Teacher gift collection

Purpleturtle45 · 2023-12-21T06:36:59+00:00

Every year I organise a collection at Christmas and Summer for my kids teachers and usually buy vouchers for somewhere nice. I always make it very clear that any amount is welcome and of course only donate if you want to. Some parents might want to do their own thing, or nothing which is their decision. Most parents are very grateful for this as it gives them one less thing to do and they probably get away with donating less for a joint present than they would trying buy something themselves for £5-£10. It has come to my attention though that some local authorities are banning this due to cost of living and parents potentially feeling under pressure do donate. Wondering people's thoughts on this? I think people should be allowed to make their own choices on this and think a ban would be very unreasonable. YANBU- Collections are fine as long as there is no pressure/set amount YABU- Collections should be banned

Workworkandmoreworknow · 23/12/2023 21:49

Yes I already knew that teachers are the most prolific posters on MN. Busy much?

I finished for Xmas last week. Do I need your permission to post on mumsnet now?

I find it in bad taste for teachers to post on this thread advocating class collections

Of course you do. How dare we have opinions about things which affect us. And how dare we point out the flaws in arguments when yet again, it is something which affects us.

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 20:24

Workworkandmoreworknow · 23/12/2023 20:16

Ha. Hilarious. Hedge your bets.

I am a teacher. One of the thousands seeking an exit. And I should add, a damned good teacher in a shortage subject. There is no way I will be easily replaced, if at all. Two excellent schools local to me failed to recruit last academic year in my subject. It is a worrying trend.

Children giving a small gift to a teacher to show their appreciation is hardly a tip. It doesn’t improve the service, likewise the anticipation of a gift won’t change the attitude of a teacher towards the children they are working with. What do you suggest, that children who wish to express their appreciation with a gift have it returned to them? Or are told not to gift at all? I mean I think in the current climate, many teachers would prefer a blanket ‘no gift’ policy but the understanding of that for individual children might be difficult. And unfortunately not every child has the means with which to make a card at home either.

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Yes I already knew that teachers are the most prolific posters on MN. Busy much?

I find it in bad taste for teachers to post on this thread advocating class collections.

Workworkandmoreworknow · 23/12/2023 20:16

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 19:29

Should you even be on that group if you’re not a teacher?

If you are a teacher do you think it’s appropriate to be tipped?

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Ha. Hilarious. Hedge your bets.

I am a teacher. One of the thousands seeking an exit. And I should add, a damned good teacher in a shortage subject. There is no way I will be easily replaced, if at all. Two excellent schools local to me failed to recruit last academic year in my subject. It is a worrying trend.

Children giving a small gift to a teacher to show their appreciation is hardly a tip. It doesn’t improve the service, likewise the anticipation of a gift won’t change the attitude of a teacher towards the children they are working with. What do you suggest, that children who wish to express their appreciation with a gift have it returned to them? Or are told not to gift at all? I mean I think in the current climate, many teachers would prefer a blanket ‘no gift’ policy but the understanding of that for individual children might be difficult. And unfortunately not every child has the means with which to make a card at home either.

Thementalloadisreal · 23/12/2023 20:05

I know my previous post compared it to one, but the people calling it a “tip” are being crass. It’s not a teacher tip, its a gift to show thanks and gratitude for caring for and educating your small child every day (usually under difficult circumstances)

nameychangio675 · 23/12/2023 19:59

LetItGoHome · 21/12/2023 07:56

It should be banned.
It is totally unnecessary. Regardless of organisers insisting it's voluntary it does put pressure on parents and highlights differences in families. It gets arranged twice yearly in my children's school and I hate it.
The passive aggressive reminders on the class WhatsApp make me cringe. It's meant to be voluntary but I think it is vile. People should just be left to give what they see fit, if anything.
I wish it were banned in my children's school 👍

I agree. The same people always did it for Xmas and end of year in my son’s class and they’d ask for a set amount, for that reason only I opted out on principle. £15 each. Which to some is a lot. It also pissed me off that they got the kids to do a little message and picture for the card and went on and on about it in the WhatsApp so anyone not doing it was left out.

