Most mere mortals would cringe at the thought of another clay palm print. Not teachers. A deep, almost saintly, appreciation for things made by children, flaws and all, seems to be part of the job description. But then, what parent wouldn't sympathize?

Here are a few gifts that teachers still treasure, years later:

THE CLASS RECIPE BOOK

"My class made a recipe book one year--they all contributed a favorite family dish and made them into a book. I still use it. I also love a child's school photo in a handmade, decorated frame. One child made me a bowl on her father's pottery wheel. I have potpourri in it right now, 20 years later."
--Billie Lewis, second-grade teacher for 28 years, Ocean City, New Jersey

A CULTURAL ICON

"It's wonderful to receive gifts that represent a child's culture. One of my South American students gave me a gourd with a little folk-art nativity scene inside--it was just beautiful, and I had never seen anything like it before."
--Barbara Kiefer, associate professor at Teachers' College, New York

A PLANT CUTTING

"Parents from some cultures feel they need to give an expensive gift--I've had parents buy me a new dress, and then I had to convince them to take it back. The best gifts are simple ones, such as a cutting of a plant from home (repotted for the teacher), a bouquet of tissue-paper and pipe-cleaner flowers, or a Popsicle-stick picture frame."
--Terri Rosegrant, kindergarten teacher, Glen Carlyn Elementary School, Arlington, Virginia

A PHOTO ALBUM

"My favorite gift is a book put together by the class, with snapshots of all the children and their thoughts on what is special about their school and teacher. It's priceless."
--Pam Stephens, director of La Canada Community Center Preschool, La Canada, California