Do you give to your school principal

[karinbelle]

Our school secretary has put out a call for all teachers to give money to pool for giftcards for our principals. We have a very large staff of teachers, and this would add up to a sizeable sum for each principal/vice principal in our school.

What do the principals give to us, you say? Nothing out of their pocket. One gave a few of us a personal Christmas card. Several others sent a blanket "thank you" e-mail upon receiving the gift cards. In the past, they have arranged their schedules to let us have lunch together outside the school building (but not this year).

I don't think we should be gifting our bosses such a large sum, especially when they make so much more than we do -- and do not reciprocate with their own money. Sure, we get a few treats through the school year - but the money for this comes from the school budget.

I believe a better cause would be our custodians. Those people work so hard and many times barely bring home anything after they pay their health insurance premiums.

What say you guys? Do you spend more on your boss that your boss spends on you for the holiday? Am I being a Grinch? Should I drop a hint for next year?

There are so many people struggling this year - I couldn't bring myself to do it. I gave a nice present to the lady who cleans my room instead.

 

[tmatthews]

We do not....we have a Secret Santa and our principal participates. In addition, each hall does collect $$ for their custodian.

 

[momm2four]

We collected $ for a mall GC for our principal/asst. princ year before last, but then last year, our principal asked that we not do that. She said that she would prefer us to put that money towards the custodians.

Lori P.

 

[problemchild718]

For the love of Pete! Our Principals make over $100,000 a year-why would they need or want a gift? I'm with you on the gift for the janitors.
How about having an ornament exchange next year. We have a very large department and we always have such a great time!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I work in a special ed preschool classroom and we are located on the campus of an elementary school. Our classroom staff (1 teacher + 3 aides) is making gift bags for the people who help us out during the year (secretary, health clerk, translator, 2 custodians, bus driver, librarian, principal and asst. principal). Everyone is getting the same gift bags and each of us contributed something to put in them (although we may put extra goodies in the custodian's bag since he's always so helpful to us). Our bags will include tea bags, cookies and candy. It's simple and relatively inexpensive since each of us buys a few things.

I don't believe in treating the principal any differently by buying her an expensive gift. Yes, she works hard. But, many other people work hard too and we don't even seen the principal everyday.

Another example - my husband is a middle manager in his company. He has 3 people who report to him and he's giving them each a gift card. He's giving his boss the same gift card - no more and no less than he's giving his people. It's only fair!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I personally find giving your boss a gift looks like you're trying to kiss up. My fil is a boss and feels the same way. We were just talking about it the other day. If you're going to give something, make it small so it doesn't appear a bribe for a good review. He said too often he gets gifts that he wouldn't give to people in his own family, yet alone a boss. I think too many people expect gifts. My kids don't give their friends gifts at Christmas. There has to be a line some where. And I do agree, why give the boss something when they don't give you something. You're not entitled to a gift because you're a boss. Now if you're a really giving person and like giving then it's not bad, but if you don't have the money don't worry about it. Give it to someone who can't buy whatever they want, whenever they want!

 

[writersblock42]

We do secret santa. I generally thought that gifts went down not up. The people higher up give to those who make less than they do or help out. Like a boss gives gifts to secretaries or the manager to his/her employees. We all got a dinner.

 

[Cindy B]

My daughters elementary school principal salary is $158,000. She as a 30 year old principal with only minimal experience (but a P.h.d) .

I don't think she deserves a dime! If I taught in her school, I would just give it to the custodians instead. They deserve it so much more than her.

 

[HeatherAnn23]

I think that's WAY over the top - and just too much. Last bosses day we gave our assistant principal and principal custom made aprons with many pockets. (They are very boastful of their cooking abilities, and heat up dinner for our staff twice a year on conference nights.) Staff was invited to donate $ that would be used to purchase "manly" gift cards to places like Home Depot. We were also invited to purchase or make items to fill the pockets. Staff members put in candy, cooking utensils, things like hot sauce, or things that symbolized an inside joke. In the end, it was not excessive, and a nice show of appreciation. There is no way I would give much cash to pool for gift cards unless, (A) they were in a crisis situation - like house fire, (B) donating the cards to a worthy charity, or (C) someone who I had a great personal relationship with .

 

[december]

I'm not happy about this situation myself-we got slips of paper in our boxes today telling us how much we each owe for the principal's gift and to pay it by Friday. Really ticked me off!

Plus the office decided we have to eat together Friday, and the cost is $8 per plate. I'll have both of my kids with me, so I have to buy 3 plates!

Again, not happy about not having a choice in these things.

 

[Adi12982]

I agree whole-heartedly.

My DH is a teacher and my mom is a custodian.

The custodians, with the previous principal, were always excluded from the holiday parties. The new principal is changing that, but I agree that their work is very under-appreciated. I know the chose the job, but after two weeks of work after taxes and deductions my mom makes less than $600 (that's $300 a week). The health benefits are good. . . but showing them ANY appreciation (even just a card, not even a gift card) would mean a lot!

 

[CEDmom]

I love the principal at my DD's school and he earns every penny of his salary but I think teachers giving him a gift card is crazy. I don't know whether the teachers actually do anything like this but I know he'd put a stop to it if they did.

