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Some school districts frown on gifts for teachers. For parents who still want to give a token of appreciation around the holidays, acceptable alternatives include a donation to the classroom, such as this basket of arts and crafts supplies. (Amy Wang/The Oregonian)
(Amy Wang/The Oregonian)
Lots of parents have teachers and child care providers on their holiday shopping lists. But giving presents to teachers – at least the ones who teach in public school districts – may put them in a delicate position.
Gifts for teachers aren't always in line with school district policies. In fact, the Oregon School Boards Association advises against the practice. An optional policy that it sends to districts for their consideration reads, in part, "Students and their parents shall be discouraged from giving gifts to district employees. The Board welcomes, as appropriate, the writing of letters by students to staff members expressing gratitude and appreciation."
Alex Pulaski, an association spokesman, said by email that OSBA knows of about 70 school districts, out of 197 statewide, that have adopted the "gift language."
The Tigard-Tualatin School District takes the issue directly to students, writing in its "Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook" that while students have the right "to express their appreciation and gratitude to staff," they have the responsibility "to express that gratitude in the form of verbal or written appreciation rather than in the form of gifts."
Susan Stark Haydon, Tigard-Tualatin spokeswoman, said the policy has been in place "for a long time."
"For sure we want to encourage notes and those kinds of recognition, of appreciation for a teacher," she said. But "elaborate gifts are totally discouraged."
Stark Haydon cited state ethics rules as one reason for the policy.
A sense of equity is another reason, she said. "Not every family can afford to give nice gifts and so we want to just have a level playing field for all kids, so that kids don't feel bad because they're not bringing something to school for their teacher even though they appreciate their teacher just as much as somebody else appreciates their teacher," she said.
"We also think it makes teachers feel uncomfortable," Stark Haydon said. "It's sometimes overwhelming if you get a big gift."
Stark Haydon said the policy is working for the district. "It takes pressure off families," she said. And she's not aware of parents or students flouting the policy in any significant way. "We've changed the expectations," she said.
Still, parents often want to do something during the holiday season to show appreciation for teachers and daycare providers.
At Creston School in Southeast Portland, where 62.6 percent of the students are from low-income households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, parent Lisa Kensel, the Oregon PTA's Portland Council president, said families are urged to give teachers "handmade cards or artwork, just a sincere, real thank-you to the teachers so that they know they are appreciated."
"They honestly don't need another coffee mug," she said.
If a card just doesn't feel sufficient, Kensel suggested gifts that will help the teacher and classroom in some way.
For example, she's assembled baskets of classroom supplies: copy paper, glue sticks, facial tissues, hand sanitizer. She's also given gift cards to craft stores, where teachers have the option of buying supplies for their classrooms.
During the school's book fair in December, organizers post teachers' wish lists for their classroom libraries so students and parents can buy and donate books that can be used for years, Kensel said.
Then there's the gift of time: Kensel said parents could write notes offering to chaperone a field trip, make coffee for the teacher, read to kids or help with a class project.
Natasha Banks, vice president of the PTA at Richmond Elementary in Southeast Portland, suggested a class scrapbook, with each family getting a page to decorate with a picture or letter; a compilation of favorite recipes, handwritten on nice recipe cards; or a magazine subscription for the classroom.
Linda Cohen, the Portland-based author of "1,000 Mitzvahs: How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire, and Change Your Life," suggested having kids donate to a teacher's favorite charity in the teacher's name. Or families could give charity gift cards, which she has purchased through Tisbest.org. The nonprofit has more than 300 charity partners, including nine in the Portland-Vancouver area, according to its website, and "the teacher gets to determine where the money goes," Cohen said.
Another option is DonorsChoose.org, an online charity where public school teachers can post classroom project requests. Current requests in Oregon include temperature and pH probes for a Lincoln High School chemistry classroom, basic supplies for an English learners class at Ron Russell Middle School in Southeast Portland, and iPad minis for math and reading lessons at Green Acres School in Lebanon.
More ideas for teacher gifts:
Holiday gift ideas for teachers (OregonLive.com)
Inexpensive but meaningful ways to show gratitude (OregonLive.com)
Gift ideas for child's teacher (OregonLive.com)
Frugal gift ideas for teachers (Go Gingham)
--Amy Wang