I always give a card and sometimes some chocs and put a personal thank you in about why the teacher has helped my dc.

One year a parent posted in the WhatsApp the parent’s name and the amount they’d put in, naming and shaking someone who had accidentally put the “wrong” amount in.

whataweirdo · 23/12/2023 19:44

The worst I've had is when the office staff let the parents in during the school day so the parents can present the gift in front of the children. I've had it where the children who have donated have all made a picture for a class book and the poor little children who didn't contribute get upset and dont understand why they weren't included.
When that has happened, I let them add their names to the card and add one of their pictures to the book.

It's very thoughtful when parents are generous but please please don't allow those who can't afford to contribute feel bad.

Also, I secured a new job out of teaching this week. Lower pay, much less annual leave but means I can afford to go on holiday at cheaper times of the year, and a greater work/life balance. I can't wait to leave!

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 19:29

Workworkandmoreworknow · 23/12/2023 14:17

The 100k+ members of a leave teaching Facebook group (that's about a quarter of current teachers) are not finding the loss of holiday time some kind of impediment to leaving the profession.

You should speak to your child's headteacher. How many adults put in front of classes on a daily basis are qualified? I think many parents would.be shocked at an honest response.

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Should you even be on that group if you’re not a teacher?

If you are a teacher do you think it’s appropriate to be tipped?

Sceptre86 · 23/12/2023 19:11

I'm not a fan but then I didn't grow up with this being a thing at my school. The watsapp groups do put pressure on people, even if it's unintended as do the reminders.

I remember writing a letter and giving a bunch of flowers to one of my primary school teachers when she retired.

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 19:00

*I'm also a primary teacher and often get vouchers and I would never treat children differently because I didn't get a gift from their family nor would anyone I work with.^

Have you ever spoken to your colleagues and mgt. to discuss asking parents not to do this and/or telling parents it is inappropriate to tip you?

avocadotofu · 23/12/2023 15:26

DS is in reception and a very low key collection was organised. There was absolutely no pressure and the mum who organised it was lovely. It was so much easier than getting lots of separate gifts.

I'm also a primary teacher and often get vouchers and I would never treat children differently because I didn't get a gift from their family nor would anyone I work with.

Shinyandnew1 · 23/12/2023 15:05

quitefranklyabsurd · 23/12/2023 14:37

Is this actually a thing though? Do you have proof? The LA has no where near the amount of authority that it once used to over LA schools and none over private/accademies.

No, I don’t think so. Unless the OP has linked to something that I’ve missed.

quitefranklyabsurd · 23/12/2023 14:37

Is this actually a thing though? Do you have proof? The LA has no where near the amount of authority that it once used to over LA schools and none over private/accademies.

Workworkandmoreworknow · 23/12/2023 14:17

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 22/12/2023 16:45

Leave if you don’t like it. Simple. Think you’d miss the annual leave though!

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The 100k+ members of a leave teaching Facebook group (that's about a quarter of current teachers) are not finding the loss of holiday time some kind of impediment to leaving the profession.

You should speak to your child's headteacher. How many adults put in front of classes on a daily basis are qualified? I think many parents would.be shocked at an honest response.

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 12:45

all they have to do is work 60+ hours a week and experience constant abuse from teenagers and their parents

Your argument is moot.. How many teens go to primary schools? . It is rare/never for collections to take place outside of primary school.

Ronaldoronalda · 23/12/2023 09:54

I mind them less than the birthday party collections. I was constantly being asked in front of DD to pay into collections for parties that she hadn’t been invited to. Once it was for her teacher’s DD’s party and all of the kids apart from a couple had been invited. That left a really bad taste in my mouth and I never paid into a collection for a child or a teacher again.

Shinyandnew1 · 23/12/2023 09:27

Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

Yet there is still a massive recruitment and retention problem in teaching!

