To think £100 voucher class Xmas gift to teacher too much?

[curiouscat]

Every year we parents contribute £30 to a kitty from which the class reps organise teacher's end of term presents, maternity cards, etc. This year's class Christmas present to the teachers (3 of them for the year) is a £100 voucher each (=£300 from the kitty).

Surely this is too much? Isn't £50 plenty? It's not like it's the end of the year or anything? And aren't teachers just doing their job? And wouldn't we do better giving eg £150 to charity by halving the teacher gift?

Heehee scary but it was our younger son's primary teacher, not the elder one! If I had to guess the average salary of no1's teachers against no2's teachers, I think you'd find no2's teachers get salaries half the size, I could not have been so generous to no1's teachers I'm afraid. Sorry no idea about presents, don't even remember whether I've given into the kitty to class rep for no1!!! Oh and no 20 euro is not enough, let's go for 40 euro!!!!

I would not be allowed to accept a £100 gift (or not without declaring it at least). We have to declare anything over the value of £50.

And yes, I find expensive gifts very embarrassing. But I love getting cards!

I am really dumbfounded by this. I am a teacher and have received some lovely gifts over the years but I never expect them and they are usually little, sweet things like a soap or box of chocs, even so, so many of our families are struggling right now I feel like we ought to ban gifts altogether. In my DDs school the parents sometimes do a collection where they stipulate what you have to give etc. I don't participate because I think it is over the top and excessive. I would feel very awkward receiving expensive gifts or vouchers for £100 or more.

Exactly MrsHarry. It's for the DCs to say thanks, not for the parents to hand over wedges of cash!

I can just imagine the parents faces if I so much as suggested all putting in a couple of quid for dcs teachers

I'd forgotten about teachers gifts, thought I was sorted with only 2 or 3 things to buy. Am sure I'll find something, will probably buy from Traidcraft as their gifts go down well.

I like it when we have a class rep who makes a collection as: a) the teacher gets something of use to them, not 30 candles; b) it is much less effort for me, especially useful if I am working.
This year as there doesn't seem to be a collection, we will probably make a gift (Cookies or a Biscuit Star Christmas tree). At least if its edible it will quickly disappear.
However I think we may have to go to a tradition I heard of in the US, where the teacher has a wish list (glue sticks, tissues and so on) and parents choose to buy something off it for the good of the class.

I agree re the secondary school teachers.

DD is in Year 11 and her GCSE teachers have been utterly wonderful. It is simply not the done thing for parents to get involved with gifts for teachers at this age, when they have had far more impact.

My DS class parents also do this - they send a note in the book bag asking for a tenner from each family :( I have always found this OTT, i put a fiver in once but it was begrudgingly, not for the sentiment of gift giving but the control aspect of it. Think the parents managed to get about 200 quid and split it between the teacher and the TA's . They have done it again this year, i am not putting anything in as i personally think that it is far too much, also they are public sector workers which i also am and i am not allowed to receive so much as a bottle of wine, any gifts given to my sector are donated to a benevolent charity. I wonder if teachers have an oblligation to disclose the cash gifts ?

We shall be giving the teacher a small gift, a card and our glad tidings for Christmas.

We tend to buy something for the class .A Salt game or more pens etc that weknow the teacher and the Ta buy from their own pocket

That is ridiculous. I wouldn't contribute to a kitty unless my tax contribution was lowered, we don't need to pay teachers twice. They were lucky to get a card when I was in school.

Maria what is it that you do that you can't accept gifts?

'Surely a gift for a teacher should come from the child and be sort of proportionate? So if a 6 year old wants to give his teacher a sort of 6 year old scale present (bar of chocolate, book, xmas decoration etc etc) that he has chosen, done the whole 'pay the lady' thing, wrapped up and given (a la John Lewis) then that is what it is about. As soon as the whole thing is hijacked by class reps and kitties and £100 quid stuff then it just becomes transactional. I know teachers may get a whole load of tat x 30 but so what. It is about the giving after all.'

What MrsHarryPearce said.

yep 50 is fine per person. can they not save some of the other money for a nice meal out for them?

exquisiteChristmasCake - Fire service - estates dept - because you are dealing with large value contracts and tenders, it is a big no no for obvious reasons, i think we may be allowed to eat donated chocs but thats about it !!

Am I the only person that welcomes the control being taken entirely from me?

If you are prepared to decide on the present, buy it wrap it, remember to bring it to school on the allocated time on the appropriate date, having coordinated the signing of the card by 20 infant school children then I will glady hand over £20 to save myself the bother of having to do it x3

No, not the only one :)

I have about 80 euro for the year for the class fund. I was proposing to buy a series of little things and do the tutor a stocking; I have a hand painted bauble, was going to buy a couple of little bottles of champagne with straws, put in some nice cheese twists, some smellies, some pretty earrings and an earring dish and hope that was OK. I have asked ds to put out feelers, but being 16, he is about as subtle as a brick!

Personally I love handing over my kitty money at the start of the year knowing xmas gift, Easter egg, end of term flowers are sorted for the teacher.

me too Wordfactory!

I quite like the idea of a joint collection and leave someone else to organise gifts at the appropriate time. Nice for the teacher not to get 30 candles or fridge magnets.

just say no

and bung them a box of Ferrero Rocher

We give £10 at Xmas and £10 in the summer and the class reps buy John Lewis vouchers for the teachers. Suits me perfectly. It's cheaper than buying them individual presents and takes away the hassle.

I think its great to have one big useful present or cash than lots of little ones. My teacher friend is diabetic and getting 20 boxes of chocolates was not much fun.

For those that suggest the money be spent on stuff for the class I wonder if you realise how much most primary teachers spend on their classes. My dp spend money on printer ink. Books, Plastic storage boxes a laminator and laminating pouches. paper small Xmas present for each child. Food for when they are doing cooking. I taught many years ago and this was completely the norm. I have also worked in offices and never remember being asked to buy toner or any other supplies. Sometimes tea and coffee was free too!