Teacher Gift Whatsapp Group

[ellie21]

Why do some Mothers insist on starting these up?
I don't have a problem with people buying teachers a small gift or children making a card. It's the 'we're all putting £30 into Mrs Sparrow's joint leaving fund' groups that drive me mad.
I really don't think its necessary and the assumption that everyone is ok donating a large sum or feels pressure to donate annoys me.
AIBU?

Just ignore it, or say you’ve already sorted something yourself. Some people like these kinds of groups as it’s easier to hand over money than think of something. £30 is well over the top though and I wonder if teachers can even accept that much.

Personally I just say we’ve already organised a gift, in reality we give just give cards.

Wow. I wouldnt mind being in one of these and paying a fiver or tenner. Do people really pay in that much and expect others to aswell?

I mean there has been 2 times when I gave 20 euro vouchers to teachers who went above and beyond for my DS with SEN. I wouldnt expect anyone else to though just because I am.

Parents of my daughter's class did this but it was a fiver! It was a godsend to be honest - I don't know what to get them! My dad was a primary school teacher and used to come home at the end of term with 30 boxes of chocolates in the boot! £30 is over the top. But whatever the cost, if you don't want in, just say you've already sorted something. It's not obligatory.

WhatsApp group to ask if people would like to contribute is absolutely fine.

£30 is too much. It’s the amount that’s the issue here.

£30 is too much (private school?)

For lots of parents it's great to send some money and then forget about it. We did it in my kids school and I'd say 25/30 participated.

I'm pretty sure I have to declare any gifts over £75 (I'm a teacher). Honestly, I hate tat such as those world's best teacher things. A bottle of wine is a great gift if you insist. Otherwise a handwritten card or letter is lovely. I neither want nor expect gifts from students/parents so please don't feel obliged.

We have to declare anything over £15, £30 pp is excessive.

I spend £7 max on ky kids teachers. Even DH says I'm a geek god that. Not many other professions get 2 gifts a year.

We have them and it’s great, everyone puts in a fiver or what they can afford and the teacher gets a voucher for somewhere nice. The kids all sign a card. No pressure to join in but it’s so much easier to put in £5 than find a gift and card for £5

£30 is rediculous.

£30 is stupid, I did a collection at Christmas for DDs teacher at £5 a head and 24 of the parents contributed so it's fair to say in my experience the vast majority found it helpful.

Does it really say £30?? I've contributed to school collections for years and never had an amount specified - let alone £30!

I would much rather give to a collection so the teacher gets a decent gift. Just give what you can afford or opt out.

£5 max! Honestly, as a teacher, I’d treasure a heartfelt message in a card far more, better yet, an email to my boss! I’ve kept cards from students pinned on the study notice board or as Facebook pics so they come up annually. Much better than yet more stationery/chocolates/mugs.

No, there is a guide gift amount. I'm not paying that amount. I think its the group and the principle that annoy more than anything. I feel for the people who are pressurised into paying for something when there is no need.

Thankfully my kids are way past this stage, but I still remember the mums who tried to strong-arm parents into contributing large amounts of cash. They managed to get half of the class parents on board, but made it all about their generosity, as in they were the ones to hand over the OTT gift voucher to the teacher whilst basking in the limelight.

I've only been asked for a fiver and the amount was divided between the teacher and TA.

It saved having to go out and buy a gift and I wouldn't want to buy something that they didn't like eg wine for a non-drinker

We do £10 each and live in a wealthy area, no why would I put £30 in

That’s a lot. Its £5 in our class and that’s between teachers and TAs.

Ours was a fiver each for the teacher and the TA. We don’t do an Xmas present just an end of year one.