Teachers presents - class gift

[angsanana]

I'm organising the year 5 Xmas present for staff this year. 2 teachers, 1 LSA, 1, one-to-one. When I've done this in the past the pot is usually 250-400 (our school tend not to ask a set amount there is a real mix of affluence). I've reminded a couple of times and Im at £115 between around 10 families.

WIBU to buy the gifts and put "love from Tom, bob, Kirsty etc" rather than "love from year 5"? In the past I've put as a class gift but the majority have contributed.

What's the consensus here?

Normally everyone who contributes signs a card/you sign on their behalf. Times are tough so not everyone can contribute sadly.

I am not sure I agree for professional jobs. And if there is a gift it's often done as a marketing exercise. I have only worked for corporates but there's always a gift register and any gift more than a very low amount cannot be accepted; that's pretty standard.

To be fair, I don’t tend to join in on the en masse class present (find it’s gets a bit too grandiose and impersonal) but I don’t think it’s a problem to present it as just from the contributors. People may just be doing their own thing (like I do).

We do this and it’s £5 per child to cover cost of voucher for 2 teachers and LSA. whoever has contributed has their child’s name written in the card, I think that’s fair as if you don’t contribute then why should teachers think that you have?! Lots didn’t last year and did their own thing but I think nicer for teachers to get a gift voucher of decent amount rather than 30 gifts which may or may not be to their taste/useful. Plus what can you buy that is decent for £5?! It’s win win!

What about families with more than one child in the school and don’t have £5 per child?
If a teacher is receiving vouchers up to £150 I hope they have checked they are allowed to accept what is in reality cash.

It's divided by 3. They are each reviving a £50 voucher.

I'm a teacher (British but now work abroad) Teachers do not expect any gifts for doing our job, so to the OP, please don't worry about any of this. However it would be nice if people actually understood how difficult the job is and didn't assume that we are well paid, have loads of holidays and strike randomly. Nobody ever goes into teaching for the money. I take home the equivalent of £1000 per month and have to work a lot of extra hours privately tutoring tomake ends meet. It's a really hard profession and its really upsetting to be disrespected constantly. Sorry, I know I went off topic there but no, don't ever feel obliged to buy gifts, as you say anything handmade is far more meaningful x PS yes i am a parent also 😁

If it is 1-2 families then include them even if they haven't contributed, to protect and include them.

If it is a significant number, just send the gift with the names of those who contributed.

The teacher will say thank you to all of the children anyway.

I'm totally with you. I'm struggling with this in my own life from a family member in particular. Consumerism has just gone too far for me

Honestly, do teachers really want this kind of.... "gift"?

I don’t think anyone doesn’t understand that teachers work hard. I object to collections in schools which only include teachers and TA’s. If you’re giving Christmas presents to those who support your DC’s education what about the school office staff, maintenance team, cleaning staff, catering etc - they also all work hard and on less pay than teachers?

The whole teacher gift thing is weird.

Sure a card at the end of the year. But teachers are on a renumeration package like anyone else is. A bottle of wine isn't going to somehow make the shitty hours better.

I absolutely agree that all school staff should be included in collections (but no school staff expect a collection or gift of sny kind). I only qualified as a teacher 5 years ago . Before that I was a TA and a cleaner. I worked hard then and I worked hard to get qualified. I take home the equivalent of about £1000 a month. The cleaners get paid more hour for hour.

Give the money back and tell them it's individual this year. Also I mean why? Just don't do it at all.

I've donated what I would have spent on chocolate or something anyway and I'm happy to as my son has settled into school so well and lives all if the adults. They are a positive influence in his life - them being paid to do a job doesn't actually (sadly!) guarantee that so I'm happy to contribute and show my appreciation for how well they do it.

Assuming you've asked for voluntary contributions, I don't think you can then single out the others by signing individual names. If I were concerned about them knowing I'd spent more while others spent nothing, which is the only reason I can think of, I'd have done individual gifts instead!

Why why why do parents do this?
It's ridiculous and unnecessary.
Teachers actually feel uncomfortable about it.
( I'm a teacher)

the parents at our school seem happy to contribute towards a card and gift for the teachers at the end of year and at Christmas. I think as long as there’s no pressure to put in a minimum and keep the suggested amount reasonable, then I think the gesture is nice. We use Viing at our school and at the end of the year, we order a printed card with the children’s messages and a beautiful personalised print signed off by e.g the Class of 2024.