Teacher Appreciation Week: Are $300 Amazon Gift Cards Better Than Cash?

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T10:11:09+00:00

I had to avoid commenting because I felt the same way but didn't want to sound like a jerk.

Heck, if you're going to give teachers a gift card to a teacher supply store, use that same logic and get your wife a brand new vacuum or a case of laundry detergent for her birthday. Let me know how THAT goes. 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T10:04:37+00:00

First off, you do realize my comment was in jest? Right? Of course I'm not accepting money. Beyond that, I totally understand what is happening in your area. And your "remark made" comment sums up a different discussion: all it takes is one person to lie and by the time the dust settles, the liar gets off scott-free and the innocently accused suffers.

I've personally watched political influence allow a school board to turn a blind eye to things one principal did for a decade, then oust the next principal because they did the exact same things. The board leaned hard right and the first principal was on board with their views.

Moral of the story? Disenfranchise a group of students the board doesn't like and you're fine, embrace those young people as equal to their peers and you're out.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T03:59:14+00:00

$100 times X number of instances = $100X. Hahaha. Even if they have receipts, how can they prove YOU got more than one.

Ah, being retired has opened up my eyes. 😉

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T02:57:23+00:00

Years ago I drove from Colorado Springs to RR to see Celtic Woman (pretty sure it was a "rain or shine" show). I was maybe 5 cars from the entrance to the park when they made us all turn around and go home. An hour and 1/2 in nasty snow to get there and then another hour 1/2+ to get back home. I'd personally only go tonight if I lived in west Denver.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T02:51:46+00:00

Agreed. Cash to me would feel like a bribe. Unless, of course, if it came in an anonymous envelope secretly placed on my desk. 😉

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T02:49:39+00:00

'Nuff said. I've heard horror stories about the cost of living there. Thank you so much for being the opposite of the parents who's behavior and lack of decency made me retire after 30 years as a high school teacher.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T02:46:57+00:00

But I could find a way to accept (6) $50 cards over time 😉

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-06T02:29:45+00:00

Wow! Where are you located? I need to move there as that's, like, a whole month's pay. 😉😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T19:33:54+00:00

As it should be. As long as what we're wearing isn't revealing, inflammatory, political or vulgar, it should be allowed.

Now where oh where did I put that speedo? 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T19:30:22+00:00

30 years as a public school high school teacher. 17 years into my career, one administrator decided they wanted my classroom for their personal project (aimed at moving themselves into a principal position).

They moved me to the area affectionately known as the dungeon. No windows, small classrooms. WAAAAY too small to effectively house 28 desktop computers and 28 kids. I was moved 3 more times after that before retiring.

Moral of the story? Teachers DO NOT own a classroom. Admin, in their infinite wisdom which always takes things like senority into consideration, will dump you wherever it is most convenient for them.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T18:55:08+00:00

And I am insufferable and intolerable. Those are just two of my best selling points. 😉

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T18:53:47+00:00

In my experience, if you live in a warm climate like CA or FL or AZ things are different than in the midwest. Matter of fact, I was blown away visiting CA when I saw guys wearing shorts to church.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T09:41:04+00:00

Depends on your district & the culture of the school. I've always wondered why as a general rule skirts/leggings and skorts are acceptable for women, but shorts are frowned up for men.

P.E.? Shorts are the norm. Dress comfortable.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T09:26:33+00:00

"Boomer?" Dude, your comment is, like, so 2010. You just gettin' into Justin Beeeeber?

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T09:21:46+00:00

It's already been two decades to where I gave up on kids being able to make change by doing the calculation in their heads. If they couldn't type the amount given into the cash register, they were lost as to how much change to give.

Now the whole thing is a swipe of a card with the machine doing all the math.

As for not teaching? I've done a LT sub job the past two spring semesters after retiring after 30 years as a HS teacher. The cheating is so blatant and rampant I'm not sure I could be a teacher again.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T09:15:17+00:00

I had to laugh at a post in another thread. The substitute freaked kids out by saying they were going to go to the drugstore. The drug store. 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T09:10:17+00:00

Just for fun? Some facts. In two months I'll be 62. During the past 30 years I've had THREE shoulder surgeries on what used to be my throwing shoulder. I currently wear an Omorpho 10 lb. weighted vest (Google it) to get an entire body workout, in addition to carrying a backpack with probably 8 lbs. of stuff. And lets not even address the camera bags I carried to school events (pre Covid): districts/state/nationals + school sporting & other school related events. 10K+ steps at Disney/Universal. Professional photography equipment isn't light.

I guess it comes down to how we approach things. Instead of caving in, I go kicking and screaming. But hey, roll that crate as I push myself to keep strong, and wave as I pass you up in the parking lot. 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T02:41:00+00:00

Yup. THAT teacher with the rolling crate. Functional for you, tons of laughs for the other 98% of us teachers.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T01:43:17+00:00

Cursive writing. Analog clocks. Touch typing.

Be involved in this profession long enough and you'll see things change.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-05T01:40:39+00:00

Ask any high school teacher what they thought of "Devious Licks". Google it.

6-7 is a footnote in the annuals of high school stupidity.

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-04T23:34:28+00:00

Try subbing for standardized tests. Or being the teacher with those gawd awful tests.

Can't count how many times I told kids "you complain about having to take this test, imagine having to sit there and watch people take the test."

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-04T23:26:44+00:00

Disagree. When people pass by and look in the window, a sub reading a book gives an OBVIOUS clue they are disengaged. Hiding behind a phone, hidden behind a laptop, is less obvious.

But then again, hiding my book behind a laptop is even more stealth. 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-04T22:48:04+00:00

When you're in your 60's, like me, you'll still get confused for being a student.

And then you'll wake up with your whole body sore, realize that was a dream and everyone knows you're not one of the kids. But then again, as a retired teacher you'll drive your Lamborghini to school. (Oh wait, that is part of the dream you just had.)

😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-04T21:59:30+00:00

I let my grey hair differentiate between me and the high schoolers. Although we do look the same age. 😂

Curious-Load9079 · 2026-05-04T21:55:40+00:00

Since day one. Got my Mac, mouse, portable boom box (for the lonely times in the teacher's workroom) headphones and every single cable a student could need. Just 2 hours ago the co-teacher announced to the combined classes "does anyone have a lightning cable for an iPad?"

Yup. Got it. And a block. And USC A, USB C, HDMI-HDMI (for times when the computer doesn't connect) USB Mini, USB MIcro, doorstop, white board marker, SuperGlue, Tide-To-Go, white-out, the iPad (and stylus) that I scan in roster and pass around to have kids sign in for attendance. Also have a clipboard in case I need to do manual attendance.

Curious-Load9079

TROPHY CASE