To think people should buy presents for volunteers before teachers?

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

I'm an assistant cub scout leader in a naice part of Surrey. My 'colleagues' and I run a very successful pack and put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the children have a full and varied experience. Although I know that our parents buy presents for teachers and TAs at Christmas and at the end of other terms, we very rarely get anything. Please don't think I'm grabby, obviously I don't volunteer in order to get anything ('cos obviously I don't anyway!) but AIBU to think that parents should give us the odd token?

Isn't it partly because schools sometimes have class reps or similar who organise the collections via school book bags? Whereas parents for a cub pack will not have that same easy link?

Presumably there are advantages for you/your family or you wouldn't do it?

Do people really assume that volunteers at kids clubs are doing it for personal advantage? Bloody hell - what advantage do you think I get from running around coaching kids sport on a Sunday morning when I could be slugging around on the sofa watching telly.

It might come as a shock but there are bugger all advantages for many of us - certainly in my case I do it because I want kids to have the opportunity to learn and take part in a particular sport, there is a desperate shortage of coaches and a particular shortage of female coaches to inspire girls who want to play the sport. I also fork out for my own coaching courses and qualifications (the club would pay half but that would come at the expense of funds available to buy kit, subsidise costs for kids from disadvantaged families etc and I'm not so strapped for cash I want to do that), pay my own coaching association fees, spend time before the sessions planning, keeping records and setting up and then time afterwards clearing up.

Secondary teachers get bog all, so it probably is about who the kids spend the most time with.

I expect that if a kid's parents got a present for every adult who spent an hour or so weekly with the child, it would get ridiculous.

It wouldn't even cross my mind to get my DS's football coach a Christmas present.

I've always got the people who run a club my DS goes to a nice small something at xmas (all the people, including the young helpers), but it isn't compulsory. They are volunteers - nobody made them do it!

And, quite frankly, the hours teachers work, and the pay they get, I don't begrudge them all the quality street they still will be chewing their way through come February.

Totally agree with this. I'm happy to pay into our teacher's end of term collection - a Mum who is a teacher generally organises it , but it seems totally unfair to reward someone who gets paid for doing a job versus not for a volunteer.
I gave wee gifts last year to the beaver leader and helpers, but as there was 4 of them and I was buying individually, they were very small boxes of chocolates. I'd be more than happy to do a group thing, but I see how they get moaned about here and I don't know a lot of the cubs parents so I don't them to feel I'm coercing them into contributing money that they hadn't budgeted for.

Ex cub leader here. Used to receive a couple of prezzies and cards at Christmas (out of a pack of around 25). I was disappointed that most parents just seemed to sweep up their DCs and leave after Christmas parties or camps - I think they should make their DCs say thank you to the leaders for giving up their time. That's good manners, and I very much appreciated the small minority that did this. It's a good lesson for the children to learn as well - politeness and thoughtfulness are excellent attributes in later life!

I've always given a small gift to volunteers who give up their free time to do nice things with DS.

However, a teacher is completely different and a good one is worthy of a decent gift. Yes they get paid for x hours but they do so much more than they get paid for and are a daily influence in DS's life and his education. I don't forget the other staff either that have an impact on his school life.

Am a guide leader. Am always amazed by the number of parents who think we get paid! Yes it seems odd to reward those who are already rewarded with a pay cheque, and not acknowledge those who reveive nothing for their efforts.

And i think the op just wants his/het efforts to be acknowledged.

But surely the efforts are acknowledged by the children when they enjoy the activities etc? Wanting a gift to prove that seems a tad grabby. A verbal thank you should be enough.

Not all volunteers do it from the goodness of their heart, many want to be involved as their child is, lots use it as a way to boost their cv or to gain experience for a new job etc.

An awful lot of the cubs thought being a leader was my job! And a quick 'thank you' after a session if they particularly enjoyed isn't too much to ask.

But lots of teachers also do activities outside of their teaching - for example the teacher who chooses to organise sports matches, or choir/ singing competitions. These teachers put in a lot of effort they don't have to, on top of what they are required to do for their pay. Should these teachers get a Christmas gift as well, because they are basically volunteers - or just a card and thanks?

Just a thanks, verbal or in a card, is perfect for anyone you feel is doing a good job. Nobody feels awkward or left out.

