To not buy the teachers Christmas gifts?

[Applescruffle]

AIBU to not buy the teachers Cheistmas gifts?
I mean, I know it's not unreasonable but is it the norm to buy them?

I appreciate the teachers very much and they are all absolutely lovely and I could afford to do it but the reality is... I just cba.
I have a million other people to buy for and I can't even think what to buy for half of them never mind another four people (two kids with a teacher and TA each).

Do the teachers even want 30 Christmas gifts from kids?

Is "I can't be bothered with it" a valid reason to not do it?

I must add I do make an effort at the end of the year. I handmake them beautiful gifts and get the kids to write cards and I always include the TA too and often some baked goods for the staffroom.

Ooh actually I could bake them some mince pies for the staffroom!

Anyway... AIBU and do you do it?

I’m not a teacher but in my job receiving a card or even something on a scrap of paper with a nice message or a hand drawn picture if from a child is honestly the most appreciated thing we can receive.

I've just googled the Costa/mastectomy thing (won't post it here as I don't want it upsetting anyone who might find it offensive) and yeah, the previous poster has a point. That whole thing had passed me by but it would put me off buying from Costa.

Organise a collection with the whole class towards a gift voucher.
Please.
With thanks from teachers everywhere.

I have been given such generous gift vouchers from my form groups over the years, I bought dd's baby car seat with them and other big ticket items. But thinking about it, it'll have been about a fiver per kid.

I've also been given, over the years, fancy candles, macaroons, a couple of nice scarves, lots of bottles of wine etc but my favourite gift is a whole-class gift voucher...!

We do go above and beyond for the kids.

I'll add that I always get presents for dd's nursery teachers. I don't know the other parents well enough to organise a voucher but I get them a hamper of staff room treats instead

They are doing their job and are well paid for it so don't need presents. A thank you (if they deserve it as not all teachers are that good) is sufficient.

@SisterMichaelsHabit Most teachers get 2-4 gifts a year max. Most parents don't buy gifts for teachers. I've never ever met a teacher who expected a gift, they are always a pleasant surprise.

What?!? Every single class my children have been in have done a class collection at Christmas and at the end of the academic year. We almost always give the teacher and TA a nice bottle of something, flowers and a generous JL voucher.

I also give a card and small gift to individual subject teachers/music teachers etc. And I always buy a nice (and large) box of chocolates for the office staff too.

state and private - 90% of all the parents contribute between £5 and £25 each for a class gift (normally £10 each)

Don't buy a present. A gift is only a gift if it given freely and without resentment otherwise I really wouldn't bother.
I'm a teacher and don't expect presents at all from anyone. However I do buy presents for my children's teachers, volunteer coaches, afterschool minders etc because I genuinely do appreciate the time and effort they put into my children and Christmas is as good as anytime to say thank you.

The difference is primary vs secondary. Primary teachers get way more gifts. Rightfully so imo, their job is way harder than ours (I'm a secondary teacher)

My husband got loads of Costa and Starbucks vouchers and they're never used, they just expire. We would rather go to our local coffee shop. He always keeps the thank you cards. One was so lovely it's still on our dresser about 6 years later

@switswoo81 I have only once not contributed when my child had a teacher who wasn’t kind. Every other teacher I have appreciated so much that if I was rich I’d have given them a Ferrari 🤣

@Mummymummy89 we now give a small gift and (most importantly) a card of thanks to dc’s form tutor now secondary is here.

@blaum just donate them then?!

Which I would much appreciate as my Peugeot is about to combust any day now......!

@switswoo81 if your initials are CS I’ll see what our class can do! 😂

We never bought any teacher gifts, for Christmas or end of year. We were never asked to contribute to whole-class teacher collections/gifts, and I'm fairly sure there wasn't any for our year group.

I often thanked the teaching staff though and often helped where ever could (school fayre, on parent council for a while, school trips and so on).

Please don’t buy gifts - a nice card if you want, with a message would mean so much to me and my colleagues, and I always feel guilty when kids bring in expensive or elaborate stuff.

Oh you're primary aren't you? 🙄

Exactly!
11 years teaching state and private secondary science (and DH has the same but longer in private) and the only place I got a big slew of presents was when I taught primary in Asia where it was traditional to try and bribe the teachers. Which was sweet but awkward 😅

The veiled implications in that PP's post weren't lost on me though LMAO.

I don't think it's fair for teachers to come on this thread telling an OP who is stressed that she can't afford a present that most of their students give them lavish expensive gifts so insinuating that she'll be embarrassed if she doesn't, when it's not really true and it's unkind to claim that. It's honestly grabby.

Have you read the op? She can afford it. And I don't think frenchfancies was criticising you. Just pointing out you're wrong - your point is only true for secondary teachers, not all

Just realised the Starbucks ones don't expire. Costa is 1 year

YANBU. I used to get stuff I was allergic to so that didn’t even make it home with me. Honestly, a card is enough. Some drinking chocolate or tea for the staff room would also go down well and will hold over until next term where mince pies won’t.

I have teachers in my family and one in particular has made it a Xmas tradition to drop most of the gifts off at the charity shop on the first day of school holidays.

Generally a class of 25 and the Bayliss and Harding gift set record is current 12 giftsets.

A nice hansmade card from the kids means so much more than cheap gifts etc, candles and acrylic primark scarfs.

I’m a teacher and I never expect gifts (though I’m always grateful)

However,

I’d be mortified to send my own children to school without a gift for their teachers. I think it’s because the children I teach whose parents don’t send anything (and I NEVER expect or judge) are always so apologetic about not bringing a gift and I feel so awful for them. I don’t want my own kids to ever feel like that when all their friends have something.

So I do and don’t think YABU!

Could you explain to me why no costa cards because of mastectomy?

oh just googled and found out why!