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.

No, we don't. Last July ds made a thank uou card for his teacher as he'd had her for three years. And she was great.

It's not the done thing in our small state primary, but in the semi-private (Spanish 'concertada' schools) they go fucking nuts! Sil is always complaining but never makes a stand, more fool her.

Really surprised by the response. Always get teachers and lsa presents Christmas and July. And when teaching I've always received from at least 75% of the class. Normally a box of chocolates or biscuits or flowers. Lovely thought.

I suppose a question for the teachers on here would be do they treat the kids whose parents don't get them presents any different? Do those present giving parents get given more time of day than others?

I’m a teacher and don’t expect anything from my pupils (i.e. their parents) as I am doing my job. I have received cards and letters from pupils (some a few years after they left) and they mean more to me that, say, a bottle of wine or toiletries. I have a boy in my form whose mum buys me a small token each year as I have really nurtured him - he came from another school after being bullied.

Don’t buy teachers presents - if you want to express gratitude, a personal note will be kept for years, especially if it is meaningful.

“Who does NOT get teachers end of term gifts?”

I was at school from 1989 to 2003 (end of sixth form) and in all that time, nobody, but nobody, bought a teacher an end-of-term present and I was at 5 schools (primary/secondary/sixth-form) in that time.

But I grew up in working class households where it was never expected. My mother still spits venom at the idiots who applaud when a plane lands in Spain when she goes on holiday.

Teachers are doing their job. You shouldn’t give them presents; you shouldn’t applaud pilots who land a plane safely; you shouldn’t tip the cashier in Tesco who successfully swipes your grub through the till.

Let’s face it, teachers do a shit job anyway; most English kids are half-literate and barely employable. But we fawn over state sector work, as if the alternative was nothing; same as we fawn over the NHS, as if we should be snivelly grateful for the half-baked treatment we get (it's free!!), as if the alternative was the USA and no treatment at all. Not once do we look at the Continent and how private healthcare givers (yes, private hospitals!! Imagine it!!) do a better job than the lousy NHS, which killed a grandparent of mine with MRSA which would not have happened in France or Germany or Spain.

teachers do a shit job anyway*

ODFOD.

We always give a little something ,from a card with a note,to home made stuff to class collections.
I don't mind and DD has had some pretty amazing teachers.

@ADropofReality...hate to burst your bubble, but MRSA does exist in France, Germany and Spain.

There’s always a collection which I always chip into then a kind parent gets them a voucher at a shop they like. Avoids the 30 mug thing. I think it’s nice and well deserved.

And I wouldn’t treat the children differently whether their parents bought presents or not - absolutely not.

I work in a Secondary school - is it different in primaries? Is there more pressure gifts there?

Those of you who say teachers are paid to do a job so dont deserve a gift...do you tip waiters? Leave a Christmas box for the bin man/postman? Tip the junior who washes your hair at the hairdresser? Tell the taxi driver to keep the change?

I've done it every year for the last ten years while we've had children in primary school. Not this year though due to DD's teacher being a complete waste of space, academically and in every other sense. Buggered if he's getting a present!

This thread has been reassuring as it had never crossed my mind.

As a teen, I bought presents for my teacher's in my final year - apple-shaped stress balls. It was all I could afford and it seemed appropriate with the amount of stress I imagined I caused.

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

Charming

Maybe you could donate it to charity?? Or recycle it at least?

I think it's become more of a thing at primary and Junior school, than High school, possibly because the parents aren't allowed in as much and there are too many High school teachers, ie one for each subject.

We've all put in to a collection

@Bigearringsbigsmile...no I don't tip any of those.

I'm not doing it this year. I'm exhausted and got way too much on.

The nicest gift for me this year was a parent tweeting the HT, praising my efforts with their child and saying what a happy year her child had. That’s worth its weight in gold!

We do a class collection, £10 per child, and split between the teacher and assistant.

Nope. I don't do this. I MIGHT have handed in a box of gingerbread biscuits for the staff room one Xmas but only because I was making a load anyway! Maybe a hand drawn picture or card for the teacher but thats it!

Interesting Prometheus, that’s not my experience at all.

Nope. Have a few times when teacher has been really great/helpful. NEVER Christmas gifts just end if year. Son year 8 now and only done about 3 times. Daughter year 1 and never yet.

We do a class collection which normally goes on vouchers. Plus cards.

When a primary teacher went above and beyond, I wrote to the new head in September to praise her rather than the outgoing head.

I now work in a school. Schools get so much shit and complaints, praise and thanks is unusual and therefore greatly appreciated!

I don't know what to do. This is my child's first year. I've bought thank you cards and we'll do them I really don't know what to do about a present. I don't what them to not like us or think we're ungrateful or something if we don't....
And I'm not sure what to get either...