Page 6 | Teacher gift collection

Purpleturtle45 · 2023-12-21T06:36:59+00:00

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

cardibach · 21/12/2023 23:03

Thementalloadisreal · 21/12/2023 16:28

Christ that’s a bit miserable. Why buy anyone a present then?! Why buy your mum a present, isn’t it just her job to be your mum?
Teachers care for your children 6 hours a day 5 days a week and you begrudge them a box of chocs at Xmas?

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I agree. I’m also wondering a bit about ‘leave’ -what’s that?
Also whenever I’ve worked in a school that has a heating fail teachers have been expected in even if pupils aren’t and then worked in one room with electric heaters plugged in.
Occasional days will be part of the standard holidays, as are inset days. No pupil gets fewer days at school because of them.
So that leaves strikes. I’ve been teaching for 35 years and have been on strike on exactly 3 occasions (plus one I missed because I was working in a private school at the time). Not massive really, is it?

Happilyobtuse · 21/12/2023 23:16

We have class collections in our school and it is a blessing when as a parent you are stretched for time. It also works out a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to buy individual presents! I have one child in school, it cost me £10 for the class present. I have one child in nursery I ended up spending £50 on gifts for all the nursery staff. I then had to find time to wrap the gifts and drop it off etc. Much rather pay £10 and forget about it. Also the main teacher gets a voucher for JL for about £120, some wine and chocolate and a card. The other teachers get similar with smaller gift card value. Honestly I think this is great for teachers and parents!

Happilyobtuse · 21/12/2023 23:27

waterrat · 21/12/2023 17:37

Op how do you think it feels for a parent on low income to see a collection they cant affird to contribute to...? It feels horrible and i hate the idea of a present from two thirds of the kids with the poorer ones left out

I loathe the whole thing

Ive seen collections thst ended with teachers getting 100 quid or more in vouchers. Thst is just so wrong in my view when parents would often be nowhere near getting thst level and would never have thst sort of gift themselves

Everyone has the option to contribute or not contribute. People will anyway be giving gifts even if there was no collection. So you can be part of it or not depending on your circumstances. Also begrudging the teacher a nice present just because you won’t get such a big present really seems petty. I doubt anyone is going to buy me a present for £120 this Christmas. But that is what my child’s teacher got in JL vouchers and I am very happy for her. Shouldn’t we be glad that teachers who are generally on quite low income are atleast getting something back for their hard work?!

IgnoranceNotOk · 21/12/2023 23:46

forgivingfiggy · 21/12/2023 16:43

I stopped donating to the group presents after I heard how much was collected (I also didn't like the way it was split between the teacher and TAs). It was such a huge pot of money, it suddenly seemed a bit tasteless. I get that it saves the hassle of buying individually, but I'd rather my kids pick something small and take pride in giving it to their own teacher, than some voucher for an eye-watering amount being presented. It kind of misses the whole point.

I’m scared to ask, but what was wrong with the way it was split between teacher and TA??

TeacherCollection · 22/12/2023 09:46

@Happilyobtuse are they on a low income though? Starting salary is 30k and they do also get all the extra holiday so if they have their own children they won’t need to pay for childcare in those times?

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 13:02

TeacherCollection · 22/12/2023 09:46

@Happilyobtuse are they on a low income though? Starting salary is 30k and they do also get all the extra holiday so if they have their own children they won’t need to pay for childcare in those times?

I think what people tend to mean is that for a degree level job the pay is low.

This is why teacher retention is in crisis now as teachers know the pay isn’t terrible and they have extended holidays but now the workload is so bad and conditions and funding in schools is so poor that it’s a very challenging job and then you’re working at least 60 hour weeks and still working some of the holidays too (if you’re doing the job well).

WashItTomorrow · 22/12/2023 13:17

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 13:02

I think what people tend to mean is that for a degree level job the pay is low.

This is why teacher retention is in crisis now as teachers know the pay isn’t terrible and they have extended holidays but now the workload is so bad and conditions and funding in schools is so poor that it’s a very challenging job and then you’re working at least 60 hour weeks and still working some of the holidays too (if you’re doing the job well).

