Local Council has banned teacher gifts

[Originalfoogirl]

Our Local Authority has advised schools to send a letter to parents stating that they should not buy Christmas gifts for teachers as it goes against their policy on employees accepting gifts.

Our school has not sent a letter (yet), but it's very well publicised locally that others have.

I'm not big on teacher gifts anyway but did want to give a little something to her TAs who are excellent and go above and beyond. Should I ignore what I know, given the school haven't (yet) sent a letter. They are really bad at timings and I expect a letter on the second to last day or something! Not ideal if you have already bought something.

Or, would making a donation to the school be a better idea?

Thoughts?

I've always bought chocolates and I'll continue to do so. The teacher can always donate them to a food bank or give them away if they have too many.

I don't think it's out of control, not that I've heard of. At DD's school less than half the class give something and a box of chocolates costs £5 or less.

The best gift Teachers can receive is the company of well mannered, respectful and hard working kids who are a pleasure to spend time with. A card with a personal note is also a lovely gesture.

I'm secondary so am never the recipient of piles of things but any small gift is very much appreciated, but unnecessary. I also enjoy seeing kids who've left school and who come back for a visit, to say hello and let us know how they're doing too.

I have heard of schools giving "wish lists" of supplies that otherwise the class will go without or the teacher might pay out for. That might be a better approach for presents now the budgets have been cut so much.

It's a job like any other ffs

jealous are we?
As my kids are involved, no, it's not a job like any other.
And even if it was, so what? People give gits to whoever they want, and say thank you to who they want. It's the time of the year when many people get invitations from their suppliers to fancy diner, fancy drinks or receive post hampers, private busieness invite the staff to christmas does.
I cannot believe anyone would begrudge a small thank you gift from parents.

If you don't want to give anything, just don't. It's the time when we teach our kids about peer pressure and not to do anything stupid because all their friends do it. If their own parents can't show them the right example, what hope do they have. The whole thing is ridiculous

Our schools do have amazon "wish list" with various supplies on them. They are quite popular.

People give gits to whoever they want, and say thank you to who they want. It's the time of the year when many people get invitations from their suppliers to fancy diner, fancy drinks or receive post hampers, private busieness invite the staff to christmas does.
I cannot believe anyone would begrudge a small thank you gift from parents

With you on this.
I buy my teaching assistants gifts at christmas (on the rare years i have any!) and thr IT staff and our pastoral office. Sure they are just doing their job, but their work makes my life qt work better and I'd be less effective as a teacher without all our amazing support staff. They don't expect a gift but it's nice to.

My DH gets gifts linked to work and it's fairly common in some of my friend's lines of work (estate agents, law) for clients to send a thank you to the person overseeing a legal issur or house sale.

It's nice to say thank you to people.

I think some people just don't like teachers much and love to chip in on the rights/wrongs of perfectly reasonable evebts that happen in school.

Why should people dislike teachers? There's no particular reason for mass hate surely.

Any excuse to find ways to try to stick the neck out. When more directives come out banning this ostentatiousness I'm sure "people give gifts to whoever they want" will stand out as being a strong defence

It's a bad and materialistic example to children, also. Children could make teacher a card, at least they'd have fun doing that, and cards can be recycled after Christmas.

Giving a thank you gift to someone is materialistic now?
Bloody hell. This thread gets more bizarre by the second.

I hate to pop all kinds of bubbles but we don't go home under a mountain of presents.

I think token gestures are nice. Most years when gcse / a level groups leave we get a box of chocolate, flowers and a lovely card from the class (much like we did for our teachers).
I wonder how many of you claiming mateiralism buy piles of shit at christmas and routinely update your kids wardrobes, get nee cars before they are broken etc. Much more materialistic than a token gift and a card.

Anyway, i best go cancel my gifts for TAs and support staff now I've seen the error of my materialistic ways.

Anyway, i best go cancel my gifts for TAs and support staff now I've seen the error of my materialistic ways

Nice one. Whilst you're at it think about the fun and creativity for a child re making a nice gift for their teacher. If that wouldn't look a bit too cheap and cancel out the props of being one of the money is all crew, that is.

This thread popped into my head when two children handed me a present yesterday. I knew one of them was going to get me something because his mum had asked what adults were in our class. She’d asked her DS and been a bit because he said about 5 names. I explained that he’d included our 1:1 TAs in that as well and I clarified who worked with all of the children in our class. So I knew I was probably getting one from him but it was still a lovely surprise! I haven’t opened it yet so don’t know what was in it.