I like giving my children’s teacher a gift/contribution at the end of the year/Xmas. I can’t see that choice will ever be removed
from parents, tbh.

edwardcullensotherwoman · 23/12/2023 01:34

I think if done properly it's a great idea, personally I've never felt pressured to contribute and collections are much cheaper than buying individual gifts for 2-3 members of staff per class.
A limit on what gift value might be a good thing though, as sometimes it can run into hundreds if it's a large class (one of my DC was in a class of 44!) and I think as a teacher I'd feel a bit awkward accepting a gift that large.

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 23/12/2023 01:22

RandomButtons · 22/12/2023 22:22

Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

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Same. Shocking isn't it. Teacher's earning so well yet leaving in droves. Teacher shortages meaning so many children are being educated by anyone with a heartbeat (not that the school will divulge that your child has an unqualified teacher/covet supervisor/any adult with clear dbs but zero qualifications).

I mean, who wouldn't snap up that opportunity to earn £30-£50k + 13 weeks holiday if all they have to do is work 60+ hours a week and experience constant abuse from teenagers and their parents + try to achieve the unachievable thanks to unreasonable targets.

Happilyobtuse · 22/12/2023 22:37

TeacherCollection · 22/12/2023 09:46

@Happilyobtuse are they on a low income though? Starting salary is 30k and they do also get all the extra holiday so if they have their own children they won’t need to pay for childcare in those times?

Well 30K doesn’t go that far these days does it?! I am currently between jobs but usually earn about double that. I don’t grudge the teacher a nice present at Christmas time, it is a tough job and takes tons of patience I am sure! Also I love giving gifts, it gives me joy to see others happy. I know the teachers at my child’s school were definitely happy with the gift vouchers. So much better than receiving endless mugs and candles! This way they can buy something they actually want or need. I think Christmas is a time to appreciate people in our lives, I am not Christian, this is my interpretation. I do that by buying gifts, doing good deeds and cooking food for those I appreciate, love or care about.

RandomButtons · 22/12/2023 22:22

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 13:02

I think what people tend to mean is that for a degree level job the pay is low.

This is why teacher retention is in crisis now as teachers know the pay isn’t terrible and they have extended holidays but now the workload is so bad and conditions and funding in schools is so poor that it’s a very challenging job and then you’re working at least 60 hour weeks and still working some of the holidays too (if you’re doing the job well).

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Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

SatanClaws · 22/12/2023 17:50

Wouldyouguess · 22/12/2023 16:42

This is what I fiund laughable (and insulting)- that people make up this whole theory teachers treat kids differently based if they give a gift or not. it's so incredibly patronising, and the fact that Martin Lewis even felt to make a post about it. It's just another argument to use to bash teachers and b*tch about the same "they do nothing anyways so why would we even consider gifting anything at all".

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Problem is we know it's not the majority of teachers but equally we know which teachers it is. We also know the main source of pressure is other parents, strangely the ones who are themselves teachers...

Starabella · 22/12/2023 17:36

Last year, I wasn't in the position to contribute as the organiser was stating £10 from everyone. They then didn't let my son sign the card and actively passed it round the playground at pick up and just ignored him! I thought it was really mean and he was old enough to feel really bad.

This year I am in a better position but just ignored her message requesting money and have purchased a nice scented candle that cost me only £5 and my son has made a card.

I don't begrudge the teacher it all, but I don't appreciate the demands for money and almost being looked down upon for not contributing. The person who organises ours no longers talks to me!

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 17:04

Oh wow! I wasn’t expecting you to say that!
It’s always split as the same amount at my school as everyone values the TAs so much! Especially the teachers! I’d hate my TA to be given less than me as she’s amazing and I couldn’t be without her.

forgivingfiggy · 22/12/2023 17:01

@IgnoranceNotOk The teacher was given quite substantially more than the TA(s). As in half the donations given to the teacher and the other half divided between 3 TAs. Just felt off to me.

Rubyupbeat · 22/12/2023 16:53

My Mum taught on traveller sites, she became very accepted. Christmas time was ridiculous with the really expensive presents she was given. Dinner services worth a fortune, a gold rolex from one family. She felt very uncomfortable about this, we are talking over 40 years ago ,but the local authority said she must accept otherwise it could damage the trust they had in her.
At her funeral many of her traveller students turned up and it was so lovely to hear their stories about her.