Teachers I need solidarity before I leave the profession

I'm so sorry, this sounds so demoralising and exhausting! I'm still a teacher - I wish leadership would support us to give honest feedback about why the clubs aren't running, just as you described. I'm sure it wouldn't stop people moaning but wish I could give people the bigger picture sometimes.

Oh they do. If they've gone the extra mile for a customer who just walks away without acknowledging them, l they absolutely do moan.

Both my kids have worked in retail and other customer facing jobs, and people who can't be bothered to say thank you are very much resented.

Do teachers think that working parents receive thank you mails all the time doing our jobs? I don't...

A large amount of the time during a residential is unpaid time. Most school don't pay teachers extra for giving up their evenings, weekends or overnight.

A simple thank you for taking care of your child for several days, including overnight, when it's a lot of unpaid time, isn't difficult - sure;y?!

It's not their fault your friend died though. If you can't do your job because of it then take time off

But the poster could likely do her job.
The email she returned to doesn't sound like part of her job - not if it was something the parent could have sorted easily.

And unless she'd gone and got a sick note from her GP, how can she take time off? In many schools you're lucky if you can even take half a day unpaid leave to attend the funeral of a friend, let alone longer!

Complete example of the of attitude that teachers get. Your idea of a baking competition is more likely to exclude kids. Children from families of lower income may not have a lot of baking supplies or afford new ones. You would also get some parents who would just do the baking for them. It would favour kids with more available parents and higher income household.

OP, pulling names out of a hat is completely random. There was no fairer way to do it. I wasn't surprised you got complaints. I used to run a really fin art club for free and supplied all the materials. Only 10 kids could partake, over 60 applied so did pull names and got the same complaints. Never did a fucking club again. Parents today are so entitled and one of my main reasons for leaving the profession.

Set one up then.
Join the PTA or volunteer for it. Offer to organise, run and supervise the exhibition. Most PTAs are crying out for volunteers to help run things.

So why not teachers?

You thank a bus driver for doing the part of their job they're paid for, but refuse to thank a teacher for part of the job they're NOT paid for, going out of their way, working for free, just to give your child a positive experience on a trip/residential?

What possible reason can there be for that?

So do I. I haven't ever said I didn't.

@porridgebath

That's a shame. I say thank you to postman, bus driver, cleaner in school, GP, shop staff, footie coach, waitress, bar staff - basically anyone who does something nice for me.

No. I think a thank you is a nice to have but not essential for anyone

@Sugarcoldturkey

I get the impression that @porridgebath agrees with thanking people - but thinks it's not needed for teachers. And thinks we're all a load of whingers because we are saying it would be appreciated. Personally I think anyone that does something positive deserves a thank you - regardless of whether it's paid or voluntary.

@porridgebath Would you thank a babysitter? Would you thank a family member after they've looked after your child for a week?

Do you ever say thank you to cashiers or waiters? Do you give a quick nod and smile to your child's football coach when you pick them up?

If the answer is no, then at least you're treating teachers like everyone else, but I do think it's a shame that we've lost those small every day gestures of appreciation.

That seems excessive...or is it different children getting a treat each day? In my son's class the teacher picked a child each day who had done whatever behaviour they were focusing on and they got to select something from the reward box - this had sweets but also stationery items. My son always chose a pencil rather than a sweet as he is that way inclined.

Yeah they've got the right idea.

@porridgebath

They don't complain if people don't thank them

Well no neither do I usually but it is just surprising that after being away all week overnight parents just grab & go.

It seems that parents are expecting trips & residentials. As another poster mentioned the younger staff are working far more to rule & don’t care as much about stroppy emails. Maybe they have the right idea?

The issue with that of course is that some students won't ever go away as their parents aren't able to (or don't want to) facilitate it. So their children might not ever go on a residential or a trip to London.

Yes. They tend to bring things in fairly regularly. Such is life.

Are you in Uk? I’m surprised at a teacher buying and giving sweet treats weekly there’s usually school policies re healthy eating.

We have done everything everyone has suggested and more. The difficulty is that her teacher is not concerned about her missing out and so it gets us nowhere. We just have a teacher that thinks dietary requirements are something to not concern herself with period.

I've brought my children up to thank freely. Manners cost nothing. We thank shop staff, sports coaches, waiting staff, someone holding a door etc. it's better that way than being a dick.

They don't complain if people don't thank them

I find this thread fascinating having returned to supply teaching (primary) after a long break. @porridgebath , your wishes are very much coming true. Teaching is now as dull as ditchwater. Everything (honestly, everything) is ‘taught’ from an expensive scheme on PowerPoint slides. Residential trips are rare. There are far fewer class day trips and almost no clubs (unless there are paid-for ones run by external agencies.) Quiet children are left to flounder in giant classes full of SEND.
Most younger teachers I’ve got to know simply don’t care about anything parents say (they love the emails from ‘those’ parents, as it gives them something to laugh about at the pub). They like the children and want them to do well, but they just do the job as set out by the schemes and go home (or to the pub.) And good on them.
So, OP, I would honestly just do the bare minimum in school. And maybe run your lovely club privately, for actual money.

First me it's not about being thanked, it's about being moaned at and complained about for the most ridiculous things. Which is even more annoying when I've given up my own time to put on extra activities and experiences for no extra pay. So I don't do it any more. I have 25 years classroom experience across the 3 primary key stages, that experience is now lost.

I can’t tell if you are joking or just being a twat

@porridgebath

There we go then, you enjoy it

I enjoy giving students the opportunity to do something that helps them. I think the amount of work it involves is worth it. But a thank you on collection would be really nice. I wouldn't be expecting a big fuss or an email or a card. Just a smile & a wave when they collect.

I always thank people like bus drivers, waitresses, shop staff. So it's not too hard to do. They are also being paid to do their job.

Are the staff aware of her allergies?

Parents at our school are generally really good and the sweets they bring in for birthdays are ones that can usually be given out to all children. One of our children also has a box of treats the parents provided for any occasion where the sweets are not ok for their child so they aren't left out.
At the end of year generally anything given to the children is not food related e.g. bubbles.

Not sure why you don't talk to the staff so they know what they could offer, or provide a few bits yourself.