Anonymous wrote: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?

[list]Might not be a bad idea to switch or give fuctional kitchen towels. The cute ones, in my house, usually get donated - they are just not practical.

My school does not have anything like a teacher appreciation week so I can only speak hypothetically. I would consider it to be a nice gesture, but not necessary.

I have appreciated all of the following from parents:
-Praise given to administration about my teaching
-Sincere and frequent thank yous
-Occasional treats - ie one mom brought pizzas for us for lunch one day, another brought bagels for us one morning
-Replenishing of supplies they know we need - ie hand sanitizer
-A little gift bottle of lotion from one grandparent. Not that I needed the lotion but it was just a thoughtful out of the blue gift.

I work really really really hard as a teacher so these small thank yous mean a lot to me. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a TA week, but it would be awkward if I felt like people were only doing it because they had to. I'd love it if I felt like some of my parents were happy to have the opportunity to formally thank me.

Not OP. I used to teach and am a parent. Drop the teacher appreciation bullshit. Sincere appreciation through a thank you note is all I needed.

I did complain prior on this post and ...the bet is lost with me. Many a teacher has thanked me for all the ways I show appreciation (school supply donations, notes, small gifts at holidays and end of year, volunteering).

I think the whole concept of teacher appreciation is obnoxious. We all know how to show appreciation and we do show it to those who we feel made a difference, When I taught I felt very appreciated.

At our school, the PTA organizes teacher appreciation and uses funds to purchases flowers for the "flower parade" The students place the flowers in the vase as they walk into the classroom. The hallways are decorated with students' thank you notes and drawings, there is a teacher lunch (no forced donations, help if you can!). At the end of the week, there is a zen day where teachers can sign up to receive a massage during their planning period (provided by PTA funds).

It's important to me that the children know that it's a special week for the teachers, that the job they do is important and they deserve to be thanked for it.

I'm a teacher. Honestly, TA is nice enough, but not necessary, especially not for a whole week.

For me a single day, maybe with drop off bagels from the PTA and a handmade card or two from kids, would make me feel plenty appreciated for the whole year.

(Hell, I wouldn't even mind if there were no bagels, just a thank you. But, if you really want to appreciate an early rising, hard working teacher, no frills breakfast is the way to go.)

Are there any teachers on this thread other than OP? I'm curious to know what they think because my perception is that the teachers at our ES absolutely love the treats and appreciation they get that week from the PTA, room parents and the kids/parents (and, no, it really is not chocolate and candles!). Of course, the main reason I have not volunteered to be a room parent again was all the demands and craziness of teacher appreciation week! And, even when not a room parent, I always feel like I need a vacation from teacher's appreciation week x 3 kids! But, I am thrilled with our teachers and happy to show them this type of appreciation considering the pay freezes and growing class sizes of the last few years. Now, if only Mother's Day was a week long .

Anonymous wrote:I'm willing to bet that all of you complaining about forced teacher appreciation have never done anything, absent a mumbled thank you at a parent conference, to appreciate a teacher.

Wrong. I voluntarily replace school supplies, send good teachers notes of gratitude, praise them to the principal, etc. What I don't do is show appreciation in the contrived way the PTA comes up with FOR me.

Anonymous wrote:I'm willing to bet that all of you complaining about forced teacher appreciation have never done anything, absent a mumbled thank you at a parent conference, to appreciate a teacher.

Well you would lose that bet in my case. I have written notes of appreciation and given gifts to many of my children's teachers over the years. If it makes some parents happy to do more (volunteer at every bake sale, be a class parent) then great. I've held these jobs myself. I just resent being told how to involve myself in my child's school.

I'm willing to bet that all of you complaining about forced teacher appreciation have never done anything, absent a mumbled thank you at a parent conference, to appreciate a teacher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is precisely what I cannot stand! I remember several times feeling this way at DC's elementary school. I just recall thinking "don't these parents have a job or a hobby to occupy all of their spare time and energy?"

Yes!


To the other recent poster-many of us mention it to the PTA and then we get..well why don't you become PTA pres, etc. Some people don't want to hear that people disagree with you so they just keep putting it back on you or worse they turn into the mommy wars and hatred toward moms who don't have the time to volunteer as much as then do rather than saying "thank you for your input. We can vote on that at the next meeting."

If people already show appreciation to teachers naturally-those they feel are truly good, why the need to CONTROL everything. To now throw it back on you, what is going on with you (PTA poster) that you feel everyone is too appreciative and if you don't take over these teachers will never know people are happy with them.

I doubt any parent will feel comfortable marching up to a principal and demanding that teacher appreciation stop.

since so many of you don't like the forced appreciation, maybe you should bring this up with the school. go to a pta meeting and tell them how you feel about teacher appreciation. Maybe get the principal involved in ending the events at your school. Maybe you could take over the committee and end the gift giving all together. It's up to you to make that change. stop talking and start working on ending that day at your school.

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is precisely what I cannot stand! I remember several times feeling this way at DC's elementary school. I just recall thinking "don't these parents have a job or a hobby to occupy all of their spare time and energy?"

Showing appreciation is great, but it just means more when it is unsolicited. I feel that the "forced" nature of teacher appreciation week is similar to the child's birthday party invitations instructing us to bring a donation to charity in lieu of a gift. The idea is perhaps well-intentioned but it always leaves me feeling coerced and slightly resentful. I like to make my own decisions about how to show that I care. But maybe it's just me...?

My husband and I are both professionals (attorneys) as well. While we don't need "stroking," we both enjoy it when a client lets us know they are happy with our work. A nice card or a plate of cookies has been known to turn a stressful day around. We also try to let our staffs know we appreciate their work. Good morale is important in any workplace.

I couldn't agree more that it would be great if every child came to school on time and ready to learn and follow instructions.

[quote=Anonymous]Finally, if you take issue with "forced" appreciation, what would you suggest as an alternative? I bet the other parents would love it if you want to volunteer to be in charge of organizing the effort next year. I would love to hear ways to get all the kids and families involved in building teacher morale without "bothering" anyone.

[/quote]

OP here, again (just a reminder: I AM a teacher). Build teacher morale? We're professionals; we don't need stroking, thanks. I would just love if parents taught their kids boundaries and manners - and enforced discipline in their homes - so that my job is that much easier, did their parental jobs (I'm a parent too) and fed their children the appropriate foods and enough of them so they can be healthy and focused, and overall care about their childrens' education. THAT is showing me appreciation.

I hope this answered your concern.