DH is a teacher in a private school. The parents have put together a system in which all money is put into a pool and then divided equally among all teachers and I think staff. Then he will usually get a few gifts cards from especially appreciative family (1 kid who he worked super extra to help after an illness, for ex.) or something special from an international student. He is significantly underpaid for his qualifications and supplements his income in other ways accordingly. He teaches because he loves it and we understand it's a lower paying option, especially in private school. We also really appreciate the couple hundred extra $ at the holidays and it really helps us to be able to put some presents under the tree for the kids. Any bookstore gift cards go to get a few things for us. He loves coffee so SB gift cards also welcome!

So from a teacher family, thank you all so much for your thoughtful gifts at the holiday. They mean a lot to us and are very helpful in making our family able to celebrate the holidays without putting everything on the credit card. For my kids' teachers, I donated to the general fund as requested that was spread out over the whole school's teachers ($10), gave bottles of wine to classroom teachers (who indicated that they enjoy that), and gave a little something to each of the extras, crossing guard, security guard, office people. I'm very appreciative and I hope they know it.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I got two gifts: a bottle of champagne and a $100 Visa gift card. There were perfect gifts and I am so appreciative!


Merry Christmas everyone!

OP, you're Gross.

Also a teacher too. I think your attitude is terrible. If you don't like a gift you can always re-gift it. It not the parent's job to supplement your salary.

We solved this problem by asking parents to contribute any amount from $2-10 to the room parents and then bought a visa giftcard. No overspending, no favoritism, but a sincere appreciation from all the parents and a nice gift. We also agreed not to do it during the holidays, but for year end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have to agree that I don't think parents should be able to give individual teachers presents. If you got a really nice gift from a parent at Christmas, it would have an impact on your assessments of that child, and would cause you to think about the end of year gift and how you don't want to mess that up. You may try to not let it influence you, but it will.
-signed,
Former Teacher (who racked up during Christmas and End of year)

OP here and i totally disagree. I don't work like that. I give 100% to all my students, even the bratty, entitled ones. Even the obnoxious ones. I'm a professional. I may not like them as much but they get the same level of instruction and time and energy. Gifts are irrelevant.

Very professional attitude.

Anonymous wrote:I would have to agree that I don't think parents should be able to give individual teachers presents. If you got a really nice gift from a parent at Christmas, it would have an impact on your assessments of that child, and would cause you to think about the end of year gift and how you don't want to mess that up. You may try to not let it influence you, but it will.
-signed,
Former Teacher (who racked up during Christmas and End of year)

You've got to be kidding? You would wonder about impacting year ed gift? For reals? I think you'd be crazy in your decisions anyway in that case... Were talking right/wrong and not exactly raiding ft. Knox. How much were people GIVING you at year end? Anyhows...

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I got two gifts: a bottle of champagne and a $100 Visa gift card. There were perfect gifts and I am so appreciative!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Oh, bullshit.

I love the notes and cards. A few $25 gift cards to target is not going to make that much of a dent in your lifestyle. But, as a teacher, feeling like what I do matters does effect how I behave and the effort I put into teaching. The personalized notes let me know that I am appreciated. 95% of teachers feel the same way. I have rarely heard teachers complain about their gifts. Maybe I've been blessed to work in schools where the majority of teachers are nice people.

Dear OP,

Get yourself an education past the child education bachelors. Get a higher paid job, pay for your own gift cards and stop bitching about the free sh&t your getting.

Love
A parent tired of giving $ and gift cards

Anonymous wrote:I would have to agree that I don't think parents should be able to give individual teachers presents. If you got a really nice gift from a parent at Christmas, it would have an impact on your assessments of that child, and would cause you to think about the end of year gift and how you don't want to mess that up. You may try to not let it influence you, but it will.
-signed,
Former Teacher (who racked up during Christmas and End of year)

OP here and i totally disagree. I don't work like that. I give 100% to all my students, even the bratty, entitled ones. Even the obnoxious ones. I'm a professional. I may not like them as much but they get the same level of instruction and time and energy. Gifts are irrelevant.

I would have to agree that I don't think parents should be able to give individual teachers presents. If you got a really nice gift from a parent at Christmas, it would have an impact on your assessments of that child, and would cause you to think about the end of year gift and how you don't want to mess that up. You may try to not let it influence you, but it will.
-signed,
Former Teacher (who racked up during Christmas and End of year)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Psst - I don't think that Op is a teacher. Op just wants to see an end to the teacher gifts.

I'm not OP and not a teacher and I'm ready to stop doing teacher gifts. Every year these same threads start up, so I'm sure it's not just one person. This gift giving puts poor families at a disadvantage and not everyone is a celebrator of Christmas anyway, so no reason to keep this up particularly since it doesn't even seem to be appreciated.

Don't give a gift. Seriously, you don't have to. I've forgotten or skipped a winter holiday, teacher appreciation week, end of the year thank you and I never got any attitude for it, it didn't impact my child's education. It's a thank you and probably a nice morale booster for a teacher to get these gifts but if you aren't feeling it this year, you don't have to do anything. Really.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I got two gifts: a bottle of champagne and a $100 Visa gift card. There were perfect gifts and I am so appreciative!


Merry Christmas everyone!

OP - I can't afford those, so you'll be getting SB gift cards from me. Merry Xmas

OP here. I got two gifts: a bottle of champagne and a $100 Visa gift card. There were perfect gifts and I am so appreciative!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Anonymous wrote:My issue with teacher gifts is that you're charged with assessing my child. And rather like political contributions, I think it's got to be hard for a teacher who receives a really nice gift(s) from a family not to view that child more sympathetically/favorably, at least in the immediate aftermath. It's not that I don't value your hard work and effort, but I'm much more inclined to express appreciation after my child has been promoted out of your class.

Oh geez! The PC police that overthink everything! What happened to just being able to be human and show a little kindness to a teacher? We're creating a really screwed up world.