Story on teacher gifts was insensitive

To the editor: Rarely do I respond to newspaper articles, but upon reading your Dec. 16th story on “Not So Great Gifts (For Teachers) I felt compelled to do so. Had the focus of your article been limited to memorable gifts that teachers have received over the years, it would have been both newsworthy and heartwarming. Unfortunately, however, your article portrayed members of my profession as both greedy and avaricious and also insulted those of limited means who present teachers with sincere, “from the heart,” dollar store gifts. To be fair, some of the teachers who responded to your survey provided you with ample ammunition. In a sincere effort to help those individuals discover the true meaning of the holiday season, I offer the following suggestions: 1. When presented with Christmas ornaments, feel a sense of gratitude as opposed to insult. Perhaps this can be a perfect time to teach your students about your religion and present them with a symbol of your culture. 2. Do not expect Christmas cards to contain gift certificates to restaurants. Perhaps you could feel the sense of “excitement” that you desire by donating some items to your local food pantry. 3. Regarding receiving a $1.99 picture frame from Ames ... how dare you react in such a manner. I hardly think that the parent left the price tag on to “impress” you. Perhaps you need to inform your students that the only gifts that you will accept must come from high end department stores. Gifts that are given from the heart are neither, as your paper so insensitively stated, clutter nor junk. I, for one, feel truly blessed to receive any items, broken or otherwise, adorned with the words “World’s Best Teacher.” A partially used jar of red paint with a $1.99 price tag from Ames would be equally well received. Happy holidays to all. Peter Nastasi of Monroe and North Rockland High School teacher