BUCHAREST, Romania—Education authorities on Friday fired a teacher who was filmed aggressively demanding gifts from students in a case that has made headlines in Romania, where it is customary to give presents to teachers.





However, in recent years, gift-giving to teachers has become more extravagant and competitive, especially at schools in well-heeled urban areas.

Blandu was filmed telling parents she was collecting money for Christmas gifts for security guards and cleaning staff at the school and mocked the traditional gift of "a packet of coffee and a bar of chocolate."

She called parents "sheep," "potatoes" and "poor." She told one parent. "I really don't know whether you are just poor or uncouth," adding that parents should prepare for the next round of gift-giving at Easter.

When a parent who secretly recorded her complained, she retorted: "This is a school for snobs," and said that gift-giving was part of the "Romanian, Balkan state system."