DEAR MISS MANNERS: My youngster’s faculty is having a workers appreciation week, which isn’t a nasty concept, given the trouble they put in and the way they improve our youngsters’ lives.
What strikes me as extraordinarily gauche, nonetheless, is that it’s organized and run by the college, whereas asking dad and mom to contribute.
This looks like the form of factor that folks ought to manage in the event that they need to, reasonably than being pressured into it by the college. If the administration needs to do it themselves, then they need to fund it.
As an alternative, here’s what we’re advised to do:
First day: Ship form phrases/thanks.
Second day: Ship sugary treats.
Third day: Purchase one thing from their want lists.
Fourth day: Employees get a particular Mexican luncheon whereas dad and mom cowl classroom duties. (Bear in mind, college students have been making an attempt for months to get the standard of meals within the cafeteria improved, whereas the workers claims there isn’t any want.)
Fifth day: Ship a trainer’s favourite snacks and drinks to inventory their fridge.
It comes throughout like, “Hey, aren’t we great? Buy us stuff and tell us how great we are!” And so they ship reminders each day. Cheesy.
Do lecturers and college workers deserve good issues? Yep. However this isn’t the way in which to go about it, for my part.
GENTLE READER: Then why haven’t you organized the dad and mom to point out your appreciation for the workers in a correct style?
You needn’t do it with sugary treats — or, for that matter, ineffective apple-themed objects. Letters of thanks, by all means. Bonuses, if doable. And help in procuring no matter faculty provides the workers wants.
However you also needs to study out of your distaste in regards to the reminders: Alert different dad and mom, however don’t stress them. Miss Manners cautions you that you simply have no idea their monetary conditions, even when you suppose you do.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I hosted a relative over the winter. Whereas in my residence, she complained about my furnishings being uncomfortable, and needed me to buy at the least a number of items through which she might sit comfortably.
There have been some ways through which I accommodated her. For example, she complained the mattress was uncomfortable, so I bought a foam pad so as to add to the mattress. She complained the bed room was too sizzling, so I bought a desk fan for her. She significantly complained in regards to the eating room chairs throughout meals, however I didn’t suppose a bigger chair would have labored on the desk. (I’ve a really small consuming space.)
Was I incorrect for refusing to buy extra furnishings for her?
GENTLE READER: As an alternative of shopping for her a home she would possibly like higher?
Miss Manners needn’t be reminded that one ought to make one’s visitors comfy. However there are limits. And there’s an equal obligation for houseguests to do their greatest to place up with what they discover.
You’ll have been justified in apologizing that you simply had been unable to regulate your whole home to make her comfy, and to supply to establish a resort that might accomplish that for the remainder of her keep.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, gentlereader@missmanners.com; or via postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
