To not give presents to DC's teachers?

[SerialReJoiner]

Primary aged dc have lovely teachers. I don't want to offend, but it just honestly didn't occur to me to buy something for them. Should I get something? What??

I would honestly rather give them a nice card with a note saying how much I appreciate their hard work with my dc this year so far.

Do you not think all of that is worth a 3 quid box of chocolates?

not as simple as that..

I do agree that teachers do a wonderful job, however, there are 3 in ds1's class, 4 in ds2's and a further 3 in after school club. Where do you draw the line at who to buy for? If I got for everyone that '3 quid box of chocolates' would easily be over £30.

ncknacks you can get vouchers for any amount you want in most places. Certainly £5 is prevalent.

I was suggesting vouchers because teachers get TONS of chocolates, smellies and wine - of which they don;t usually want.

Like I say - I know of at least two staff rooms where unwanted gifts are put on a table for anyone to take

We do a class collection and buy vouchers for teacher/ta. It's Christmas, why wouldn't we want to buy a gift, and we're very lucky with wonderful teachers and ta's.

Lots of people are "just doing their jobs" like window cleaners, taxi drivers, hair dressers etc but people tip them all the time.

The majority of teachers go above and beyond. They are a huge influence in the daily lives of children yet so many begrudge them getting anything over their salary. Very sad really.

Mrsglitterfairy

Well considering what we're expected to do, I really don't think £30 between 10 people is a lot of money. If you don't want to buy gifts, don't. I was just saying why I think teachers deserve to be appreciated.

As I said, if you actually had to hire a separate person for every job we're supposed to do, it'd be more than £30!

I don't really get all the angst about this. Give a gift if you or your children want to, Let the kids make a present, stick a few quid in a class collection, write a card, or dont get anything.

Over the years we have done all of the above. Ds gives each of his 10 TAs and teacher his favourite food stuff. It is what he wants to give them, and it is the same every year!

...and I do give things to other people doing their job, our hairdresser, the post woman, our local pharmacy, the drs surgery, nurses when ds has been in hospital, dds bus driver......its a blooming gifterama round here!

So email is best? My DD's teachers are fab and want to do something nice. Am
a HCP myself so I understand how nice it is to get a card with a message but hadn't thought about an email too.

Although I emailed about the after school club (we were asked for feedback) and even I was surprised how touched the staff were by the email.

I know teachers just do their job but it's actually quite a wide ranging job that requires a lot of extra effort a lot of the time. I've never had a taxi driver or a shop worker make a real difference in my life but I certainly got that from my teachers.

As a teacher I really appreciate a thank you, or a Christmas card even. I've had some lovely messages from pupils at Christmas and it's always been so appreciated. So yes they are just doing their job, but some teachers may have got a pupil to do something they never would have before or helped their confidence or made them believe in themselves. That's outside the description.

I'm not very imaginative with teachers presents, I always stock up on the M&S boxes of biscuits when they are on offer, so teachers, beavers helpers and swim teacher receive a box each. Teacher does get a nice handwritten card also.

Actually thinking about it, I gave the woman in our favourite cafe a gift last year. When I worked in a shop I got cards and gifts from regular customers, and when I was a cleaner I got presents - it nice when it happens. But equally, I would never think 'harumph, they didn't give me a gift'

Give to girlguiding/scouting leaders instead! They don't get paid and rarely get thanked.

Give or don't give- really, honestly, teachers don't care either way. They think no less of anyone.

I personally think teachers do anything but 'just their job'. And the amount of resources, incentives, rewards and day to day items which makes children's lives easier which come out of teacher's own pockets is staggering.

To DD's teachers- thanks for nurturing, encouraging and caring for my child for 6.5 hours every day. She is my only child and you treat her as such even though you have 29 others to do the same with.

Oh I never take it personally if I don't get a gift, but it's the posters on here who say proudly they don't buy gifts for teachers to make some sort of point.

They'd be complaining if we didn't stay behind waiting with a kid when their parent turns up an hour late to pick them up for an activity though, wouldn't they?

I was too busy teaching last year to think about it (irony), so sent DS's teacher a message of gratitude for what she was doing for him. I sent a present in the summer.

This year, I've got a lovely pack of board pens. That'll bring a few weeks of happiness until they go walkies or dry out

Stationary is the way. There's never enough of it!

mydaughterisallergictofruit

How about both?

Personally I think the person who spends 40 hours of their week with your child and then marking too is deserving of something.

I put in to the class gift - £15 each per school age child and got wine and biscuits for nursery.

Chocolates for our Hermes delivery guy. £20 for postman, binmen and recycling guys.

I would have thought that a hand-written note would be better than chocolates - chocolates might (or not) just say 'I grabbed these off the shelf because I felt obliged' but a note means 'I actually took the trouble to think about this AND I realise and appreciate what you've done for my child'.

Another Teacher here. A verbal thanks is very much appreciated and often overlooked
I get paid I shouldn't get a gift to do my job. I don't turn up to your work with a gift

Aaagh, stop over thinking it! And yes I do turn up to other peoples workplaces with a gift or a token of appreciation (as stated earlier). Chocolates, biscuits, a thankyou, hand made fudge, a magnum of champagne, a handwritten note or a pork pie......it is (huge, but true, cliche alert) the thought that counts.

In my primary, rather than individual presents and cards all classes, no exceptions do a collection both at Christmas and at the end of the school year, vouchers for stores or Amazon are usually purchased alongside flowers and a card. Of course contributions are voluntary, but the pot is usually large. Individual contributions to the pot can be anything but typically £2-£20 per household, sometimes more (whatever you can afford) and the total is shared between the teacher and TA. It's just a nice gesture. I think because every class does it in my primary the teachers have come to expect it but they are a nice bunch who deserve it. If in doubt simply write a card with a heartfelt message.

Any ideas about TAs? Would normally do a card and present as they also do such a hard job but this year DD's class doesn't seem to have one or two specific TA - there seem to be a lot who cover the class and I'm not even sure of their names. Box of biscuits for all of them or is that a bit rubbish?

Wondered about an email to the head just saying all staff have been brilliant (I realise not all staff in every school are, but we are lucky with ours)?

I do tend to overthink these things!

winewolfhowls

Actually, anyone who I see so regularly would get a gift off me.

Binmen, DS2's therapist, the recycling men, the post man and our courier who delivers regularly will all be getting gifts.

My dc are 'challenging' and because i have 3 under 5 i am often late and disorganised. The teachers at dc preschool have been amazing. Especially with ds1- who has been undergoing 2 years of assessments for ASD.

Because of this I have given. I give as much as we can afford because i am very very grateful and i think they deserve it for how above and beyond they have gone for us. I have given vouchers to the 2 dc key workers and the preschool manager some money to buy everyone a drink (because with what they put up with from my boys they probably need one!) when out tonight for their xmas do. I wrote them all sincere personal cards as well.

Of course it wasn't 'necessary' and they would do their job no matter what and if we couldn't afford it i wouldn't stress at all. But fortunately we can and i want to spend it on people who have made a difference to my family.