Christmas and a Sense of Entitlement

My husband and I constantly struggle to try and teach our kids about the danger of feeling entitled. I should preface this short criticism by saying that my husband is a middle school teacher and we have benefited from the generosity of parents over the years. I have chosen to volunteer my time for the past 7 years in my children's classrooms and other activities. The teachers work hard and are paid minimal salaries for their true efforts especially considering their immense responsibility. I am eternally grateful to each of them. However, as a room mother it is my responsibility to organize the parents not only for parties and activities, but also for the gift giving to the teachers. I have always enjoyed this until I realized that teachers have come to expect the generosity of parents as if they are entitled. Don't get me wrong, they always write their wonderful thankyou notes and show such gratitude. My criticism comes from the subtle messages that they send to the parents about their expectation of receiving a gift. For example, my daughter brought a letter home yesterday from a teacher. It was a wonderful gesture, she wanted the children to bring in a new teddy bear to be donated to children in the hospital. However, my criticism comes from the last line in BOLD letters in which she wrote "Please let the teddy bear be my gift from you this year". Decoded it means that she expected a gift in the first place. She didn't preface by saying that IF you planned on getting her a gift then please..... Instead she eluded to her own sense of entitlement. Another example, is the letter that room moms are responsible for sending out to the parents which includes exactly what the teachers would like to receive as gifts. Most put down a gift card and the particular restaurant or store they love. Then I hear from the lead room mom that she has gotten several emails from the receptionist at our school showing concern for the lack of gifts to certain teachers. She has also gotten emails from the teachers themselves asking to be adopted by lower grade levels. It is a well known fact that kindergarten parents are far more generous than 5th grade parents. Mostly because in 5th grade they have 4 teachers versus one. I was shocked to hear this. How sad that teachers have forgotten the true meaning of the holidays. Religion isn't even allowed in the schools, yet they believe that they should get gifts for this time of year. I should also add that I am also going to school to become a teacher, and I hope that I will never forget how it can be interpreted by parents.