DD came home from her 1st grade Christmas party a couple years ago a little upset. I didn't send her with a gift for her teacher, though told her she could make her something if she wanted to. She didn't want to (we found out later in the year that she was uncomfortable with her teacher due to repeated issues with the teacher not being approachable to students with questions and using sarcasm which the kids didn't understand and which made the kids feel like the teacher was making fun of them). But anyway, DD came home from the party and said that her teacher told all the kids who brought gifts to come sit on the carpet while she opened them, while those who didn't bring anything were given a worksheet to do at their desks. She said the teacher made a big deal about those kids and their gifts and DD and the other couple of kids at the desks felt very left out.
Then to make matters worse, over Christmas break, DD received a card in the mail from her teacher thanking her for the potted plant she gave her for Christmas. I asked DD if the class had together given the teacher a plant, but she said that another kid (who apparently the teacher frequently mixed up with DD despite their names and appearances being nothing alike) had given it to her. So then DD felt even worse for being thanked for something she didn't give and because her teacher had again mixed her up with another student, as well as because that other kid probably didn't receive a thank you card since it came to her.
So yeah, I wish they'd find a better way of giving teachers gifts that doesn't make the rest of the class feel awkward or inadequate.
That’s awful. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
I’d be fine with no gift giving but leaning towards homemade cards and cookies. Nothing extravagant. My daughter loves her teacher and I thought this would be good for her to learn appreciation and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.
It’s interesting reading everyone’s take on this. I don’t think I gave gifts to my teachers growing up. And honestly, I’d rather not set that precedence to gift to my kids teachers every year. I’ve got time to decide! I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. You feel like giving or you don’t.