Teachers don’t want Thank You Teacher gifts

we always do a collection and buy a joint food hamper/theatre/book voucher. It always goes down very well. We also usually ask office staff to find out what the teachers and TA’s prefer.

I started school in 1978 and my mum always got me gifts to give the teacher at Christmas and end of the year

I plan on making a load of tablet for DS teachers and teaching assistants as they raved about the batch I made for a school fundraiser.

Combined with some nice teabags and coffee for a wee break room hamper.

@Bemusedandconfusedagain thanks.
Does sound nice if you like that sort of thing 🙂

High end makeup, perfumes, bath and body stuff, expensive candles, that sort of thing. So a good gift for someone who is into that sort of thing.

My friend loves it but never expects it. Her primary class put £50 behind the till at her local Chinese takeaway, they know she loves Thai/Japanese/Chinese food and she will regularly see parents when she's picking up food. She was so shocked but loved it as they didn't have to cook that last night of term and could just put her feet up. She's not a big fan of alcohol but will graciously accept, and then pass it on to friends, the kids know this now (checkout parent in the supermarket noting she doesn't buy wine but buys fancy hot chocolate) and last year got her posh hot chocolate and fancy biscuits. Many years before that she worked in a private international school abroad and was given a very expensive watch as a thank you she declined it at first but it was from a Saudi high up type parent that became a little offended my friend saw it as her job but the family were so impressed with how well she had got through to their children he wanted to reward her and after discussing with the head and going through all the declaration stuff she accepted it. She received many other things like gold necklaces, shopping vouchers for £500, First class flight home, the other teacher she lived with at the time stayed on there got a brand new Mercedes car.

I think it should be done with not increasing landfill.
I gave the teachers hollyhock seeds one year and dd2 decorated the little envelopes.
They are all getting avocado plants this year that we grew on the windowsill.

I always buy a big tub of wrapped chocolates and I put a big label on it saying 'thanks to all the non teaching staff' about a week before the end of tel so they have a chance to eat them

@Bemusedandconfusedagain I've vaguely heard the name Space NK but no clue what they sell.
What do they sell?
Out of curiosity.

I work in a school and believe me we appreciate every bottle of wine 😂

Handmade cards or a simple thank you note is my favourite, it means we’ve done a good job and that matters the most.

Even all the key rings, note pads etc are appreciated because we don’t expect anything so when we receive a gift it means we’ve been thought of. I had a parent a few years ago who was severely struggling financially but she went and bought 6 members of staff a box of milk tray from the pound shop. That meant the world to us because we knew not only what a huge sacrifice that was for her financially but that we meant enough to her for to choose to do that.

When did giving gifts to teachers begin?. I most certainly never did it nor do my daughters even now, and one of them is a teacher. My

We always buy Amazon vouchers seems to go down well

Why not? His teachers to date have all been young women who obviously take a lot of care of their appearance. We have a Space NK nearby, and £50 will get them something nice. They could even buy a candle or some handwash or whatever if they don't want perfume or cosmetics. Why shouldn't I show my appreciation that way? Are you honestly thinking the teachers are unhappy about it?

I gave a drama teacher cinema tickets. I don't think he minded.

My DS gave his Maths teacher a bottle of Scotch after he had taught him for 7 years and he told the class it was the best gift from a student he had received. He said he usually got wine and his wife drank it because he wasn't keen. 2 more bottles of Scotch came his way on results day from other students who remembered his comment.

An Amazon voucher is good because if the teacher doesn't want to use it for themselves they can order supplies for school or simply regift.

I've kept every thank you card a student or parent ever sent to me. The wine disappeared more quickly. 😉

Clubbing together to give a gift voucher? That's always appreciated!
My DD used to make fudge or peppermint creams dipped in chocolate. That always went down well. One year we gave chutney from our own apples. They loved that!
But yes, 'favourite teacher' mugs - ugh!
(Where I grew up you were not allowed to give gifts to public employees).

Born in the late 60s and have no memory of giving actual presents.
One year (I'd have been about 10) a group of us got together and wrote a song to sing to our form teacher. It included the lines:
We all give many thanks to Mr Teacher
He's made our lessons such a joy to learn
And we are glad to say
His hair has not turned grey
And hope next year it still will be the same.

Hope he liked it (poor man). At least it meant something but maybe he'd have preferred a gift voucher.

When my DCs were at school though, it was just the accepted thing that teachers were tipped with presents and cards and I - like others - joined in, because it's what was done. Like tipping in a restaurant.
I'd have only not done it if the teaching/service was awful. Most of the other parents felt the same, so enjoy the gifts but don't think they're all because you're a remarkable teacher. It's just what parents do.

The school secretary almost never gets gifts ime so i used to always give them one.

Exactly.
I've had some fab alcohol based gifts over the years!

Due to my current role I don't really get gifts as frequently these days, as no longer attached to one class. And this year my finish date will be 2 or 3 weeks before the end of term, due to a medical issue. So no gifts this year.

The gifts I still have from over my 30+ years of teaching are some of the homemade class cards, and some of the lovely messages I've received. I even have some saved which came via email too.

I've always appreciated any gift given, and normally give my class(es) a small token gift when they finish here too.

But whilst gifts are appreciated in whatever form, the thought is the key, and they are not expected.

I taught university and ran a history club for a while, and my students gave me a silver locket engraved with the name of the club and dates. I also have a notebook signed by all my students when I ran a study abroad. Another group bought me a tea cup/saucer and I was given a bracelet, plus loads of cards. All of those things are precious to me, esp. now when retired and I can remember what wonderful young people I had the privilege to teach.

This week I’ve enjoyed some homemade biscuits, a bar of chocolate, a number of cans of a drink I have a severe addiction too and some lovely cards. The card that said my lessons made school bearable made me cry. I agree that parents shouldn’t buy into the commercialism of teacher gifts but a can of coke tied with a ribbon has made my day!

Thank you so much for answering! Was it organised from the school or parents? I never remember my parents giving anything or my friends parents but then I was young so I might not have noticed. I don't even remember if we made cards for them in school. I do remember making cards for mother and father's day and easter cards Etc.

She's probably including support staff as well as teachers. 2 - 3 children x a teacher (or 2 in some cases) and a couple of TAs per class.

10 gifts? Have you 10 children?