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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think these are ok teacher gifts?

103 replies

lyralalala · 02/11/2019 09:24

Both DS2 and DD3's teachers have made a point of telling parents not to go OTT on gifts as they don't want parents to stretch themselves

Personally after working in schools I think that is code for "I have a zillion Best Teacher mugs and I don't eat homebaking"

After helping out in the school I was going to get DS2's teacher a box of glue sticks as they do a big project in Feb and I know she'll end up buying some out of her own pocket. Similarly DD's class has 5 pairs of scissors for 25 kids so I was going to buy a box of scissors. I'm just thinking they'll end up buying stuff like that themselves, but I'm now wondering if its a bit crap not to buy them something specifically for them.

I'm going to get the children to make a nice card to thank their teachers for specific help they've give this year.

Shit or ok idea?

OP posts:

Groovester · 02/11/2019 09:25

Perfect idea!

Tink88 · 02/11/2019 09:25

I would appreciate that instead of a best teacher mug. I always buy glue for class 😂

Witchinaditch · 02/11/2019 09:27

Get a bottle of wine, no teacher wants glue sticks.

Blondephantom · 02/11/2019 09:28

As a teacher, I'd love it. If you feel the teachers are particularly wonderful, an email/letter to the head is a good way to help them. The head can use it as evidence during performance management and pay reviews.

BendingSpoons · 02/11/2019 09:28

I waa thinking of doing this, although I don't know exactly what the class needs. (Nursery class so can't really ask DD). I reckon most teachers would be pleased and it will definitely get used.

Original poster

lyralalala · 02/11/2019 09:32

Get a bottle of wine, no teacher wants glue sticks.

One is pregnant and the other doesn't drink so my wine fall back is out the window.

I will do a nice tin of biscuits for the staff room (although I usually do that in January as someone did it once in a school I worked in years ago and it was amazing to have nice biccies when we were all feeling the post christmas gloom)

OP posts:

CastleCrasher · 02/11/2019 09:34

I was thinking of doing an Amazon or Hobbycraft gift card (so theoretically could be used for self or class) this year - not sure if it's the right way to go out not - the glue sticks sound like a great idea but our school already ask the DC to bring their own!

Scarydinosaurs · 02/11/2019 09:35

As an ex-teacher I would have rejoiced at someone who gave me glue sticks.

AppleKatie · 02/11/2019 09:36

It’s a great idea. If they’ve flat out told you they don’t want gifts for themselves it’s perfect. A nice card explaining how great you think they are is also good.

BikeRunSki · 02/11/2019 09:39

I like those ideas. DD gave her teacher an electric pencil sharpener last year, which was well receivEd.

Sunnysidegold · 02/11/2019 09:42

Teacher here. I'd be happy with glue! We always run out, I try to ration it but it never works. Write a nice message in the card. I agree with pp about emailing the head. My head called me in one day to show me what a parent had written about me. It was lovely to see the thing the mum and son appreciated. It brought a year to my eye and it out ina good word for me with the head.

userabcname · 02/11/2019 09:44

I'm a secondary teacher and I would love this. Resources are thin on the ground and I always end up buying school supplies despite every year swearing I won't. I expect Primary is even worse for this. Great idea. Board pens are always useful too....!

Witchinaditch · 02/11/2019 09:47

Sorry I was thinking secondary school teachers it seems primary teachers would love glue sticks! Who knew!?

Original poster

lyralalala · 02/11/2019 09:47

I've emailed the head about DS's teacher already this year. We moved him after the summer and he struggled to settle in a little and she has been amazing with him. Also when he struggled with something specific, but felt embarassed to speak out in class she devised a 'code' with him where he could put his ruler in a certain spot on his desk and she knew. It totally empowered him to ask for help in a way he could cope with and without losing face in front of the other kids (there's a few things we've discovered his old school were shit at teaching). She's a wonderful teacher.

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 02/11/2019 09:48

I’m a teacher, and I’ve always appreciate every gift of all descriptions - I could get another 10 teacher mugs I really wouldn’t mind. I’m very easy to please in general when it comes to gifts - but not glue sticks and scissors it’s not a Xmas gift wouldnt actually be for me it’s not a teacher present is it? It’s a gift to the class/school then, the thought is well meant but you need to address the present to the class and not dress it up as a teacher gift. This is like a husband buying his wife a new mop scenario...

SmileCheese · 02/11/2019 09:50

Get a bottle of wine, no teacher wants glue sticks.

I could not disagree more with this sentence. If you surveyed 100 teachers I would be very surprised if any more than 10 of them chose the wine over the glue sticks.

Providing the glue sticks are half decent and the scissors include some left handed pairs if you brought me these gifts I would sing your praises from now until the end of my teaching career.

You would be a hero in staffroom discussions and teachers would be asking me to send them your children the following year in desperate hope of getting pritt stick and scissors.

HiJenny35 · 02/11/2019 09:52

Sorry to be the odd one out but I'd hate it. I'd rather just have a nice home made card. The idea that you are giving me glue sticks rather than writing to your mp or marching to demonstrate the absolutely disgusting fact that education is so under funded that teachers are expected to purchase resources for their classes, and by people paying for bits and bobs it's just propped up, what happens in the areas where parents can't afford the glue. Everyone has to stop, teachers parents, it has to get so bad that the government has to be forced to intervene not propped up by teachers thank you gifts being the next years resources and I'd find it very disrespectful if someone felt that a thank you to me would be to pay for what the government think schools aren't worth. However just a card perfect. Not wine a lot of teachers don't drink and I'd end up with endless bottles left in the staff room for anyone to take. Nice packet of biscuits to eat over the holidays or some bubble bath.

AdriannaP · 02/11/2019 09:53

That’s a gift for the classroom/children and not for the teachers. YABU

NameChange84 · 02/11/2019 09:59

It's a great gift. I have to spend my own money on these items regularly.

Please no wine. I don't drink. I have Coeliac Disease and can't eat baked goods and alot of chocolate isn't gluten free either. It upsets me that parents spend good money on things that I can't have. One year I had to lug home 20 bottles of booze. I was living in a Muslim household at the time so couldn't take them into the house. My car was clinking for a few weeks as I gradually got people to take them off my hands. I couldn't give them to colleagues as they were inundated with wine too.

Practical gifts are great imo.

fedup21 · 02/11/2019 09:59

I’m a teacher-I would love this! Glue sticks, boxes of tissues, felt tips, a nice picture book for the classroom-all very much appreciated.

Thank you :)

Pinkblueberry · 02/11/2019 10:00

If you surveyed 100 teachers I would be very surprised if any more than 10 of them chose the wine over the glue sticks.

Yes, out of necessity - not because they don’t prefer the wine if you can afford all those glue sticks, why not get both? A gift for the teacher to enjoy - which is the point of a gift I think - and kind contribution to the class. Sorry but I just don’t think the two are the same.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 02/11/2019 10:02

@Witchinaditch clearly doesn’t know any teachers. Glue sticks are precious currency in the black market of school resources.

Beautiful3 · 02/11/2019 10:02

Perfect idea.

MarthasGinYard · 02/11/2019 10:02

I think it's a bit rubbish TBH I'd get something a little nicer.

MarthasGinYard · 02/11/2019 10:03

'I will do a nice tin of biscuits for the staff room (although I usually do that in January as someone did it once in a school I worked in years ago and it was amazing to have nice biccies when we were all feeling the post christmas gloom)'

January
We'd just think you were re gifting to give away stuff you don't want.

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