re teacher's presents

[wandymum]

Our class had a collection for the teacher and we'd agreed we'd get vouchers with it so she could choose something she'd actually like/need.

There was a pool of about £200 and I've just heard that the vouchers are for... Harvey Nicholls.

AIBU to think that's insane!

She's probably not paid a fortune and so giving her vouchers for a shop selling only high-end designer luxuries seems crazy. Also does Harvey Nicks actually sell anything costing under £200?

I find these collections unethical tbh.

Bloody hell!
£200!!
I have got my ds1s teachers (job share) a nice little pot of hand cream each.
I am also going to write them both a card. They have really helped ds1 this year and I want them to know how grateful I am.

Fgs that is ridiculous. A small token gift,' ha made card by child, maybe something they have helped bake etc but £200!!

I have a friend who ,makes ink stamps and has done a set for teachers, its lovely and not too expensive so I may get that this year.

If we do donations ie when a teacher ris leaving we all donate say £2 each and then buy card and small gift and give the rest in vouchers, so out of a class of thirty that is £60 which is reasonable IMO and its normally john Lewis vouchers.

Our Alpha Mothers have demanded £10 per child. 22children in class. They say in their pushy email that you can give more or less, or do your own thing...yeah right. They are the type that would carp on about it well into new school year.

Is the person who bought the vouchers the type to buy overpriced tat stuff from Harvey Nicks? They obviously want to give a voucher with some... err, impact.
John Lewis would be my choice every time!
YADNBU

She now needs to report that gift to her HT, LA and HMRC. She will be liable to pay tax on it. We got an email about this last week. There's a real crackdown going on by HMRC. Anything over £25 has to be reported as a gift in public service.

I am a teacher and I once was given a lovely gift from a mother who's child comes to school in clothes that are very much worn, ill fitting and uncomfortable. Whilst always grateful, I was secretly mortified and wish she had bought her child some new underwear/clothing.

I don't think that the group collection thing is appropriate at all. A little token (only if parents want) is more than enough. Like a little choc gift/bookmarker or something.

I don't mind the teacher's collections but what is this new thing with collections for the class reps?

Honestly that is a step too far.

Good point stargirl

I work for a council and you have to declare gifts over a certain amount and I'm not sure your get to keep them

It is up to HR in my LA.

30 kids in a class? £200? thats less than £7 each so its not as bad as it sounds is it? i think she will be glad to be able to treat herself to something nice from Harvey Nics

The tax thing would make it difficult for someone if they were struggling with money/ on a low budget.

A friend got a note home from her school to say presents were no longer allowed (they put it better than that but that was the new rule) to avoid pressure on parents in difficult financial times.

I thought more schools would follow but havent heard of any that did.

I think it would be a relief to many people that they would not seem unappreciative/ungrateful if they just had their child make a card. Its become a firmly established custom now and it would be great if schools no longer enabled/turned a blind eye to it.

I would be mortified to receive such a gift .

It also smacks of the "rich" people giving the "poor" teacher a taste of their far superior life.

We gave the U15's rugby manager a John Lewis voucher for £250 plus gifts when he left, between a team of 30 kids. £10 isn't that much for many people in a fairly affluent area. We did suggest an amount but just had a secret collection so no-one knew how much any-one person gave.

Maybe the person organising the collection knows that the teacher would really like these vouchers.

As a teacher I would be hugely embarrassed by such a large amount of money. We do get paid you know! I have had some lovely gifts, but wouldn't expect any (heartfelt messages in a card or a homemade gift mean a lot but even then not necessary) - and actually we were talking about this today in the staffroom (last day of term here!) and saying we actually felt rather guilty about the money some of the parents must have spent.

MrsPaddy I too have had experiences like the one you describe and have felt terrible about it.

I am a teacher. That is a silly amount of money. Teachers in my school do not expect gifts and can be embarrassed when receiving them. I reported a £5 voucher to my Head once because I knew the family weren't well off and I wanted them to have it back but was told it would be rude politely decline. I just felt guilty about it.
It's not necessary and can lead to a competition between the children's parents. I think they should be banned. (And if I ever received £200 Harvey Nics vouchers I would be going straight to the toy department to buy some class games). Teachers do get paid.

I don't get all this 'it should be shared with the TA'. Why? They are not the ones actually teaching your child are they? DS has a TA in his class but has hardly noticed she is there tbh, she seems to be there to support a few children and be an extra pair of hands.

As far as I know not a single parent in his class of 24 bought the TA any rom of gift and they finished yesterday.

call me tightfisted, but she's got to traipse all the way to the bloody shop to spend them. it's £9 return to london from where i am and i hate shopping .... and i work in a classroom ... SO DON'T GET ME HARVEY NICKS VOUCHERS, KIDS!!

what an OTT present. anything that the children have written for me as a present means the world, seriously. plus those red lindor chocs which one boy always gives us.