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.

It's probably been pointed out that you spelled christmas wrong two out of three times! Now I know my typing is appalling...

I always give the teachers, head, deputy (who is lovely) and head of key stage (who is also very lovely), plus various 1-2-1 teachers presents. Usually just chocs or wine/fizz of sometimes something personalised (hand decorated mug). It's nice to give a little something at is time of year!

this subject comes up a lot.

This is the second zombie thread of the morning. Where do people find them?

This thread has reminded me to get presents for the staff in DS2's room at nursery. This is exactly the opposite of what the OP intended .

member Thu 08-Dec-11 09:45:01
I send a "hamper" into the staffroom at my kids school so that the TAs/secretaries/parent helpers as well as teachers, get a token of appreciation. It tends to be mince pies/christmas cake, flavoured syrup for coffee, mini marshmallows & spray cream for hot choc.

What a fab idea! I know the secretaries in my DCs school do such a lot, know all the kids names etc.

Pandemoniaa Both are my fault, I searched with the dates for the last two weeks but somehow these still turned up in the results!

That's really sad. I've been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of some thoughtful gifts from my pupils, I haven't had to buy soap since I started teaching and now I'm on maternity leave I've actually had to buy myself chocolate which is horrific!

I don't think you speak for all teachers - not one in any of the schools I've worked in has complained about having presents - we've all been grateful.

No restrictions at my DD's school and the class teachers even had the good manners to send a thank you note.

This thread has made me feel really sad. It is truely miserable.
I bought ds1's teacher one of those tins of nice biscuits. I assumed that the 2 teachers in the year, and the 4 TA's would eat them. Or that they would go to the staffroom for all to enjoy.
Clearly not.

Oblomov, the OP is full of shite and was told so by many, many posters when he/she started the thread a year ago.

Please don't worry.

Ooh an early Christmas present for me! My first-ever

Ignore OP. Speaking as a teacher we don't all feel like that. It is entirely up to you-teachers won't mind if you don't!
As a parent I always sent presents in and my DCs enjoyed it.
OP is just 'bah humbug' and probably doesn't believe in Father Christmas either!

Ah-I have worked it out-if OP gets up to 300 DCs on her timetable they don't buy her presents anyway! When I did PPA time I taught every class and they didn't get me presents-they just got one for the class teacher and possibly the TA. I didn't expect them. Maybe OP is just jealous-she works just as hard but because she has a lot of pupils she misses out! Secondary teachers don't get many presents anyway-mine never took any after year 6.

God almighty what a depressing OP. I'd suggest that rather than telling other people what to do you take a look at learning some manners and be bloody grateful. I am disgusted that presents are thrown away.

Ds made his teacher a bookmark and card this year and wrote in it 'thank you for helping me wif my riting' - he hated writing before being in her class. I got her a handbag notebook thing.

Cost about £6 in total and tbh if she regifted the notebook I wouldn't be bothered but if she didn't appreciate the card or bookmark I'd be pretty fucked off and wonder why she became a teacher.

Fuck off op.
Gimme presents.
(I never get Em)

How rude OP. Don't presume to speak for all teachers e everywhere.

Op. can you not spell or not type?

Oblov - please don't worry. EVERY teacher I know in real life very much appreciate every gift they are given. It doesn't matter what the size or value or the gift is, if it is bought or homemade, if it is a card or a letter or a wrapped present. IME all are appreciated and accepted with the manner in which it is all given.

I have worked in two large secondary schools and a mid sized infant school. I have also done voluntary work in 3 or 4 other primary schools, in both state and independent sectors. I also have several friends who are teachers in secondary and primary, plus TAs.

I have never known a school to have a restriction on gifts, nor the need to declare.

I have never known of a school with a "gift" bin and most definitely never known of a school which gives gift away or in a skip.

The OP's description of what goes on in no way reflects all of the teachers I know, nor none of the schools I have worked in or any of my teacher friends have worked. in.

And this is also a really old thread!

How riduculous, OP! There is no limit for teachers. I love getting gifts!

I'm a primary teacher and I'm with you. A home made card or drawing mean so much more.

This is quite a deja vu. I can actually remember this thread from last Christmas.

Bollocks OP. Can't be arsed reading to end. I'm a secondary teacher so gifts are much rarer but still greatly appreciated, especially when they are from kids I've really gone the extra mile for. A box of biccies or sweets is also much appreciated in the staffroom. I have never heard of that insane 'communal box of gifts, then beg for your gift back' thing. It sounds mental.

Bloody zombie thread

I'm a teacher. I think this thread might be a joke. The idea of a "gift bin" is ridiculous. Teachers in my school who receive gifts take them into the staff room and show off about them!