DEAR ABBY: I am a teacher. I love my job, and I love my students. However, as I near the end of my 26th year of teaching, there’s something I need to get off my chest. At the end of every school year, many parents ask me to write a personal note to their student as an inscription in a certain children’s book. They request this of all of their kids’ teachers, then give the book as a graduation gift. It’s a cute idea, but what it amounts to is a large stack of paperwork at a time of the school year when I’m already drowning in paperwork.
I’m writing this to say publicly: Please stop! Parents, I love your kids, and I did my best to teach them and make sure they had a wonderful year. I tried to instill in them a passion for learning and a love of reading. I also helped them to navigate tricky social situations and move forward as wiser people. I am not saying this to pat myself on the back, I’m doing it to let you know I have ALREADY given your kids my all. Before you demand that I perform an extra task for you, multiply that task by 25 and imagine what that means for me at an extremely stressful and busy time of year. If you appreciate what I did for your child, please show your appreciation by NOT laying extra work on me at the end of the school year. Thanks, Abby. — ALREADY OVERWHELMED IN NEW YORK
DEAR ALREADY OVERWHELMED: I’m printing your letter to parents, however, some of them may miss my column today. That is why I am suggesting that the answer to your problem may be as simple as sending a message IN ADVANCE to these well-meaning parents, reminding them that this is a stressful time of year for you and please not to ask.
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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