Holiday Gifts For Teachers?

Tipping the Teacher?
I have been teaching in California public schools for several years, and I have never even heard of such a thing. Apparently, at least in New York City, teachers are given Holiday gifts by their classes. In fact, The New York Times is reporting that the Educational Bureaucracy has established new rules for teacher gifts. It seems that the practice has been to "take up a collection" and buy a (sometimes expensive) gift.

In this part of southern California, this practice is unknown. Once in a while, a student may give a favorite teacher an inexpensive box of chocolates or the like, but that is about it.

In fact, it is illegal for a teacher to even take up a collection to buy much needed classroom supplies.

Considering the obvious ethical questions, I don't know whether to be saddened, jealous, or incensed with my New York colleagues.