Signing group card without having contributed?

[CoIIection]

Just wanted a quick idea please of what to do when you're in charge of the end of term teacher's collection for your class, contributions from other parents are in, for those not doing their own thing, and someone has asked to sign from their child but hasn't , i don't think, contributed. I have no idea if they are hard up, my query is whether I should check that they think they have contributed, I don't think they did, but now I am worried I have forgotten (some have given me cash at the school gate. I thought I'd kept track of the amount but have peri brain fog!).

No - sign from those who donated. Its very unfair on those who have donated to let others take the credit and it looks as though they donated less. Those asking to sign who haven't donated you simply say the deadline for donations is x so if you donate by the deadline your name will be included.

I agree, but anyway.
Yes, the teachers/TAs will be happy.

These were my feelings, but the first posters responding said otherwise.

I’d just reply ‘yes no worries, I’ll make sure everyone who’s contributed has their name signed. I’m happy to sign for you if easier. I’ll still be collecting until weds if anyone else wants to contribute

I am scared of looking like the arsehole if I do that, according to earlier posters!

Just let them sign

anyone who cares who contributed and who didn’t is a knob

Conversely, is it not knobbish to take credit for a gift you didn't buy?

You don't sign from individuals it's just Merry Christmas miss Teacher, with love from year #6 or whatever

I don’t think most people care that much to think they are such piss takers

this discussion would always come up on WhatsApp then talk of children not being able to sign a card 🙄 it was the usual playground gossips who would get snippy the rest of us just didn’t care, the gossipy pettiness is far more knobbish

This. Does it really matter if they have contributed or not? They want to sign the card.

I think this is why you use gift round! You can sign without donating and nobody knows. I hate the idea of shaming people who haven’t chipped in. What’s the minimum to buy a signature on the card £1? £10? I’m very fortunate financially and try to put in more than the standard amount to cover for other people in tighter spots. Sign from the class and next time use gift round!!! Or say no when you’re asked as there’s always some drama!!!

The children are writing their name in the card or you are? Just put from Class whatever it is

Our class collection lists the individual names of those who contributed but I'd be more than happy if they just said it was from the whole class.
I know there are a few who didn't join in (for whatever reason) but they still got almost 300 which is plenty and I wouldn't want any child to be excluded. I'd also not expect the teacher / TAs to pour over the list looking for who is missing.

Never heard of gift round. I did ask the previous PTAs for pointers, they said just collect it in cash/to my own bank, or Paypal, then divvy it up between Teachers and TAs.

I absolutely don't want to shame any kids, they are young anyway and won't care themselves, I am sure! Just also wanted to do the right thing by those who have put in, you know?

initial consensus on here seemed to just have everyone sign, regardless. Now I am getting a few responses saying it's not fair on those who have put in. So there's no obvious answer.

I have already signed for everyone who has asked me to now, whether they contributed or not. No idea what the right thing is.

I did. And I've done most of them now, Of a class of 30, about 25 have put in. I assume some may want to just do their own gifts, I don't really know.

Yes. You writing the names in seems a bit pointless really.

What is the point? Is it to show the teacher some appreciation or is it to show her who has contributed to this class present?

I've never contributed to 'a class present'
Fortunately, when my dc were at school this wasn't a thing.

However, people can surely wish someone has a lovely Christmas, without giving them a present?

I mean, wouldn't the card just say "best wishes from Class 2B" or whatever? You can't seriously have the time to go round the parents on the list of people who have contributed, asking them all to sign it personally ?

I used to organise class collections. I did a card signed by everyone who wanted to sign and a voucher with a card which listed those who contributed.

Technically yes, but times are tough and people are struggling. Maybe they can't afford it but don't want their child to miss out or be negatively regarded. It costs you nothing to add their name but it might mean a lot to them.

This is where you probably went wrong, by saying ‘and anyone can sign the card’. Those who haven’t contributed presumed you were permitting them to sign too! CFs.

Not much you can do now - just make sure you don’t get lumbered next time.

Definitely sign form the class.

Otherwise it feels to me of being a show of who did and did not contribute.

Tricky. You don't want a parent /child to feel excluded if can't afford it

Equally wrong to take credit for a present if Havnt contributed

Your issue is also you arent sure who paid as you said some did cash

If doing a class gift whether volunteered or chosen - you Need to be on the ball with who had given you money and if cash write it down.

Most of our classes have always done it that the card is from all the children and the gift contribution is just given with the card but not specified. So everyone's kid has coloured in a little picture or something which is added to a big card from the whole class.
I've always contributed, but couldn't care if other people haven't for whatever reason. Some cannot afford, some get their own present, some forget. Who cares. I can't imagine any teacher sifting through names and checking.
Its a nice gesture, not a thing to separate people out over.

You are writing out 20+ names? Just put from class 2b or whoever they are

Personally you should list the amounts that everyone contributed and maybe write their names in larger letters so the teacher can really see who contributed what.
( let it go… it’s a Christmas card. Remember what this is supposed to be about)