Class gift for 1st grade teacher

[kandb]

We live in Northern NJ, so everything is always more expensive. My son came home from school today and the class mothers are requesting $20 from each child for a Christmas gift for the teacher. I believe there are 18 children in the class. I don't want to sound cheap but $20 seems like a lot. In the past it has been $10. At the end of the year, they will also be requesting another $20 as a year end gift for the teacher. The teachers in our area make very good money and work 185 days. Does $20 seem like a lot to you all? If all the children contribute, the teacher will be getting $360 cash gift card. I feel like just getting my own $10 gift card for the teacher which I think is enough. Should I just bite the bullet and give in $20?

 

[katie01]

I would say do whatever you are comfortable with. Not everyone is going to have the same financial means, and at the school my kids attend, some families have 8 or 9 kids! Those teacher gifts add up for large families, and at our school the room moms are not allowed to ask for a specific dollar amount. I'm sure the teacher would appreciate anything you give, especially if you send a nice note with it thanking them for their hard work

 

[missbrooke06]

$20 does seem like a lot but I'm guessing that they're trying to compensate for the children that can't contribute.

By the way, there is no amount you could pay me to work the "185 days" teachers do.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I would say do whatever you are comfortable with.

I agree with this. I don't like some other person telling me how much my gift to another person should be. I always purchased my own (well, for the kids to give) end of school gift for the kid's teachers. I don't recall ever giving a Christmas gift.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[shoney]

When my kids were little (they are teens now), the class mom would collect $25 per kid. They bought the holiday and end of year gift from the class with it. They also used it for little projects during the year. Many parents bought an additional gift to give from their own child.

If you like the teacher, I would just give the $20...it is not worth $10 exta to me.

 

[ljcrochet]

I'm in Long Island. We always collect $10 for the teacher and $5 for any aides/para's in the class.
Not every student sends in the money. Some parents also do their own gift either in addition to or instead of class gift. I'm so glad I'm not a class mom this year.

 

[bsblady01]

I am a teacher and something is way off with this. I would read the note again as $10.00 may be for the teachers gift and the other $10.00 may be for the class Christmas party.

 

[kandb]

No, it's definitely $20 just for the teacher. The email is from both class moms and says, we are collecting for Mrs. ***, if you want to contribute, please send in $20 for her gift. We send in $20 at the beginning of the year for class party stuff and this past thanksgiving, I still sent in Thanksgiving paper goods that the class moms requested (you had to pick from a list). I know the teachers work hard and I appreciate them but I just think $20 is too much to ask and I know they always request the same amount for the end of the year gift.

 

[Mizzoufan]

$20 does seem like a lot but I'm guessing that they're trying to compensate for the children that can't contribute.

.

That my guess as well

 

[Disneylover99]

I've never heard of the term "class mom".
And as a teacher, I would be mortified to find out parents were collecting $20 per family for a gift for me. Thankfully, I've never heard of this.

 

[maxaroni]

I've never heard of the term "class mom".
And as a teacher, I would be mortified to find out parents were collecting $20 per family for a gift for me. Thankfully, I've never heard of this.

My DS always had a class mom/room mother. She was the one heading up parties or anything else that's needed.

At any rate, I do think $20 is a bit steep. DH and I are originally from Bergen county so I know most towns. I think $10 is more in line for a gift.

 

[andiraye]

Our class parents collect money for group gifts but it is up to each family's discretion what to give.

But to knock everyone's socks off, when my son "graduated" from preschool the class parents asked for $275 per family to cover the teacher gift and the graduation ceremony/party. I just about died.

 

[kandb]

Our class parents collect money for group gifts but it is up to each family's discretion what to give.

But to knock everyone's socks off, when my son "graduated" from preschool the class parents asked for $275 per family to cover the teacher gift and the graduation ceremony/party. I just about died.

I guess I shouldn't be complaining about $20 then.

 

[Disneylover99]

But to knock everyone's socks off, when my son "graduated" from preschool the class parents asked for $275 per family to cover the teacher gift and the graduation ceremony/party. I just about died.

Wow! Did you pay it?

 

[kandb]

My DS always had a class mom/room mother. She was the one heading up parties or anything else that's needed.

At any rate, I do think $20 is a bit steep. DH and I are originally from Bergen county so I know most towns. I think $10 is more in line for a gift.

Yes, we are in Bergen County. The gift has always been $10 but this year it's $20. If you don't contribute, it makes you feel funny, imo.

 

[andiraye]

Wow! Did you pay it?

I did. I was too embarrassed to be the only person in the class not contributing. Which was foolish, and I get a little nauseated thinking about it to this day. But I didn't spring for the optional $25 commemorative video and just went with the old home movie instead.

 

[Disneylover99]

I did. I was too embarrassed to be the only person in the class not contributing. Which was foolish, and I get a little nauseated thinking about it to this day. But I didn't spring for the optional $25 commemorative video and just went with the old home movie instead.

That must have been quite the ceremony. I hope there was an eight course meal and open bar.

 

[maxaroni]

Yes, we are in Bergen County. The gift has always been $10 but this year it's $20. If you don't contribute, it makes you feel funny, imo.

I agree. I dealt with this quite a number of years ago as my DS is 22. However, it was $5 back then!

 

[Ladcassidy]

In our school, the PTO distributes the dues it collects ($30) to the room parents to use for Christmas and end-of-year teacher gifts, class parties, etc. (I am the room parent for my daughter's 2d grade class, and was last year, too). Before Christmas, I will give class families the voluntary opportunity to supplement the "pot" we have, then divvy it up between the teacher, aides, specials teachers, and parties. I will chip in whatever extra money we need.