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No, the pay isn’t low for a degree-level job. It’s actually pretty good. People seem to have very distorted ideas about the pay in degree-level jobs.

KnowWhatIMean · 22/12/2023 13:36

I saw Martin Lewis had weighed in on this, saying that nobody should feel pressure to contribute (I agree) and the person organising the gift should put every child’s name on the gift, regardless of if their parents had contributed or not, because the teacher might treat the children who hadn’t contributed differently. As a TA in a primary school I found this extremely insulting and patronising. We are in the position to know already which children are less likely to contribute because of their background, we know and understand this, and never ever treat the children differently. To suggest that we would is just staggering.

SatanClaws · 22/12/2023 13:42

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 13:02

I think what people tend to mean is that for a degree level job the pay is low.

This is why teacher retention is in crisis now as teachers know the pay isn’t terrible and they have extended holidays but now the workload is so bad and conditions and funding in schools is so poor that it’s a very challenging job and then you’re working at least 60 hour weeks and still working some of the holidays too (if you’re doing the job well).

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But it's really not low at all.

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 22/12/2023 14:21

(if you’re doing the job well).

Many are doing the bare minimum. That was very plain to see during covid.

And degrees aren’t the exclusive passport they were twenty years ago either. There are many degree holders doing quite low income roles. I doubt they get tipped though.

I kniw many teaching assistants who have degrees. Why aren’t we talking about their salaries and tipping them?

Wouldyouguess · 22/12/2023 16:42

KnowWhatIMean · 22/12/2023 13:36

I saw Martin Lewis had weighed in on this, saying that nobody should feel pressure to contribute (I agree) and the person organising the gift should put every child’s name on the gift, regardless of if their parents had contributed or not, because the teacher might treat the children who hadn’t contributed differently. As a TA in a primary school I found this extremely insulting and patronising. We are in the position to know already which children are less likely to contribute because of their background, we know and understand this, and never ever treat the children differently. To suggest that we would is just staggering.

This is what I fiund laughable (and insulting)- that people make up this whole theory teachers treat kids differently based if they give a gift or not. it's so incredibly patronising, and the fact that Martin Lewis even felt to make a post about it. It's just another argument to use to bash teachers and b*tch about the same "they do nothing anyways so why would we even consider gifting anything at all".

Wouldyouguess · 22/12/2023 16:43

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 22/12/2023 14:21

(if you’re doing the job well).

Many are doing the bare minimum. That was very plain to see during covid.

And degrees aren’t the exclusive passport they were twenty years ago either. There are many degree holders doing quite low income roles. I doubt they get tipped though.

I kniw many teaching assistants who have degrees. Why aren’t we talking about their salaries and tipping them?

Edited

"Many are doing the bare minimum. That was very plain to see during covid."

Please join our profession ans show us how it's done maestro! No? I didnt think so 😂

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 22/12/2023 16:45

Wouldyouguess · 22/12/2023 16:43

"Many are doing the bare minimum. That was very plain to see during covid."

Please join our profession ans show us how it's done maestro! No? I didnt think so 😂

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Leave if you don’t like it. Simple. Think you’d miss the annual leave though!

Rubyupbeat · 22/12/2023 16:53

My Mum taught on traveller sites, she became very accepted. Christmas time was ridiculous with the really expensive presents she was given. Dinner services worth a fortune, a gold rolex from one family. She felt very uncomfortable about this, we are talking over 40 years ago ,but the local authority said she must accept otherwise it could damage the trust they had in her.
At her funeral many of her traveller students turned up and it was so lovely to hear their stories about her.

forgivingfiggy · 22/12/2023 17:01

@IgnoranceNotOk The teacher was given quite substantially more than the TA(s). As in half the donations given to the teacher and the other half divided between 3 TAs. Just felt off to me.

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 17:04

Oh wow! I wasn’t expecting you to say that!
It’s always split as the same amount at my school as everyone values the TAs so much! Especially the teachers! I’d hate my TA to be given less than me as she’s amazing and I couldn’t be without her.

Starabella · 22/12/2023 17:36

Last year, I wasn't in the position to contribute as the organiser was stating £10 from everyone. They then didn't let my son sign the card and actively passed it round the playground at pick up and just ignored him! I thought it was really mean and he was old enough to feel really bad.

