Email from teacher re: Holiday Gifts

[MariDisney]

Just received the email below from DD's 6th grade teacher. I wonder how many people will respect his wishes and how many wil give a gift anway. I am thinking about making a donation to a charity in his name. Thoughts?

"Greetings, Parents!

Recently an excited young lady in our class exclaimed to me, "I already picked out my present for you!"
Without intending to be presumptuous in any way, please let me say that I am not comfortable receiving gifts--or rather, more gifts than I've already received. From day one, your much-appreciated gift to me has been the tremendous privilege of teaching your child, and, as perhaps you well know, I lack for nothing.

This season, let this one potential stressor go so that you might be freed to meet a true need--your own or someone else's!

Appreciating you and your child immensely,"

 

[smidgy]

what a wonderful teacher! your idea is a good one, just be sure to give him/her a note saying you did so.


most teachers have plenty of"best teacher" coffee mugs, etc. anyway

 

[GJM]

What a great teacher - and I really love your idea!

 

[RunningGirl]

I would respect his wishes and instead have your daughter and you write him a note thanking him for everything he's done.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We started giving our teachers Amex gift cards, but the donation sounds great!

 

[LisaR]

We started giving our teachers Amex gift cards, but the donation sounds great!

What donation?

 

[minkydog]

What a great idea~ Can I make a suggestion? Perhaps you could make him a small scrapbook. I had a parent do this for me several years ago when I was teaching 3rd grade. It had the kids' pictures (you could have them draw self-portraits if photography is an issue) and each one wrote one sentence telling what they liked best about my class. I treasure that little book.

 

[Ephany]

What a great teacher. I'm sure they'd love a handwritten thank you from the kids in the class. If I were to do the donation thing, I'd do Coats for Kids or maybe the local food bank.

 

[MariDisney]

OP here. I was a teacher for many years as well, and I know all about having too many "A+ Teacher" mugs. I will likely have my DD write a note to him to include with the notice about wherever we decide to make the donation. As far as a scrapbook, etc. I am SO not crafty enough to do that. LOL So, I'll have to hope one of the other moms does.

 

[minkydog]

OP here. I was a teacher for many years as well, and I know all about having too many "A+ Teacher" mugs. I will likely have my DD write a note to him to include with the notice about wherever we decide to make the donation. As far as a scrapbook, etc. I am SO not crafty enough to do that. LOL So, I'll have to hope one of the other moms does.

You know what my "scrapbook" is? A 3"x5" cheap photo book. I bet the whole thing, including pix cost less than $10.

 

[MariDisney]

You know what my "scrapbook" is? A 3"x5" cheap photo book. I bet the whole thing, including pix cost less than $10.

Yeah, but then I'd have to have photos to put in it, which I do not. I am a bad mother and worked right through the Halloween parade this year, which has so far been the only school event parents have been part of.

 

[disykat]

YAY! I'm sure there will be tons of posters coming on suggesting he was very rude and presumptious, but I thought he wrote it well. Good for him!

I'm so happy teacher gifts aren't such as big deal here, because they make me uncomfortable too.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think it's great that he addressed it early.

I'd have my DD write a thank you for being my teacher note and that would be the gift.

Normally I give a book store gift card put in a mini stocking or a gift card, cookies, and an item or 2 that I picked up on clearance the year before (ornament, picture holder) put in a normal size stocking.

 

[soontobewed07]

Sounds like a perfect idea a donation would be something appreciated by all Toys for Tots will be in great need this year. Maybe you could ask to put a box in his room?

 

[tiggerlover]

Bravo to the teacher, I think that is awesome. I would definitely make a donation to charity in his honor and send him a note telling him about the donation and thanking him for teaching your child. Sounds like you have a great one there.

 

[castmemberb4]

What a Great Teacher !!!!!

How about a Thank You note along with some home made cookies ?

 

[Tinkh]

How refreshing! I would not give him anything other than what he asked for. He sounds like a really wonderful teacher Also, I would make sure to let my child know that we were following his wishes and giving him what he asked for. I would not send anything else in. We expect our children to follow directions and honor other's feelings. We should show them that we are capable of that as well.

 

[Happy Mom2]

DD's teacher did the same thing last year. Not one person respected her wishes. I was going to until DD told me she wanted to bring her teacher a gift because everyone else had been bringing gifts all week. What was I going to say? I made her something she could use in her classroom.

 

[smidgy]

if your child does feel
left out", I would include a gift card to office max, borders books, anything similar. because often teachers pay out of pocket for many things for the classroom (but the last thing they need is another mug!)

when I was "room mom" for my kids classes, (and I had to get ahold of all the parents anyways), in sept. I told them "IF you want to contribute... instead of giving the teacher useless things for Christmas, I will collect however much you want to give, and give a gift card from the WHOLE class from a local eatery (applebees, whatever).

the teacher got a dinner out, and it didn't matter if child A gave $10 and child B gave 50 cents. it was from the class.
(the average donation was $5. turned out great!)

again, kudos to the teacher!!!

 

[Kim♥DISNEY]

I think it's great that he addressed it early.

I'd have my DD write a thank you for being my teacher note and that would be the gift.

Normally I give a book store gift card put in a mini stocking or a gift card, cookies, and an item or 2 that I picked up on clearance the year before (ornament, picture holder) put in a normal size stocking.

Being a teacher .... these are the BEST gifts and only take your time.