$10 per student

[Amy&Dan]

The last 2 years the teachers have opened gifts in front of students at our school too and it makes me SO MAD!

I think teachers are great, and they are doing wonderful things for our children every day. But I DON"T THINK THAT GIFTS SHOULD BE EXPECTED, so far as to make it part of the curriculum for the day. That's just awful.

I agree. I mean, to me, the $10 isn't the issue, although I do think for some families, that's a lot of money right now. Its the wording of the letter from the Room Parents that I find offensive. I agree, that a combined gift card is a nice gift. I always gave gift cards as teachers gifts. But I resent anytime somebody tells me what amount I need to do. And the "only kids who contribute get their names on the card" is about the most unChristmas like sentiment I know of.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Our room mom is collecting $10 for three teachers in our classroom-the "regular" teacher, one assistant, and one inclusion teacher. That seems to be a fair amount, considering it will probably happen again on Teacher appreciation day. They have 18 students. It was made clear (very nicely) that the children who give will sign the class card. I had already bought a $20 GC for the teacher and $10 for the others, so I will keep those and get off a little easier! DS8 did pick out a little decorated Christmas tree and wrote his teacher a note, so we will have a personal touch, too.

 

[rgf207]

I don't think 10$ is excessive but I do think that every child shoud have his/her name on the card.

BTW. Is it just me or was there a similar thread abou this last year where the room mom would not let the children who did not donate write on the card

 

[mjkacmom]

Our room moms ask for $5, which is more than reasonable. However, as far as I know, every name goes on the card (actually, it just says from class). Almost everyone participates, and most give their own gifts, too (they're getting $20 gc's from me).

 

[SDFgirl]

I'm a teacher, and I would feel sad if I got a "group" gift card and several names were left off because they couldn't pay.

Having said that, $10 seems to be about what parents spent on my gifts. It doesn't seem excessive to me, though I never took notice of who spent less. I certainly never expected gifts, but I did appreciate them...especially gift cards!

You think $10 is excessive??? My future SIL teaches at a ritzy private school. Out of all the private schools in our town, this is the top of the top. She got $50 and $100 gift cards last year from her students. And she is a Spanish teacher, so it's not even like she's the homeroom teacher. Meaning...these parents probably bought $100 gift cards for each teacher their kid had!

 

[disneyjunkie]

BTW. Is it just me or was there a similar thread abou this last year where the room mom would not let the children who did not donate write on the card

It's not just you. We have these threads each year.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

You know what I think?

I think that IF you are financially able to give the teacher a gift, you should. The teacher should graciously accept it all (even the 100th mug, or the 20th best teacher tree ornamnet, of the gift from the $1 store) And no letters should come home about it, she should not open them in front of the class, she should not make a HUGE deal about it.

And thank you cards should be sent discretly to the students afterward.

The whole thing is silly to me.

 

[Cindy B]

The $10 really isn't too much actually. I was asked one year for $25 -30 per student-- and I put my foot down on that one.

Yes, do the math-- $25 or $30 per student, 20 students = more that I would even spend on my entire family on Christmas presents.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Let me clairify...

I think that $10 pp x20 students = a $200 gift card for the teacher is excessive.

I think that $10 pp x10 students for a $100 gift card is excessive.

to give to a teacher. I'm sorry....I value the teacher, I think that she has an important job. But I don't understand why she should get more for Christmas than some can afford to get for their own children this year. And then the worst of it..have the kids take the fall for what their parents can't afford.


We live in a wealthy neighborhood. And FYI alot of the parents who normaly could give $50 to a teacher, can't this year. So I think it's unfair to ask that FIRST GRADERS..who have no control over this. Be asked to contribute or no soup for you!
lol

 

[robinb]

I also think that $10 is pretty cheap. I usually buy $25 giftcards for teachers and coaches. I *do* think that every child should be able to sign the class card no matter how much they contribute and I think I would have a talk with the home room parent about that one.

OP, it sounds to me that you are more annoyed about the teacher possibly getting $200 from the class than having to fork out a measly 10 bucks.

 

[hentob]

inappropriate IMO.

VERY!

