What do you spend on teacher gifts?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Approximately?

I ask because I recently got an email from my son’s school asking me to give between $36-180 per student.

It’s my understanding that these gifts go for all staff. Of course, the PTO loves to shake the money tree about every four minutes. We were just told to spend $18 on crappily made kippot to “Support the PTO”. By the way, part of the PTO’s damned mission seems to be Teacher Appreciation and Staff Breakfast! So they’re knocking out part of their duties by asking each parent to pony up $36. For my son’s class (45 kids) that’s $1,620.00 if everyone gave the minimum. He has 4 regular teachers and five “specials” teachers that serve the elementary school (library, computer, music, art, and PE).

This isn’t quite meant to be a rant, but I am a room parent so this means I have to make phone calls and will also be expected to give at least $36.

Last year, they asked for $30. I literally did not have it and I ignored the phone message. This year, I have the $36, but barely.

Is this normal? Am I a Scrooge? I’m generous when I have it (and I usually don’t have it and give anyway), but this is the 3rd time in 3 weeks I have been asked to give $ to my son’s class for school. And of course, as a private school, there’s an opportunity to give money every single week!

What do you guys spend on teacher gifts?

2

Last year I gave each teacher a gift box of Penzey’s spices, either the baking or the BBQ spice mix, depending on the teacher. She’s in Middle school, so that was 6 teachers.

This is an example- http://www.penzeys.com/scstore/giftboxes/new/miniGiftBox.html (they were on sale for $8.95)

Granted, my daughter goes to a private school that does a big auction fundraiser and the teachers have “wish list” items, from a few dollars to hundreds. We usually donate at least $100 towards materials/equipment that sound good to us. I like that it is targeted giving- feel like each parent gets to support projects they like. It’s fun that way.

3

And I feel like I’ve done that, too - a crap ton of in-kind donations (teacher and art supplies and my sewing skills), volunteering, giving if I have it, also helping other charity events. I feel like it would be different if this were just teacher gifts - but it’s not - it’s teacher gifts + a breakfast + whatever else the PTO needs ‘for teachers’.

It’s just uncomfortable to me. I was just asked one week ago to pony up $10 for something (for the class, not school --that’s a lot, too, but different) and of course I’m running the committee that’s going to ask parents to help with a charity project.

Also, last year, my son and I put together Aveda spa bags for the teachers (I got free schwag from my stepmom) and gave chocolates to his specials teachers. And then I was asked for $30. Or it may have been $50. I had already done something for them and was made to feel bad I didn’t give the PTO cash. I was new and didn’t know.

So I feel like this takes away people’s joy in giving gifts. Does Hanukkah (gag) really need to be a time where I’m cajoled into coughing up cash? Can’t I just give because I want to?

Oops, I am in rant territory. <sheepish>

4

This also reminds me that as a teacher in a poor neighborhood that serves dropouts and expelled kids…I’m probably not going to get a $75 gift card. :stuck_out_tongue:

5

I think it’s weird to ASK for gifts to begin with.

6

Generally we give a $25 bookstore gift card. I appreciate the job that teachers do, and I feel I can afford it. I’m not sure what we will do for our 2 year old’s preschool teachers. She is only there two mornings a week, but then I REALLY appreciate the job they do, and they do it well.

We participate in school fundraising sometimes. Other times, not. I.e. no, I’m not going to spend $60 on holiday cards, even if my kid did draw the picture on the front. Call me scrooge.

7

I have never once even considered giving my kids’ teachers gifts for any holiday. I didn’t even know I was supposed to. Then again I homeschooled my 22 year old for most of her school years but no, never.

8

Damn. My mother obviously should have worked in a private school instead of public. She got lots of gifts at Christmas, but generally either homemade treats or stuff in the $5-$10 range. And end-of-year gifts? WTF is that?

9

… Is this a thing? Really?

Over here, little kids might give really favourite teachers a card and/or a chocolate (or a hastily plucked flower from the school gardens :D) for Christmas. But demanding gifts/money for teachers from the school? Dafuq?

10

Our school district has a $25 cap on gifts to teachers. There is also a policy that gifts cannot be collective, so no parent is pressured by other parents to contribute. We have generally given homeroom teachers a $25 gift card (usually Barnes & Noble), plus a couple of likely inedible, highly decorated gingerbread cookies that the kids have made. The cookies are so the kids feel like they’re making a contribution, and it feels more personal than a gift card all by itself.

