<p>As a public high school counselor, I have to disagree with journey919. The same handful of teachers at our school are asked to write the majority of recommendations and they carve out many hours of their personal lives on weekends and in the evenings to write meaningful letters. Just receiving a thank you note is huge, and not the norm. I’ve started reminding students to thank their teachers during the process, but most of them don’t do anything other than a verbal thanks. I think that writing thank you notes is one of those “common courtesy” skills that is going by the wayside in the era of electronic communication. So thank you to all of you parents who do encourage your students to make the effort to write a note! Gifts are secondary to the written words.</p>
<p>My mother was a teacher for nearly 40 years and would agree with you lotsofquestions. The things she loved, and I’ve found a treasure trove of them clearing out her house, were handwritten cards and letters from her students. Even 15 years after her retirement, some would still call or write to her. Many attended her funeral.</p>
<p>Thank you notes optional? Maybe for some teachers, but they mean the world to others. Send them anyway.</p>
<p>Saxophone girl: Perfect!</p>
<p>hmmmm i have a question… im actually a high school student and was thinking about writing all of my teacher thank you notes and baking them some cookies. Just as an end-of-the year
appreciation thing. Would that be appropriate? btw, I love all of my teachers, so I really do want to do something for them.</p>
<p>Yes, lionsrcute3, what you’re considering would be appropriate.</p>
<p>“Thank you notes optional? Maybe for some teachers, but they mean the world to others. Send them anyway.”</p>
<p>I treasure the ones I received from students whom I taught when I was a college prof. I also treasure hearing from students whom I taught A few after they graduated became close friends, too.</p>
<p>… And an update: The teacher who had said “thanks, but no thanks” broke into first smiles, then tears when the kids presented him with eight rolls of duct tape in assorted colors (smiles) and a small plaque with a meaningful quote from Plato (tears). It wasn’t the stuff, of course, but the sentiment and the way it was presented. I think what he’ll remember this time next year is being smothered in a group hug by 30-some-odd choir kids.</p>
<p>So much for “thanks but no thanks.” ;)</p>