08 March 2023 , 11:53
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While it's extremely rewarding, teaching is a challenging profession as not only are you trying to control a classroom full of children but also impress your boss at the same time. However, one teacher has called out a boss who gave their team an "inappropriate" gift during Teacher Appreciation Week, saying there's so many "better but still cheap" ways to show their gratitude toward their team.
Teacher and TikTok user @strategicclassroom has explained how a boss gifted their teachers with an empty sandwich bag and a note that reads: "I know this bag looks empty, but it's actually filled with love". In her video, she said: "This teacher appreciation gift, which is in fact an empty bag with a cute little note stapled to the front of it, and the frustration that some people had is they assume this was a gift from a student - [but] this was a gift from an administrator.
"If you're not an educator, this is the equivalent of your boss giving you a piece of trash and calling it a gift.
"The question that some people ask was what is a better but still cheaper way to show appreciation for Teacher Appreciation Week.
"My response is always that a thoughtful note expressing genuine gratitude is free. Is it going to take time to write a personalised note for every teacher, to express what you're grateful for about them specifically, yes.
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"But it's far better than wasting money on something that's just going to end up in the trash. It doesn't have to cost much or any money at all for people to feel appreciated - but this is an inappropriate gift from a boss to a subordinate."
While most users agreed with the teacher's points, other shared alternative ways bosses could show their appreciation toward their team while keeping the costs down.
One user said: "I don't need an empty bag or a personal note. I just need support to do my job."
Another user added: "Cancelling an unnecessary meeting shows appreciation and costs nothing."
A third user said: "As a teacher I spend so much of my day getting to know my babies and building a relationship, filling their buckets all day with words of affirmation."
One more user added: "Last year my admin team cancelled a meeting and let us leave early on a Wednesday. It was much appreciated."