Teachers don’t want Thank You Teacher gifts

I've been a teacher for nearly ten years and I actually love the teacher mugs...we have lots in the staff room and after a particularly hard day we all love getting a cuppa with an encouraging phrase on before starting the 2-3hours work after the kids have left for the day.
It makes a difference.
That said, I never demand or expect the gifts, its just nice to be nice. I give gifts to my own children's teachers, because I know how hard they work and that they really care.

In all my years of teaching I always appreciated any gifts I received from my pupils. I always worked in very deprived areas so the gifts were modest but always meant the world to me. During my career I only met one teacher (she was a hard faced cow) who chucked all the gifts she received in her classroom cupboard and buggered off for the summer holidays. Every other teacher I ever worked with was very appreciative of any gifts they received.The only time I ever received an expensive gift was from the pupil whose parents were well known criminals!

Woah I'm a teacher and if someone got me echo falls berries I would be a happy bunny as its my favourite

Thats a really rude way of putting it. Teachers moan so much about their jobs that people are just trying to cheer them up

I have never really got into buying gifts for teachers. I send a card if I feel like they have done a good job.

Don't forget the TA's as well. Not much money but many do a sterling job.

I like to get something practical - a nice notebook and pen. It doesn't break the bank. I think over effusive giving is a bit OTT.

Nice idea to club together as a class or give a voucher for coffee.

We did a class collection and so they always revived a good amount of John Lewis vouchers!

I genuinely could not care less about gifts, but I really do appreciate cards or notes etc. They do mean a lot when you get them, so I really would consider giving a teacher who you appreciate one.

Having said that, this 2001 mug from a particularly tricky pupil with the accompanying letter from mum has had pride of place for over 20 years because of what it represents to me. I made a difference in his, and his families, life.

I've stopped using the mug now, as the print is slowly coming off and I don't want it to!

Totally agree OP. I'm a primary teacher who is teetotal and I love a thank you card but would prefer not to have any trinkets though the thought is lovely. I was incredibly lucky to be given a spa day as a group gift from the parents in my current class for Christmas. It was unexpected and very much appreciated, I used the voucher a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it so much. But it's not at all necessary.

Wow - that's a very ungenerous post OP. When I started teaching decades ago, gifts simply weren't a thing. Sometimes children would make a card for me, or band together as a little group and buy a treat. It honestly didn't matter what it was, it was given with love or appreciation and it meant the world to me. Nowadays, I agree, parents feel pressure to buy gifts that maybe they can't afford. But I am gracious and I appreciate them more than ever because of that. No I don't need more mugs, but do I feel immense gratitude that someone's thought of me fondly and bothered to acknowledge me? Yes of course!

The most treasured bits and bobs I have are from the kids though: cards they've made, little cartoons, artworks, poems etc. They're priceless.

As a teacher of many years' standing, I sometimes feel embarrassed that many parents feel they "should" send/contribute to a gift, although I'm always grateful and appreciative when they do. However, I'd be happy if the custom was quietly dropped.
But it is not for the OP to speak for all teachers in this way.

The problem with collections is that parents feel compelled to give and embarrassed if they simply don’t have the funds. It’s a tricky one

I love my flowers, chocolates and most of all the cards from my students.
I don't expect anything but it's always nice. I love a mug too.

Just give them wine or equivalent like nice chocolates

At Christmas I always made a Christmas cake for the staff room
and in the summer usually gave strawberry plants and a handmade card.
Although one year my sons chose courgettes plants 😁

If my class were generous at Christmas, I used to send a letter to parents early in term 6 thanking them for their generosity at Christmas, and asking that if they felt the need to buy me an end of term present, the best present they could give me was teaching their children more about looking out for others...and attach a list of items required by the local food bank.

The amount of donations given warmed my heart.

As a TA I appreciate any gift I'm given because of the sentiment, however it's true I don't actually want any mugs, candles, ornaments, cheap toiletries, cheap chocolate, cheap wine or prosecco etc. It just gets given away or donated to the school fayre. I might be low paid but I have expensive tastes

A card with a hand written message from the child or parent is the best thing- I put them up on my mantlepiece for the summer and they make me feel like it was all worth it!

Of course, if parents want to do a collection and give money or gift vouchers then that would be lovely and much appreciated.

Yes, this. Sounds like op's friend is ungrateful and doesn't need any more gifts!

I used to work as a TA in a school and a college, I only ever saw a handful of presents for each teacher. They were always a nice varied selection of wine/chocolate/plants/flowers and cards. All the teachers were very appreciative. Some would swap with other teachers in the staff room e.g. swapping red for white wine etc. They really enjoyed it. Sounds like op's friend is a snob and expects a Starbucks voucher?!

I usually get my son to find out what the teacher likes and tailor my gift accordingly. However, I have been guilty of buying chocolates as a gift. Sorry 🙄

Edited - I ALWAYS write a thank you card though.

Ha ha, my cats would love that gift!!

I gifted my DDs teachers like a mad woman! Whenever I bought something for myself that I liked, I bought one for them too and put it away for the end of year/Christmas. I suppose I was just always really grateful for the free childcare! I home educated until they were 8 & 9 and I know just how much more expensive that was - I don’t think many teachers would refuse decent presents …

I would love that stuff! As an FE teacher, we receive nothing.

She’s not even a teacher.

It really isn’t. I’m a teacher and I’ve never worked with or met another teacher who isn’t incredibly grateful for any gifts or cards at the end of the school year!!

I love all gifts of all variety.