To ask how much to give for teachers Christmas collection

[foxyloxy78]

What's a reasonable amount for a teacher and two assistants?

Yes, with any luck she'll come back and clarify. But I think if she had meant the staff organise their own collection she'd have said so as it's such an unusual situation.

Incidentally I've read posts elsewhere saying that class reps (ie PTA) organise collections and I think that's a bit dodgy if they're doing so as part of that role (rather than being a familiar and organised person). I think it blurs the lines a bit.

Our school arranges collections for teachers who are leaving, but not Christmas (independent school).

In our school, they try to limit it to €10 per family at Christmas for collections, or parents are welcome to give their own gifts instead of giving to the collection.

I never, ever expect a gift of any kind, however I am so very grateful if any parent chooses to think of me at this time of year when money can be tight.
One of my most treasured gifts is a letter from a parent of a child who was cripplingly shy. In it she thanked me for the time I’d spent to get to know her DD and how I’d made a difference to not only her education, but her confidence also. I hadn’t done anything I don’t do with other children in my class but the fact she had acknowledged it was really touching. That was eight years ago and I still have the letter now; I like to read it occasionally to remind myself that I’m a good teacher doing the best for the children in my care.

You’ll get a huge array of answers - no one is right, people call it as they see it, something, vouchers, a card or nothing are all fine, I don’t see any evidence that teachers demand it. IMO teachers work a lot harder than I do, for less money and do something more consequential, so I’m happy to get something small at Christmas for them as I can afford to. Equally, I wouldn’t want to be at a school where anyone felt obliged.

I agree the PTA doing a collection is dubious and I’ve never heard of that round here.

WTH is a teacher's Christmas Collection?
Surely a personalised thank you card is appropriate.
I never got, or expected anything at Christmas. Have you all gone mad?

Nothing.

Yes really. I've been given many presents, but never a monetary collection.

Esspee I think it's very common. It's nice to be nice. I haven't gone mad.

To clarify my post. When I said “Our school” it’s the class reps who arrange the collections.

The head isn’t involved in collecting any money but a percentage of the money collected by each class goes towards a present for her. This I find strange as it means the class teachers ( who are lesser paid and do more of the hands on work) receive a smaller gift than the head teacher.

Sorry for the confusion!

I normally put £10 in for 1 teacher and 1 TA, I figured otherwise I'd pick them up a box of chocolates and probably spend about a fiver each.

At our school the parent reps for each class arrange it. I did it for dc1's class last year and we got about £220 (31 in the class). We got them chocolates each and £100 gift voucher each. (Generally John Lewis) . Some parents do their own thing, which is fine. Makes my life easier as there's one less thing to sort.

It's the norm to do collections in our town, but also it's the norm for primary schools to have parent reps for each class, which makes sorting this stuff out easier.

I am so glad they don't do this at my kids primary - thankfully they are generally happy with a plant or a bottle of plonk!

We do £5 each for the teacher & ta and then buy a John Lewis gift card for them.

Oh and re the confusing between clas reps and PTA, class reps are separate, they aren't the PTA. Each class has one, they are the ones who sort out the stuff parents need to do for that class, rather than the whole school/year. (Eg getting a parent helper rota set up).

Our school there's no suggested amount. Most people give £10, but some less, some more and many don't.

Well, they live in your community, they use the same shops and amenities as you. I'm sure if they were thieves and desperate for money, pretending to organise a class collection and then pocketing the money is not the cleverest way to go about it.

Yeah, that's not quite what I was thinking anyway.

What were you thinking?

£250?! Oh Crumbs I do wish you’d have a quick google first sometimes! I went to several independent schools. My brothers went to several others. My sister and sister in laws are both teachers in several others. None of them ever had £250 as a contribution to a class gift! Even allowing for small class sizes of say, 16 - that’s £4K each Christmas!

I think it’s gotten out of hand. We’re doing homemade gingerbread men: over £100 for a teacher at Christmas is obscene. The organiser at ours mentioned £10 a child for end of year. Won’t be doing that either.

bunty do they say everyone should put in the same? That seems naff - or did you ask roughly what you ought to contribute?

I don’t understand why anyone needs to specify any set amount at all.

What were you thinking.** That I'm not handing money to strangers when I can have my DC make personal cards and buy a wee gift myself

I’d be embarrassed if the parents did a collection! I love the cards and I can’t say the chocs are unwelcome but I’d be mortified if parents felt pressured to give me something!
Mostly I love it when the children draw me random stuff with lovely little notes. I keep them.
Some of our parents use food banks and it upsets me to think they’d go without to give me something when I’m doing my job.

woof yep, the donation is £5 at Christmas and £10 at end of year. DD class is 23 strong. It’s just crazy. DS’s class has never had this, we’ve always done individual gifts, and I will continue.

Outrageous, it should be about goodwill not enforced/strongly recommended donation amounts...

Agree completely!