Miss Manners: Teacher Appreciation week in poor taste? Here’s a parent who has had enough

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My child’s school is having a staff appreciation week, which isn’t a bad idea, given the effort they put in and how they enhance our kids’ lives. What strikes me as extremely gauche, however, is that it’s organized and run by the school, while asking parents to contribute.

This seems like the kind of thing that parents should organize if they want to, rather than being pressured into it by the school. If the administration wants to do it themselves, then they should fund it. Instead, here is what we are told to do:

First day: Send kind words/thanks.

Second day: Send sugary treats.

Third day: Buy something from their wish lists.

Fourth day: Staff get a special Mexican luncheon while parents cover classroom duties. (Keep in mind, students have been trying for months to get the quality of food in the cafeteria improved, while the staff claims there is no need.)

Fifth day: Send a teacher’s favorite snacks and drinks to stock their fridge.

It comes across like, “Hey, aren’t we great? Buy us stuff and tell us how great we are!” And they send reminders EVERY DAY. Tacky.

Do teachers and school staff deserve nice things? Yep. But this is not the way to go about it, in my opinion.

GENTLE READER: Then why haven’t you organized the parents to show your appreciation for the staff in a proper fashion?

You needn’t do it with sugary treats — or, for that matter, useless apple-themed objects. Letters of thanks, by all means. Bonuses, if possible. And assistance in procuring whatever school supplies the staff needs.

But you should also learn from your distaste about the reminders: Alert other parents, but do not pressure them. Miss Manners cautions you that you do not know their financial situations, even if you think you do.