Teacher presents. End of term.

[rackhampearl]

Aibu to ask you teachers what your best and worst present experiences have been from --parents students. Also has anyone got any ideas? I'm thinking of miniature bottles of Hendricks gin and a small can of fever tree in a gift bag for the teachers heavily involved in my DDs school life and some loaf cakes for the staff room. Is that abit naff?

Alcohol is the best - followed by chocolate

I have to say though I don’t like the peer pressure of teacher gifts, I have had loads of little people come to me apologising that they haven’t got anything which I find truly awful! I usually reply with ‘You being in my class is the best present ever!’ and that cheers them up and I’ve got a hug etc. but it can be heartbreaking!

I would always have said alcohol but several schools near us won't allow it on the premises so teachers can't accept it.

My dd favourite teacher was leaving he loved a popular book and I managed to find a signed copy for about £7 Loads on the site and daughter was so happy to give it to him.

Pass I think it's linked into the whole teaching as a calling thing that successive governments have used to justify paying us so little, and that SLT use to convince us to do extra work for free. The "it's for the kids, we don't work for mere money, we work for the joy of seeing a child grow" blah blah. Money is a dirty word in teaching. I think people are terrified to be seen as greedy or materialistic.

I've always been deeply grateful for any present I've been given by a pupil. It's a lovely thing to have happen.

Not read the full thread and might have already been said but why oh why is this still going on?? I work in the public sector and I am not allowed to accept gifts, same goes for pretty much every public sector job including nurses and doctors

Stop this ridiculous pressure on parents , teachers are paid very well.

No cake. I work in a school and we dont eat it.

Oh believe me at my kids' school any cake gets absolutely devoured! When the kids started there on the occasions I had to go into the staffroom there were cries of "it's not always this full of cake in here" but now they've given up any pretence! Think it varies as I had a job interview at one school where the staff were collectively agonizing over if they could risk indulging in a second ryvita with their lunch - didn't get the job, wouldn't have fitted in!

I sent a couple of trays of krispy kreme doughnuts in after they had an Ofsted recently just as a "sod any inspectors - you're all bloody amazing" pick up to get through to the end of the week!

I usually go for a nice notebook and some pens that aren't the bog standard school issue biros - pens are always in short supply (and the school stationery order biros are crap), and DD1's teacher in particular burns through notebooks as she's more organised than my "scribble on any random scrap of paper lying around" approach to life.

Why is it ridiculous pressure to buy a Costa voucher or Chuck a tenner in a collection? Blimey some of you must be barley able to cope with life.

Agreed duchess! I’m well paid in a profession but would still love it if my manager, co worker or someone who works for me bought me a box of chocs. Lovely.

It’s similar to people buying gifts for midwives/ nurses who cared for them during a hospital stay. I had a baby last week and those midwives are pulling in the chocs and biscuits like noones business I’m sure they manage not to be mortified

And to all the ungrateful teachers saying ' don't buy me this' 'don't buy me that' get a grip!

Pass because some parents cant afford to buy 5 teachers a ten pound present! Teachers are well off. What about he kids who can't give a big present but see their friends bringing in stuff, it's not their fault and they feel shit.

Teachers are not well off at all.

IF they can’t afford it that’s for them to deal with- it’s life that some can afford things others can’t, and as many teachers have said there are homemade cards and notes, or small token gifts. Why should people who can afford a tenner be prevented from giving a gift they want to?

Because no other public sector workers are allowed to and that is how it should be. No more pressure, no more unwanted tat and wasteful consumerism.

Best gifts are homemade card from child often with a lovely note from the parent. My favourite was a voucher for afternoon tea for 2 at a local tearoom - not hugely expensive and a small group of parents had clubbed together. But honestly, after 30+ years teaching a big thank you is enough.

@PantsyMcPantsface I think a box of doughnuts bought from the shop is completely different to homemade cake that has been prepared in someone's kitchen, most teachers I know that wouldn't eat the homemade stuff would eat anything shop bought.

Sure they are. Hospital staff accept small gifts all the time.

I work with older students so they often choose things they know I like based on conversations we've had or things they've seen me with. Some of the most memorable have been: a pink leopard print ceramic travel mug, a Lush gift box, a spa voucher for me and my husband, a tea and chocolate hamper put together by the students, two pots of yoghurt (I love yoghurt!), books, a ridiculous bakery cake with a personalised message, ditto the world's biggest cookie with a personalised message, some momentoes from my university when a student went to visit, a video of each member of my class with a message for me.

I also love flowers, wine, and chocolates, especially if they come a couple of days or weeks before the end of term - they help see me through!

The cards are my favourite and I keep them all, but I'm not going to pretend I don't like the presents too. I also write my students cards at the end of our time together and get chocolates or snacks or whatever for them throughout the year (for revision sessions, as a well done etc) so it's not entirely one way.

Because no other public sector workers are allowed to and that is how it should be.

That's not true. When I worked for the NHS we were given gifts by patients and relatives, it was fine. We couldn't accept money and had to make our line manager aware if the value of a gift was over a certain amount but we certainly weren't forbidden from accepting gifts.

I'm actually gonna take the cakes in anyway. Then at least I've made a gesture to the full faculty. I'm gonna take in a Walnut and Coffee, Lemon and Passionfruit Drizzle and a Carrot Cake. If they choose to bin it, that's on them. I will have made the effort regardless. The individual gifts for DDs teacher, TAs and head will be given to them at the school reception with handwritten card from DD. I will not have DD take it in during class and potentially make other children feel upset.

Cakes are usually a good idea for the staff room. My school does collections and I usually get a nice voucher. This year though I have asked for donations to cancer research instead as I am doing a half marathon for them in October! I honestly don't think it hurts to ask the teacher if there is anything they want if you want ideas! Although you may have to stop them after a list of classroom stuff!

My sister and I both teach, one secondary one primary. Not alcohol, I'm not keen on gin but otherwise unfussy but many of my colleagues either don't drink or have particular preferences. Dsis got loads of prosecco and she doesn't like it. Also not a mug, the first one I got when I was a TA and I loved it, but several mugs later I'm kinda overwhelmed by the numbers. To be honest, anything I'd have to give permanent house room to is awkward because whilst I love the thought and I'm grateful for the sentiment, I'm desperately trying to declutter my house and it doesn't help.

I am being genuine and honest when I say, I really don't expect or want a gift. A card with a message from the child is more than enough.

I've been a teacher for several years. I genuinely don't expect presents and am touched if someone chooses to get one. A useful one was when all the parents clubbed together and bought a voucher (John Lewis but anywhere that's useful) but my favourite was when a child made me lasagne. I had all sorts of complicated dietary requirements at the time and she made the effort (aged 8) to make me a vegan lasagne with 2 portions. Not only was it delicious but some real time and thought had gone into it. I still remember her with a smile 😀

A hand written letter of appreciation for all the hard work, assuming you like the teacher. OH was a promary school teacher and over the years he received all sorts of stuff but the one thing he still has is a lovely letter from a mother saying how she had appreciated his influence in her son's life as he had few male role models.

@Gilbert1A yeah I don't understand that thought process either. I think TAs are fab and the two in my childs class will be getting the same as the teacher. Even the one who accidentally caused my daughter to get sepsis

I always get a small rose plant, that way they can enjoy it like a bunch of flowers and if that want plant it in the garden if they have one.