to not buy Christmas gifts for my kids' teachers?

[chainedtothedesk]

I had intended to buy gifts but I have just ran out of time and now its the last day and for the first time I'm not going to buy them anything. I do like both my children's teachers and appreciate the work they do but when did it become the norm to buy them Christmas gifts? I saw the pile of presents from the other kids and I don't think it our gift will ever be missed...will it?

I have been telling myself that there are lots of people that work very hard and I'm not buying them gifts either... There are 29 other kids in my children's class - who needs more 30 mugs or 30 tins of chocolates?

I have pondered suggesting that the parents who want to make a donation so something nice could be bought for the classroom - a marble run or materials for a special art project - but that sounds too much like something is expected. It also sounds a bit bossy and organising and, though you might not believe it, teachers sometimes try to guard against that.

Try suggesting it to the PTA.

(I was asked to be chair of ours off the back of doing last year's collection.)

ive just finished my first term as a TA and received lots of gifts today from children in my class. Of course I appreciate the gifts very much but equally felt like I would have preferred the parents spend the money on their family instead! There are very few jobs where people are given gifts simply for doing as expected.

Of course it's different when you feel your child's teacher/TA has done something particularly special for them that term, but many families can't afford that even if they want to. I know my family wouldn't have been able to buy extra gifts.

A card is fine.

It is entirely down to the individual, I work in a preschool, it was lovely to get chocolates and handmade cards, but just a 'Happy Christmas' is lovely too.

My dds make a card for their teachers, and this year crocheted a bauble decoration for her teacher because she really loves her - but I leave it to them.

Ds is in a sn resource base and there are 9 teachers/tas - he really loves them all, and so we bought them each a pork pie (ds's favourite food!)

I don't think it is just teachers who get gifts - I give biscuits/choc/wine to our gp, dr's receptionist, pharmacist, post lady and the woman who works in the corner shop (who puts by ds's favourite after school treat for him every day!)

I sent an email to the head and mentioned specific things the DC had enjoyed this term and thanked the teachers.

I'm a teacher. My favorite present this year was a pencil. Just one ordinary pencil. It had a little green craft paper tree glued on the top, with a few little sparkles of glitter. One of my most difficult pupils had made it by themselves and he was so proud of it. Much better than any of the other gifts I received.

I am a teacher and I received lots of very thoughtful gifts, I don't notice who hasn't sent one I don't give a second thought to those that haven't and it makes no difference to what I do for every child in my class. That said one of my girls sat down with a whiteboard and wrote out her 6 and 7 times tables which she has been learning at home. She couldn't have written any of her tables in September, she wrote Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on it and gave it to me. Best present of the day...I took a photo of it.