Do you give teacher gifts at Christmas time?
My parents taught me the importance of expressing gratitude. The Man From D.A.D. conducts himself graciously with everyone he meets. He ran a large manufacturing company for more than 40 years, yet never felt too important to recognize anyone who made his day a little easier; he once stopped to compliment a maintenance man changing light bulbs for "making our lives a little brighter," (yes, corny). Considering how selective my dad's memory can be for names (but still not as porous as mine), I'm fairly certain he didn't recall the man's name, but that didn't stop him from offering praise and thanks.
My mother, Schpilkes, has been a non-professional fundraiser for a long time; her network of nearest and dearest friends and associates numbers well into the hundreds. She sends a thank you note to everyone who invites her to a wedding, party, bar or bat mitzvah, luncheon, rubber-chicken dinner or official gala. She knows how hard people work planning events, and she makes sure to acknowledge their efforts and thank them for including her and my father.
Amy at Chicago Moms Blog says:
"Now that Halloween is a pounding, sugar-headache memory, it’s time to start thinking about the other holidays... No matter what you celebrate or how you celebrate it, there’s a gift or two involved, right? ... There will be giving and hugging and “oh you shouldn’t haves.”...
I was a preschool assistant teacher for a few years... [L]ast year, the holidays came around and I got one gift. One. I didn’t teach for the gifts but I didn’t get cards or thank you’s. Honestly, I don't think anyone uttered a Happy Holiday sentiment. So, no apple mug, no chalkboard appliqued tote bag. OK, I coped. I got one gift card for which I was very grateful. It was more of the sign that no one was really appreciative of the time and effort and love I had for their child when I was with them. And according to feedback and reviews -- I was doing a good job..."
This is something I have a hard time wrapping my head around. Whether in public or private school; preschool, elementary or high school, our childrens' teachers work themselves practically incoherent guiding, protecting and mentoring our kids. The least we can do is offer words of gratitude, and considering how little most of them are paid, we also should offer some sort of material acknowledgment of their hard work.
The story floats around our school, maybe apocryphal but I suspect not, of a group of parents that banded together to send some teachers on a trip to the Bahamas. It was inappropriate and excessive and the parents were reprimanded and restrictions imposed. But I'm not talking about a mink coat or a Cartier watch. How can you muddle your way through an entire semester and not notice or acknowledge how hard your kids' teachers work?
This year, since we own the site, we're giving our teachers personalized photo gifts with this graphic:
Kind of a nifty message for teachers to model for their students, don't you think?
