Teachers don’t want Thank You Teacher gifts

[Graveltone]

Even though schools have 5-8 weeks of term left, the shops have various TYT gifts such as mugs, coasters, keyrings etc. Teachers do not want this crap! Charity shops near me have numerous TYT mugs and crap on sale!

My friend is a teacher and parents have been told not to give gifts. Teachers don’t want 30 mugs, boxes of chocolate, alcohol (that is embarrassing if teacher doesn’t drink for various reasons) etc. Nor want flowers - don’t have enough vases at home to house 30 bunches of flowers.

Friend’s school accepts cards and hm gifts.

Think before you spend your money on your DC’s teachers.

I’ve been a teacher for a very long time and, while I’m grateful for anything anyone decides to give me, the gifts that mean the most are cards and letters. I keep a scrapbook of every thank you card, picture and note I’ve ever received.

I know people think that teachers are just saying that, but honestly a little note of thanks makes our day!

Absolutely. I really enjoy a glass of penguin sands Sauvignon blanc, decent wine, and I can afford it.

The best notes are the ones emailed via the headteacher. If you've got something nice to say, at least let my boss know. Modesty forbids me from sharing a private card or letter.

So you are not a teacher and you speak for 1 teacher friend!!!
I will continue to buy the chocolate an wine if the teacher doesn't want them then am sure she knows some1 who will!

Not a teacher but work in a school and some of the lovely gifts I get really make me smile and it's very much appreciated, even if it's a "thank you" mug 😳. Absolutely agree the handmade cards and gifts hold a special place - I have several keyrings made by students on my car keys. Special notes and drawings go in a memory box. Literally anything is appreciated as it shows to me appreciation and kindness.

I'm a teacher and I think you are being unreasonable to say teachers dont want the gifts. A gift is never expected at all but I love all the gifts and cards. Yes some of them are things I wouldn't go out and spend the money on but the kids get so excited to give you a gift and that's the best bit.

I've had wine, chocolate, flowers, candles, smellies, nice coffee, potted plants, best teacher mugs, money boxes etc. As a younger teacher I lived with another tescher who didn't drink but loved chocolate, I'd give her chocolate and she'd give me the alcohol but it never annoyed her to get given the alcohol. Now that I am a parent I let my son pick something small out (sometimes it's best teacher tat but he truly believes that she is the best teacher ever, he's 5, let him at it.) I then buy some good quality prosecco or chocolate, I consider this the gift from me and my husband. My thoughts are if she doesn't drink or eat the chocolate its nice stuff she wouldn't be embarrassed to regift and it saves her some money buying someone a gift.

My most recent class were so kind and many parents sent in gifts and cards when I went off on maternity, it was so unexpected and so kind. One child even got her Granny to crochet a blanket. In my old school I went off on maternity with my eldest and (some of) the parents complained about the disruption.

Are you sure not a teacher? You seem angry about this moreso then "for a friend"

I appreciate any gift. My students don't have to get me anything, but I would be very grateful to receive flowers, chocolates, wine etc. Even just a card is nice. I have a teacher mug that I use all the time. So please stop generalising all teachers!

Hello! Work in a school. We love the gifts!

lemonmeringueno3

I bet your child's teacher has spent more than £3-4 on each child in their class this year so surely you don't begrudge a box of biscuits or something.

I'd prefer to be given an invoice for the £3-4 and give it back. I'd even add 10-20% and pay in advance.
Anybody I feel has gone above and beyond I'd tip in accordance. As I would anyone.

but what do you do with the other 29 teacher mugs a year 😂

Absolutely this.
Office staff do so much for so little recognition from parents.

At our school we do class collections and the teachers generally get a £200 John Lewis voucher, flowers, chocolates and a book made up of pictures and messages from the kids. I think they generally like it.

I find it very mean spirited for a non teacher to tell you not to give teachers gifts as they don’t want it. It’s not your place

Seriously, why give anything at all?

200 JL voucher- blooming heck. Where do you teach? Nowhere near me that's for sure

I love to receive a picture they have drawn or a card they have written in and have kept them all down the years. Doesn't cost anything apart from their time. I still use a coaster and keyring everyday that I was made years ago.
I also appreciate every gift I am given and never expect a thing, but the best one I think has to be one parent asking us what sandwich we would like for our lunch as she wanted to buy us one each. So thoughtful as she didn't have a lot of money but most insistent when we said we had brought our lunches, knowing this.
Once got a Costa voucher too, that was great.
Just a verbal thank you though goes a long way. We put a lot of time, effort, love and sometimes tears into educating the children in our care, and supporting our parents if they need it. In Early Years we help them grow and develop and give them the opportunities to become their own little person, so yes, just a thank you would be great on the last day please 😊

Thank goodness the spokesperson for all teachers is here. God forbid anyone try to show any appreciation to their child's teacher with anything less than a diamond ring. Go away & have a word with yourself please. I've been given token gifts from patients & I cannot tell you how grateful I am, that someone was thinking of me. It boosts morale to recieve a thank you, so I'll continue doing it for the people who make a difference in my/my child's life.

What a weird post. You’re not a teacher!
I always get a few notes and some chocolates/wine. It’s always lovely. Of course it is!

What a miserable post! I don't know any teachers who are this ungrateful!

I really don't know.
I'd be happy to give a card at Christmas and at the end of the school year.
lf I felt the teacher had been really good in some way, I'd happily give a present because I'd be so grateful that someone had been such a good influence on my child's life.
However now it's expected. Maybe not by the teachers but it is but, at least, by the children: "Muu-uum! Everybody's doing it!". So I think of it as a tip. I'd rather have the service charge (or the £3-4 a teacher is spending on my child apparently) applied and everyone's happy.
So, fine. Anybody who gives me a service above and beyond will get a meaningful message and a proper present.
Anyone else gets a tip.
Give it back if you don't want it.

Hang on - you're not a teacher and think your friend represents all teachers? How strange. I am a teacher and adore the mugs, chocolates and cheap booze. It's about what the gift represents - appreciation for a tough year doing my best to support and help their child progress and spending each and every day nurturing them. A thank you card alongside it leaves me on an absolute high at the end of term.

It is not about the monetary value of the gift and I find it very sad that other teachers perceive what is intended as a kind gesture from child and parent to be 'beneath' because they consider the gift cheap or tat.

I'm actually quite offended that you are peddling that narrative.

Coming late to the thread but when did teacher gifting start? I was born 80s, grew up in 90s and left High school 2002. I don't remember ever giving a teacher a present or a card. It just never seemed to be the done thing.

I don’t expect anything but cards with a lovely note are the absolute best. One of my students gave me a twirl chocolate bar which was so sweet of them as I know they don’t have much money 🥰

When my 3 DC were at nursery and primary school I couldn't afford multiple teacher gifts. They took flowers from our garden and home-made cakes/chocolate truffles. I reckoned those wouldn't last long enough to be unwelcome.