in not bothering to buy presents for teachers?

[luciemule]

That's it really.
Every year, you see all the mums bringing in beautiful gifts for the teachers and I just think WTF?

They are there to teach my children; that's their job.

My SIL is a primary teacher and you should see all the crap gifts she gets every summer/xmas. She even had 3 of the same teddy bears one year all telling her she's a great teacher. She gave loads of her chocs and gifts away.

I feel like a scrooge but I'm sure I'm not the only one am I? The kids haven't asked me to buy anything anyway.

That is true. i don't know any teacher who has fortunately.

Do parents really buy such gifts? For anyone bar themselves or imediate family?

For DD's teacher this year we all contributed (completely voluntary anc could be any amount, noone knows how much we all put in) via the class rep and got the teacher John Lewis vouchers. Then indidivual cards from DD to teacher with her own message in.

Got a lovely card back from teache ron last day. Crd chosen very specifically for DD and the messgae within (which took up both sides of the card insides) was lovely, very personal to us and DD and showed just how much the teacher knew DD - lots of comments about things DD has done or enjoyed outside of school, etc. Lovely.

Have two dd's. Each with 2 teachers, 2 ta, 3 work experience students, they go to after school club one day aweek and childminder one day. Was panicking a bit, think will go down handmade card route for school, box of chocs to share for childcare. Relieved to find this thread, esp with recession. Thxs

I get presents from school for helping. I get them at Christmas , Easter and Summer because they appreciate me.
At Christmas I organised a collection for DS2 teacher. We bought her a Pandora bracelet and a charm.
Have just bought her present for leaving her class, which was 5 charms for her bracelet. TA has got a 3litre box of her favourite wine and £45 garden centre vouchers.
We appreciate what they have done for our kids, especially the settling of them(reception)
YANBU as it is your opinion.
I was a nurse and didn't get tipped when I catheterised someone, but when people left chocs on the ward it was lovely!!! and much appreciated..

Glad to hear that teachers don't always groan at the homemade gifts - DD and her best friend (both yr2) were at a ceramic-painting place last weekend and insisted on doing a thank-you plate for their teacher - rather wobbly painted writing, so I hope it will still be legible after firing. The flowers should come out OK...

DD is changing schools in September, so as a good-bye and thank-you sort of present she helped me choose some books (sets from the Book People/Red House - all things she has read and enjoyed at home) to go in the free-readers book box, as the school's current stock is very out-of-date and a lot of them are falling apart. I hope that should be seen as a nice gesture rather than a dig?

DD is just finishing reception and has had a teacher, ta and nursery nurse this year.

I have got them each a miniature bottle of wine and mini box of chocs - just as a token gesture really. Teacher is also getting a little book of quotes about teaching that I spotted in The Works a couple of weeks ago.

Have bought teacher a card - purely because it has the animal her class is named after dressed up as a teacher on the front - and she will make cards for the ta and nn.

I'm inclined to play it by ear tbh. DD's teacher has been ok and dd enjoys school for the most part, but nothing outstanding. I think some children, parents and teachers just gel and pleasant as she is I just didn't get this with DD's teacher.

I've kind of realised why in the last few weeks and warmed to her a bit but chocs, wine and book it is.

I would make more effort if DD gets someone exceptional down the line. And I think a special kids book is a lovely idea.

as fibilou ssaid, anyone that says they deserve it as they "work so hard@ well thats bullshit, we all work hard

that said if a teacher really lokked well after your child, well I can see why you'd want to thank them in some way

but this idea that teachers "work so hard for so little". oh fuck off!!!

I never did with my girls teachers but did with my sons as he as always been at special school, what I usually do is take a big box of biscuits in for all the staff.

I'm a teacher and I really appreciate any presents bought for me. I always try to send a note thanking the children for their gifts. It is nice to think the children and parents consider you have done a good job whether they show this appreciation with a bottle of wine, a handmade card or a simple 'thank you'. I also buy the children in my classes a gift from my own money every term and I am just about to write a little note in each of the books I have bought for all 25 in my class (thankfully the book people do very cheap packs!!). I don't have to do it, but I get fond of them over the year and just want to show my feelings with a little gift.

