Over the top teacher gifts

[SausagesSausagesSausages]

Our small village primary PTA has been organizing for all the teachers to have a day at the local very expensive day spa, and has been piling the pressure on parents to donate to this., saying individual names will be on the gift cards. It’s a very expensive gift, and I feel poor taste when there are families who are concerned about losing their jobs. We are in a reasonably wealthy area, although not all families are in this category. AIBU to say no way? I could probably afford it but I think it’s poor taste. BTW they really haven’t gone above and beyond, not compared to other schools.

F%ck that,,i wouldnt be donating to that cause. Im a key worker and have worked all the way through this fiasco. No one has bothered their arse to even say thank you to me or recognise my efforts.

Notachance - £100 per person???

I would feel very uncomfortable with a spa day. Very grateful but I would hate to go to a spa!

A verbal thank you is absolutely fine. A handmade card is also appreciated :)

A card, a heartfelt message of thanks from a parent or a little handmade something were valued, but not remotely expected.

This x100.

My DC gave her teacher a cup cost £1 bargain.. Oy did that as DC is year 6 and I like the teacher.. Didn't bother with other staff. Not given anything to any other years teachers. Likewise I dont give £ for staff leaving, I have in the past but they've been away a few months and then come back to work and nothing is said.. Bloody madness

Spa days seem a bit ' personal ' to me.
You would want to go with people you like and feel comfortable with, not colleagues!
I couldn't think of anything worse , esp as my bod isn't that pretty! 😀
I'd need a week

I can’t really comment unless I know the amount. You’ve said more than a few pounds OP - is that £10 a child / per family? £20? £50? I’ve chipped in a total of £50 this end of term but that covered 2x classes (teacher and TA in each) and also an extra gift from the key worker parents to the TAs running the key worker provision and an extra thank you to the head and the office staff. Money well spent and saved me trying to sort out a dozen little presents.

I’ve organised a collection for my child’s class teacher for the last 7 years. Last one this year but usually do the collection for my youngest child’s teacher too. For the last few years we’ve done a spa day voucher. I usually check with a source at the school that the teacher would like it and this year even got someone to ask the teacher outright if she’d like it. I always offer everyone I can the chance to contribute but it’s not a set amount and I always make it clear there’s no pressure to donate. I’d say just over half do and on the whole they appreciate someone sorting it. I don’t see a problem with a spa day, it’s better than 20 mugs. I’m also a primary school teacher but never had a class collection for me apart from when I left my last school.
People here a bit judgey, if you don’t want to buy a gift or contribute to one, don’t. But don’t judge the people who do.

Thank you to the parents who do this for teachers! It is really kind! X

Our PTA contacted us for money. My children haven't been in school since March. No phone call at all

No work set until the start of June

It's a big no from me

I'd be a bit embarrassed. I certainly wouldn't think any less of any families whose names didn't appear on the card.

@Boxachocs

I’ve organised a collection for my child’s class teacher for the last 7 years. Last one this year but usually do the collection for my youngest child’s teacher too. For the last few years we’ve done a spa day voucher. I usually check with a source at the school that the teacher would like it and this year even got someone to ask the teacher outright if she’d like it. I always offer everyone I can the chance to contribute but it’s not a set amount and I always make it clear there’s no pressure to donate. I’d say just over half do and on the whole they appreciate someone sorting it. I don’t see a problem with a spa day, it’s better than 20 mugs. I’m also a primary school teacher but never had a class collection for me apart from when I left my last school. People here a bit judgey, if you don’t want to buy a gift or contribute to one, don’t. But don’t judge the people who do.

You have totally missed the point. The OP has stated they are piling on the pressure and are asking for a set amount, so nothing like your situation 🙄🙄🙄 Give me strength

Absolutely OTT and completely unreasonable! Please let the head teacher know what is going on, that people are being pressured to put in money and let them put an end to this!
There is a limit on the value of gifts that teachers are allowed to accept, and for good reason. We are paid to work, and a card and/or a very small token gift are more than enough!

@DibDibDibduh My response was for the people who were commenting saying spa days are totally unsuitable and also for those who said teachers do a job they are paid for and shouldn’t get presents.

A spa day is way too much. Both the primary and secondary schools my dc attend are not allowed to accept gifts over the value of £50. And I’m sure many people wouldn’t be thrilled at having a soak with their colleagues.

I’ve always opted out of class gifts, a simple ‘ds has already chosen something’ usually gets me out of it.

My primary tries to ban gifts. Lots of the parents are poor and seeing them carry in massive bags of stuff at Christmas and end of the year were ridiculous.

God I wish I’d thought about this earlier, we also had a request for cash for a teacher that doesn’t know if my child is dead or alive or whether I’ve kept my job, or if my Dad is still safe in his care home.

If only I’d thought about regifting the bloody spa vouchers my SIL got me for Christmas!

Appalling! Gifts should be given by parents if they want too. Not forced and pressured in by pta or anyone else.

It's gone berserk.

I’m a teacher, this is way over the top! I’d be embarrassed to receive this. I’m delighted to have received 2 lovely photo cards with personal messages from the parents expressing their gratitude for what I did for their child. That’s plenty!!

We arrange a collection. Never specify how much to contribute and make clear in previous years people have donated £2 upwards and it will be signed from the whole class regardless of contribution. Most people chip in a tenner for 3 teachers (for all 3, not each). That still ends up on average as £60-100 per teacher / TA.

It's much easier for me to PayPal some cash than faff around trying to sort presents.

I think presents should be from the children - home made cards, etc.

Poor taste.
Some people are struggling and have lost jobs and to suggest this is rather vulgar.

If individuals wish to send a card or individual gifts then that makes sense and is lovely but to 'suggest' (we all know what some of these PTA types are like) to contribute to an expensive day for teachers who you suggest have not done an amazing job during the pandemic is ridiculous. Some teachers have had it very easy during the pandemic, full pay and less work so really not on. It's not their fault though the PTA people are really out of touch. Don't be strong-armed by the PTA dragons.

I'm a teacher and I've worked my socks off this year. It probably makes me very shallow but I like getting end of year gifts. The handmade ones are so lovely - a salt dough love heart, a loom band bracelet are some of my favourites and a lovely handwritten card by a child but what is equally appropriated are vouchers for John Lewis or M&S. I 'saved up' my Christmas and end of year vouchers and bought a camera with them. I will always think of those kids each time I use my camera. For the love of god! No more boxes of chocolates or mugs.

I agree there shouldn't be a press gang mentality about donating. If it's not your thing, then don't donate and don't put your name on the card. I'm a professional, I'm not going to favour your child more / less favourably because their parents did / did not contribute to my gift, it's just nice to know you're appreciated.

Quite rightly, NHS staff (front line and administration) have been gifted free food / pamper sets and shop discounts to show people's appreciation for their work. We've all had a rough year and perhaps instead of rounding on teachers about gifts, we should all be telling others how appreciated they are.

@notachancethatshappening

WOW.....

notachancethatshappening Wed 15-Jul-20 19:18:47
Our class reps wanted £100 per person contribution shock it was a NO from me. Bloody stupid.

More pressure on some people who struggle to say no/or cannot afford it...

@Boxachocs Spa days are unsuitable and totally over the top.. For goodness sake just get your own gift for them. Stop trying to involve everyone else

My daughter’s class we do an informal whip round and buy vouchers. It gets put from the whole class regardless of who has or hasn’t contributed and it’s anonymous amounts contributed so some have put in £25 this year whilst others have put in £5. I’ve been the collector for the last 3 years so I know there’s no judgment and nobody (except me but I have a crap memory anyway ) Little handmade things are given by some too.