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Friday, October 05, 2007

This has gone too far

Call me a cheapskate, but I hate tipping. I WILL tip, for certain professions, but I still hate doing it. When I go out to eat, I try to tip between 20 and 30%, and when I get my hair cut, I always tip two bucks.

But now, I've noticed a tip jar in a place where a tip jar has absolutely no business whatsoever. Without getting into too many specifics, there is a lady at our school who performs a certain necessary function for all of the teachers. This is a function that teachers used to be able to do for themselves; however, a couple of years ago, our collective hand was slapped away from the cookie jar, and this woman was brought in to regulate things.

This week, she had a tip jar placed directly in front of her IN tray. Kind of hard not to notice it there, especially since it had been primed with a couple of bucks already.

Now maybe it's just me, and my crotchety old-fashioned ways, but I don't think it's right for someone in this position to be petitioning for tips. She does get a salary, after all. And you don't see ME holding my hand out to other teachers for money when I deliver new math materials to their classroom. Or shaking the jar at the children when I've taught a particularly well thought out lesson.

Maybe it's just a sign of the times.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was that a jar to pay for the smorgasbord of snacks, and food items she has filling most nooks and crannies?

If this is really a tip jar for her services then I might have to TIP the Boss.

Anonymous said...

Please do NOT tell me this woman is expecting tips for making you copies! That is absolutely ridiculous!!!

Anonymous said...

Next time you stop by just toss in some Monopoly bills.

Nacho Lover said...

?!?!
that is utterly ridiculous.

although i quite like the image of you passing the jar among the kiddies after your lessons. there's an assessment tool for you! Ha!!

Mister Teacher said...

Hmmm. . .Monopoly money. That's actually a really great idea!
Or maybe some of the Everyday Math fake money manipulatives...

Anonymous said...

Hey Mister Teacher, remind me to tell you about my neighbor across the hall from me thirteen years ago who was extorting cash from his fourth graders. Yes, he got caught.

Yes, I drove him home with all his belongings.

No, I did not ask for or receive a cut.

Ed U. Cater said...

Just do what I do... Get a handful of copy request sheets, take them to your room, organize your copies and have a student deliver the request. The student isn't going to tip.

graycie said...

The proper placement of a teacher's tip jar is in a clearly visible but tastefully discreet spot near the door on parent-teacher conference days. A nearby photo of the teacher’s hovel-sweet-hovel or brave-but-raggedy family can be a nice touch if not too obvious. 'Starter bills' are optional.

Sheesh -- don't they teach etiquette to young teacher anymore?

Mrs. T said...

Un freaking believable. Does your administrator know about this? Mine wouldn't stand for this for one second.

askthehomediva said...

Hey, Mr. Teacher,
I would give her a tip…There were some recently indicted and arrested people in Dallas who apparently were "charging" an a little extra price to do business.

Profesora de espaƱol said...

Does this mean I can put a tip jar on my desk and hint to the students that I deserve extra compensation for my work?

Diane Strickland said...

When my students leave lunch money, snack money, etc. laying on their desks, I always say excitedly, "Great! Someone has left a tip for me!" I never thought about actually putting out a tip jar....hmmmmm....

;o)

Anonymous said...

Has the money been reported on her income tax? Should report any extra income. I think the tip jar should be promptly removed. Doesn't the school district have policies to cover this?

Holly Jahangiri said...

Monopoly money, Everyday Math fake money manipulatives, or folded sheets of paper with helpful notes like "Never run with scissors." That should give her a "tip."