Anonymous wrote:

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!

I raise my glass to you girl! Drink and spend; spend and drink! Have fun!

thank you! today is the first day of my break and i am so relaxed and looking forward to two weeks off. (and for the record i did not ask for any gifts, just giving my opinion to those looking for suggestions). ok, off to make some hot cocoa and plan the activities for the next two weeks... nutcracker? zoo lights? cookie decorating party?

#notatroll

Anonymous wrote: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.

We stopped doing that! You have no idea whether the person gave all the money or kept some for themselves. also all favors seemed to flow towards the person who presented the envelope. So no thank you. If I give a small gift, it comes from me/ my child.

Writing references is part of your job, sorry. People do that in many professions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I don't play favorites with any kids. But I have one particular parent that has been a real PITA this year. Today- she handed me an envelope. Inside was a reference request for her kid. She is trying to get daughter in sidwell friends. That is at the bottom of my to- do list. Presents are not a necessity, but you patents demand a lot of extra from your teachers: late night phone calls, packets for missed days ect. And treating your teachers like crap means I'm not
Motivated to do any of it.

Uh- this is your JOB. My job has parts that I'm not fond of necessarily but it's my job and the profession I chose. You aren't entitled to gift cards (this is the most ridiculous notion anyway) or "tips" because you have to deal with an unpleasant (your subjective opinion) person. If you hate your job duties get a new job.

Ummm- I said they are NOT a nesecity. And hell no, writing references is not part of my 'job'. Answering phone calls at 9pm because your snowflake left their homework packet somewhere is not my 'job'. And don't be a PITA and then ask me to fill out a reference for a private school. It asks specifically about parental engagement and support.
I don't give a hoot about a starbucks gift card or whatever else. I don't need your gift card to grab a latte.
And no way am I qutting my job! I get to come in here and piss you all off, by not being a doormat for your poor treatment, AND I have 2 weeks off right now. It's s goog gig.
I

Not to go off on too wide a tangent from teacher gifts, but because Starbucks was mentioned specifically--this article has made me, as a mom, reluctant to support them, knowing that my morning coffee creates childcare woes for other moms who aren't allowed to arrange consistent work schedules:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/08/13/us/starbucks-workers-scheduling-hours.html?_r=0

I come from a family of public school teachers, and I know how much of their own money they pour back into the classroom (studies show that it's an average of $700 per teacher). Thus, I give store gift cards. I don't think the small amount I give will really bias the teacher in favor of my kid.

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!

I raise my glass to you girl! Drink and spend; spend and drink! Have fun!

Yes, and as professionals, teachers should not accept gifts. It puts tremendous pressure on students and parents. Don't think the kids that can't give don't notice, they do.

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)

It won't if you're a professional.

OP, you seem incredibly ungrateful. Leave the gift cards in the staff room for those who would appreciate them.

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!

You are so obviously a troll.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP needs to leave teaching. She is giving other teachers a bad reputation. I imagine the other teachers at her school can't stand working with her for that reason.

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I don't play favorites with any kids. But I have one particular parent that has been a real PITA this year. Today- she handed me an envelope. Inside was a reference request for her kid. She is trying to get daughter in sidwell friends. That is at the bottom of my to- do list. Presents are not a necessity, but you patents demand a lot of extra from your teachers: late night phone calls, packets for missed days ect. And treating your teachers like crap means I'm not
Motivated to do any of it.

Uh- this is your JOB. My job has parts that I'm not fond of necessarily but it's my job and the profession I chose. You aren't entitled to gift cards (this is the most ridiculous notion anyway) or "tips" because you have to deal with an unpleasant (your subjective opinion) person. If you hate your job duties get a new job.

This I likely a troll FYI, basically same thread started in private forum.

Teacher here. I don't play favorites with any kids. But I have one particular parent that has been a real PITA this year. Today- she handed me an envelope. Inside was a reference request for her kid. She is trying to get daughter in sidwell friends. That is at the bottom of my to- do list. Presents are not a necessity, but you patents demand a lot of extra from your teachers: late night phone calls, packets for missed days ect. And treating your teachers like crap means I'm not
Motivated to do any of it.

Anonymous wrote:Dear under-paid teachers, I cannot tell if you love coffee or not. Sorry, I got you a $20 SB gift cert. However, after reading these threads, I don't think I want to buy anything for teachers anymore

Really? That's dumb.