The other child got me a small box of sweets (unwrapped) which were related to something I really like. The children know I like it so her getting it for me was really thoughtful but can’t have cost her family very much. But as many people have said on this thread, cost does not mean anything to me. Her putting thought into that small token gift meant the world to me and showed me that my class know me as well as I know them. They have paid attention to my interests. This is also shown through them drawing pictures of my interests in cards they make me.

If you don’t want to give your child’s teacher a present, don’t. I will never treat your child differently for that. If you want to give your child’s teacher a gift, do. I will never treat your child differently for that either.

Whilst you're at it think about the fun and creativity for a child re making a nice gift for their teacher. If that wouldn't look a bit too cheap and cancel out the props of being one of the money is all crew, that is.

Haha! Right. I'm part of the money id all crew now? Ok.
Did you miss the part on the thread where i talked about handmade gifts i still have, and thr cards/notes.

It's not about money.

My issue is with people getting all self-righteous abd smug because 'well i'm not materialistic', 'i hate gift giving cultures to teachers. It's basically bribery' etc.

People can show their appreciation for anyone how they like (teacher or not a teacher, card, gift or a thank you, bought gift or handmade gift).
My point is some people on this thread seem remarkably uptight. If people don't wish to give a gift then don't. Nobody expects one. Nobody is going to treat a child differently ot anything like that. Just don't get all superior about how 'I hand make gifts so I'm better...' / 'i don't give gifts because i see through some big conspiracy...' that kind of attitude is as bad as people who might think 'look at how good i am with an expensive gift'.

Most gifts we get are flowers, cards, chocolates, or handmade crafts.
The idea teachers routinely get lavish gifts is just ridiculous

It is long overdue and yet another warped US import.

Teachers should not accept gifts other than a card.

Anything else presents a clear conflict of interest.

I sent a heartfelt thank you message to my DC's teachers last year, and got more thank yous for that than any present I've sent in.

Our school is asking for donations to the local children's hospital en lieu of gifts to teachers.

TDHManchester
People have done cards abd chcolates for teachers since I was at school. Hardly new.

And if you seriously think a bunch of flowers creates a conflict of interest you need your head examining.

Hi everyone, here's your coursework grades now if you look carefully I've put my career on the line abd handed a few more marks to people who got me sone chocolate at christmas. Oh and there's 4 of you who've not done homework, but only 3 of you have detention. You timmy have anotjer day because you made me a lovely pic n mix jar one year.

I disagree... I must have went to the wrong schools but i was never aware of it from primary right through to big school . Maybe it has just become more fashionable and expected over recent years? What about the child who doesn't gift? Will they feel inadequate alongside their peers? A bit like the kid who doesn't have the latest mobile or fashion wear.

Best to keep it simple,cards only .

I work in a customer facing roll where there is real potential to receive rewards from clients. It's in my code of conduct that i cannot accept anything ,nor would i really want to. I am happy with what I am paid.

Joint class gift of a voucher is an excellent idea. I think you should be able to send gifts if you want to, it's nice to teach kids to appreciate and think of other people.

Dd did two free music clubs after school this term held by teachers to practise for a concert. I bought some £3 boxes of biscuits from M&S and sent them in but dd forgot to hand them over but also said no one else gives anything. It just feels a bit ungrateful! I did thank one of them after the concert. Maybe i could get dd to send an xmas card and thank them in that if she wants to? Not sure what's appropriate at high school.

TDHManchester
It isn't like everyone gives presents except 1 or 2.

I've been allowed to accept token gifts in all my pre-teaching roles too.

I'd also think nothing of dropping off a box of biscuits for the nurses who cared for an elderly relative in hospital etc.

It's a small gesture of kindness. Our school states that large gifts must be declared and discussed with SLT but token ones are fine.
One year my a level students gave me an equipment hamper to top up my supplies, some flowers and some fizz. It was lovely and a collective gift. I can't helo feel sorry for anyone who'd try to find something untoward in some 18 year old leavers saying thank you.
When I left my last job I was given a beautiful present from a family of a child with SEN for all the extra stuff I did and how I helped them battle the SEN proceeses. Again, a lovely gesture.

Fine, if people are giving £50 gifts per child then that's a bit much but that rarely happens. Maybe that's me being in state secondary though. I know of friends in some independent schools abd those teaching abroad thr gift culture is very over the top (and one did report a parent they felt was trying ti gain for their child but we were talking gifts of say £250-500 from thr family!)

Yes i suppose your right Maisy,,,I don't have any direct experience of this so its good to hear a different point of view.