![]() ![]() What I dislike most about gifts for teachers is the pressure they place on families who do not have the resources - be it in time or money - to keep up with the “gift giving arms race.” Anyone who is on a message board or social media group for a school can tell you that things get out of hand quickly when discussing educator presents. Not everyone can afford gifts - either in money or time. I would never alter my grades based on gifts, but I do have the thought, “How must it feel for a mother to see a ‘D’ given by a teacher to her son, after she spent hours wrapping gifts?” It’s not an ideal combination. ![]() Now, I’m sure most families have no intention of bribing a teacher through cookies and mugs, but there are still strange feelings that arise - especially when I receive mid-year gifts while I’m still grading essays. Second, there is an awkward question of whether expectations are attached to the gift in terms of altered treatment. I never want to be a cause of extra stress, and being a parent myself, I know that the organizational effort to buy or create presents is not small. Legally, most public school teachers are not allowed to accept gifts worth more than $50, but even if a family gives me a $5 gift, I think about the time and labor that went into it… and frankly, feel uncomfortable.įirst, I feel uncomfortable because I empathize with the financial and time stress that gifts incur (even “inexpensive” ones). Gifts raise ethical and fairness concerns. Yes, we DO want to be appreciated (and I’ll talk more about ways to do that effectively in a moment), but… consider the following issues with educator gift-giving. First and foremost: GIFTS FOR TEACHERS ARE PROBLEMATIC. I’ve been a teacher for 17 years, and I urge you read the following thoughts before popping your gifts into a teacher’s hands. The answer to these questions is not what most people think. Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on X (Twitter) Share on Email Share on WhatsApp Share on LinkedIn “Which holiday gifts should I get for my child’s teachers?” “What is the best teacher appreciation gift, or end of year present?” “How can I show our school’s educators that I am thankful for their hard work?”
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