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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For not being allowed to sign the teacher's card?

265 replies

BigApple11 · 14/12/2016 15:41

I haven't put into my dc's class teachers' Christmas collection, for a few reasons.
Namely they ( the class reps) want £5 per teacher. That's £15 for my DS and £10 for my DD.
I also have an older child.
Christmas costs us a fortune.
The teachers are paid by my taxes.
Yes they do a brilliant job.
I bake them cakes throughout the year.
I help in class every week.
AIBU to think I should be allowed to sign the bloody card even though I haven't put into the collection???
The class rep pisses me off but that's besides the point. I think

OP posts:
Foldedtshirt · 14/12/2016 15:44

How petty of the class reps Hmm
YANBU

DontTouchTheMoustache · 14/12/2016 15:44

Just do your own card? I understand why they don't want you to sign if you haven't chipped in what everyone else has but £5 per teacher is an awful lot so I also understand why you don't want to.

GeillisTheWitch · 14/12/2016 15:45

Get your DCs to make the teachers a card with a nice personal message inside. That will shit all over the class rep's one.

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 14/12/2016 15:46

That's a lot of money Shock I wouldn't pay it either.

That said I do think that only those who contribute to the collection should sign the card.

Just send your own one in.

Wolfiefan · 14/12/2016 15:47

I wouldn't pay. I would send my own card if I wanted to. I wouldn't expect to sign a card to accompany a gift I hadn't contributed to.

FizzBombBathTime · 14/12/2016 15:48

I was with you until the taxes comment

CockacidalManiac · 14/12/2016 15:48

Class collections for teachers?! When did this start?

SoupDragon · 14/12/2016 15:49

Buy your own card!

MeetMeAtMidnight · 14/12/2016 15:51

Send your own card. Quite reasonable not to want to contribute but unreasonable to want to sign a card that gives the appearance you did contribute.

Groovee · 14/12/2016 15:52

When we did this it was usually only those who put in who got the card to sign. I can't see why you wouldn't want to get your own card if you aren't putting in.

HeCantBeSerious · 14/12/2016 15:54

I do a Xmas collection. Instead of gifts for the teachers we buy something for the class (usually Lego). People who don't donate don't get to sign the card. Why would they?

SaltyRock · 14/12/2016 15:54

Just get your own card. Why should you get to sign if you didn't put in? YABU.

Arfarfanarf · 14/12/2016 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YelloDraw · 14/12/2016 15:56

People who don't donate don't get to sign the card. Why would they?

What if they donated e.g. £2 not the 'suggested' £10?

BewtySkoolDropowt · 14/12/2016 15:57

You must pay a lot of taxes if you pay for 5 members of staff all by yourself!!

DixieWishbone · 14/12/2016 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 14/12/2016 15:58

Yello in that case they would have to write really small... Grin

MyKingdomForBrie · 14/12/2016 15:58

Of course YABU! You don't have to contribute but you can't take credit for the gift others paid for!

Waltermittythesequel · 14/12/2016 15:59

The card is from the contributors and you didn't contribute. Why should you get to sign the card??

Genuinely don't get this!

FilledSoda · 14/12/2016 16:01

You need to send your own card , otherwise you look like you're trying to get credit for contributing to the gift.
Stupid and expensive system they have going on there.
What do they do with all the money?
Do they choose a gift?
Minefield

HeCantBeSerious · 14/12/2016 16:04

What if they donated e.g. £2 not the 'suggested' £10?

We don't have a suggested amount. Some give £3 and others £10. They all sign the card.

NapQueen · 14/12/2016 16:04

God who can be bothered with this sort of shite?

I'm a nod hello at the odd parent (the ones I catch eye with not like specific ones!) type person. I certainly couldn't be doing with getting involved with stuff like this.

I've bought a small token gift for the teacher and ta and dd will sign the card from her. That's enough surely?

PeteSwotatoes · 14/12/2016 16:06

YABU for the taxes comment. Do you realise that public sector workers pay tax as well?

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 14/12/2016 16:06

Are you pay 100k plus in taxes a year?

Witchend · 14/12/2016 16:07

I think it's fair enough most of the time.

I saw 3 dc through infants when this was done through infants usually at Christmas and Summer.
The same parents said "I'm not donating" as said "why would I help/donate etc" when approached. And they were always the first in line for the PTA run crèche on Christmas show day, first in line for anything involving leaving their child with pta run things and the first to complain if something didn't happen due to lack of volunteers or their child didn't get first prize in anything.

Having always done a "every child signs whatever" the reps in year 2 one year decided that you'd only sign if you donated (a smaller amount was fine). Response from one parent was along the lines of "not fair, now I'm going to have to sort my own out.."

Having said that, that's too much money they're asking for-we usually kept it down to £2 per teacher £1 per TA (often had more than one of each) level-we aimed for less than £5 total generally. The year they'd had 3 teachers (1 TA) they did ask for £7, but were clear that any amount was welcomed.