11

Weird. I didn’t vote in the poll because I’m British and there may well be different culture and expectations. But I would, as a pupil, get my teacher a Xmas card most years while I was in primary school (up to age 12) as I had the same teacher each day.

But that was it. OP, aren’t you a teacher? Are you ever the recipient of such largesse? Because the whole idea just seems weird to me.

12

I’ve only ever given gifts to my son’s teachers when he specifically asked to get something for them. There has never been any pressure from his schools, either the private one or the public ones to give gifts to teachers.

When we did give gifts it was Starbucks gift card ($10) and Kiddo himself made the cookies.

13

I hate to admitt this, but the amount I spend on teacher’s gifts depends on how difficult I consider the child they have to deal with. Most of the teachers on my list will be getting $25.00 Target gift cards. The exception is one shop teacher who has to deal with Nephew #2. For three hours a day, five days a week with that hyperactive little punk, (plus he’s actually managed to teach the kid how to weld), the man deserves a combat metal. He’s getting as high amount as the school allows in gift cards and some good Scotch.

14

I am a teacher, and neither expect nor want a gift from the kids. Some do bring in cookies, or gift cards, and I am grateful, but it is totally unnecessary.

15

I usually let my daughter choose a card, and then we fill a gift bag with classroom supplies that are probably running low mid-year: dry erase markers, construction paper, that sort of thing. Depending on the teacher, we might add something sweet or a gift card for coffee. Since I shop the bargains all year, I probably don’t spend more than $15-20 on the whole gift, but at retail it probably would cost twice that. And teachers always seem to appreciate these items. (Public schools, not poor/inner city, but teachers always seem to spend a good deal from their own pockets for classroom supplies.)

For my son’s middle school teachers, we usually just get cards.

16

I wish. :smiley:

Sometimes I joke it’s nice to have students with connections in the food industry cause I get goodies, but no. Really.

I had a group that threw me a surprise bday party and I cried and was so happy. It was sweet, too, because it was high school and they spent their own money. I had the student who gave me a Christmas card and Valentine card. And the students who wished me luck on my next venture and etc. I love those things.

This year, I’ve had some kids write on sticky notes and put them on my bulletin board. One student brought me cheese (no joke) because I loooveee cheese. (It was Panela for my salads and eggs.)

But I do not have Teacher of the Year Mugs, apple pins, gift cards, school supplies, whatever.

In fact, I give my students gifts. I am actually trying to figure out what I should do for my Hunger Games group and the rest of the class. (40 kids total)

I will probably make cookies. :smiley:

See, and those are the things I just love. I’d want to frame the cookie and keep it forever, of course.

Would I LOVE for someone to give me $ for school supplies? Absofrigginlutely! I already feed enough kids snacks and breakfast these days. :confused: And I don’t even have a traditional classroom! The previous years I was spending a lot more!

But from the kids? Damn. Just give me a card. Maybe it’s because I’m a high school teacher and we don’t typically get gifts, but they just blow me over. One pain in the ass kid wrote to me when he graduated from our ELL program into mainstream and said, “Thanks for putting up with me.” He also got me a stuffed bear. I can see it from where I’m typing. Oh, and the girl who collected seashells on vacation and brought them to me with a card randomly? They’re in my living room in a vase.

If a kid gives me something from his/her heart, be it cheese or a card, I’m extremely happy. I’ve never had a parent give me anything. I don’t teach in elementary school or that kind of neighborhood.

17

I’ve never heard of standardized gift-giving to teachers. Times have changed. In my high school in West Texas, our gift was not tying them to the wrong side of a bull in heat.

18

And of course, I do know that bulls don’t get in heat. At least I know now. You can see why I had to leave Texas.

19

Usually they ask for a small ($5-10) donations which is pooled per class and then presented as a gift card to some place like Target. With 25 kids per class that can add up to a few hundred dollars, which probably just barely offsets the amounts the teachers spend on extras for the classroom. This is at a public elementary. For the middle and high school kids we don’t really do anything, because there are so many of them.

20

I don’t see the problem here - they’re just legitimate businessmen asking for a donation. “That’s a nice GPA you’ve got there, Timmy. I’d hate to see anything *bad *happen to it.”