Giving gifts to your Kid's Teachers. Is this a common practice now?

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by bomber317

Wow, so every public employee you see.

"Hey, I got you a present!.... it's my property tax payment!"

No, most public employees are getting paid out of my income taxes, not my property taxes.

At least my income taxes get me something in return. The portion of my property taxes that does to school boards gets me nothing.

But I continue to pay it. It is my present to all teachers of Alberta.

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Sliver

lol, they get more like 10 weeks off, not five. Eight weeks in the summer, one at Christmas and one at Easter. Plus their teaching day is really only about 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with an hour for lunch. Staying late would mean an 8-hour day in many cases. Plus I think ovetime is expected in any professional job, so I don't think when teachers do put in extra time it's not anything that sets them apart from other educated people.

On top of their salary, they get one of the most incredible pensions our of any other profession in our country.

But I'm not hating on teachers. It's an awesome gig in every way. My wife and I are going to advise our kids to become teachers and I hope they do. It really provides for a great lifestyle. Would be amazing if everybody was able to enjoy as much free time as teachers get.

I do buy gifts for our kids' teachers, though. I think it's nice and they do a good job for sure.

You say 8-3:30 but that's just when classes are scheduled. Teachers are usually at work at or before 7 to photocopy handouts, prepare overheads and touchup on there lesson plan. Not to mention the amount of meetings they have before and after work.

Also you mention there lunch hour, which is usually spent on supervision or they have to do bus supervision in the morning/night instead.

As for there pension, they put in $400-$900 every pay cheque based on how many years they have been a teacher, so there salary all this time is actually smaller to get that pension.

This isnt about teachers getting hand outs from students as gifts, its just about being appreciative.

[MarchHare]

At least my income taxes get me something in return. The portion of my property taxes that does to school boards gets me nothing.

Oh, come on!

I'm not a teacher, nor do I have (or will ever have) children of my own, but it's the height of ignorance to suggest that you get nothing in return for the portion of your taxes that pays for the education of others. Everyone benefits from an educated society.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Is it company propaganda like tshirts or pens or key chains? haha

I have enough SAIT crap to start a store.

Nope restaurant gift cards, mall gift cards. Similar to what I assume teachers would get.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

My mom was a public, elementary school teacher for 40 years in a small town in BC and would usually receive small gifts at the end of the year. They were anything from chocolates, to coffee mugs or plants.

My friend is a new teacher at a private school for rich kids outside Vancouver. For Christmas in her first year she received a La Senza gift card. We all found it was one of the weirdest gifts you could give the teacher of your 7 year old.

Clearly there is no way to answer this question without some sort of digital representation of said teacher attired in the proceeds of said gift card. Only to facilitate the philsophical discussion presently engaged of course.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by photon

I've had customers give me gifts for doing the job they paid me for.

Maybe I exceeded their expectations and they wanted to do more than a thank you with the cheque?

Many people get tips for doing their job. A small (and entirely optional) gift doesn't seem out of line to me.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Many people get tips for doing their job. A small (and entirely optional) gift doesn't seem out of line to me.

paging Springs1

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Oh, come on!

I'm not a teacher, nor do I have (or will ever have) children of my own, but it's the height of ignorance to suggest that you get nothing in return for the portion of your taxes that pays for the education of others. Everyone benefits from an educated society.

Was going to say just this, but you got here first.

Even people without kids benefit from teachers. To say you don't is short sighted.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Was going to say just this, but you got here first.

Even people without kids benefit from teachers. To say you don't is short sighted.

Excellent point.

I owe about $50,000 on my student loans. As you have benefited from my increased education, please forward me $500 for your share.

Thanks in advance!

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Excellent point.

I owe about $50,000 on my student loans. As you have benefited from my increased education, please forward me $500 for your share.

Thanks in advance!

Wow. There are three problems with is connection/metaphor/example and one is just simple math.

But I'll let you see if you can figure it out first.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Excellent point.

I owe about $50,000 on my student loans. As you have benefited from my increased education, please forward me $500 for your share.

Thanks in advance!

Did you go to elementary/junior high/high school? If so, why shouldn't you pay society back for some of the free education you received?

[SebC]

From a bribery/ethics perspective, the optics of giving gifts to teachers are terrible. Unless it's something with no nominal value, like a card.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by SebC

From a bribery/ethics perspective, the optics of giving gifts to teachers are terrible. Unless it's something with no nominal value, like a card.

Really? You know we are talking about a Timmies card, in a nice Hallmark card given to the teach at the end of the year, right?

No one is suggesting that you send junior rolling in on the first day with the keys to a BMW and directions to your summer house in the interior.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Really? You know we are talking about a Timmies card, in a nice Hallmark card given to the teach at the end of the year, right?

At one company I worked for, accepting gift cards from supplier/contractors was strictly banned because they are basically the same as cash. The only acceptable gifts to receive from suppliers were things of a nominal value with a corporate logo on them (i.e. promotional material).

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by SebC

At one company I worked for, accepting gift cards from supplier/contractors was strictly banned because they are basically the same as cash. The only acceptable gifts to receive from suppliers were things of a nominal value with a corporate logo on them (i.e. promotional material).

Understood, I face the same limitation in my line of work when dealing with clients.

But this is, IMO, different.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Understood, I face the same limitation in my line of work when dealing with clients.

But this is, IMO, different.

I'm not saying it's black and white... after all, it's only bribery if the gift is rewarded. Just that the potential for impropriety is there - less so in the early grades, moreso once you get to grade nine and even moreso in highschool.

A good way to keep things sanitary might be to pool with other parents for a "class gift".

[freedogger]

Give em gold or silver.

[Rerun]

I think a nice card (particularly if its handmade) with a handwritten note of appreciation, is quite nice and more than enough. I'm sure the teacher would appreciate something like this than a whole bunch of cheap $10 Dollar Store gifts that he or she will probably end up tossing in the bin.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Wow. There are three problems with is connection/metaphor/example and one is just simple math.

But I'll let you see if you can figure it out first.

As I am much more educated than your child, it's only fair that you pay a higher price for my contribution to society.