Trying to be gracious, but really kind of irked! UPDATE post 99

[Serena]

Another vote to call her.

Something along the lines suggested before. My son said the supplies I sent in for his class wasn't needed, what time shall I pick them up?

I am really curious to what she says.

 

[disney4metoo]

YEP!

I agree!

 

[karensi]

I say call especially if, as you say, your son is graduating this year and you won't evr see this teacher again.
I too would be hesitant if my child were to have this teacher agaiin next year, but since that is not the case,I say make that call. You'll feel better for doing it, no matter what answer/excuse the teacher gives you. At least you will have made it known that you are totally aware that "something" happened to all that you sent in and that she is not just getting away with keeping it ( if that is what she did).


Also, please give us an update...even if you decide not to make the call....either way, let us know what happened.


Karen

 

[disneyjunkie]

I say don't call.

I would just assume she gave some of the items to another class. If she didn't, then karma will bite her in the *** sooner or later.

 

[LMN]

Your son has quite a mouth on him!

Seriously, another thing that I thought of was that the teacher may not even be aware that the supplies were brought in and not used. Alot of time, our room mothers "run" the parties and are responsible for collecting donated items, so the teachers really aren't aware of who brought what.

In any case, I would make the call just to see if I could get my supplies back. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[Serena]

I say don't call.

I would just assume she gave some of the items to another class. If she didn't, then karma will bite her in the *** sooner or later.

Man! Why did you have to break the streak? I was waiting to see what happened with that too. Now I'll never know what will happen on a thread where everyone agrees.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Man! Why did you have to break the streak? I was waiting to see what happened with that too. Now I'll never know what will happen on a thread where everyone agrees.

Sorry

 

[OceanAnnie]

You spent a lot of money on supplies to make your DS's class craft special. It sounds like your donation wasn't used the way it was intended. I'd want to know.

 

[janey99]

Wow - you guys have committed me with a near unanimous vote! I feel obligated to all of you now to find out what happened!

I think I will call tomorrow and sweetly tell her that I understand only about a third of what I sent in was used by DS's class - were there allergy issues with the rest of the candy or something? I know this can't be the case because the marzipan (made of ground up almonds) was actually one of the only items that made it to his classroom, but it is at least a plausible reason to make the call - then she is on the spot to come up with some type of answer.

Now I have all night to psyche myself up!

To the poster who suggested that all DISers agreeing is a sign the apocalypse has arrived - I was thinking the same thing!

Jane

 

[bumbershoot]

God, I would love to and I really really want to, but doesn't that make me a crabby, ungenerous person?

No, this is a crabby ungenerous person...

I bought the fabric for my bridesmaids' skirts. They paid the Maid Of Honor to (professionally, as she is a seamstress) make the skirts. There was leftover fabric.

My MOH took the fabric, even though I was keeping it for myself.

THAT is crabby and ungenerous (I believe the excuse used was that I got a discount on it b/c her dad worked at the fabric store where I bought it).


You are just asking for unused supplies back.

 

[Rora]

I'm glad you decided to call, OP, but just incase you were backing down I'm here to tell you-- CALL!!!!

As a crafty person myself (and an elementary school teacher who has to decorate her class room for every season and do fun activities, most coming out of my own pocket), stuff like that is expensive.

Let us know what happens!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd call and say something like "I understand that all the supplies I sent in weren't used. Since I do a lot of cake decorating and gingerbread houses here, I was wondering when would be a good time for me to come pick up the remainder of what I donated".

It'll be interesting to hear what she says.

 

[daisyduck123]

One possibility....

is that maybe your DS didn't see that the other 2/3 of the supplies did get used at other tables in the room?

I've had something similar happen in my classroom with stickers. Every year, I ask for parents to send in donations of Valentine stickers so the kids can decorate their Valentine mailboxes that we make. I always get TONS of stickers.

I specifically remember an incident that happened this past Feb....I had my students sitting in groups of 4 or 5 around the room with their mailboxes & I had a few of the kids passing out the DOZENS of sticker sheets. Half-way thru the decorating, one of my 1st graders asked why I didn't pass out the "kitten stickers with the pink hearts" that she'd brought in. I had to tell her that they were somewhere in the room, at another table, and she could go look for them.

Could something like that have happened?

 

[GoodFairies]

I would have only sent in what I could bear to part with. It's 5th grade and cupcakes after all, not Food Network Challenge. It seems a little chintzy to ask for it back. Do you really want edible items back that could have been pawed over by a bunch of 10 year olds?

 

[Brancaneve]

I agree with most but one good idea if you are a teacher or work with kids is to write, "Thank you Johhny" on whatever they donated. This works well for crayon boxes, Kleenex boxes, etc. The kids like to see their name and that they are appreciated. Sorry this happened! As a teacher, I always show appreciation.

 

[M&N]

As a special area teacher, I can see the supplies being put together and getting used by all the classes. How many classes was she doing this for? They may have been needed if others were not as generous. I would call too. Give the teacher a chance to explain. Maybe it was her first experience with a project like this. I certainly hope she does appreciate your donations.

 

[TnTsParty]

I would have only sent in what I could bear to part with. It's 5th grade and cupcakes after all, not Food Network Challenge. It seems a little chintzy to ask for it back. Do you really want edible items back that could have been pawed over by a bunch of 10 year olds?

From what she said her DS told her 1/3 of the stuff never was out so it couldn't have been pawed over by a bunch of 10 year olds. Then again if she used it for other classes then it might have gotten pawed over.

I think she should call the teacher and find out - at least then she will know. I don't think she is being unreasonable. At least she was nice enough to donate stuff - doesn't sound like any other parents did.

 

[coolbeans]

I vote call.....

 

[jrmasm]

They may have been needed if others were not as generous.

That's what I was thinking.

I wouldn't call.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I'd chalk it up to experience, and next time, send in a note with the donations about what your intentions are...picking up what's leftover, or "just send the leftovers home with Johnny."

I always assumed donations were just that. And a donation to a teacher who had several classes would be shared. Therefore, if I was sending something in and felt otherwise about what should be done with the leftovers, I'd assume it was up to me to let the teacher know.

It sounds to me like "decorating" cupcakes was supposed to be a simple project for 10 year olds, not a big production with "professional" supplies. Maybe the kids just really didn't know how to use the products, or there wasn't a lot of time allotted for the project. And I wouldn't trust a 10 yr old to have a good handle on how much was actually used. Not that I'm saying there's lying...just what a disappointed child's perception is, and how aware he may or may not be of what's going on in the whole classroom.

It could be as simple as not having had the time to get everything together to send back to you yesterday. Or, the handled food issue. Or, the end of year is so crazy, she just forgot to send it back. Or not wanting to use "some pricey packages of gumpaste and edible decor from specialty stores".

If you really want to know what happened...why she didn't use the supplies, and to get them back...then call and get the story. But, I wouldn't feel defensive about it. Your son may have felt it sucked because his stuff wasn't used; the other kids may have had a very good time with what they did do.

The instantly hostile responses towards the teacher on this thread are kind of . At this point, we know nothing except what the child said.

Per a PP:

I know as a first grade teacher that the kids get really disappointed when they are told they are going to do something and the plans change. This seems like it was delibrate

What didn't they do that they were told they would?? What plan changed? And WHY did the teacher do this (whatever "this" is that she's being accused of) deliberately??

Wow.