It's a little unreasonable to think people should get anyone a present but i agree it would be lovely to get the odd token, even just a card, but then I'm a Rainbow leader who rarely gets so much as a thank you so may be biased.

daisy a verbal thank you would indeed be enough. You don't get many of those. I have to say too that, as a Rainbow leader, I can't think of a single volunteer who does it to boost their CV or to gain experience. We have a few younger people who come and help us as a part of their Duke of Edinburgh and I suppose that's of wider use to them, but I'm not going to discourage them!

If anything, several people I know (myself included) would actually like to give up volunteering so that we could have more time with our families etc., but if we carry on because if we stop, the units will close. It is lovely when we see the kids enjoying an activity, of course, but that doesn't help when you're battling the online membership database or cursing the Girlguiding policy that online banking is banned, so you have battle through town on a Saturday morning to pay in a cheque for £1.50.

On another point, obviously teachers spend more time with the children than Guiders or sports coaches, but sometimes we are confided in because we aren't at school and part of the system ("Child A is bullying me, but I don't want to tell Mrs Teacher because she likes her").

To be clear, I really do not expect presents, and it doesn't worry me at all if people would rather buy for the teachers or TA's or whoever. It's lovely when people do think of us though!

I'm another who thinks it sad that people presume volunteers are doing something because it affords them some advantage. I volunteer at my children' s school. I don't so it because it gives me or my children any special advantage or insight. I do it because the teacher needed some help and I could offer a regular day to volunteer and help out. I enjoy it when I'm there- so it's not totally altruistic, but I'm not doing it to get anything out of it. I'm not after work experience or to boost my CV or to go into teaching or to find out how the reading books work or who is on which level. I'm happy to help because it's my kid's school, I have the time, and really, in those circumstances, why wouldn't I help?

I am extremely grateful to the volunteer football coaches who coach my son's football team, week in week out, and always give a present at Christmas and the end of the season. Without the coaches there would be no team, and they are all busy, working men who frankly probably have 101 other things to do. I don't see them getting much out of it either, except the satisfaction of helping the boys in the team and seeing them develop.

Just to add, I don't think it is about the presents, it's about volunteers being appreciated for what they do. I don't expect anything from the teacher I volunteer with, but it's nice to be thanked at the end of the day. I'm quite sure my son's footie coaches don't expect presents, but I think it is nice to acknowledge their contribution (and I think it's that the OP is getting at, rather than the present itself, it's what it represents).

I think it's to do with the special relationship many primary teachers have with the children in their class, and the amount if time they spend with them . And I say that as a cub leader!!

I've been a leader for 4 years, and I can count on one hand the amount of gifts, or even cards, that I've received in all that time. However, some parents are very good at coming to say thanks, some not so much !

I don't think it's grabby to think getting a gift would be nice to receive, it's not about the monetary value, it's about the appreciation of the time we give. A hand made card would have just as much value as a gift .

To the Poster who suggested that there are personal advantages to those who volunteer, I'd love to know what voluntary work they do !

8SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo* What would you like to receive from parents.

Most teachers on here say they value a card with kind words the most.

What should parents be giving to volunteers?

Well said Fayrazzled. In my experience, the vast majority of volunteers are just as you describe.

What should parents be giving to volunteers?

Recognition, if you think it's deserved.

I don't buy teachers presents. A card at the end of the year maybe especially if the teacher has been special in some way.
I am a cub leader too and yep to the amount of people that think we get paid. As for an advantage to me or my family that is a laugh actually. The reason I did it is because a fabulous nursery teacher who had done it for 30 years felt it time to retire and had tried for a whole year to get volunteers to take it over. Without me and another mum it would have shut which would have been such a shame.

I don't expect presents a card may be nice in fact one of my Cubs made me one at our art badge session the other night. but I understand the sentiment of just the feeling of being appreciated at times. There is a lot of work and planning that goes into each week and I can't say I don't enjoy it I absolutely love doing it but it is my own time I'm giving up to do it.

I gave to my DS beavers at the end of the school year as they had done far more for my DS that his awful teacher.

Am dinner lady. Got nothing last year, not even a xmas card! Cutbacks i guess although the Govenors n management seem to get plenty!

Its a shame the volunteers are overlooked, i can see your point. Maybe this year things will change. I hope so! Have a happy christmas anyway ( v early i know) ..

Governors are volunteers, Frozenchips.

i make sure (usually they remember) that ds and dd say thank you to the faces (i.e. not just some passing comment) to cubs man and guides lady every week. plus i give them chocolates/etc at christmas as i wouldn't run guides/cubs for love/money/volunteer accolades/anything.

i think it's a bit tight not to give you a present quite honestly. but some people are tighter than two coats of paint (could go into a long story but won't).