One more task before school ends…
-
- June
- 18
I feel like a kid myself this week. I am SO happy that the school year is coming to a close, I’m literally walking with a little more pep in my step.
My sons have done well in school this year, but I am very tired of homework, projects, meetings, and everything else. And then I realized I have one more task to complete: Teacher (and bus driver/monitor and caregiver) presents.
Stacy Anderson, a new reporter at The Journal News (and my mentee!) wrote a piece on teacher gifts that ran Saturday. That sparked me to remember the shopping I have left to do for 8-year-old son’s teacher, bus driver and bus monitor, along with the young people who supervise him at his after-school center.
It’s not a job I mind doing, because I really am grateful for all of the adults who help my son along the way by teaching him, protecting him and simply caring for him. Some parents are against such gifts, because they believe that the adults are simply doing their jobs and deserve no additional thanks. But I think differently: These folks all looking out for my boy when my husband and I not around. And for that, I am eternally grateful. I make sure that my sons express their thanks too—in writing—even though my oldest son, now 13 and a middle schooler, no longer buys gifts for his teachers.
Unlike some people in the story, though, I won’t be buying personalized gifts, apple-themed presents or anything like that. I’d rather buy them something they can put to immediate use: gift cards to department stores and restaurants, gift certificates for car washes, things like that. And I’ll accompany the gift with a note of thanks. I think it’s a small effort, considering how much they’ve taught my son this year and how patient they’ve been with him.
Do you buy end-of-the-school-year teacher gifts? Do your kids write thank-you notes to teachers or anyone else? Have any innvoative gift ideas? Share them here.
This entry was posted
on Monday, June 18th, 2007 at 3:41 pm by Gayle T. Williams.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
Print
| 
Email
If a collection is taken up by the class moms for the teacher I usually will not buy an additional gift. Others (bus driver/monitor, PT, OT, etc.)that play a role in my daughters lives I will purchase gifts for. I love giving giftcards—Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are some of my faves! A personal note of Thanks is always attached!
last year , my one son gave his teacher a movie night kit.
a basket with a movie/popcorn/popcorn bag /candy… and a cup for a drink..
though gift cards i guess are nice , its technically a monetary value. if you get a mug or something.. well it depends how much it was and no one has to know..
;-]
My daughter attends a private school in New Rochelle and the class parent asked for donations of $50 from each family. With a class of 23 students, that’s a nice sum of money. My husband did not agree at all, but between the head teacher and 2 assistants, it didn’t seem that unreasonable. As a public, middle school teacher, gifts are rare and unexpected. As a compromise, I contributed less than the suggested donation (which was stated as perfectly acceptable in the request).
I’m a fan of gift cards in most situations. Something tells me that folks who work in school get enough stuff, so the chance to pick something, especially if it’s at a non-school related store, is probably a nice, thoughtful gift.
I always purchase teacher gifts. They work so hard and really don’t earn the money they deserve. This year I found two adorable picture frames in Fortunoff with beach footprints for my daughter’s teacher. I’ll probably add a Dunkin’ Donuts or Walmart gift certificate with it.
In the past several years, I’ve donated money to the Literacy Volunteers of America, a not-for-profit that helps adults learn to read. I have the charity provide an acknowledgement to the teachers. That helps me avoid the sticky issue of giving money/gifts directly to teachers, which I have a problem with, but lets them know they’re appreciated. Another idea I haven’t yet tried is to donate to the town’s education foundation; a lot of towns have them to provide supplemental programs taxes don’t cover. A lot of towns have them. That type of donation even more directly benefits the teachers of your town, and your own kids. And to top it off, you get a tax deduction!