Teachers, well paid?

monique12

New member
Jan 9, 2010
40
6
0
During my 2 week stay in PP, I'm going to be joining a British friend who will be visiting a local school (which she does every year), and dropping off her stash of school supplies and small toys. I am coming with 45 picture books in Spanish. I have a bag of small gifts for the teachers: high-end make up, lipsticks, mascara, beauty creams, earrings, etc.
Are teachers considered well paid?
I am most sincere in my offerings, but I don't want them to be offended, like who is this Canadian with her Santa Claus syndrome.
 

FireGuy

Rest in peace Amigo!
Aug 21, 2002
2,516
74
0
70
www.polaris-fs.com
Teachers (most at public schools) are woefully underpaid. Others can detail the degree of this to inform you as I don't have that level of information.

Gregg
 

Ken

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
13,884
495
83
I assume you are asking about Dominican teachers in Dominican schools.

As FireGuy says, Dominican teachers are very poorly paid. Teachers in private schools for foreign children and children of wealthy Dominicans do much better.

Regarding your gifts, the teachers who receive them will be very pleased. Dominican women are very fashion minded and getting some imported cosmetics, etc, will be a very pleasant surprise for them. Don't worry about offending them, you won't be.
 

Lambada

Gold
Mar 4, 2004
9,478
410
0
80
www.ginniebedggood.com
As Ken2 says, you will not be giving offence by offering your gifts for the teachers. My guess is they will be delighted, because everyone thinks of the children & few think of the teachers. You might want to slip in a couple of items for male teachers, too, unless you already know there aren't any in that school. And thank you for asking first, very thoughtful.
 
May 29, 2006
10,265
200
0
Depending on where the school is they may not even have chalk. Paper and other bare essentials may not exist and many of the rural schools do not even have electricity. Kids go crazy for sparkly pencils and pencil sharpeners. Composition books are also good. A couple red rubber "four square" balls would be great:

Baden_Playground_Balls.gif


Also a $4 board like this needs no paper or pencil. It uses a magnetic stylus to draw:
104B.JPG
They only last a few months in the tropics, but they will be a big hit. Even teachers will use them.

Maybe a school bell for the teacher?
1049.jpg
 

monique12

New member
Jan 9, 2010
40
6
0
thanks for the suggestions of the chalk, bell and magic board, but I've got over $200 worth of Spanish picture books, so I've reached my limit.
 

MaineGirl

The Way Life Should Be...
Jun 23, 2002
1,879
89
0
amity.beane.org
This is very helpful. We are packing some backpacks for some kids at a small school outside of Jarabacoa and these types of suggestions are priceless.We will also make a teacher bag and I think a few additions of cosmetics makes great sense.

Any other good ideas for a "care package" for a student or teacher?
 

bob saunders

Platinum
Jan 1, 2002
32,504
5,932
113
dr1.com
This is very helpful. We are packing some backpacks for some kids at a small school outside of Jarabacoa and these types of suggestions are priceless.We will also make a teacher bag and I think a few additions of cosmetics makes great sense.

Any other good ideas for a "care package" for a student or teacher?

My only advice is that what ever you take, make sure you give the backpacks/school supplies direct to the individual students. It has been our experience that there will not be equal distribution if you give the stuff to the school principal/teachers.
 
May 29, 2006
10,265
200
0
Shoes and socks are always in demand. The shoes don't have to be new and the socks can be from a dollar store. We brought over 50 pairs of used kids shoes with us and they were picked up like candy. Shoes for little kids are important since the kids can get hookworm and other diseases from going around barefoot.

Smiley stickers or a self-inking smiley face stamp(about $7 at Staples) might be nice for the teacher to reward students who are good.

The girls especially like hair ties, ribbons and clasps for braiding their hair.

Rural schools often have serious sanitation issues with their outhouses. I yet to see one with an actual toilet seat. It's usually a hole cut into a piece of plywood directly over a cess pit. If you are going to visit the school over a couple days, you may want to see what can be done to improve things.