Lynda Loveland: Hitting them when they're down

Teacher Appreciation Day is coming up in May and this year may be very different than last. The Wake County School System is reviewing their teacher gift policy.

It sounds like it started innocently enough. The policy is vague and they’re trying to define it a little better. But it may end up being a big pain in the rear for a lot of people. The review may result in a dollar limit set on personal gifts and a ban on gift cards as personal gifts, emphasis on “may." It’s not a done deal.

First of all, I’m not worried about someone trying to buy influence with a teacher. Really?

Secondly, gift cards allow a parent to give a teacher exactly what they want. If that's how I want to say thank you for educating my child than so be it! I can only imagine the backlog of candles, fake apple items, chocolate, bath supplies and coffee mugs that teachers must have at home.

Maybe part of this review is about parent’s feeling pressure to give teachers something. Pressure??? IF there’s any pressure, it’s to give something monetary to the teachers because they don’t get paid squat! North Carolina ranks 46th overall in teacher pay, 46th!

Did I miss something or are our teachers responsible for educating our next generation of leaders? Here’s an idea, let’s freeze teacher pay for a few years, cut down on assistants and take away extra compensation for acquiring higher education. Oh wait, that looks familiar. I think I saw that listed as the definition for insanity!

There’s a much bigger issue to be addressed than whether or not teachers can get gift cards. I tell you what, if teachers get a raise, a significant one, I won’t buy them a gift card. Deal?

Disclaimer: I realize teacher pay is decided by the state and not the Wake County School System. I’m just highlighting a bigger issue.