Christmas gift for teacher . . .
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| Thu, 12-09-2004 - 2:09pm |
How much is everyone spending?
My mom NEVER bought gifts for my teachers. Never. When I was in elementary school - she made them cookies or breads. In junior high and high school - if I liked them - I gave them a Christmas card. Period. End of story.
So the PTA sends this notice home that they are selling Gift Cards to various shops and restaurants. Parents are encouraged to pick the location and denomination they want and purchase them through the PTA - because a small percentage of the sale goes to the PTA. Cool.
I was pretty darned shock that gift cards up to $100 are available for purchase. I WILL NOT be purchasing $100 gift card for Jojo's teacher - even though she is phenomenal and Jojo loves her. I was thinking $25 is adequate? No? Am I too cheap?
Also, Jojo really wants to get something for his P.E. teacher, music teacher, art teacher, librarian and his favorite lunch lady. I told him "we'll make cookies or bread and wrap them pretty" and he FREAKED out - NO! He wants to give them REAL gifts!
Ah, the commercialization of a holiday.

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So do that! If you can. How often do you think the school nurse gets a Christmas gift from a student? Probably very rarely. And they work very hard.
It's not mandatory in my book. If I really had an issue with a teacher my kids' have, well they probably wouldn't be their teacher any more but I wouldn't get them a gift out of duty.
Hugs
Tara
When I was younger my mom would help me pick out an ornament for the tree for my teachers. I never really thought about gift giving to them, so I was actually relieved when a note came home discouraging gifts to the teachers.
I don't even have the money to send out cards this year, so I'm not feeling too bad about only buying gifts for my son, my little cousin and my man. Not even my mom is getting anything, I stretched a little last year to go in on a manicure for her with my stepdad. But since I was out of work for most of Oct, I'm struggling to get my bank balance looking like it can pay the bills....
BESIDES, ISN'T THE HOLIDAYS ABOUT GET TOGETHERS?
I give ALL my kids teachers and coaches presents (gift cards to Borders)...and on the receiving end of things, I get everything from jelly beans to designer hand crafted chocolates to pearl jewelry. Last year I got a beautiful pashima shall. My girlfriend was a director of a nursery school so not even the teacher and SHE got $100 gift certificates for pedicures, books, etc. It's all very appreciated and welcome, like any gift is. Even when I worked in economicly depressed areas I got even a home made wreath. It's sweet.
It's the fact that you thought about someone, not what you got them...and this is something that kids should learn early on...the only way to model that is when you make things for other people instead of buy them stuff. My kids see me make scarves and afgans for friends...I've taken them to those ceramic places to paint plates for birthdays and hostess gifts.
This is a great opportunity for you to teach the lesson that you want to teach about Xmas.
PS- there was a commentary on NPR that Xmas wasn't even an important event in the Christian calendar, that Easter was, but that if we gave up Xmas, the economy would fail. Sad, but true.
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