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.

How is alcohol an embarrassing gift if you don’t drink? Just say thank you and regift it.

I also think you underestimate the value of chocolate as a gift - great as a regifting stock.

But seriously the hand made card and gift are worth so much more.

Those thank you teacher mugs are the worst! Do parents think teachers don’t have any mugs at home?

The reason the school my friend teaches at has asked not to give gifts like mugs as one year another teacher got 26 mugs from 31 pupils.

Gift cards are accepted. Teachers swap them round with other teachers if they don’t shop at shop(s) or website(s)

I think you only posted this to be controversial or to justify you not wanting to buy teacher gifts yourself!

I always found it easier to give in to the fact that children now think it's normal to give gifts and, hence, I went along with it.
I'd let my DCs choose the gift because it was being given in their name.
It may not have been a gift voucher or money behind the till at a local restaurant so the teacher doesn't have to cook that night (the night before they've got quite a lot of time off work anyway), but, as so many have said, teachers don't expect anything at all.

Tipping, in some jobs (cf waiting tables; taxi driving) now seems the norm and a tip is only witheld if the job done has been below standard.
I've certainly tipped over and above when a teacher's been particularly good.
Maybe the automatic clubbing-together for a voucher - regardless of how each individual child perceives that teacher - is a good thing. Like a restaurant service charge.

I used to work in a school and crap alcohol would be used in the next raffle, so never went to waste

Sounds a bit fucking ungrateful tbh. We all get given shit gifts but just say thanks and throw them. It isn’t all about you you know!

Meanwhile my teacher friend built a mug wall in her home office to store every ugly mug given to her by a child. She loves her hideous mug collection and treasures every one.

Again, just because you have two ungrateful, snobby teacher friends, doesn't mean you speak for all teachers. Many are delighted just to have been thought of, even if that thought manifests as a tacky mug or £5 bottle of plonk.

And every teacher on here has agreed with that

Teaching forv25 years, never once seen 26 kids in a class of 31 bring gifts, never once seen all these teachers swapping gift cards.
LISTEN to the actual teachers on this thread

Good grief OP, I was a teacher for a long time. We love presents. Wine, flowers, chocolate, no problem at all.

The mugs are getting a hard time on this thread but I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and confess I rather like them. We usually put them in the kitchen cupboard at school, so they get plenty of use, and I don't mind looking at an affirming 'Top Teacher' slogan with my morning cuppa. I also happily eat homemade biscuits etc! The bottom line, which many on here have already said, is that we teachers don't expect but are grateful to receive.

As a teacher, I hated reading your opening post. I appreciate any card or gift given by pupils and parents.
Lack of gratitude is vile.

I bet OP is a person who buys people charity gifts such as adopt a goat for Christmas and then happily receives gifts for herself.

OP’s history would indicate not a teacher, not a parent and i would hazard a guess…. doesn’t have many if any people to buy for

I know she isn’t a teacher.

My son is in learning support. His teacher and assistants are absolutely amazing. I usually buy them vouchers for M&S for Christmas and the end of year so they can treat themselves. He’s diabetic and autistic and they go out of their way to meet his needs. I just want to let them know how grateful we as a family are.

You do something thats very stressful, not well paid and not properly respected. You have chosen to do it for the kids. You love the kids. So you do appreciate any gift, handmade has made me choke up in the past!

Especially when you know the background of the kids, what their home life is like etc
I am in secondary , the most precious thing I have is a card, homemade from a student (it's a folded bit of a4 paper) with a lovely message. This student was facing the worst you can imagine and had been let down by every adult all the way up to the police who could not protect her. How she was upright every day is a miracle. I got a homemade card and a mug with 'best teacher' on (pretty sure she took it off another teachers desk)

admit it op

Your friend is an imaginary one that you use for the purpose of starting mumsnet threads

I absolutely loved all the gifts I received as a teacher. By the last day of term we’re completely exhausted and very ready to go home and recover - chocolates and booze are therefore very welcome! As are all the other gifts no matter what they are because it’s the thought behind them that really matters - we give it our all and that is much easier to do when you know it’s appreciated. Having said that, it’s not expected and we are well aware that some families can’t afford a gift and wouldn’t ever want anyone to spend money they can’t afford. And the cards and letters with a personal note of thanks are the best gifts of all every time :-)

According to OP "Gift cards are accepted. Teachers swap them round with other teachers if they don’t shop at shop(s) or website(s)"

So they do appreciate them then!

Primary teacher here! I really appreciate the gifts from the parents, although I really don't expect them. I work in a lovely but very deprived area so I always make it clear that I don't need any gifts. I have felt guilty in the past when they've spoilt me!

I actually love a mug, I'm extremely clumsy so go through lots and it's nice having some to keep in the staffroom!

As a parent now, I really understand the want to show some appreciation and the financial stress of that time of year. So even more grateful now for every gift I do receive.

OP your friend's opinion doesn't apply to us all . Most of my colleagues expect nothing and appreciate any gift. I certainly haven't heard anyone being unkind about what we've received.

Although a teacher friend did once get given a weight loss book which she was upset about- hopefully it was given without any kindness. I would not advise weight loss related items.

Tbh I used to stay clear of getting the dcs teachers a mug etc as I know its a popular present to give. I just get dcs to draw a picture of said teacher and for them to write a list of all the things they loved about them and put it in a cheap frame

I will say though you can tell who's a teacher down our local bootsale from all the best teacher stuff they have on their stall 😁

We clubbed together in DDs preschool at Christmas and gave the teachers vouchers for a spa which were very much appreciated. I think the same will happen in the summer. I usually give coffee shop vouchers or vouchers for the local shopping centre to DD1 and DS teachers so they can get whatever they want

I don't suppose your DD fancies moving schools?!