Disappointed

So, I was randomly browsing the Internet when I came across the following article:

Screw Teacher Appreciation Week

Angry Mom: I am not a big fan of my daughter's teacher. Sometimes you click with a teacher, and sometimes you don't. I'm basically just counting the days 'til my daughter's out of Mrs. Johnson's class.

My daughter has ADHD, and the teacher has basically refused to work with us on this. She suggested we "transfer her to a more appropriate school." HELLO?!
Well, last week, I got the sheet from the room mother announcing Teacher Appreciation Week. It listed what the kids were expected to bring each day. My immediate thoughts are italicized.
Monday: Bring a sweet treat for Mrs. Johnson (home-baked, if possible).Um, I don't have time to bake! I have two jobs, just trying to keep food on the table. But I'd be happy to slip her a Chips Ahoy!, if she'd like that ....
Tuesday: Bring in a flower from your garden for Mrs. Johnson.I live in an apartment. I don't have a garden. Maybe a weed from the patch of grass next to the parking lot?
Wednesday: Write a poem for Mrs. Johnson.Roses are red, violets are blue, this week sucks, and so do you!
Thursday: Bring a small gift for Mrs. Johnson ($10 limit).In these tough times, ten dollars is tough to scrape together. Is the 99-cent store OK instead?
Friday: Please donate $20 for our class gift fund. We are going to get her a day at the spa!Um, MOMMY could use a day at the spa ... what about me?!?!?!?!
Look, don't get me wrong ... I love teachers! I think it is the hardest job in the world. But this particular teacher is less than great, and I don't want to be forced to show how much my daughter "appreciates" her.
Plus, don't working moms have enough to keep track of? Now I have five more things to add to my to-do list this week. THANKS.
What do you think about Teacher Appreciation Week?

This article deeply disturbed me. Not only the article, but the accompanying comments also reflected simliar sentiments. Even though it was late on a school night, I just had to post a response:

There are several concerns I have with this article.
First, the list of required gifts are not mandatory. No school, be it public or private, can or will penalize a student for their parent's failure to provide a gift of appreciation to the teacher. If the author felt so strongly about this issue, she could have simply chosen not to participate.
Second, as a 5-year teacher in both public and private schools across the nation, I can say with confidence that most teachers (especially those in public schools) expect NOTHING from students or parents in terms of appreciation. Last year, I and the nearly 200 colleagues I work with received all of a brownie and card from the PTA on teacher appreciation week (for which we were pleasantly surprised). I always tell my students the best gift they could ever give me is a note or card of thanks (which I carefully save and read on rough days).
Finally, any appreciation day (be it for teachers, secretaries, moms, dad, veterans, etc.) is meant to honor those who have faithfully provided a service to others in the community. Certainly, there are teachers who are not great at their jobs, just as there are poor secretaries, parents who let down their kids, or soldiers who falter in the battlefield, but does that mean we thumb our noses at those heroes who do make great personal sacrifices to make sure our kids have a bright future?
The pay is horrible, the hours are long, the job is often thankless, and turnover is 50% in the first year. Most teachers do it because they love kids and they love their communities. Don't think for a minute that it's your obligatory baked goods that do it for us.

And for those of us who are good at our jobs, there's no respite from the critical eye of parents.

It's no wonder we're all burnt out.

And now for something completely different...

New home, new state, new job, new life. More details to come after I finish grading these papers (i.e., never)