The monetary amount doesn't bother me. I would get off cheap only giving a $10 gift to a teacher

What is INSANE is that a child would be left out on the card. I think it should be just signed "Love, Your Students"

That room mother seems pretty evil to me. I can't believe that others aren't telling her where to go

As a teacher, I would be mortified that some of my Little Ones were left out. I would decline the gift and tell the room mother why I couldn't accept it

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I also think that $10 is pretty cheap. I usually buy $25 giftcards for teachers and coaches. I *do* think that every child should be able to sign the class card no matter how much they contribute and I think I would have a talk with the home room parent about that one.

OP, it sounds to me that you are more annoyed about the teacher possibly getting $200 from the class than having to fork out a measly 10 bucks.

IF EACH CHILD COULD AFFORDABLY CONTRIBUTE WHAT THEY COULD. THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY $5, $1, OR .50 WHATEVER.
THEN GET WHAT THEY CAN WITH THAT MONEY. I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE IN THE DISTRICT THAT COULD GIVE MORE, WOULD AND IT WOULD ALL EVEN OUT IN THE END. THE TEACHER WOULD RECIEVE A NICE GIFT CARD FOR AS MUCH AS THE CLASS COULD AFFORD,FROM THE WHOLE CLASS. EVERYONE SIGNS THE CARD, THE END

 

[mjkacmom]

You know what I think?

I think that IF you are financially able to give the teacher a gift, you should. The teacher should graciously accept it all (even the 100th mug, or the 20th best teacher tree ornamnet, of the gift from the $1 store) And no letters should come home about it, she should not open them in front of the class, she should not make a HUGE deal about it.

And thank you cards should be sent discretly to the students afterward.

The whole thing is silly to me.

Some people like the group gift - again, in the 8 years my kids have been in school, it's always done. I've never heard of a teacher opening up gifts in school, however, nor have I heard of a teacher not graciously accepting any gift (even if she's already contemplating the regift ). And a class gift is just that - a class gift, from the class, regardless of who didn't donate. Maybe I'm just lucky that we don't run into these problems at our school.

 

[hentob]

This teacher gift giving is always touchy subject #2. Right behind how to go about distributin birthday party invites to part of the class.

Our district took care of that years ago

Either you invite ALL of the class members, or you mail them/distribute them on your own time

Case closed

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

IF EACH CHILD COULD AFFORDABLY CONTRIBUTE WHAT THEY COULD. THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY $5, $1, OR .50 WHATEVER.
THEN GET WHAT THEY CAN WITH THAT MONEY. I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE IN THE DISTRICT THAT COULD GIVE MORE, WOULD AND IT WOULD ALL EVEN OUT IN THE END. THE TEACHER WOULD RECIEVE A NICE GIFT CARD FOR AS MUCH AS THE CLASS COULD AFFORD,FROM THE WHOLE CLASS. EVERYONE SIGNS THE CARD, THE END

No need to shout, you've getting pretty worked up about this. With all due repect, please take a deep breath and count to 10. There's no need to get so angered about the conversation here...

 

[EthansMom]

Requiring $10 isn't appropriate, but asking if anyone would like to make a contribution in any amount (but suggesting $10) isn't bad, IMO.

Also, it's not right to exclude children from signing the card because their family didn't contribute to the gift.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

No need to shout, you've getting pretty worked up about this. With all due repect, please take a deep breath and count to 10. There's no need to get so angered about the conversation here...

lol i didn't mean to shout. i am working at the same time,( i am manager at a call center and I use chat to speak to my employees, they recognize my writting as opposed to the other agents in chat by my CAPS and highlight.) anyway..my caps were on. i didn't have time to fix it.
sorry!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think that IF you are financially able to give the teacher a gift, you should. The teacher should graciously accept it all (even the 100th mug, or the 20th best teacher tree ornamnet, of the gift from the $1 store) And no letters should come home about it, she should not open them in front of the class, she should not make a HUGE deal about it.

And thank you cards should be sent discretly to the students afterward.

The whole thing is silly to me.

Some kids want to see your reaction when you open their gifts.

When I'm presented with a gift, I ask the child if they want me to open it Christmas morning or open it then, Most request that I open them in class.

I would decline the gift and tell the room mother why I couldn't accept it

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

The reaction is important to the children who are giving. But I do think that as teachers you have to be sensitive to the children that can't give as well. Maybe opening on the side or something is diffrent than opening in front of the class. But even that i feel wishy washy on.

 

[disneyjunkie]

see above post

Sorry, I posted before reading the rest of the page.