What do you think of this for Teachers’ Gifts?

[boltj]

When I was at primary school, it was very common for all of the students to buy their class teacher (and sometimes teachers from other classes who they liked) presents like flowers or chocolates and to give them cards. This was the case even for the students who were really badly behaved at class so it wasn’t some sort of “teacher’s pet” kind of thing. Additionally, it was common for all of the students in the class to give each other Christmas cards at Christmas and to the teacher (even if they didn’t celebrate Christmas).

Note: I went to school in a working-class area and this is only like 15 years ago (and I mention that because you might assume that there are some class differences with middle-class schools/private schools more likely to do that but that wasn’t my experience).

But, this didn’t continue at secondary school or sixth form with gifts only given to teachers by some students and no Christmas cards.

Is this common in your experience for yourself or your children - even to this day? What explains this?

I think it’s the fact that in high school parents don’t get involved as much and don’t know the teachers. At primary you are there dropping off and collecting each day, so you have a connection with the teachers as you see them frequently.
They are also your little darlings. By the time they get to high school they are independent and make their own minds up about whether they want to give cards/gifts etc.

Where I live children buy teacher gifts at Christmas and/or at the end of the school year in Primary School. We don’t buy gifts at secondary as there are too many teachers to buy for. Children do give Christmas cards to secondary school teachers (the ones they like!) as well as to their classmates.