This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Tiffany, Hermes, Rolex: Teachers are getting "ridiculous" gift's from one-percent of parents.

New York City’s teachers might make a paltry salary, but the perks are grade A.

One-percent parents lavish their offspring’s educators with cash tips and over-the-top gifts for the holidays to show their appreciation — and maybe get some special treatment for Junior.

“It’s just ridiculous,” said Lauren, a Lower East Side mom of two, who was forced to chip in $100 to buy her 2-year-old’s teacher an Hermès scarf (typically $400 to $1,000), on top of the $35,000 she already pays for annual tuition. “I would never buy that [scarf] for myself,” added Lauren, who, like most in this article, declined to give her last name for personal reasons.

Laura, an Upper East Side mother with a child in the lower school at the Collegiate School and another in the lower school at Spence, said a friend once gave her son’s 92nd Street Y Nursery School teacher a Rolex.

“It was a cheap [one], probably $3,000,” said Laura. “These poor teachers, how much do they make a year — $50,000? These poor people.”

Teachers said it’s clear that some parents expect their largesse to be rewarded.

“They want something from us,” said Sarah, a veteran early-childhood-education teacher on the ritzy North Shore of Long Island.

“Most teachers [at my school] expect a nice gift, and if they don’t get it, they remember who did and who didn’t give,” she said. “They’ll treat a parent differently, colder.”

Some parents are outraged when the schools themselves request tips, especially when they’re already paying a hefty tuition. Heather Grabin, a mom of a 4-year-old in Jersey City, NJ, was shocked when she got an e-mail from her daughter’s preschool asking for seasonal tips.

“They charge $30,000 a year,” she said, enraged. “I think they’re trying to palm [holiday gifting] off [on] the parents.” Instead, Grabin said, “they should treat their employees just like Goldman Sachs does. If you do your job well, you’ll get a bonus.”

Leah, a mom of two in Brooklyn, resents getting e-mails from her daughter’s private preschool asking for cash, but she’s scared of retribution if she doesn’t contribute.

“If [teachers] don’t get [tips], they get resentful,” she said.

She dreads the cash outlay once her daughter gets older and has several teachers in a single year. “I’m going to go broke,” she said.

Some parents are getting more creative in their gifting.

Dr. Norman Rowe, a plastic surgeon on the Upper East Side, said that in recent years, his office has sold about a dozen gift certificates annually, with values ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 for teachers.

“I don’t see many teachers getting apples anymore,” he said.

Dr. Ryan Neinstein, another uptown plastic surgeon, recently worked on two lucky teachers, courtesy of their students’ parents.

“These are people who genuinely care about their child’s teacher. They’re looking to give something even more meaningful than a gift from Barneys,” said Neinstein. “It’s a gift that makes these teachers feel good about themselves. That’s something a candle can’t give.”

Sarah, the Long Island teacher, has received a number of extravagant gifts over the two decades she’s been teaching. They include a dinner for two at Peter Luger (about $250), a Tiffany bracelet (about $500), “at least” three Tiffany “heart” key rings (about $135 each), a Longchamp bag (about $200), a Michael Kors watch (about $500) and an Hermès scarf, with an Hermès enamel bangle (about $500) to match.

But she rationalizes the swag.

“We’re paid horribly, even though the tuition is so high. The reality is we don’t make a lot of money, and these are nice perks,” she said. “It’s the greatest job in the world.”

NY POST

CRAZY!!!

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

That's insane.

As a public school teacher we had a pretty small limit on the amount a gift could even cost in our district. I only know that bc a teacher got a tiffany pen or bracelet once and questioned whether she could even keep it. I usually got a few cards with candy canes and an occasional package of chocolates.

If there is really a difference in how teachers treat parents at these schools I would question the values these teachers could possibly be instilling in their students.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Ok so at my kids school I am a class mom. During the class mom orientation, they discuss teacher gift collections. We collect $10 from each child to split between December and June. One parent asked if they could collect more because their teacher was "the best" and better teachers deserved more, like $500 plus. The principal was furious. I happen to know that there are parents who individually give $500 and others who raid their kids piggy banks for the $10. At one of the birthday parties some parents were discussing class gifts. Another parent knew of the $500 gifted and felt she had to do that to, but felt it was a budget buster. Every other parent said they gave between $10-50 and were upset at the $500 gifter. I know that they want special treatment for their child but would never say it. I give an additional $20-30 to the teacher. Frankly, I give my time and do what the school asks when they need extras. I can't give $1000s. It absolutely becomes a competition between some parents though. In our district the principal was shocked when she found out that some parents gave that much. She flat out called it a bribe and said that if she found out that parent gave that much she would make the teacher return it.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Where is this article from?

