What an interesting thread, with so many aspects.
So from a teachers point of view, here goes...
As a teacher, I never expect presents from anyone.
That said, I LOVE getting presents. Not because it is a present, but because the thought behind it says 'we think you did a good job'.
I especially love getting personal bits, like a cup painted by the child etc.
Because it says 'you looked after my baby for a year, and I trusted you'.
And be assured, just about every teacher knows when a parent buys something because they feel obligated. We would rather you just didn't bother. We know.
Now, as for the 'it is your job and you get paid for it' argument.
This is pretty much bullshit :p
Plenty of people get 'tipped' doing their job. Why is that right and a present to say thank you wrong?
I had my wage slip, it shows I am paid for 32.5 hours a week.
I get to work at 7am and I leave at 6pm every weekday without fail. Most teachers do a minimum of 7.30am-5.30. And get around 30 mins lunch (whilst making resources, setting up lessons etc).
That is a minimum of 10.5 hours a day I do. 52.5 hours a week. 20 hours over what I am paid for. Then I work evenings, as just about every teacher does. And at least a sunday. As a lot do. You can add another 10 hours minimum for weekend and evenings.
We get all the holidays though right? Big nope there too!
If we dare to do any training, we get slammed (inset days should be taken in what little holiday we get right, instead of actual work times?).
And the pressure, my God the pressure. Ofsted, the government, senior leadership, time, lack of money etc etc. And the parents! Every parent assumes they know better than the teacher these days, and feel they have the right to tell you how to run your classroom (seriously, spend 5 minutes on these forums to see complaint after complaint thread).
So, no, we don't get paid for what we do.
It isn't a job. It is a lifestyle. And not particularly a good one. The time with the children is great, it is why we do it. But sadly that is getting to be a smaller and smaller percentage of the time.
Teaching is being dumbed down. The government introduced 'teach first' to rush through top graduates into teaching jobs. I know a lot of them personally (more than 15). Two currently stick at it. The rest are gone. There reasons are either 1) work is too stressful or 2) we don't get paid what we are worth.
If we dare to do anything like strike, to try and secure the profession for years to come, we get hammered again, but parents and the government.
I love my job. And I WON'T change it for the world.
But let's not pretend it is just a job.
I have your babies for a year. For that year they are my babies too and I share every pain they go through, every job, every success and failure.
But it is fine, it is just a job right?