Parents protested school “extortions” on March 8: no money

Previously, teachers were given vases, flowers and sweets for any occasion, and even more so on March 8th. But now – not those times. Webcams, speakers, wireless headphones, certificates for perfume – a welcome gift for a female teacher, and not some kind of brooms. But it’s all worth it, of course…

Although more than 30% of Russians do not recognize the “Women’s Day”, considering it discriminatory, and 22% do not remember where it came from, every year and regularly they donate “for tea” at school and for gifts to teachers. However, this year, many financial obligations can not afford.

“We have an indefatigable parent committee,” says Alevtina from Moscow, the mother of a 10-year-old schoolgirl. – That is, I want to emphasize that this is a parental initiative. We are constantly throwing ourselves into something – to exhibitions, cinemas, theaters and so on. But despite the fact that at the beginning of the year they collected 5500 at once, and there were 32 people in the class, there is always not enough money. There is a supplement – 150 rubles each, 350 rubles each … There is a group of parents who are tired of all this. Therefore, now, when the activists on March 8 again arranged an additional collection of funds “for tea for children” – 900 rubles from the nose, we rebelled. After all, 900 multiplied by 30 is 27 thousand rubles: the children will be in the Metropol, or what, have tea? .. It turned out that with the participation of previously collected funds for the class teacher, a gold pendant on a chain was bought. Not only are they spending our money behind our backs, but it is also illegal! As I heard, state employees can only give souvenirs of small value. Anything else is considered a bribe.

Monitoring of parental and teacher publics showed that the “law on bribes” before March 8 is hardly observed. Young teachers want a webcam, USB headphones, the same drive or flash drive as a gift, at worst. The middle generation will not refuse not only a perfume, but also a massage certificate. The teachers and stationery are happy, which leave them at a frantic pace. By the way, many parents are sure that some kind of stationery with a name inscription or an attribute of the March 8 holiday is the best gift this year. Regarding traditional cakes, chocolate and flowers, many teachers write evasively, they say, it would not be necessary. And some, quite definitely, are walking around about “two dozen brooms, and what should I do with them.” At the same time, every female teacher eventually gathers a personal collection of unnecessary and inappropriate gifts from students or parents on March 8th.

“Yes, sometimes they give something very original,” says primary school teacher Lidia Leonidova, a teacher with 38 years of experience. – In very old times, there was a case – a construction helmet was presented. In recent years, homemade sweets and pastries have sometimes been given away. I remember a luxurious kulebyaka with mushrooms, I remember delicious homemade potato cakes. Well, it’s probably not very hygienic… But I gladly accepted it. And once an 8th grader gave me a framed collage of me as Claudia Schiffer. It turned out funny, I still keep it in the country. Another from the original – last year’s graduating class ordered an art doll for me from a craftswoman. They found out that I collect dolls. In general, I am always pleased to receive from children even a bag of seeds (there was such a thing) or a set for sprouting grass. Yes, there is a problem of too expensive gifts. I try to be gentle with it. That boy, it turned out, spent money on perfume that his relatives gave him. I took the perfume, but explained to him that it was no longer necessary to do this, explained why, what gifts were appropriate for teachers. But adults, if they try so hard – perfume, gold and diamonds (and this happened), I don’t take it. Moms and dads should already know what to give and what not to.

– The Civil Code specifies the maximum amount of a gift for an employee of an educational organization – 3,000 rubles, – says lawyer Stanislav Popov. – In theory, it is impossible to make gifts above this amount. But in the context of current prices, it turns out – either to present flowers, or some kind of souvenir is completely trifling …

But personal gifts are not limited by any such framework. Boys in schools on March 8 sometimes try to make gifts to classmates. Not for everyone, of course, but for those to whom the heart lies … Everything that is in use among teenagers is in fashion: backpacks, sweatshirts, desktops, personal diaries, pillows with anime print. If the parents’ pocket, as well as their generosity, allow, then the gifts are more serious: lamps or other accessories for video blogging, speakers “with Alice”, web projectors. On the other hand, even the cheapest gift option for a girl – “bombs” for the bathroom, a piggy bank, a key chain – is not available to every student. A recent study showed that 11% of parents in Russia do not give money for personal expenses to teenagers aged 15-17. Here, either make a present with your own hands, or save. Or go to earn extra money – after 14 years the law allows.