to suggest anybody who gave their kid's teacher home grown vegetables...

[thisfantasticvoyage]

as an end of year present or any of the other pointless shite the Guardian recommended recently is basically...a knobber?

My DH came home with a bag (sack) of apples, beetroot, courgettes, baby turnips and potatoes on the last day of term. They were from a colleague and I was over the moon. They are to be turned into the roast veg we will have with dinner tomorrow (we have 12 coming) and then apple tart for pudding!

One of our parents gave us all a big box of cherries each from her tree. They are delicious, and a fabulous present!

Giving presents to teachers is not 'sucking up.' There are some teachers who have really been helpful and kind to my daughter, far beyond the remit of their work. I have in the past spent time on my presents - antique glasses and old books, with wine and chocolates in a basket for a great English teacher. I managed to get 'bargains' in charity shops but it was a labour of love and respect to pull it all together.

I also worked as a brownie leader and at the end of term, some parents gave me some sweet presents. To be honest, a gorgeous picture drawn by their child would move me so much. But the parents who turned up late, grabbed their girls and didn't even say thank you and have a nice holiday - well that's their attitude. At least they were not 'sucking up' - that's the main thing, isn't it?

YABU, if I were a teacher I would love a bag of home grown veg (or fruit for that matter) What a fabby idea for a present.

DD's teacher and teachers aid both got a home made bracelet each, DD instructed me to make them and chose the beads etc.

Both of them thanked me profusely. DD also made a card for each of them. Is it anything handmade/home grown that you take a dislike to as presents?

Yes it is 2littlegreenmonkeys. What use is a home made bracelet to anybody? It will go straight in the bin, guaranteed.

Oh how grumpy are you OP?

Not veg but plants:

Last year the TA in my eldest son's class was given a decorated plastic plant pot with a cutting from a plant in our garden.

Its a horrid plant. I keep digging it out. But the TA and I had several gardening discussions and she'd mentioned she loves this plant.

So she got it.

When my son took it in to her I thought I was committing the ultimate sin in present giving as she sat there surrounded by lovely presents. She'd just finished opening the pink champers when my 5 yr old trundles along with his offering.

She jumped out of her chair yelled "oh PancakeflipperBoy you remembered! I love it love it love it." Squeezed him tightly. And she beamed right at me.

Now I wouldn't this for his teacher or TA's this year as they'd think I am bonkers. But if you know they'd appreciate a box/bag of homegrown veggies well what a top idea. I'd love it.

What's your issue with it OP?

Is it cos' the parent hasn't trekked around the shops with £10 or whatever the going rate is?

Do you think it's parents showing off?

Would love some home grown veg and a home made bracelet would make my day!

Op, you're wrong, and slightly stupid IMO.

Of course it's showing off Pancakeflipper.

Okay, any teachers on here? What would you rather have: loads of wine, choccies and vouchers. Or loads of smelly veg and home made tat that you can't do anything with? Honest answers please.

Ester3GG love it! You couldn't have put it better

What's your top 5 suggestions of ideal gifts for teachers and the TA's OP?

Have you told the Guardian about them?

I doubt a teacher would want 30 bags of veg and fruit. Or 30 bunches of flowers. Or 30 boxes of Quality Street. But they'd probably love 30 vouchers for their fav shop.

They'd probably like a variety of treats.

Oh and thank you. Apparently they like a thank you

lmao this is a wind up its gotta be who would give someone a bag of veg as a present lol who ever thought of this wind up its good the funniest one i have seen touve brightened my day can just picture a child handing over a bag of veg as a present for there teacher lol

We have given teachers eggs from the chickens in our garden, but not as an end of term present, more as a 'middle of the term, this might cheer you up', and they always love them and ask for more!

I tend to think end of term present needs to be
i) small (with 30 presents, you really don't want 30 lavish gifts)
ii) disposable (ie not something that will clutter up their house or give them a problem as to what to do with it)
iii) lovely

So for our kids' teachers this year they did handmade cards, which were very sweet, and reflected their personalities more than an expensive shop-bought one, and then most of the teachers got Hotel Chocolat chocolates, with one exception who got lovely scented candles as we know she likes them.

I don't drink, I love chocolate but am fat, usually feed it to my kids or regift it at Christmas. Vouchers are always good. Mugs/best teacher in the world stuff no good to me.
Veges and homemade thing - fab, I'd be thrilled by veg and have had loads of lovely handmade stuff in the past.

Mostly though I am just very grateful for anything anyone gives me, it really is the thought that counts, the 70 pounds of m&s vouchers were great, the homemade flowerpots were lovely and even the Christmas pudding soap I got for my (June) birthday was given with love and I cherish it.

Of course it's a wind-up.

The teachers that I know really love having stuff made by the children they teach, even if it's falling apart and doesn't match the decor. It's akin to Mum keeping decorations for the tree that you made as a four-year old.

The chocolates and Argos vouchers just show 'duty'... there's nothing personal there and since they're handed out like er... sweets, they don't really have much value.

Bring on the homegrown veggies!

Can I just point out the M&S vouchers were a whole class gift, not just from one person.

Argos vouchers, wine, chocolates - these are the things teachers spend all year looking forward to

What do you teach, Entitlement & Greed 101?

What a great idea

I don't care what the teacher thinks. Boohoo if she gets 30 boxes of choc, poor her. I'm sure she'd rather have vouchers to her favourite shop, or even hard cash. but that's not what it's about.

I only go along with the whole present thing as otherwise my DC feel left out.

So I buy big bars of Green and Black choc and all teachers, TA's LEAs and whatever get one with a card saying thank you.

Only do it as I feel bullied into this.

It makes me cross, can you tell

Secondary teachers don't tend to get presents but I have received some lovely hand-made cards from classes (who think you haven't noticed the "stage-whispers" as they pass it round for signing ). They often sneakily make them whilst doing a task involving posters etc.
And I have even had them from "challenging" classes. I cherish those even more in a way because often you start out with difficult relationships in a class like that and end up with a good rapport going on.
You sound a bit sneery OP - or are you out to wind people up?