Is it bad if you DON'T give a pre-k teacher a present?

r9stedt · December 2011

Do I have to wear a scarlet letter if I don't?

justEK · December 2011

I do not think it's bad at all. People give when and if they can afford it. I only did because they were a huge reason why my kids adjusted so well and love school. Maybe you can just bake some cookies, have L make a card or pick up a $5 Starbucks/DD card. But nothing is good too. Even a written note from you would mean something to them. Now I'm drunk and rambling....

meghans30 · December 2011

I wasn't going to give presents at all this year, but my husband insisted! lol It's not bad if you don't; do not feel obligated. A card with a note goes a long way. I'm giving $15 giftcards to Staples. This is scaled way back from what I have done in the past.

joy143dh · December 2011

DS's teachers actually say that the best gifts they receive are the notes from the kids (or from the parents, signed by the kids)

karen6784 · December 2011

r9stedt:
Do I have to wear a scarlet letter if I don't?

Yes, and it must be a DIY pinterest inspired letter made of burlap, served with a side of salted caramel...Clearly I am over spending a lot of money for something DIY that can be purchased at Michael's for 1/2 the price!

AnnapolisLari · December 2011

This gift thing has gotten waaaayyyy out of hand.

justEK · December 2011

Ohhhhh does she have kids? What about a free mini photography session?

MotherBucker · December 2011

It's ok to not give them to pre-k, kindergarten, elementary, middle AND high school teachers.

I have never heard of a kid being failed because their parents didn't cough up a Starbucks gift card for the teacher.

meghans30 · December 2011

AnnapolisLari:
This gift thing has gotten waaaayyyy out of hand.

Agree. As a high school teacher I'm lucky if I get a candy cane lol I appreciate my the teachers, I really do, but it is their job. I had my son make cards for them all and am only giving his main teacher small gift card. We live in a city; there are plenty of kids who can not afford to give the teachers gifts. Last year, I gave a large gift bag of stuff for the classroom - books, tissues, puzzles... some of the kids asked me if they could take things home... I wanted to go out and buy them all gifts.

penguingrrl · December 2011

I'm on the Board of Directors and contributed what I could to a group gift. I would have loved to do a group gift plus individual gifts to each of DDs 3 teachers, but times are tight for us. I intend to give a really nice note at the end of the school year to thank them for being amazing.

Littlejen22 · December 2011

If the teacher is amazing then write a note stating specifically how she has helped or touched DS, if not then just skip it completely.

goofyteacher · December 2011

It's completely fine. I do not expect gifts from my students and honestly a nice note does really mean a lot more. It takes a lot more time/effort to write a thoughtful note to the teacher than it does to pick up a gift card when you get your morning coffee.

kyoto · December 2011

I agree the gift thing has gotten way out of hand. When I was a kid, I gave my teachers a little packet of hershey kisses. Now they get $25 starbucks giftcards. WTF?

That said, I did contribute $5 to the teachers gift fund. But I'm a room mom, so I sort of had to.

AggieCouple · December 2011

No, I don't think so. Last year, we just did thank you cards for Teacher Appreciation day/week because I was tired/busy/frankly didn't give a sh*t because we were broke from paying their GD tuition. I think people understand and really, with as many gifts as they get, I bet they can't even remember who did/didn't give them something.

AnnapolisLari · December 2011

kyoto:
I agree the gift thing has gotten way out of hand. When I was a kid, I gave my teachers a little packet of hershey kisses. Now they get $25 starbucks giftcards. WTF?

I only quit teaching in 2005, so it seems like it's pretty recently that it's exploded like this.

I think I got mabe 10 gifts, tops, in all the time I taught. It was mostly Christmas ornaments, a couple little things of candy, and once I got a custom notepad from a kid whose mom owned a stationery shop. I can guarantee that none of them cost over $5.

jlw2505 · December 2011

Not at all - many people just can't afford to giver everyone a gift and honestly, I think many people go way overboard with gifts to people. Daycare is hard as most classes have at least 2-3 teachers. We gave my DD's preschool/daycare center 2 teachers each some of the candy cane and mint truffle Hershey Kisses along with a $5 gift card to Starbucks so I only spent $15 for the gifts for both of them. My kids makes cards for their teachers and honestly, most have raved about that.

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