Calling Teachers (unashamedly TAAT i just need to check, is that BU?)

[VacantExpression]

Would you REALLY appreciate a thank you gift of stationery supplies? As I think I really like this idea but don't want DS's teachers (who are lovely) to think WTF?

AIBU To remain unconvinced this would be popular?

[superram]

I also like the idea of tissues-can you get me an interesting box please? Would help with the clearing up of vomit....
I once worked I a place where we had to declare gifts (in education but not a school). My colleague received a bottle of wine, wrote it down under 'type of gift', next column 'what did you do with the gift?' 'Enjoyed it with cheese'. It was so silly.

We do a class collection and let all kids write in card whether parents contribute or not-so no favouritism.

[songbird]

Loving this idea and definitely going to steal it for dd's teacher. Both dd and I are obsessed with stationery and her teacher would love a homemade pen pot filled with loveliness!

[Eebahgum]

I love this "unethical to receive gifts" viewpoint. Is it unethical for me to buy end of year gifts for my whole class at the end of the year? What about buying new books to share with them through the year? Buying resources like boxes of tissues (great present idea!) pencils or glue sticks because the school doesn't have enough or can only afford poor quality. My conscience is clear. I know I spend a lot more on my class than the collective value of their presents. Even if someone does stretch to buying a bottle of wine!

[Cumbrae]

Yes Cherries but it's hardly the rule is it? Most of the posters on this thread are getting excited at the thought of receiving a bouquet of glue sticks.

[Cherriesandapples]

If you scroll up that is one of the gifts received by a poster above.

[Cumbrae]

Cherries I'd be deeply surprised if there are many teachers in the UK, even in private schools, who receive £200 handbags.

I don't personally send wine as I feel that it is a bit inappropriate to send a small child in clutching a bottle of alcohol but I appreciate that this is a minority view.

[P0llyP0cketR0cket]

Why is wine unethical?

[soapboxqueen]

Sainsburys have got some nice ranges too.

[RB68]

Just to say Wilko's is good for quirky stationery on a budget :-)

[VacantExpression]

Thank you so much everyone with a sense of humour and for your thoughts!
My husband works in a sector where they are unable to receive gifts and he has politely declined a few times. But from kids it is different- we spend a lot of time on the childrens ward and the nurses there have never turned down gifts either! (Though they are always chocolates or fruit hampers to share out).

I have made far more monumental decisions as a result of this tread than choosing gifts. I am retraining as a teacher finally have found way to justify stationery obsession to DH

[howabout]

Ladyflip I just wanted to say thank you. I am not a natural speller and I love these tricks of the trade. I promise never to misspell stationery again and hopefully I will spend a lot less time stationary at the screen contemplating it from now on.

Having RTFT I am now seriously considering retraining as a teacher. I used to be an audit manager. I miss my pocket calculator and my colour coded pens. I also love file dividers and post-it notes and I used to have a top ticker award.

How do teachers feel about receiving boxes of tissues to brighten up the need to constantly hand them out to my DC and their friends' permanently runny noses?

[JoffreyBaratheonFirstofHisName]

Ex teacher here and never got that as a gift. Would have loved it. Some gifts were a bit too personal/creepy at times (hard to explain why) but show me the teacher who doesn't lerve stationary.

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

Would a lovely personal stamp set be good? You know "Fabulous work!" and "Lovely writing" sort of thing?

[soapboxqueen]

Most gifts are under £5. More expensive things are rare. In fact it's usually only my friends working in private schools (particularly overseas ) that get the really big gifts. Yes some parents club together but then you can't show favouritism by singling out the entire class for special treatment, that makes no sense. Plus you won't be teaching them again anyway.

Besides we can hardly show favouritism to a child who brings in a bottle of wine as we are far too busy prioritising the children of the pushy mums, the children of teaching and support staff, the children of the governors, the children of the PTA members, the children of the parents who volunteers in school and obviously anyone else we take a shine to. Pfft

[cosmicglittergirl]

A couple of posters said wine, wine is not massively expensive. Not sure where the £200 handbag has come from. Due to the religous make up of my school I never received wine, and definitely not expensive handbags. However, a nice post it note pad would've been very gratefully recieved.
I don't know in what world a generous end of term gift would've led me to favouritism.

[Cherriesandapples]

Wine though, how is that acceptable? Handbags costing £200?
At primary level not bribes for marks but favouritism? Again, I am utterly shocked that teachers don't see that this is wrong.
As for turning presents away at the end of term. The school should just say that thank you cards are acceptable but that teachers are not allowed to accept presents over say £5.

[cosmicglittergirl]

I think people forget that this process is mostly to do with a child wanting to give a goodbye gift to someone who has been a big part of their lives for a whole year or a parent who wants to say thanks.

It's not mandatory. Nobody keeps a list of givers and non-givers. If you don't like it then don't do it but don't have a go at the people who do.

^^This.

A thread asking if teachers like staionery (yes, bloody love it, still love a browse in Paperchase and I'm on mat leave), not a thread discussing the length of holidays or 'ethics' of giving a thank you present. Yawn.

[soapboxqueen]

I've worked in some local authorities where gifts over a certain value had to be declared but rarely was any gift anywhere near that level.

I used to work at primary level and I'm not sure how a bribe would even work. What would the person or child get? There are no official grades to alter, children progress through the school no matter what and individual teachers have very little control over pretty much anything else.

Even the grades that are official (such as sats) benefit the school not the child and are externally moderated.

I think people forget that this process is mostly to do with a child wanting to give a goodbye gift to someone who has been a big part of their lives for a whole year or a parent who wants to say thanks.

It's not mandatory. Nobody keeps a list of givers and non-givers. If you don't like it then don't do it but don't have a go at the people who do.

[Cumbrae]

Cherries the vast majority of teachers presents will be around £5.

I'm not allowed to accept any gifts at all (not even a pen) but don't begrudge the teachers. They've finished teaching my child. In no possible way could it be a bribe.

[downgraded]

It's unethical in some quarters because it could be seen as bribery. However, a thank you gift at the end of the year, when assessments have already been marked and reports already written, can hardly be perceived as a bribe.

There is no inducement on the teacher to do anything in return for the gift.

Saying that, some schools don't like it if the gifts get too expensive luckily not mine, I got a 200 quid handbag once

[SwashbucklingInBrooklyn]

I work in a secondary academy and we do have to declare gifts. But that rule is largely in place to pick up on favouritism/corruption etc.
A pack of post -its and a purple pen is probably going on the waiver list.
It's the end of a school year - can you imagine if teachers declined gifts from the kids they've spent a year with? Particularly at primary level. There would be mass devastation.
I don't get gifts very often but this week I got a mug with my photo on it from some year 10s and a kinder egg from some year 8s.
It actually means a great deal

[Cherriesandapples]

it is totally unethical to receive wine and expensive presents. Most council / health workers are not allowed to receive any gifts above a £5 / bunch of flowers. If we do we have to declare it and often have to politely give it back. This is so that we are not seen to favour specific service users. Why are teachers any different?

[SoupDragon]

Some people need to have a long hard look for their sense of humour.

[Ladyflip]

Get over yourself. Lots of people have spelt it incorrectly. Lots of people, myself included, have had a hard week. As you all profess to be teachers, I thought it might help some of you to pass on ideas for correct ways to spell everyday words which are easily confused.

And it is apologise, unless you happen to be American. Which would explain the travelling, I guess.