Teacher Appreciation

In our opinion, teachers have one of the most difficult jobs on this planet. Not only are they required to teach curriculum (often mandated), but they also fulfill the role of friend, counselor, coach, mediator, disciplinarian, event planner, and sometimes, surrogate parent. With the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder that more teachers than ever are leaving the profession for jobs that are less mentally stressful. So what can we do to help ease the stress of the teachers in our lives? Well, we can appreciate them. As a teacher myself, I know firsthand that a little appreciation goes a long way. Even if you missed Teacher Appreciation Week, there is still time to show the teachers in your life a little extra TLC.  We’ve surveyed some of the best teachers in our area to find out their most and least favorite gifts of all time. 

Least Favorite

1. Mugs 

While most teachers enjoy a good cup of coffee, if they’ve been teaching for a while, chances are they already have a collection of mugs for every day of the year; and the thought of one more is utterly terrifying.  

2. Homemade treats 

Nothing says thank you more than a dish you’ve spent hours cooking, right? Wrong. You never know the dietary restrictions a teacher might have. Opt for something store-bought with a clear nutrition label if you want to go this route.

3. Anything with apples on them 

Don’t let the hype fool you. Contrary to popular belief, teachers are not clamoring for items with apples on them. Some teachers don’t even like apples. 

4. Actual apples

Even though an apple a day keeps the doctor away, I’m guessing, if the teacher likes apples they probably already have some at home. And, you definitely can have too much of a good thing. 

​5. Money

Don’t get me wrong, teachers deserve all the money in the world; but handing your teacher a handful of one-dollar bills is kind of awkward. And I’m sure there is a policy somewhere about taking actual money from parents and students.

Most Favorite

1. Gift Card 

One of the most popular responses to what teachers want is the infamous gift card. You don’t have to put hundreds of dollars on the card, just enough for a cup of coffee or a movie ticket. 

2. Socks 

This one comes directly from the Teal Couch office. We love socks. Everyone’s feet get cold and we haven’t met a teacher yet that doesn’t appreciate a cute pair of socks. 

3. A customized tote 

A teacher can never have too many bags. Period.  

4. Reusable Cup

While a coffee mug might not be the best choice, a reusable cup is always a winner. This is a gift that will be beneficial to coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers alike. 

5. School Supplies

If you didn’t know, most teachers end up spending their own money on supplies for their classrooms and students. Markers, paper, pens, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, etc. are always great gifts. 

This list is by no means exhaustive. In fact, the number one response to what teachers want doesn’t require wracking your brain or spending money. The majority of teachers appreciate heartfelt and meaningful notes or letters written by parents and/or students. A physical gift may be nice, but knowing that you have truly touched the life of a student is priceless. Now, go forth and show that appreciation!  ​

Setting Boundaries in Your Place of Employment

Quiet Quitting: What’s all the Fuss?

Quiet quitting is a relatively new term used to refer to the subtle and delicate balance of having a job without letting said job take over your life. This trend has gained a great deal of popularity as burned-out GenZers and Millenials took to social media to explain why they were no longer over-extending themselves at work, and striving to create more time for mental health. A Gallup poll conducted in 2022, shows that quiet quitters make up more than half of the US workforce. And apparently, it is driving some folks quite mad; to the point of asking these quiet quitters to just quit already. 

After hearing people discuss this new trend, specifically in the field of higher education, I can sort of see both sides. A survey by LLC.org shows that 62% percent of employees find the quiet quitting trend annoying, with another 57% stating they’ve had to take on more work because their colleagues decided to do less. To many, the idea of quiet quitting means shirking your professional responsibilities and just coasting from paycheck to paycheck, but for others, quiet quitting is a way to protect mental health and work-life balance. This begs the question, is quiet quitting ethical? 

To answer this question, we must first look at the context behind this new vocabulary word. According to The Atlantic, “when a phrase takes off, it's often because the new words fill a space of uncertainty...A lot of workers are seeking an efficient way to describe the colliding pressures of wanting to be financially secure, but not wanting to let work take over their life…” If we look at the definition of trend provided by NPR, we see, “a trend is a prevailing tendency that is gradually gaining momentum and might have long-term implications.” But, quiet quitting is not something new. Every year, Gallup asks thousands of Americans about their commitment to their job. As you can see from the chart below, from 2010 to 2020, workplace engagement actually increased. The slight decline that you see in 2022 is still higher than it was in any year from 2000 to 2014. 

It may be safe to say that ‘quiet quitting’ has always been a thing, people simply didn’t talk about it before. This new, but old, phenomenon has only become a trend because burned-out workers are desperate for fresh vocabulary to describe their feelings. Are there people who will and have abused quiet quitting to do the bare minimum? Yes. But are there people who have been putting their all into a workplace that doesn’t value them, support them, encourage them, or make them feel heard; who are delicately hanging on to their mental health by a thread and deciding to put themselves first by abandoning the perfectionist lifestyle and seeking a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives? Yes! And putting yourself first is not unethical. 

Trends are usually born because they satisfy some type of basic need; and quiet quitting is no different. Emily Nagoski, co-author of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, puts it very simply, “Workers throughout history have found the strength to detach their senses of self-worth from working conditions that are unreasonable, to do their jobs…The revelation for lots of folks is discovering that they have the option to change how they approach their work, that they are not obligated to burn themselves out.” The word ‘quit’ will always have a negative connotation, but if we reframe quiet quitting as fighting against exploitative work practices by setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, and prioritizing our mental health, it’s really not up for debate.