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Original poster

Buying for beaver leader rather than teacher?

18 replies

Ilovealexa · 03/12/2018 20:06

It’s getting to the time of year where I start half thinking of buying gifts for teachers before leaving it too late and not bothering.

But having recently started beavers I’ve seen how much time the leader puts in which I’m fairly certain they’re not paid for.

So I feel if I’m spending £10 on a token gift I’d rather buy for the beaver leader than the teachers who are already paid for this job (I wish more schools would ban presents for teachers). I’m not saying they’re paid enough etc etc but they are paid whereas these volunteers give up a great deal of their own time.

OP posts:

Nacreous · 03/12/2018 20:08

Scout leaders definitely aren't paid, and rarely get gifts in my experience (though this relates to cubs not beavers). I can imagine a bottle of wine or some chocs or a few beers would be hugely appreciated by most leaders.

MergeDragons · 03/12/2018 20:09

Go for it. Either you can go down the something just for the Beaver leader as a big thank you to them (bottle of wine or whatever) or the thank you to Beavers in which case a mountain of coloured card and glue sticks or similar would probably be appreciated.

redexpat · 03/12/2018 20:10

As a Guide leader I would bloody love to be acknowledged! Even a card would be nice!

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 03/12/2018 20:11

My husband is a scout leader. I wish people knew how much time and effort and money he puts into making it all work. Hours and hours and hours. Many parents don’t even say thankyou. And he defiantly doesn’t get paid. A parent bought him a bottle of wine last year. First one ever. He was so emotional about it

Yes please remember this if u have a child in a group like this. The Gesture is very much appreciated.

Kerberos · 03/12/2018 20:14

Your beaver leader would massively appreciate it. They donate so much time to running events and planning. Ditto cub, scouts, brownies and guide leaders.

Original poster

Ilovealexa · 03/12/2018 20:16

I’m not sure if December is just a busy month but the amount of stuff they’ve got on in evening and weekends I just can’t believe this woman gives all this time FOR FREE!!

I’m thinking flowers for her and some chocolates for other people who help out however I’m not sure how many there are!

Love the idea of donating craft equipment though, thanks :)

OP posts:

scrivette · 03/12/2018 20:16

Yes I would buy for them, I gave the main leader a little box of chocolates and a thank you card when they broke up for summer and will give all four leaders chocolate or wine or biscuits for Christmas.
I would imagine a nice note in a Christmas Card from you and/or child would be appreciated too.

Original poster

Ilovealexa · 03/12/2018 20:18

How can people think ‘I’ll get the teacher a bottle of wone’ but not even consider these people who give up their time for nothing? Through choice yes but still for free, eating into their own family time.

OP posts:

IceRebel · 03/12/2018 20:26

How can people think ‘I’ll get the teacher a bottle of wone’ but not even consider these people who give up their time for nothing?

Simple answer from someone who volunteers for guiding. They think you get paid.

The amount of parents i've had over the years who assume that it's a well paid position is astounding. It's only when the regular leaders start falling like flies, and those left behind try desperately to get some additional help from the parents / carers that they begin to realise.

formerbabe · 03/12/2018 20:32

I get gifts for the teachers at the school plus brownie leaders...they all do a fantastic job as far as I'm concerned.

I do think it may be a good idea to ban gifts for teachers. It's an extra financial pressure for a lot of parents.

TamiTayorismyparentingguru · 03/12/2018 20:39

I agree. I do gifts for teachers if they have gone above and beyond or my DC has a particularly good attachment with them (otherwise I just contribute to the joint class gift) but I ALWAYS do gifts for Brownie/Guide leaders - at Christmas, summer and after camp. They are superheroes.

Original poster

Ilovealexa · 03/12/2018 21:23

Would much prefer a joint gift and I’m sure the teacher would too tbh 😂

OP posts:

Miljah · 03/12/2018 21:54

Yes, yes, yes to Beaver/ Scouting/ Guiding leaders!

AnotherPidgey · 03/12/2018 22:08

Chocolates are nice and easy to share between the team either on a pack night or residential. Little gestures are very much appreciated.

We had some guides leave this summer, giving us each an acrostic poem for each of our leader names 😍

I don't give to DS's beaver unit... other than my own time as I started helping out when they were short

Ragwort · 03/12/2018 22:15

Totally agree that it is much more appropriate to give to volunteers than to paid professionals, I really don’t understand why Teachers are allowed to accept personal gifts, and I also don’t understand why parents are so keen to give presents to teachers. I do understand that a genuine thank you letter or card is appreciated.

I was Cub Leader for many years and remember when it was quite usual to receive thank you cards and small gifts from parents but sadly any thanks and appreciation did seem to dwindle over the years.

jocktamsonsbairn · 03/12/2018 22:39

Yes!! I always gave to beaver/cub/scouts/rainbows/brownies leaders and helpers - sometimes a big box of treats to share, sometime individual gifts like a bottle of beer and Pringles/mini chocs/mini bottle of wine as there were so many of them and my dc were in different organisations. I have also given a big box of crafts as mentioned before and that was well received.
As a teacher it is lovely to get wee presents and the children love giving them but I would hate to think of anyone feeling pressured into it. Most parents don't at our school which is in a very deprived area but some do and it is really appreciated as I know the parents and child really want to do it - it's not a competitive thing in our playground IYSWIM.
As a parent I only ever gave teacher gifts to teachers who had gone above and beyond - e.g. the teacher who constantly told my dyslexic DD to try harder at spelling didn't get a thing from me as she wasn't doing her job properly and was letting g my dd down!

IceRebel · 04/12/2018 06:28

I have also given a big box of crafts as mentioned before and that was well received.

This is an amazing gift, I would love to receive something like this as it will benefit the girls so much.

whojamaflip · 04/12/2018 06:47

I'm a scout leader and for the last couple of years I've been given a page per day a4 diary by one of my scouts for Christmas - it's fantastic and I use it only for scouts - keeps all my planning etc in one place and the register on the days we meet.

The scout in question covers it with scouting related pictures, quotes etc and it makes me smile every time I pick it up.

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