Teacher’s Gifts - Not another mug 😫

[Jessprimarytutor]

With the end of term approaching, the adverts for "Teacher's Gifts" seem to be doing the rounds on social media.

As an ex teacher, I never expected to get any presents and was always grateful when I did. However, if you are considering buying a gift for your child's teacher, please consider what you choose. It's unlikely they need another "Best Teacher" or personalised: mug, notebook, keyring, plaque, bag etc etc.

The best gifts I got (that were also well received by my colleagues) were when a few parents or a class of parents had got together and gave us a voucher e.g. for an experience (spa, massage, local pub to put towards a meal) or so we could chose something we wanted/needed (e.g. book token, John Lewis). Vouchers for the frozen meal company Cook, M&S, Waitrose would be great to help them to buy easy to cook meals once term restarts.

Or if you have more time/energy, try and find out what the teacher enjoys doing in their free time - you could get a keen gardener a voucher for a local garden centre etc if you wanted to make it more personal.

If every parent who spends say £2 on a box of chocolates/mug, came together - that would be a lovely £60 voucher (in a class of 30) for a teacher and would make their day.

There’s enough Teachers Tat in the world already! Please don’t add to it.

I’m a teacher (although secondary) and I’ve just finished a coffee in a lovely mug which was given to me a few years ago by a pupil! I can see how it would get a bit much in primary though if you get lots of gifts every year. I’m very grateful for any gifts I get and really don’t expect anything. I have kept all the cards I have received and like other pps have said, they really mean the most.

I’m very happy with the whip-arounds in our school. Parents take a turn volunteering to do the collection and we all pay less than the price of a mug or chocolates. And teacher gets a substantial voucher.

But, traditionally gifts are given as a token of appreciation and received with gratitude for the sentiment it represents. There seems to have been a shift away from that thinking to a kind of wish list mentality. Getting a gift, for any reason or occasion, isn’t supposed to be like ordering what you want online.

I’m surprised that teachers are still allowed to accept gifts at all. Most other professions you wouldn’t be allowed to. That aside, my young children usually make a card and sometimes a very small gift but not every time.

Nobody gives me a thank you present at the end of the year for just doing my job.
Be thankful you are even getting a present and it is the thoght that counts. Or tell the parents befiorehad that you really appreciate just a homemade card but you will not be accepting presents this year.

I kinda agree with the "less to landfill" idea but goodness me OP, requesting spa or meal vouchers? Especially when in some areas the teachers will be far better paid than most of the parents at the school!

Urgh grabby! Just as well you're an ex teacher!

I'm on the fence. DH is a primary teacher and while he appreciates the thought behind the mug / keyring / plaques etc, he has no use or space for them but environmentally it doesn't sit right to throw them out either.

I think it's grabby to suggest parents should club together and buy a voucher for a spa day however, I agree it would be good idea to buy an alternative to 'best teacher tat.'

Things that can be used / eaten have always gone down well here (DH still talks about a tasty box of biscuits brought back from a pupils holiday that he hasn't been able to find since). He also likes a fun present like the whistle he was bought once because he runs the sports club and his whistle broke just before the end of term. It has Coach written on the top and has a weird low-ish pitched sound - he uses it a lot.
Another favourite here have been plants because he can keep them in school, they are useful for teaching and they're not wasteful (he's had an aloe, some tomatoes, a cactus and most recently, 2 sunflowers).

I have two lovely pictures on my fridge. I'm not a mum..... NQT husband thought I was quite mad till he brought home some homemade cards from his kids (older and cooler than my infants) and gets it now. I'm going to miss my wee pals. And so is he.

Forgot to add - every year he explains no presents necessary etc as some parents are financially very tight l. I think if he has his way he wouldn't have anything but his class are young and they often want to get him something and if that's the case, cheap, cheerful but not plastic tat is good.

I actually dreamed of an activity I thought they'd love till I realised it wasn't just the weekend and I won't get to do it with them..

Slight derail but I've interacted with my sons teacher about five times this entire year (he's in reception, if relevant). I'm not the biggest fan just from the handful of times I've spoken to her, and I definitely wouldn't say she's gone above and beyond for him.

Am I expected to get her something? I'm really not sure how this works.

I'm in Scotland so we're on holiday already

Oh dear op, you might not have realised how hated teachers are on here!

I am an ex-teacher and I 100% agree with your post.

I was secondary and used to teach about environmental issues etc in my subject (plus introduced lots of green initiatives throughout the school) and I would be horrified (inside) if I was given landfill.

I would be more than happy with wine/chocolate (neither of which I eat/drink) because at least I could give them to my partner!

Most of all I loved a spoken thank you from the kids, and if they go on to do amazing things to keep in touch with the school and let us know how well they are doing.

We all know teachers don't need gifts, but the kids like to give them, so why not steer them in an environmentally friendly way of doing that?

If any teachers don't want the gifts they are given, please consider regifting to your TAs if you have any. We hardly get any gifts and are so chuffed to get even a small gift.

I have handmade bookmarks from a couple of children and really appreciate them

We send a load of meringues, fresh berries and whipped cream into the staff room about a week before the end of the year, for the whole staff. It seems to go down pretty well.

It's only supposed to be a little token from the child, you know?
Parents clubbing together to get you a spa day Get a fucking grip!

I agree with the OPs sentiment. As part of a family where six are or have been teachers.

My dd is 9 and has been saving her pocket money to go to the shop and buy her teachers gifts because she thinks her teachers are amazing and wants to get them something I don't think her giving her own money to a overzealous pta mum would make her feel she has got her wonderful teachers a lovely gift so some teachers will have to deal with getting another mug/wine glass or some chocolate your getting the gift off the child not the parent

Jeeeze. As a retired teacher I'm cringing at that OP.

Cards, a short note, and/or a little something that the child has chosen themselves are all lovely. I don't get the patents clubbing together for something. There's no pleasure for the child in giving or making in that.

The tat is almost certainly chosen by the child. My key ring is a teacher one from a child I taught about eight years ago. Yes, other stuff has gone by the wayside, but it really isn't about the gift.

I have a heartfelt thank you note from a parent on my kitchen pin-board. I have several drawings from ex pupils on the side of my fridge. They make me happy.

Wow how ungrateful.

I would opt for the alternative of nothing if I found out my child's teacher had this attitude.

The gift is often chosen by the child so whilst it may be 'teacher tat' to you the children you've taught have most likely spent time and effort picking it out.

Not yet - but every time I see a MIL thread I read it closely. It’s not easy being a MIL on this site sometimes. Luckily I get on with my DIL (I think??)

Sorry - wrong thread. Ignore.

A £60 voucher, Jesus, catch yourself on.

Who has the time to quiz the teacher about their likes before organising a collection for a class of thirty parents and then going to buy the voucher.

Just ask for cash next time, OP.

My fave gift from a pupil was a £5 Costa voucher. Always grateful for extra ☕☕

I like a mug or a notebook, always useful. I have kept all the cards given to me from 25 years of teaching! Every few years I get them out and have a look and it inspires me to keep on going.

You have missed the whole point of teachers gifts op.

A teachers gift is a TOKEN gift from an individual CHILD to thank their teacher. It is about the thank you from that child to their teacher and the child handing over their own gift, not a parental whip round for a spa voucher.

Fair enough to raise the environmental issue and ask your head to send out a message to parents saying gifts are not necessary and frequently a waste but if a child really wants to thank their teacher a picture/handwritten card or some small token gift suggestions - charity donation, sweets/biscuits, seeds/plants.