Who does NOT get teachers end of term gifts?

[louise5754]

My DH always says it's pathetic buying gifts for teachers. I've done it every July and Christmas for both my kids for the past 5 years. Often buying for the teacher and 3-4 teaching assistants.

He said he never did this and only the suck up kids do it.

I just thought it was what you do.

I don't - I have two boys who don't give a hoot about their teachers. I assumed it was a little girl, teachers pet thing. I would've been bullied to death at primary school if I'd bought a gift in for teachers!

I do. One of my children has ASD, speech and language delays and significant SEN. The staff in her class work very hard to differentiate the curriculum and meet with me regularly.
And don't get me started on how poor the funding is and lack of joined up thinking from all the different agencies, her teachers are the ones that actually make things happen.

Yes it's all part of their job - doesn't stop me being very grateful.

Prometheus why are boys less likely to care about their teachers than girls?!

Never, eldest is about to leave primary and hasn't mentioned wanting to get a gift so unless that happens we won't. May encourage writing out a card as it's been an enjoyable year for them.
But I'm of the mind that they are just doing their job and what adult wants 30 odd presents

DS is going into Y8 in September and I’ve only ever bought a gift for one of his teachers once. He’s been having a really hard time, low level bullying etc, queried SEN, and she was just amazing with him, she really was.

I don’t buy for teachers as a matter of course.

I don’t! Have a couple of times when I felt pressured but I firmly believe it shouldn’t be allowed. I’m sure the teachers don’t want half the tat they get either.

I get paid to do my job - I don’t get gifts on top and neither should they.

I don’t believe in tipping either FYI.

I don't as a rule but when each child has left school (primary or secondary) I have made pens, with said spawn helping to a greater or lesser extent, for them. I work on the principle that no teacher is ever going to have too many pens and that something handmade is probably better than yet another "World's Best Teacher" mug.

For me I like to make a thoughtful gesture of thanks as they have put so much in and it’s so personal for each child , but I never think everyone by any means has to.
(When our dc were in a class of 30 we’d find out what shop the teachers liked and club tog for a voucher then give a card with for example something each child had enjoyed about that year. It felt more useful as they must get lots of mugs! I gave nice bath oil this year. And always a card.

I tend to thank the kitchen team too and their reaction is always so happy at being remembered! ( our DC have allergies and so they do go to extra effort )

I get my kids to make a card and there is a normally a class collection that all the parents put a couple of £s in at the end of the year. I wouldn't buy individual gifts and definitely not at Christmas.

You're right, Louise, it's what most parents do. It stops when they go up to 'big' school.

If your husband objects, don't tell him in future. You can do what you like with your own money.

No, never have and never will. I say thank you to them and wish them a good Summer.

I don't.

No one is getting me gifts at work, and if they did, I wouldn't allowed to take them.

I used to give flowers at the start of the next term to dc’s last year teacher, if you see whar I mean. I reckoned that’s when they needed them!

Gosh, teaching is a job yes and they do get paid for it but they are dealing with your children.! Nurturing, caring, spending more time with them term time than you do! A small gift of thanks is just a decent thing to do!

It 2asnt the done thing when I was at primary or secondary school. I now live in central Scotland and it seems to be the done thing here. I will see when the kids get to school, it is a sweet gesture but I fail to see why there needs to be extra recognition for just doing their job. An exception would be if the teacher had gone over and above of course.

I do but I do it for a lot of ppl life example I got both my midwives gifts too!! It’s the least I could have done to say thank you imo.

I have done a bit in the past but these days just give them a very small box of chocs - and this year she's getting a pot of homemade jam!

Your DH sounds an absolute dreamboat.

I feel awkward when students give me gifts because I'm doing my job. I have kept every single card a student has ever given me though.

In jr school there was usually a collection and teacher got a gift certificate and TA a smaller one. In sr school it was up to individual parents as there were different teachers for most subjects. My daughter didn’t want to give anyone a present this year. My son only gave one to his head of year.

I think pretty much any teacher goes above and beyond, they'd are paid for 27.5 hours a week...so work an awful lot of overtime, unpaid, on a normal day never mind trips, visits, residentials, clubs etc. A card or small gift shows appreciation.

@soydora - I didn't say they were less likely to care. I said my boys (and their male friends too) don't particularly care. In my experience it's the mums of girls in my primary school who come into school loaded with gift bags in the last week of term.

When I was a kid, I used to embroider little fabric panels of flowers to give to my favourite teachers. I'm not sure what anyone thought about it, my mum just let me get on with it.

I was a right little Swotty McKeeno though

Don't buy gifts for the teacher! I get bags of crap which I bin on the way out.

In addition, my DD's class have a £10 each collection from the parents. That usually amounts to about £150 which I think is crazy, even when split between the teacher & TA. I'm not contributing!