Happy Cat

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Home : 2007 : December : 23

Happy Cat
By Maestra

This is my 25th year teaching and like you have never received hundreds of dollars in gift cards or lavish gifts either. My entire career has been spent in a large and poor urban area. I spent 11 years in urban Catholic
schools and for the most part never received lots of gifts worth money. However, 4 of those years were in an urban Catholic school where the parents did have lots of money and I did receive some nice gifts those years.

I have never had a "room mother" and I am not even sure I understand the concept of that!!! :o Most of the schools have not had a really active PTA and the one

where I am at now mostly does fund-raising for money for the school and kids.

I understand what you mean about not feeling appreciated but I would rather find appreciation in the little things that parents and kids say and do. Last year I got a letter at Christmas from one of my students and it made me cry (and I am NOT a crier!) While the parents in my current public school are not generous with gifts or even their time, I do know they support us and trust us to teach their children.

Sometimes, those lavish gifts come with "strings attached" or having the parents nit pick and complain about the silliest things. I read many posts on these boards about parents who cause so much trouble for the teachers and I am thankful we don't have that.

You are not alone, Happy Cat in your situation or feelings. But just remember that we didn't become teachers so we can be visibly appreciated (although it is NICE!). We became teachers to make a difference and that is what we do one child at a time. Sometimes we see it and sometimes we don't.