Here's what struck me the most:
Teachers said it’s clear that some parents expect their largesse to be rewarded.

“They want something from us,” said Sarah, a veteran early-childhood-education teacher on the ritzy North Shore of Long Island.

“Most teachers [at my school] expect a nice gift, and if they don’t get it, they remember who did and who didn’t give,” she said. “They’ll treat a parent differently, colder.”

Maybe these people shouldn't represent my profession

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Am I the only one who is annoyed that this once again makes teachers look bad? I'm sick.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

I have friends that teach in a well to do school district. They've received Hermes bags, Chanel bags, etc etc!

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

more than crazy its disgusting. Many in my family worked for years in NYC schools and they rarely if ever got any type of gift, maybe a card. No GC nothing from the PTA or class mom bc city schools are too big and diverse. I think what is done on LI and in private school as described is crazy.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

....and they treat parents who don't give expensive gifts differently?!?????


Glad to see they're there for all the right reasons.


I work in a DOE public school and I always feel bad receiving gifts. And these assholes.....jeez

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

My kids go to public school in Queens. We don't even have class moms. I wish we did because I'd rather just contribute that way. I bought the teachers something (spent about $10-15 each for teachers and assistants).

I paid my PTA dues and I remember a letter coming home saying something that every family is a member of the PTA regardless if they contribute or not and the donation is optional and helps to support many of the school activities and I thought it was strange. I guess maybe some parents complained although I didn't see it as a big deal.

My friend teaches in a catholic school and has received a Coach purse, wine of the month club, and other gifts I think seem extravagant, but she says no, that's the norm.

Message edited 12/18/2016 6:18:47 PM.

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

I teach HS and gifts are rare. I get excited by a $5 gift card to DD. I can't imagine tearing kids differently because of what there parents can afford!!! Ridiculous.

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

My girlfriend teaches in queens. Last year she got a ball gown, soaps from a hotel and ethnic baked goods. She's in a very poor district.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Our teachers this year requested no gifts. They would like a card from each student with something hand written that they have learned (from them or in their life) so far this year and also something they are hoping to learn or achieve. I was amazed at the thought of the teachers requesting this, so lovely!

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Message edited 12/18/2016 8:52:52 PM.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

It's ballsy of the teachers who request fancy gifts but it also might be coming from a PTO or similar- in my school we put in $10 for a class gift, but the PTA organizes it.

A little off topic, but a couple years ago DD and I went to an overnight camping weekend in a neighboring town. There is a ritzy private community nearby where lots of people who live in Manhattan have second homes, and CT with lots of second-home type towns. Anyway, they were friendly enough and we overheard them chatting about trying to persuade their headmaster to purchase a neighboring property and demolishing it so the kids would have more room to play. It's a different world!

ETA- it was an Upper East Side school- I forget which one.

Message edited 12/18/2016 9:03:27 PM.

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

My friend is a NYC public school teacher in an area of Queens with a heavy Chinese and Korean population. She was explaining how in China it's customary to tip and "bribe" teachers (although she has never explicitly been bribed) but the holiday gifts she receives are insane: $300 Tory Burch gift cards, $200 Bloomingdale's GC, CASH, HUGE flower baskets (basically envision a wedding centerpiece haha) etc. She also gets gifts for Valentine's and end of year. She said most parents give between $50 and $100. A handful gove ober $100 and its rare she gets less than $50. The parents also supply her class with snacks for the children and endless supplies year round... she says she treats all children the same but has admitted that if a child is failing she'll do her best to pass them. She also said some of the other teachers in the school do favor the students and parents who give the most lavish gifts....but obviously with any profession there is the good and bad, fair and unfair.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

This definitely goes on to some extent in our school district. Long island district (not the city) and public school.

Message edited 12/19/2016 9:26:27 AM.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Nothing says, "I appreciate your work as a an educator," like a partial payment toward a nose job!

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

The schools referenced in the article are private schools that cost over $30k a year in tuition for ONE child. Typically people have more than one child right? so if you are sending your two kids to private school with tuition over $60k per year, my bet is you can afford to contribute $100 per teacher to the gift. These are not regular families they are referring to. These are very wealthy families.

Re: This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

and

I'm sorry but plastic surgery gift certificates for a teacher? "That's just something a candle can't buy!"???

This reminded me of Budjeg11's class gift post

Geez.. and I thought my $25 gift card was generous.