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.

One year we made the little painted plant pots that have a tape measure painted round the rim with"thank you for helping me grow" chalked over the blackboard paint, put lavender in them.

Each staff member still has them (DC leaves this year) and usually uses them for pens, one has been smashed and brilliantly glued back together

We do a class collection and get vouchers and some flowers/bottle, the kids write a note or a card. Parents give what they want or can, teachers don't get unwanted tat, they can keep cards from kids or bin them, everybody is happy.
We also do a class collection 3 times a year to buy supplies for the classroom.

If you are unhappy with a teacher, you don't have to give them anything, it's not a law.
Teachers work ridiculous hours, pay for so many things from their own pockets, and some of them do a fantastic job. Why not saying thank you with a little gift. They spend more hours with my kids than I do!

pressure on families to produce £10.

Depends how it's done, we get a notice when collection starts with a sum being proposed and up for discussion (you can give less,more or not at all).and a reminder when it ends. All the kids names get signed anyways,or it's from x class. We have the option to join in,do nothing or do our own thing.

Nope. Not my thing. I do write and thank the ones who help though.

What's wrong with giving £200 vouchers?!?

It's not that much money, it's better than receiving 25 unwanted items at £5 or £10 a pop - what a waste.

Is that because of the ridiculous and bitter attitude against people you think get something you haven't? Reminds me of the thread about paying your share of a meal with a voucher, and sharing the rest to give everyone a discount -still some bitter angry people about it!

I know I don't speak for all teachers but honestly, please don't stress about getting or not getting a card or gift. It's appreciated but not expected.

I organised the class collection for one of my dc this year and every child got to sign the card, regardless of whether their family had made a contribution. A card from the class, with a personal message from each child, makes a lovely memory.

I never have in the 6 years mine have been at school. I sent a heartfelt card to each teacher in the infant school because I really valued how they helped my children. Now they're in junior school I don't bother with that either as haven't been massively impressed with them, I asked the boys if they wanted to do a card, they said no.

Fine send something if you value someone particularly but I'm not doing it to out do other parents or keep up with Jones. A parent was asking for £5 the other day for a collection, that's a lot of money for some people and will add up to quite a significant sum for the teacher even if not everyone contributes

I'm married to a high school teacher who never gets gifts. I work in a healthcare profession that never gets recognised or given gifts by patients. It's our job we don't expect them, but a note or card saying how we're appreciated is much nicer. I grew up with relatives who were primary or nursery teachers and all those bottles chocolates and gift sets they received just went in various raffles as they weren't wanted

I'm a teacher (secondary) and receive loads of thank you cards, emails, and gifts at Christmas and at the end of the school year in the summer.

The bus driver and the lunch ladies get presents from me and in the final year of primary the caretaker got a bottle of whisky. The school secretary also got a present. They are generally forgotten about.

Its the done thing at DDs' school, but thankfully there are one or two mums who do a collection for each class at Christmas and Summer to get the teachers some lovely things (wines, flowers and voucher) and my kids make their teachers a handmade card, all the parents do is chip in a fiver.

God bless those mums!

A gift isn't neccesary, but saying thank you to someone who has done something for your child is. More to the point, teaching your children to be thankful to and say thank you to people who have looked after them and educated them is very important

I will never understand the threads on here with people almost proud of the fact that they say and do nothing for teachers. These same people probably manage to remember to be polite when they tip and say thank you to waiting staff, hairdressers etc who are also being paid to do a job, yet begrudge spending ten minutes getting their child to draw on a bit of paper to say thank you. It's weird.

I only buy a gift if my DC request it, mostly they don't.

I find it ridiculous that there's so much talk about levelling the playing field in terms of class. Stopping children from poorer backgrounds from standing out with free school meals etc.

But then this is an acceptable thing? Surely a teacher would appreciate a handmade gift more? I've seen Costa vouchers etc in the 'gift for teachers' sections in shops.

My mum was a single mum and wouldn't have been able to afford to do this.

I hate the whole concept with a passion. By all means do something nice to show appreciation to your teacher but it should be from the child not the parent. And not be something material which can isolate other kids who can't afford to match that.

Ah I think its really sad that some teachers on here throw some gifts in the bin. I'd never buy photo frames, mugs, key rings etc as I know they probably have enough but what if a kid chose one of those themselves? Could you not just say no gifts this year!

Buy for the TA's instead- they are paid a pittance and work much harder for their money than the teachers.

Surely a teacher would appreciate a handmade gift more?
not sure if a teacher will really enjoy 30 handmade "gifts" every single year.... Parents moan about the "art" and handmade creations given by their own child

Give what you want, it's the end of the year, you won't see the teacher anymore, so who cares? I can't see anything wrong in them receiving some vouchers as a thank you.

I am always shock when people resent others so much and come back with the "I don't get any thank you gift in my job"! So what?

In my youngest’s school, there is usually a class collection, where the money donated is split between TAs and Teacher, who get some flowers and a voucher each.

In my eldest’s school, people tend to do their own thing, though there have been end of year class collections some years. I always buy a Christmas present (Chocs and voucher) But unless there is a collection, not always an individual end of year present unless DS really wants to.

When eldest DS finished primary, I also got presents for two teachers who had made a real difference to his time there and wrote them cards expressing my gratitude for that.

As a teacher - do not get me a present.

If you do, I will accept it will grateful thanks but I find it embarrassing - it is my job, one I am proud of doing well, and I am paid to do it.

If your child had a good year, say a sincere 'thank you'. Write a personal message in a card, or your child might do so on a picture the have drawn. if your child had an absolutely brilliant year with me, e-mail or write to the head to tell them. All of those mean the world to me, if sincere and individual.

But please don't buy me a gift. Honestly, it's my job to teach your child, and I am paid for it. To be given a gift for doing my job seems ... odd.

@that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 You're not wrong, but the same probably goes for all other gifts. As others have said, so much waste and tat.

the TA's instead- they are paid a pittance and work much harder for their money than the teachers.

do they? I know lovely TAs. They arrive after dropping their own children, leave when picking up their kids and forget all about the school until the next day. They are working hours during their school hours, but you can't compare that with the work of a teacher who starts early, finish late and has to handle all the planning and paperwork.

I've just re read the title "does not get" 🙈

*What's wrong with giving £200 vouchers?!? confused

It's not that much money, it's better than receiving 25 unwanted items at £5 or £10 a pop - what a waste.*

Only on MN would £200 not be much money!
I do tip taxis, waiting staff as they aren’t very well paid jobs but this attitude towards teachers is often keeping up attitude, the support staff on minimum wage will appreciate a gift. My eldest is 25 now and there was never collections for teachers. 🙄

It’s the norm but I’ve never done it tbh

TAs do very hard jobs, often supporting SEN kids who would otherwise not be in school and for low wages so let’s not start being disrespectful towards them.

I do! I think they do a great job and I want to say thanks for that.

We give hand written cards and usually Starbucks voucher for Christmas, and cinema tickets for end of year!

There was one year where the teacher was disappointing so we only gave her a card though.