Teachers presents - class gift

Firstly, it’s payday this week…I’d wait until after that!
Secondly, do all the parents definitely know? I was the mum that was never at the school gate (work) and not in the WhatsApp group (by choice - a million messages a week!) and I often heard about things after the event!
Finally, if the parent specifically declines, I wouldn’t include their name, but if there’s a chance they can’t afford it (or never knew!) then be kind.
PS I always did teacher gifts, just didn’t realise there was a class effort elsewhere…I wasn’t the only one not in it, either!

Just ask the people who contributed to sign the card. I'm sure you'll get more in the next month but maybe some prefer to contribute their own gift.

I have never understood how this became such a thing. Card, fine. Teachers are public servants, like civil servants etc. Most public service organisations frown on gifts from the public - mine used to have a “hospitality register” where any gift/gratuity from a member of the public had to be recorded to make sure we were not providing preferential treatment to service users. I had to record box of apple turnovers handed in as a thank you on one occasion 🤣🤣. Some teachers’ gifts are pretty extravagant, and as an earlier poster mentioned the aggressive class collection can be an issue too - also support staff get nothing! It always seemed a bit bum licky TBH. I did always buy the card and bottle of plonk when my child attended primary but it was pure peer pressure, seeing all the kids streaming in with gift bags and bouquets I didn’t want mine to feel left out.

Reading some of the responses it does sound as though these are school policy decisions, or maybe PTA/Class Rep decisions with the tacit knowledge of the school.

DRFT but had to comment on this by pp: "there's just something about it, the expectation."

I have worked in schools for over twenty years. Leafy middle class village schools, those in deprived areas, large, small, high level of SEN...a real range. Not once in any of the schools has there ever been this thing I read about it on Mumsnet of "the class gift" to a teacher. A few individual families have chosen to make things or give a token gift, but it's certainly not the organised malarkey I read about on here.

Any expectations come firmly from the PFA and traditions for that school (ie the parents) - and, of course, guilt about not doing the correct thing or keeping, up with the Joneses which is fuelled by publicity through this kind of post and online articles about what to get the teachers for Christmas.

School staff expect nothing, on the whole. Anything is a pleasant bonus - which is something we don't get btw.

Thank you I thought so.

Its the parent's decision not to add his name to the card.

Not the organisers. The parents. His parents have been quite vocal in saying they do not think they need to contribute to the teacher's pay packet which is what they view contributing to collections as doing.

From reading the teacher's comments, here it will mean he will get special attention from them in the classroom so it benefits him if anything. Perhaps that is his parent's intention.

And that's the poor child's fault HOW??? You all sound like a horrendous bunch of stuck up tw@s

250-400 for a Xmas gift for teachers are you bonkers !

As a teacher, I would despise you. I would ask that child to participate in any extra curricular activities I was running, just to make up for their parents’ lack of wealth and their communities lack of compassion.

If you think having two parents as solicitors means they are poor - go ahead and offer their kids everything for free. Their parents will gladly accept.

That actually is a very nice idea.

You leave out one child’s name?!

As a teacher, I would despise you. I would ask that child to participate in any extra curricular activities I was running, just to make up for their parents’ lack of wealth and their communities lack of compassion.

Donate it all to the food bank in the year group's name. Job done

As a teacher, I’ve kept very few of the gifts and mostly repurposed them. However, I still have many of the cards with meaningful messages written in them.

The gifts are ‘meh’ - the words mean the world.

As a teacher, I would absolutely hate a gift with a few names on it. I spend all my working life trying to ensure no kids are left out or left behind because of family circumstances. I’d rather it was from everyone and I couldn’t give a toss whose parents coughed up and whose didn’t. That’s a parent thing and is nothing to do with the teacher the gift is for.

Also, give the lion’s share to the TAs. They would make more money working for Amazon or Aldi - so give where it is needed most.

I’m a teacher and no, I wouldn’t. Please don’t give us endless boxes of chocolates. The card is nice - write something really meaningful in it.

Charity shops are foodbanks know they will do well in January from unwanted teacher gifts. Good for those needing a foodbank that chocolates and treats will be available.

This is how it’s always been in our class collections. I think it’s the correct way to do it.

My DC made a Christmas card for his teacher a couple of years ago. He came out of school very upset that he saw it in the bin. He took it out and gave ut back to her saying it had fallen in by mistake. When he walked past the bin again, the card was there again. I have to admit I begrudgingly gave the fiver to her summer collection. If I had decided not to contribute, I would not have wanted his name on the class card. I realise that is passive aggressive but it is how I felt.

Oh my goodness please people stop giving £5 and £10 to teacher collections. It's too much. You don't have to. I don't expect it, no teacher does.
I spend that on my nieces and nephews it's not necessary for someone just doing their job.

I appreciate the collection being done for DC’s classes as it’s much easier to put in a tenner than to go and buy something myself.

Would not at all be bothered if the card is signed ‘from Year x’ rather than just from
those who contributed.

Why is this such an overwrought process.

Do it from the class. You're overthinking it.

Pain in the arse maybe, but clearly some people would be petty enough to do it!!!

A teacher who helped my son with extra reading practice once needed to have her teaching observed for some qualification, and she asked if my son could be one of the students that was observed. It was a bit of a faff, because I had to drive him to another school to do it, but I was happy to help and she was very grateful that we were there. Anyway, afterwards she gave me a small gift as a thank you (as well as saying thank you obviously). The gift was an oil burner thing with "world's best teacher" written on it. I am not a teacher! It was clearly something she'd received as a Christmas/end of year gift and did not really care for. I later donated it to our school's Christmas store (families donate items, kids buy them as hifts for family members for v. small amounts, the proceeds go towards school activities), and now I'm wondering if that thing is going round and round in perpetuity...

A teacher who helped my son with extra reading practice once needed to have her teaching observed for some qualification, and she asked if my son could be one of the students that was observed. It was a bit of a faff, because I had to drive him to another school to do it, but I was happy to help and she was very grateful that we were there. Anyway, afterwards she gave me a small gift as a thank you (as well as saying thank you obviously). The gift was an oil burner thing with "world's best teacher" written on it. I am not a teacher! It was clearly something she'd received as a Christmas/end of year gift and did not really care for. I later donated it to our school's Christmas store, and now I'm wondering if that thing is going round and round in perpetuity...