...to think that mass gift-giving to teachers at end of year is tacky?

[MuddlingThrough]

Do teachers really want 30 packets of Cadbury's Roses, bought because the high-street shops have sented out yet another way to turn genuine sentiment into a tacky marketing opportunity? Or should we just say thanks instead?

Thread summary:
About a 50/50 split overall, with most people thinking that bought-in-a-hurry high street gifts are tacky, and that homemade gifts lovingly crafted by alpha-families are A Good Thing.
There is also a consensus that wine is A Good Thing even when bought-in-a-hurry.
So is Lidl lager. And so, particularly, are action figures of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde.

Saggers - what a lovely teacher you must be! It's so nice to hear of a teacher rewarding the children for THEIR efforts. Most of the time they just seem to be there as lab rats to measure how good the school is.

That's lovely of you to say so. I do try to be a nice teacher - but I'm not always! I teach Year 3, so most of the time it's easy to be nice to them. I might feel differently if they were 14 or 15!!

Rather irritated by that comment actually Twinklemegan. I only ever see my pupils as 'lab rats' when we're doing some experiment that involves them as participants...

I think you may be confusing individual teachers with 'the system'

Oh ignore me.

Just get grumpy reading about all the lovely presents primary school teachers get.

DO get lots of cards with references to 'surface area to volume ratio' on them though

as class rep this year I have offered to buy john lewis vouchers and a big thank you card to our lovely yr3 teacher - £5 per child is the suggested donation most people have been delighted to contribute and all will be sending in cards also I gather
did not buy a present last year though as DS hated the teacher and she was v grumpy

'suggested donation'

Meandmyflyingmachine - was definitely talking about the system, not individuals. Sorry if it came over differently.

i think it' the chos piled high in supermarkets and woolies that make it look tacky.
can't we make our own choices?

OK. Ignoring for a moment the question of whether it's tacky or no , and bearing in mind DC's and I won't have time to make home-made biscuits/chocolates/cards before Friday, what would any teachers on here really appreciate as a gift? I was thinking of some decent wine - DH thinks it's inappropriate (coming from an old soak like him ). One for DD's male class teacher, one for DS#1's class teacher and one for his maths teacher who has worked wonders. Any ideas gratefully received.

My Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher really went out of his way for me this year, despite having health issues to deal with. Any suggestions of gifts for him? I was thinging of doggie chocs.

I always make something. This year it is little notebooks with a cross stitched picture on the front. At christmas they got stitched calenders.

Have bought good bottle of red wine and an lovely PLANT plus a twin PLANT for tassistant who is very lovely too.

May well get the evils from other parents but what can you do? It's just the equiv of buying them a drink isn't it?

I have made cakes for my dd's teachers, they have been extra lovely this year and she goes up to the juniors next september so it is goodbye too. The others are just taking in a card to say thank you. Pics of the cakes on my profile I am a baking addict i may point out purely selfish reasons....

Sorry to drag this up again but would value the opinion of some of you teachers please.

Instead of the uaual bottle of plonk how would you feel if a family paid for text books and drinking water using the oxfam unwrapped charity as a thank you pressie?

orry if this has been covered I have tried searching and its taking longer than the HP book to read all teacher related posts

Hey,

My kids always bought thier teachers gifts. Well actually, I did for my kids and not for the end of the year but for Christmas. I think it is a nice way to say that appreciate the work they have done for your child. Try a unique gift instead. I always gave sees candy gift certifcates and a nice card.

Haven't read all this thread, but as a teacher, I love getting presents. We don't get many in secondary, so their is a novely value I suppose, but I still like it, I feel really touched.

Also, I always keep ALL thank you cards etc. It really makes the job worthwhile

...there of course....

I am about to do teacher training and have been working as a TA in a reception class this year. I got a few gifts and some cards, and really it was the messages in the cards/letters that I will keep and treasure. I really appreciated the parents who took time to write how they were grateful for what we had done for their dcs. And the children who had either drawn a picture or written a lovely message. Flowers, wine etc are all lovely but I certainly wouldn't expect them. And I was glad not to get any 'best teacher' mugs etc...(but would have appreciated the thought)
Quite shocked at parents doing collections with 'suggested contributions' - must be nice for the teachers but I would feel uncomfortable as a parent.

I think it's nice to get teachers a present at the end of the year, and probably much better for one parent to organise a collection and buy something large and that the recipient will enjoy rather than the teacher receiving 30 small tacky presents. But indidividual cards with personal messages of appreciation should also be given

Yabu - it's great.

DW gets given loads of chocolate and
I get to scoff it all.

One year, my ds had 3 teachers (maternity leave) and 4 class room helpers! 7 fecking presents! Boots had a sale on...and you know those mini perfume sets? Well I found some for a £1 each, so they each got one pmsl!

I'm a teacher and think it's an awful tradition, there are always some children who feel awkward that they didn't get you a gift and that's terrible IMO. I always thank the giver personally but never make a fuss in front of the class. No one should feel obliged and it does seem that some parents indulge in oneupmanship. I won't be giving my DS a present for his teacher unless he desperately wants to and then I'll be encouraging a home made something.