Teacher gift collection

[Purpleturtle45]

Every year I organise a collection at Christmas and Summer for my kids teachers and usually buy vouchers for somewhere nice. I always make it very clear that any amount is welcome and of course only donate if you want to. Some parents might want to do their own thing, or nothing which is their decision.

Most parents are very grateful for this as it gives them one less thing to do and they probably get away with donating less for a joint present than they would trying buy something themselves for £5-£10.

It has come to my attention though that some local authorities are banning this due to cost of living and parents potentially feeling under pressure do donate. Wondering people's thoughts on this? I think people should be allowed to make their own choices on this and think a ban would be very unreasonable.

YANBU- Collections are fine as long as there is no pressure/set amount

YABU- Collections should be banned

Who has the authority to do that?

Local authority/school policy can ban teachers from accepting gifts over a certain value.

Really?

I don’t think there should be a ban but I do think there should be a limit to the amount teachers can accept. At DC’s last school, the class gift ran into many hundreds of pounds and although on the surface it was all very friendly and give what you can, there was a nasty undercurrent from one dad in particular whose wife was organising the collection and knew who had donated and how much.

😱 That's a disgusting abuse of power. Like teachers are at risk of making too much money or likely to accept bribes 🙄

I think its about time really to put something like this in place . The amount of bullying that happens over Xmas/ end of year gifts is just madness. When I worked in social care we couldn't accept any gifts that where not for the unit. So box of chocolates for all the staff or flowers where fine , alcohol was a no no , same with hampers and gift cards. A card from the person was fine though.

When teaching abroad someone gave my mum a cruise on a luxury yacht and another an overnight stay in a 5 star spa hotel, each would've been worth thousands. As long as we don't get to those levels I really don't think the LA should be getting involved. For those who want to give something putting it into one pot makes a lot of sense and often ends up less expensive.

I have to declare anything now that has a value of over £25.

I think it’s fine really, as long as it’s clearly voluntary and with no pressure to give a particular amount, and with a card “from everyone” rather than those who could afford to give. Most teachers do a wonderful job and I think a token of thanks from the class is appropriate.

I organised ours last year and I couldn’t tell you who donated what - I’m not the organiser even has access to that info on the online platforms (Collectiv etc).

Do you have many people who don't contribute? If so then you are obviously doing it in a low pressure way.

I would say on average about 70% or thereabouts contribute. I am absolutely sure I don't put any pressure on people. I post a PayPal link on the WhatsApp/Facebook pages simply saying I am collecting and for anyone that wants to contribute any amount is welcome maybe with a reminder a couple of days before collection due to close. I am shocked people would bully/pressurise people to put in money.

I had to declare anything over £10/20 at different workplaces.

Some of the collections I've heard about are obscene where the teacher is having gift paclages worth hundreds because someone has said "if everyone donates £10 or £20..." and it puts people in very awkward positions of donating, being the one who doesn't, or not having their child's name in the card.

I don't think that's true. Can you post the link that states this?
It all sounds a bit Daily Mail to me.

So it seems it's not about the collection in principle, it's the way it's done. Well that's a shame if some horrible people ruin it for everyone. In all my year doing the collections and other people doing it for other classes I have never seen any of this.

I'm in 2 minds. I do think the teacher present buying has got a little out of hand. A thank you gift if the teacher has gone above and beyond is one thing but now it seems to be christmas present and end of year present. In my NHS job we sometimes get gifts from patients but generally it's a box of chocolates or biscuits. This works well for us, can split it amongst the team (mostly share them at work but sometimes we save them up aroind christmas so everyone can take one home!). In school if they're getting nearly 30 boxes between a teacher and maybe a couple of teaching assistants it's too much! It's beyond a thanks for going above and beyond now its an expectation and I'm not surprised if some can't really afford it.

It should be banned. People are free to gift themselves.

I'm the organiser for 3 different DCs classes and send out one message in the group WhatsApp and one follow up, suggesting £2. Most give £10-20 (split 3 ways- teacher, TA, 1-2-1) one year when the teacher was going on maternity leave, the collection got to £500 and I felt really uncomfortable that there was so much in the pot, and spoke to a parent governor. They were fine with it as they understood it was a one off - and the teacher was absolutely adored by everyone.
I never disclose even to close friends how much people have donated and always sign from the whole class. I hope this is the right way to do it and most people seem genuinely grateful to me for organising. You're never going to please everyone!

Local Authorities do not put in place such policies. Local Management of Schools ( government legislation) means just that, local policy decisions are taken by the board of governors or trusts.

Please can you point me to the school policy document in question, not something I’ve seen and I work across a number of schools?

I think they should be banned to be honest. It can put some parents in a really awkward position to give when they can't afford it. No matter how much you say only give what you can afford or you don't have to give if you can't afford. People will feel they have to.
I also think it's a really boring and impersonal way to gift.
I'm so glad they don't happen at the school my girls go to.

Ban them. As a teacher I find it mortifying. I don’t really want presents but I know some children love giving them. I tell my class I like rich tea biscuits and chocolate buttons and that’s all I want for Christmas. So I got lots of those this year. A packet of rich tea in a nice bag and a grinning kid - amazing.
Seriously ban them PLEASE!!

I organised one for one of my DCs very no obligation on amount or joining and about 20 parents contributed £10-20 each so good amount. We gave vouchers, flowers and chocs.
I didn’t do one for my other child’s class, and ended up spending more as got the two part-time teachers, the TA and the SEN support person a bottle of Prosecco. Class collection would have saved me money and hassle. I’ve loved it when people have done them in the past as less for me to have to buy, wrap and carry!
I think if done in low pressure way then fine

So much better for a teacher to receive a decent amount of JL vouchers so they can get something they actually want rather than 30x cheap flowers or chocolates. Also much less wasteful

Can you provide evidence of 1 place that has happened ?

in an LA maintained school?

It should be banned.
It is totally unnecessary. Regardless of organisers insisting it's voluntary it does put pressure on parents and highlights differences in families. It gets arranged twice yearly in my children's school and I hate it.
The passive aggressive reminders on the class WhatsApp make me cringe. It's meant to be voluntary but I think it is vile. People should just be left to give what they see fit, if anything.
I wish it were banned in my children's school 👍