to ask you not to buy Christmas presents for teachers.

[Crabapple99]

I have seen several threads on the topic, so want to give my point of view and experiences.

1. Many staff are not allowed to accept a gift above a certain value ( £3 in my school) so these big gifts, especially class gifts, leave staff in a very difficult situation, causing all sorts of paperwork and recording, and leaving us open to accusations of favouratitsm from families, and other allegations

1. Many staff don't want gifts, quite often the item is unwanted, even edibles, if the box is big, heavy, and we already have too much to eat over christams. It is also embarrassing to have to accept.

1. Many staff worry about the reason for the gift, especially if it seems some pupils and their parents feel pressure to keep up: I've been given gifts in the past that when I know the family can't afford even a couple of pounds, it makes me feel terrible. I've had gifts in the past which I suspected were stolen, which makes me feel worse.

1. I don't really think there is a problem with Christmas cards, but even then, as someone who could easiluy have 300 pupils on my timetable, even then that can get a bit overwelming, not to say meaningless.

1. A very small token, such as one of those tiney boxes from thornton's with just two chocolates in, is a nice way of acknoledging when a teacher has really gone above and beond, for your child, but even that is unnessesary rreally.

Hope I'm not coming across as a scrooge! I love christams, but dread this aspect of it.

I think all gifts should be accepted with good grace - if it is a voucher or bottle of wine, sure - it's not from the child in any real sense but it is an expression of gratitude and appreciation from the parents and it's churlish not to see this. On the whole though I prefer my dc to invest something in the gift - last year dd made an elaborate Hama beads christmas stocking over a fireplace tableau and her teacher was chuffed to bits (which was also very rewarding for dd)

I used to love receiving cards, especially the homemade efforts. It doesn't take long to fill in any paperwork. I always bought my form gifts and wrote them cards. It's a lovely time of year for appreciation

Students were always told not to worry about buying us gifts. I was naughty though as I always shared the sweets/chocs in the staffroom or in different classes.

Oh, yabu.

donnie, not the details, no, but basically yes, you gt it. Are you jalous? you do sound as if you might be

She's not dyslexic, she's on an iPad!

My writing would look like that if I didn't check my posts before I posted them.

I am a TA and have never come across any form of 'gift policy' in the schools where I have worked. several friends and family members are also teachers, in various parts of the country. Based on conversations with them over the years, when they have told me about the amazing/funny/practical/beautiful gifts they have received both at Christmas and in the summer, it would appear that their LEA's also do not have a policy of the sort Crabapple refers to.

The only time i have ever known a teacher to leave gifts in school in a cupboard, was a few years ago when one of our teachers was emigrating to the far east at the beginning of the summer holidays, and she physically could not take any of the gifts with her. She left all her gifts in a cupboard with the request that other staff members should make use of them. It broke her heart to leave them, but cost and space genuinely prevented her from taking them with her.

Over the years, I have been given many gifts and cards. Usually of little monetary value, but all chosen by the children. I really do treasure all of them. I know that many of the parents are not well off and that even a little gift is massive to them. I would not offend them by refusing the gift they have put thought into choosing. How rude that would be!

I think crabapple people might be confusing a guideline given to, say, private schools where there might have been less moderation, to deter collusion with parents offering to build a new IT block if their child is given preferential treatment. I cannot see how anyone can possibly be stupid enough to believe that such a guideline applies to a box of Yardley soaps and some Fererro Rocher, which is the sort of thing that your average primary school teacher might receive.

I've been thinking that the whole way through clam, why the descriptions of 'gift bins' though?

Crabapple99-you do have right on your opinion and yes,everyone has right to agree or to disagree with you,that's the reason you posted. Don't forget that you posted on AIBU -so i will tell you my opinion. Many ,many teachers are thankful and happy with a warm word of thank you,small made card or a small gift. There are everywhere bad people so teachers are not exception. I witnessed terrible comments made by main teacher and TA,they didn't know that me and my DD were sitting in the hall and they were laughing about "CHEAP " chocolates they received from the boy (my dd class) . Mother is single lovely mother (2 ds) and i am sure she did some other cut to make sure her DS can give something to his t and ta. I prevented that year (last year) my DD of giving her present ,she herd them and, so small ,but even she asked me why they don't like it. So, yes ,there will be always 1 rotten tomato in the box but it doesn't mean all of them are bad.This year both t and ta's in both of my dd's schools will get presents. Nothing big but something my DD's will choose for them. I hope they will be appreciated because,i am making certain cuts to buy something for Christmas for them ,just a small sign of a thank you........ O, Merry Christmas and sending you virtual

Crabapple

I'm curious, what was your speciality as a pathologist? Do you still work as a doctor, or does teaching take up all of your time now? Which job is more rewarding?

