It's no secret in 2024 that teachers in public education in America are underappreciated and underpaid.
So when Teacher Appreciation Week rolls around each year in May, teachers either find themselves overwhelmed with all the love they feel from parents, students, staff, and fellow educators...or they find themselves without a gift—or worse, with a gift they kind of wish they didn't receive.
This year on TikTok, a trend has started of parents sharing the gifts they've put together for their children's beloved teachers, as well as teachers sharing the most lovely and lackluster gifts they received.
Though they were too kind to say so, Erin (@nalgenefan on TikTok) received a small gift basket for Teacher Appreciation Week this year that probably should have stayed in the junk drawer it was assembled out of.
The public school teacher first stated they were immensely grateful for the recognition they received from the school.
"I’m a public school teacher, I make $43,000 a year before taxes, and this is everything I got in my Teacher Appreciation Week gift bag."
The gift bag largely seemed to be assembled from a welcome basket one might receive when visiting a church for the first time, including a plastic water bottle with the church's logo on it, a welcome card, and some single-wrapped candies.
There were also some teacher-specific items.
"[There is a] little notebook that says, 'Teachers plant seeds that grow forever,' and it’s a little damp because my air conditioner is broken, so it’s a little humid in my [class]room."
"[There is also a] keychain that says, 'Be proud of the work that you do, the person that you are, and the differences that you make,' and there's a matching lanyard!"
But the winner of the gift basket had to be the gift no one saw coming.
"My personal favorite [is the] Weaver and Peaks Memorial Funeral Care hand sanitizer..."
"...And [there is a] business card advertising 10 percent off of cremation services."
"Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to me!"
You can watch the video here:
Some were shocked by what the teacher found in their gift basket.
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Others shared the questionable gifts they'd received in years past.
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Some shared what they had done for teachers in the past and what they believed teachers deserved.
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While it's the thought that counts, sometimes it would be better to not receive a gift than to receive one where little-to-no thought or consideration was put in—especially for someone like a teacher, who is expected to put in long hours, energy, thought, and passion all year long.
We appreciate all of your hard work, Erin, and all the other teachers out there!