For what it's worth, I do put $ towards a group gift for my manager. He's taking us out to lunch and we'll likely get a gift as well so it's kind of a wash.

 

[briarberry]

I am a teacher and this whole thread baffles me. I do teach in Canada (Ontario to be specific) and I have never heard of giving a principal gifts for any reason other than retirement or transfer. When that occurs we have a fund which all staff members contribute to each year (about $20 a year).

As a teacher I don't expect gifts from students, either. I do receive small gifts from some children but never a huge amount. It is crazy to me that people feel they have to give endlessly. We are paid well here in Ontario and honestly I teach because I love it. Most of my colleagues feel the same way.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I'm not happy about this situation myself-we got slips of paper in our boxes today telling us how much we each owe for the principal's gift and to pay it by Friday. Really ticked me off!

Plus the office decided we have to eat together Friday, and the cost is $8 per plate. I'll have both of my kids with me, so I have to buy 3 plates!

Again, not happy about not having a choice in these things.

I would say no. And I wouldn't eat at the meal Friday either. I would say I had plans already. Or you need to finish shopping, unless it's a contracted day. My dh has had a few meals at work where they've had to pay $7-$8 and it makes me mad that they do it so often, but my dh does it because he doesn't want to be the only one not participating. Annoying though! In your case I would seriously say I never offered to participate in the gift.

 

[Donnask8pro]

I am a PTA treas. We give the gift to the custodians in our school. The teachers dont make enough as it is. So we do all of the supplement stuff. No, the principal does not get a gift. But we do buy a small gift card for the secretaries. 6 of them.

 

[drymalski]

That's crazy, and terrible for the secretaries to put you in that situation!!! I don't know anyone that gives a gift to their boss- teacher or not. Bosses usually make more, and they should be the ones giving gifts to their employees- if anyone does. They should be the ones showing appreciation and kindness. I think that what the secretary did is outright disrespectful and they should be told to not do this again- by the boss. The principal should not accept the gift, and if he/she does, they should give the teachers a gift as well.

 

[madfelice]

We give to the teacher plus all the specialty teacher(ie music, art, languages sport)the secretary. Just a small trinket.

 

[firstfamilytrip]

We just had to deal with this for my husband's boss. Actually his boss's boss's boss.

He works at a division headquarters where there are about 100 managers in varying levels. The secretary sent out an email asking for $ for a gift card for the big boss. She did not specify an amount but did say that the card would be signed with only the names of those who gave. My husband was going to give $20 which I felt was way out of line. He figured not everyone would contribute. Thankfully his boss was only giving $10 so that is what he gave. If only half the people give $10 then the boss will be getting a $500 gift card! I really hope the secretary rethinks things and splits it in half to give the asst. boss a gift as well.

To top it all off they had a staff meeting this week which is where the big boss would normally give out the Christmas gifts that he charges to the company card. This is his first year here but in his previous post he gave out dvd players and digital cameras along with a gift card to a restaurant. Do you know what they gave out? Poinsettas. Which my husband couldn't take because we can't trust our daughter to keep anything out of her mouth. My husband was authorized to use the company card for nice gift baskets for his employees. I just can't believe the boss would do that when it's not coming out of his pocket.

My husband figures it was $10 to stay on his boss's good side so it was a good investment. Even if the boss thinks it's inappropriate he will have that card of names of those who contributed and who knows if that will stick in his mind. It just stinks all around.

Has anyone seen that commercial where the guy was going to give his boss an oven mitt and the wife runs into walgreens and comes out with a digital camera instead? The first time I saw that I thought Walgreens was out of touch with reality but maybe not.

 

[canwegosoon]

-In your case I would say NO-I do not think a principal need a monetary gift(if you wanted to drop off a platter of cookies etc- that would be up to you)

-BUT I also wanted to pipe up that in some cases it is not always what it seems(in other professions). My DH is a VP at a large hospital and in his division the VP's and CIO pay for the "Holiday party" which usually has food and games. This is about $150-200 each VP and sometimes they can get a vendor to donate a tray of something-which helps out a lot. I am sure the staff think it comes out of some slush fund from the hospital, but it doesn't. Then on top of that, they do Secret Santas, Cookie Exchange, adopt a family, and gifts for administrative staff-I usually pick up some food items from Harry and David- 6 assistants plus 1 main secretary. That came to $150 for the secreteries alone. He also gets something for his 5 directors. I agree this year it has been hard to do-I had budgeted and used coupons etc, but it is still tough some years. I think if the economy were better people just wouldn't be worried as much.

 

[december]

I would say no. And I wouldn't eat at the meal Friday either. I would say I had plans already. Or you need to finish shopping, unless it's a contracted day. My dh has had a few meals at work where they've had to pay $7-$8 and it makes me mad that they do it so often, but my dh does it because he doesn't want to be the only one not participating. Annoying though! In your case I would seriously say I never offered to participate in the gift.

Not an option I'm afraid. In my old school, the kids got out at 12, the teachers all went to lunch or worked in our rooms, and then we were allowed to sign out at 1. New school this year (and I've already turned in my resignation effective June 1), and the kids still get out at 12, but we aren't allowed to leave until 3. So my options are eat with everyone else, brown bag it, or wait until 3 to eat! The joys of teaching......