When did this present-giving start? I don't remember any presents to teachers when I was young.

I'd just like to say to any parents of the children my class, who may be reading:

wine (red please although if white go for pinot grigio or chablis. Maybe a blush)
chocs (not dark chocs please, lindt maybe)
smellies (any kind)
jewellery (Tiffany would be lovely, otherwise Swarovski is perfectly acceptable )

Please please ignore the OP. I love my Christmas pressies! You owe me something for the bloody carol concert alone!!

oh and my best Christmas card so far this year has been a blank sheet of white A4 paper, no picture on the front, nothing...

BUT one of my pupils who really struggles with literacy has written a little message on the inside, spelled perfectly. I have achieved SOMETHING this term

Oh and one from a 6 year old which simply says on the inside "I love you"

You make a difference Cup. You should be proud of your work, and you a few Christmas presents and more. :)

original christmas poster, I'm niot a doctor, I'm a pathojgist, I did genera pathology to start with, then later a furhter specialised in viruses and insect vectors, then worked in research for some time. Ir was exciting, and involved lots of travel but also involved short term contracts, unpredictible income, and as anyone involved in any sort of biological research knows, living things are totally unconcerned about such matters as human clocks and calenders, overtime, daylight, weekends, bank holidays, etc,etc. in other words, if the thing was going to hatch at midnight on sunday, or 4am Christmas morning, that was when you had to be there!fine for a young, unatteached peraon with no family responsibilities, but I chose to retrain as a teacher and work term times, day hours when I started a family

seriously htough, if any one is interested, or has DC interested, pathology is an exciting career.

Found on first result on Google:

You have to be a doctor, a dentist or a vet before you can become a pathologist. For most people, that means becoming a doctor, although you could also become an oral pathologist, if you get a dentistry degree, or a veterinary pathologist, if you've been to veterinary school. I'm afraid that there is absolutely no other way! Forensic science degrees and biomedical sciences degrees don't help - you still have to become a medical doctor first - end of story!

From second result on Google:

You will need to get chemistry, biology, physics and maths at A level and then apply for a medicine degree. Once you have trained as a doctor (5 years) you the take a foundation programme (2 years) and then you can specialise in histopathology which then can be developed into forensic pathology which is a specialist branch of histopathology.

Just goes to show you can't rust everything you find on Goodle norfolk carol singer

from the ucas course listing, one of about 40....

^Home/EU Search

University of Bristol
Pathology and Microbiology
3 year full-time Degree, 4 year sandwich Degree

Course Specific Requirements

Institution's Policy on Unit Grades Information Some admissions tutors may take unit grade information into account when making selection decisions. However, as usual, admissions tutors will make decisions within the context of the whole application, and will not disadvantage applicants who are unable to provide unit grade information. If unit grades are to be taken into account, then this will be clearly specified in the Departmental Admissions Statement. It is possible that some departments may wish to specify unit grade achievement in the terms of offers. If so, this information will be published in the relevant Prospectus entry and in the Departmental Admissions Statement. In addition, in some marginal cases unit grade information will continue to be used to inform decisions about applicants who have missed the terms of their offers at Confirmation.

GCSE/Standard Grade/Intermediate 1&2/Equivalent Qualifications

Subjects and grades required Mathematics, English and Science

English, Welsh and Northern Irish Qualifications

Volume and depth of study/Tariff points and Grades

Volume and depth of study (GCE A level or equivalent) Minimum number required: 3
Number preferred: 3

Tariff score

GCE A/AS level grade range AAB ^

Interesting, the Royal College of Pathologists disagrees with the above crabapple.

In fact EVERY medical website cites the need for a medical degree or is that perhaps the optimum?

Norfolk, I don't know what yuor pronbblem is, why does this matter so musch to you?

I've just copied and pasted the entry requirements to do a pathology degree from UCAS, that is the site listing all university courses available in the country, I just went for Bristol, because it wsthe frist, but look irt up for yurself.

There are many, undergrad courses, I know because I did one! Then I did a postgrad one! Ohters on the postgrad course had other degrees, maybe medicine. I don't know, but I didn't ,I had pathology!

Are you really angry about this? Do you just not want to be wrong? are you upset because someone with dyslexia got several degrees? I don't undrstand why this means so much to you!

I don't think that you are even a teacher if you think the job fits in with family life. It gives holidays, which is good, but that is about all, and it is possible to work for a different LEA and have different dates.

it certainly is, Exoticfruits, unfotunatly, andthis affects about 5 days a year, but I have half terms and (most of )school holidays with DCs, and of course no night work, and only very rare weekend work, which was common in pathology

Loke I said, you vcan't ask livimg things to stop growing because it is Sunday, or new years day, or time to pick the kids up from school...