This year I am in a better position but just ignored her message requesting money and have purchased a nice scented candle that cost me only £5 and my son has made a card.

I don't begrudge the teacher it all, but I don't appreciate the demands for money and almost being looked down upon for not contributing. The person who organises ours no longers talks to me!

SatanClaws · 22/12/2023 17:50

Wouldyouguess · 22/12/2023 16:42

This is what I fiund laughable (and insulting)- that people make up this whole theory teachers treat kids differently based if they give a gift or not. it's so incredibly patronising, and the fact that Martin Lewis even felt to make a post about it. It's just another argument to use to bash teachers and b*tch about the same "they do nothing anyways so why would we even consider gifting anything at all".

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Problem is we know it's not the majority of teachers but equally we know which teachers it is. We also know the main source of pressure is other parents, strangely the ones who are themselves teachers...

RandomButtons · 22/12/2023 22:22

IgnoranceNotOk · 22/12/2023 13:02

I think what people tend to mean is that for a degree level job the pay is low.

This is why teacher retention is in crisis now as teachers know the pay isn’t terrible and they have extended holidays but now the workload is so bad and conditions and funding in schools is so poor that it’s a very challenging job and then you’re working at least 60 hour weeks and still working some of the holidays too (if you’re doing the job well).

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Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

Happilyobtuse · 22/12/2023 22:37

TeacherCollection · 22/12/2023 09:46

@Happilyobtuse are they on a low income though? Starting salary is 30k and they do also get all the extra holiday so if they have their own children they won’t need to pay for childcare in those times?

Well 30K doesn’t go that far these days does it?! I am currently between jobs but usually earn about double that. I don’t grudge the teacher a nice present at Christmas time, it is a tough job and takes tons of patience I am sure! Also I love giving gifts, it gives me joy to see others happy. I know the teachers at my child’s school were definitely happy with the gift vouchers. So much better than receiving endless mugs and candles! This way they can buy something they actually want or need. I think Christmas is a time to appreciate people in our lives, I am not Christian, this is my interpretation. I do that by buying gifts, doing good deeds and cooking food for those I appreciate, love or care about.

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 23/12/2023 01:22

RandomButtons · 22/12/2023 22:22

Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

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Same. Shocking isn't it. Teacher's earning so well yet leaving in droves. Teacher shortages meaning so many children are being educated by anyone with a heartbeat (not that the school will divulge that your child has an unqualified teacher/covet supervisor/any adult with clear dbs but zero qualifications).

I mean, who wouldn't snap up that opportunity to earn £30-£50k + 13 weeks holiday if all they have to do is work 60+ hours a week and experience constant abuse from teenagers and their parents + try to achieve the unachievable thanks to unreasonable targets.

edwardcullensotherwoman · 23/12/2023 01:34

I think if done properly it's a great idea, personally I've never felt pressured to contribute and collections are much cheaper than buying individual gifts for 2-3 members of staff per class.
A limit on what gift value might be a good thing though, as sometimes it can run into hundreds if it's a large class (one of my DC was in a class of 44!) and I think as a teacher I'd feel a bit awkward accepting a gift that large.

Shinyandnew1 · 23/12/2023 09:27

Vast majority of people I know with degrees, masters and PhDs are earning £30-50k. Same as teachers, but without the long holidays, and still with very long hours beyond the working day.

Yet there is still a massive recruitment and retention problem in teaching!

I like giving my children’s teacher a gift/contribution at the end of the year/Xmas. I can’t see that choice will ever be removed
from parents, tbh.

Ronaldoronalda · 23/12/2023 09:54

I mind them less than the birthday party collections. I was constantly being asked in front of DD to pay into collections for parties that she hadn’t been invited to. Once it was for her teacher’s DD’s party and all of the kids apart from a couple had been invited. That left a really bad taste in my mouth and I never paid into a collection for a child or a teacher again.

HarryOHayandBettyOBarley · 23/12/2023 12:45

all they have to do is work 60+ hours a week and experience constant abuse from teenagers and their parents

Your argument is moot.. How many teens go to primary schools? . It is rare/never for collections to take place outside of primary school.