Q: Do you have opinions on what gifts are best for teachers and day-care workers? Is cash appropriate? If so, how much?
A: Do I have opinions? Friend, you’ve come to the right place. Thank you for offering one of the easiest questions that has ever been asked in my almost 10 years of writing the column.
“Is cash appropriate?” YES. Yes. And yes.
When it comes to anyone who works with or near children, cash is appropriate. Why? Because they are grossly underpaid. In many cases, day-care workers are paid less than someone serving coffee at Dunkin’. And while public school teachers fare better in pay, the pandemic and our political climate have resulted in a teacher shortage. Public school teachers are, largely, overworked, threatened with violence and managing issues that they aren’t meant to handle, and still spend up to $500 of their own money for basic supplies (sometimes more).
So yes, cash works.
How much you give is personal. It could be based, for example, on your experience with the teachers or your income.
You should, of course, be sure that your district or day care doesn’t have any strict rules around cash as gifts. Next, […]
View this full article on The Washington Post
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