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Monday, June 19, 2006
Pricey Teacher Gifts: An Ethical Dilemma?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Get Schooled reader would like some feedback on this issue regarding a class mom’s efforts to extract a $20 donation from each family for a teacher’s gift:
“A friend of mine was lamenting over a request from her child’s ‘class mom’ for money. The money was to be used to purchase a gift card for the teacher at the end of the school year. The letter that went home to parents in this class requested $20 per family. There are probably 23-25 students per class. The sentiment was, “…we thought it would be nice to combine all our resources for a gift for…” There would be two gifts, one for teacher appreciation (Sephora Gift card) and another for the end of the year.
Granted, the letter says that ‘donations are voluntary, and you may contribute any amount you wish.’ My friend says that she and others feel the ‘donation’ is less than voluntary. Several reminders followed the original letter. The first letter mentioned the ‘voluntary part’ along with a deadline. Another letter stated, ‘…we would like to remind anyone who would like to and has not sent their $20 donation to do so as soon a possible.’ This last request was the first time my friend did not contribute, a decision that actually took time and thought to make.
This letter was also a second of its kind, as one went out in December to solicit for a holiday gift.
I am a teacher, and do enjoy receiving gifts from my students…..gifts that they picked out, or created. I don’t expect them, but do appreciate those that are given. Although it would be nice to purchase a London Fog coat with a gift card (as occurred with the above mentioned teacher’s holiday gift), I don’t see this as appropriate coming from my students (or their parents).
There is an ethical guideline, that we are not to accept individual gifts valued above $25. Frankly, I wouldn’t be comfortable accepting that large from a student. Isn’t the method described above a way to get around that guideline? Is there a pressure felt from parents to contribute to such a request? Are teachers comfortable with such pricey gifts?”
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