One time a class made me a card and signed all their names on it. I am not sure if that beats out a McDs gift certif [img]tongue.gif[/img] but that meant more to me than a trinket. It was nothing fancy but it was heartfelt. I was just begining to volunteer alot at that time. It brought tears to my eyes.

Sure it's nice to make people feel good for their efforts especially young people. I doubt they even expect anything to be bought for them. If she wanted something purchased she could have taken up a voluntary donation (no one would know who gave what) and purchased something. I am still thinking home made (or class made) is best.

As far as reminding. I need constant reminding over everything. I can breathe on my own. Thank God I had kids to keep me in line. Perhaps she could have worded it differently though.

[ 04-22-2005, 08:39 AM: Message edited by: C. Brooks ]

Thanks for the different perspectives. I just want to say that I am active at my child's school and have helped out at the school and in my daughters class. Also I am the new PTO President for the 2005-2006 year (take office in May). So it's not that I'm not around. My daughters teachers know I'm involved.

I think that it's so sad that our society has evolved to the point where it is acceptable to be crass, rude and insulting to another adult just because you think they don't get it? Yes, I agree that there are alot of parents out there that don't get it, but still is that a license to be insulting?

This year our school has been teaching life skills such as integrity, perserverance, sense of humor, cooperation, resourcefulness, respect etc. there about 20 of them so I guess that when I read the note it was in the context of what they are trying to teach the kids and that part didn't seem very respectful.

Our school also has a lot of low income families. Where does this leave them?

I was raised by older parents who were Depression babies. I'm mid forties, so I know I was raised in a different time, and my parents taught me good manners. I'm trying to do the same with my daughter. Although todays world and schools are very different.

I did like Library Mom's story of what was done for her daughter. That was great and really meant something to her. That's what should be taught, that sometimes, the littlest gentures are the most heartfelt and treasured.

Thanks again for listening!

Thanks for the different perspectives. I just want to say that I am active at my child's school and have helped out at the school and in my daughters class. Also I am the new PTO President for the 2005-2006 year (take office in May). So it's not that I'm not around. My daughters teachers know I'm involved.

I think that it's so sad that our society has evolved to the point where it is acceptable to be crass, rude and insulting to another adult just because you think they don't get it? Yes, I agree that there are alot of parents out there that don't get it, but still is that a license to be insulting?

This year our school has been teaching life skills such as integrity, perserverance, sense of humor, cooperation, resourcefulness, respect etc. there about 20 of them so I guess that when I read the note it was in the context of what they are trying to teach the kids and that part didn't seem very respectful.

Our school also has a lot of low income families. Where does this leave them?

I was raised by older parents who were Depression babies. I'm mid forties, so I know I was raised in a different time, and my parents taught me good manners. I'm trying to do the same with my daughter. Although todays world and schools are very different.

I did like Library Mom's story of what was done for her daughter. That was great and really meant something to her. That's would should be taught, that sometimes, the littlest gentures are the most heartfelt and treasured.

Thanks again for listening!

Now I'm on the other side of the fence on this one. I see the word "suggest", and I think it was just that, a suggestion.

As a room parent several times throughout the years, I have sent home letters at the end of the year soliciting money for a combined teacher gift (gift certificate). I never ask for a specific amount, and make sure everyone knows it is not mandatory. We receive anywhere from $20 to $2.00 from most parents. We get what we get.

Some parents love this, and see it as convenient. Others are probably as offended as you are. It is a suggestion, and certainly NOT mandatory (that would offend me, a suggestion would not).

As a matter of fact, this might have been something you would (or others) have overlooked, when shopping for end of year gifts. I would hate for my child to be in the minority when gift distributions began at the party.

I have to agree that being asked to bring a thankyou gift is a little (lot) crass. But considering some of the people that I have come across, it doesn't suprise me that they still need to be asked.

A couple of years ago when my oldest daughter helped tutor some kids at the elementary school, they made a banner that they signed and drew pictures on and gave it to her on the last day. Two years later it is still hanging in her room. Some times she will see them around town and they still remember her. So I have to agree that a thank you should come from the heart and not the store.

Off my soap box now.

When I read the original post it reminded me of something that a kindergarten teacher said to me the other day; she said that some of us (parents)probably wonder if they (teachers) think we are stupid are something because they often make "suggestions" in their newsletters, and to the average parent these suggestions may sound as if they were written for the kindergarteners themselves rather than the parents! She apologized and said that they feel pretty silly when they are spelling things out so literally in the newsletters, but she said they have to do it that way, otherwise there are some who just wouldn't "get it." I really got the impression that's what your child's teacher was doing in the letter that you described.