I think it is really lovely. Anything that makes other people feel special and appreciated (especially when they are) is nice - makes them feel good & makes me feel good.

There is a collection going around at our nursery and the minimum suggested payment is just £5, but we don't have to pay if we don't want to - but really what is £5 in the big picture of life.

I am just giving a card hand written by my daughter for all teachers and a little present (some pot pourri) for the special two who have lavished love and attention on my dd beyond what is necessary.

exexpat....the books for the school is a really lovely idea.

DONT GIVE ME HOME MADE SHIT
unless i know you are really clean...

Hi

I'm a teacher and I love getting cards with a thoughtful message....It means loads more than a present....and makes me feel very appreciated which is lovely but I certainly don't expect it. Saying that, a bottle of wine is always appreciated too!

Yes, that always crosses the mind, where did this homemade cake come from? I'm not sure if I would eat it. I'm not a teacher btw.

On the other hand, I buy all the children in my class a small Christmas present and an end of year present too, simply as a way of saying, well done, you've all worked hard ( my class ALL work VERY hard) But this doesn't mean I expect anything back, it's just something I feel they deserve ( although since I've had yr 6 this year, I think I deserve a very large drink!)

I'm a teacher who left near the end of the year to go on maternity (having taught the same class two years) and I've never been so touched as what the parents at my school did. My baby is completely kitted out with clothes and blankets for his first 9 months. There are a mixture of hand me downs, market stuff and fancy bits and I have never felt so valued as the care the school community has shown. Every baby picture I see will remind me of a child I taught, how special is that. A bit off topic I know, but I wanted to share. I teach in a poor area in a smallish school and I get lots of little bits at the end of the year (£2-3 range) and I must say I do treasure the little tokens I get. I have a 'best teacher' corner in my classroom on a high shelf with 10 years worth of best teacher stuff. Always gets the new classes talking!

I'm buying this for DD's teacher this year

www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped-bookworms/OU4017ED

Hope she appreciates it!

I taught primary way back before parenthood and was a bit cheeky at Christmas and end of term - took in gift tags from me to cleaners and caretaker and after the children had gone home I just carefully peeled off the "to Miss" tag from the quality street-shaped boxes and replaced with my "thanks for cleaning my classroom so well all year" ones...

LadyLush - am a mental health nurse. Honestly!

True, don't get as much as the General lot... so very nice and welcomed when a box of chocs are left

I am a primary teacher and really appreciate all the gifts/cards etc. I have given to me at Xmas/end of the year, not matter how big or small. I also buy the children in my class presents for Xmas/end of year and send a personalised 'Thank You' card to their homes during the holidays for the gifts received. During my career I have come across very few 'mercenary' teachers - we all appreciate the gifts and most classrooms have a small display of 'best teacher' items - it keeps us going during the tough times! 'Surplus' chocs and biccies end up in a cupboard in the staffroom to be shared during the rest of the year (funnily enough, the wine always makes it home) Don't think parents should feel pressured into giving tho I always give my DD's teachers/TAs a present.

As the daughter of two primary school teachers (and now a first-time mum myself) - I think giving presents to teachers is completely ridiculous. Good teachers do not expect this! Support and verbal appreciation is worth more

I think the present should come from the child and not the parent. I got him to write a thank you card and take flowers from the garden. It is more about the thank you and the work being recognised than material gain for most teachers.

Meant to say xmas presents in my last post. Its very nice that kids gave poster above presents on birth of child.

I always get the kids to make a thank you card for the teachers.I am really averse to buying chocs as they get so many, or "Best Teacher" items on grounds of good taste (think DCs may not always agree with the sentiment either

This year I think I will get DS2 to decorate a mug for each of his two teachers and maybe pop some sweets or something in. DS1s teacher has gone on maternity leave so she got a present for the baby as this was a special occasion!

At Xmas, I usually get an Oxfam Unwrapped gift for each of them, usually of books for a school in Africa, even if they dont appreciate a charity gift it doesnt matter as the charity still benefits.