. I guess it's because I don't like things like that myself and it seems like extra work for women.

I will have my kids do things for their teachers though and I will slip in cash in appreciation. I'm not bitter at all about teacher appreciation week, nor about mother's day. I like both actually.


The slipping in cash is demeaning. They aren’t your housekeeper or babysitter.


I think gift cards are more demeaning. Who are you to tell them where to shop? I do NOT think they're my babysitter. I don't think there's a comparison because I don't give gifts to many other persons.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 09:03     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:I would have love cash. Teachers can stretched it like no one else.
Are you otherwise also easy-going, let's get it done parent?


OP here. I'm Type A. I make sure my kids are prepared, tutor them at night, make sure they know all their multiplication tables/spelling words, go to sleep on time. I never email or annoy the teachers though. It's not my place. My kids don't really have issues though.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 09:00     Subject: Re:Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:I loved teacher appreciation week. My kids were so lucky that they had amazing teachers throughout their K-12 journey. Usually our poor PTA (FARMS rates were insane in our public school pyramid) was severely cash strapped and had only a handful of involved parents, but come teacher appreciation week, most parents would come to help as well as donate cash and food.

Here is what I loved to give to the kid's teachers.
- Donation of food for SAW events organized by the PTA
- Restock all supplies in my kid's class room and front office.
- Red envelopes with generous cash and a card - kid personally delivered to the teachers and also thanked them. (I am Asian. Our family gives red envelopes. No one ever objected.)
- An email of appreciation also cc'ed to the Principal.


^^ BTW - public school in DMV.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:56     Subject: Re:Cash for teacher appreciation week
I loved teacher appreciation week. My kids were so lucky that they had amazing teachers throughout their K-12 journey. Usually our poor PTA (FARMS rates were insane in our public school pyramid) was severely cash strapped and had only a handful of involved parents, but come teacher appreciation week, most parents would come to help as well as donate cash and food.

Here is what I loved to give to the kid's teachers.
- Donation of food for SAW events organized by the PTA
- Restock supplies in my kid's class room and front office.
- Red envelopes with generous cash and a card - kid personally delivered to the teachers and also thanked them. (I am Asian. Our family gives red envelopes. No one ever objected.)
- An email of appreciation also cc'ed to the Principal.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:56     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.


Can you not see the difference? Kids love their mothers and this is fun for them and you can work learning into it: handwriting, fine motor skills, art. It’s actually for the kids, they enjoy making these and gifting these to their mothers. Pretty sure you don’t want 30 kids crafts for TAW. I don’t want to participate in a weeks worth of hoopla for teachers plus all the cost for said hoopla plus gift cards. It’s ridiculous and has nothing to do with kids showing their appreciation to their teacher. My kids enjoy writing their teacher a nice note about what they’ve enjoyed in class and what they like about their teacher. That’s should be what teacher appreciation is about. Not a bunch a snacks, gift cards, gift baskets, etc.


NP. I'm a mom and not a teacher. I made my kids all write cards to their teachers and a picture (my youngest two are pre-K and 1st). I also thought as they did it that it was helping their handwriting, fine motor skills and helping to recognize/thank others.

I'm not going to give snacks or their favorite things or make a little basket. I guess it's because I don't like things like that myself and it seems like extra work for women.

I will have my kids do things for their teachers though and I will slip in cash in appreciation. I'm not bitter at all about teacher appreciation week, nor about mother's day. I like both actually.


The slipping in cash is demeaning. They aren’t your housekeeper or babysitter.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:54     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.


Can you not see the difference? Kids love their mothers and this is fun for them and you can work learning into it: handwriting, fine motor skills, art. It’s actually for the kids, they enjoy making these and gifting these to their mothers. Pretty sure you don’t want 30 kids crafts for TAW. I don’t want to participate in a weeks worth of hoopla for teachers plus all the cost for said hoopla plus gift cards. It’s ridiculous and has nothing to do with kids showing their appreciation to their teacher. My kids enjoy writing their teacher a nice note about what they’ve enjoyed in class and what they like about their teacher. That’s should be what teacher appreciation is about. Not a bunch a snacks, gift cards, gift baskets, etc.


NP. I'm a mom and not a teacher. I made my kids all write cards to their teachers and a picture (my youngest two are pre-K and 1st). I also thought as they did it that it was helping their handwriting, fine motor skills and helping to recognize/thank others.

I'm not going to give snacks or their favorite things or make a little basket. I guess it's because I don't like things like that myself and it seems like extra work for women.

I will have my kids do things for their teachers though and I will slip in cash in appreciation. I'm not bitter at all about teacher appreciation week, nor about mother's day. I like both actually.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:39     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are we doing teacher appreciation week gifts now? I thought we saved gifts until the last week of school?


Don’t you know? Moms have to EARN Mother’s DAY by spending the entire week before doing Teacher Appreciation WEEK. Multiple handwritten cards, gift cards and more, including instructions on each teacher’s favorite color, flower, candy, restaurant, etc. Don’t forget to do all of this emotional labor and recognition of others for a full week, on top of everything else you have to do, so you can earn one day of rest.


Oh poor baby it takes 10 minutes of your time
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:19     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
I would have love cash. Teachers can stretched it like no one else.
Are you otherwise also easy-going, let's get it done parent?
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 08:12     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.


Can you not see the difference? Kids love their mothers and this is fun for them and you can work learning into it: handwriting, fine motor skills, art. It’s actually for the kids, they enjoy making these and gifting these to their mothers. Pretty sure you don’t want 30 kids crafts for TAW. I don’t want to participate in a weeks worth of hoopla for teachers plus all the cost for said hoopla plus gift cards. It’s ridiculous and has nothing to do with kids showing their appreciation to their teacher. My kids enjoy writing their teacher a nice note about what they’ve enjoyed in class and what they like about their teacher. That’s should be what teacher appreciation is about. Not a bunch a snacks, gift cards, gift baskets, etc.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 06:13     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.
our kids never made a gift for mom at school. That would be nice.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2026 06:04     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
If you don’t want to be bothered by your school’s PTA, come to my school. Not only do we not have a PTA, you won’t even know it’s TAW. But we will be busy making multiple gifts for moms for Mother’s Day. We are bitter people like some DCUMs clearly are.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2026 20:03     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are we doing teacher appreciation week gifts now? I thought we saved gifts until the last week of school?


Don’t you know? Moms have to EARN Mother’s DAY by spending the entire week before doing Teacher Appreciation WEEK. Multiple handwritten cards, gift cards and more, including instructions on each teacher’s favorite color, flower, candy, restaurant, etc. Don’t forget to do all of this emotional labor and recognition of others for a full week, on top of everything else you have to do, so you can earn one day of rest.


This is exactly what it feels like.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2026 19:50     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
I do a gift card, this year I’m doing second gift cards to the gas station closest to the school. High denominations for the teachers who are making a real impact, tokens for the others.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2026 17:55     Subject: Cash for teacher appreciation week
Anonymous wrote:Are we doing teacher appreciation week gifts now? I thought we saved gifts until the last week of school?


Don’t you know? Moms have to EARN Mother’s DAY by spending the entire week before doing Teacher Appreciation WEEK. Multiple handwritten cards, gift cards and more, including instructions on each teacher’s favorite color, flower, candy, restaurant, etc. Don’t forget to do all of this emotional labor and recognition of others for a full week, on top of everything else you have to do, so you can earn one day of rest.