This insulting “appreciation” gift is the perfect metaphor for how this country treats teachers
It’s no secret that teachers don’t get any of the appreciation they deserve in the U.S.
Educators are overworked, underpaid, and expected to perform duties well outside of their job descriptions, from supplying their classrooms out of their own pockets to handling the constant threat of gun violence and other dangers. We owe teachers so much—and yet, one teacher is going viral on TikTok after she shared the absolutely insulting gift one school gave to its educators to show their “appreciation.”
In her TikTok video, educator Jen Manly shows the gift: an empty Ziploc bag with a note stapled to it that reads, “I know this bag looks empty. But it’s actually filled with our love.”
https://www.tiktok.com/@strategicclassroom/video/7204258007029501226
This school has got to be kidding. This gift is worse than no gift at all. Imagine showing your “appreciation” for a hard-working, undervalued member of your staff—by giving them a literal piece of trash. If this isn’t a metaphor for how this country treats teachers.
RELATED: Teacher’s Tearful Resignation Goes Viral: ‘Teaching Is Like a Bad Marriage’
Many of the comments on Manly’s video were pointing out that this would be a cute gift to get from a student, and that’s true—but she shared in a follow-up TikTok that this definitely didn’t come from one of the kiddos, it came from the school. Some grown adult administrator (who probably makes significantly more money than the teachers, let’s be real) really thought this was the right move. Yikes.
@strategicclassroom Replying to @amberoonie333 some ideas that are awesome (but still affordable/free!): personalized notes expressing specific qualities/things you appreciate about each teacher, working with the administrator to cancel or shorten a staff meeting, a coffee and tea bar with all the fixings, stocking much needed supplies like tissues or pencils so Ts dont have to spend their own money… #teachertok #teachersoftiktok #teacherappreciation #teacherappreciationweek #teachergift #teacherburnout
♬ original sound – Jen | Teacher Time Hacks
So let’s talk about some things administrators can give to teachers that show actual appreciation:
- Fair wages that reflect the ever-rising cost of living
- Student debt relief
- Classrooms with reasonable numbers of kids in them
- Mental health support
- Gun control that will keep kids (and their educators) safe while at school
- Maybe even, like, a Starbucks gift card
- Anything that isn’t a useless scrap of plastic that serves no purpose other than ending up in a landfill
Or, as Manly notes in her follow-up video, a personalized note that shows genuine gratitude is free and not an empty sentiment that finds a home in the garbage.
You’re welcome for that, administrators.
