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.

OP what a shitty attitude you and your friend have. My favourite gifts was from a young lad in reception (who has now left college! ) and that was a £1 metal bookmark with a metal inage of a teddy from Card Factory . He chose it because he remembered i liked to read and he paid for it himself. I still have it and use it all the time.

My husbands school actively discourages gifts from pupils, this was continued after covid when gifts could not be given, although athought a thoughtful message in a card is very much appreciated
They encourage those parents who want to give a gift to make a donation to food banks/charity , although though many of the families use the food banks, or suggest having an end of year treat ie sweets/popcorn/film.
Our ds was in y6 when covid hit. We made a donation to a look animal shelter in the teacher /TA and Ht name and made.a little certificate for their cards.

Another teacher disagreeing! I don't drink either but I don't find it 'embarrassing' to be given alcohol. It stays in the cupboards for when we host at Christmas! I got gifts when I left a school that were clearly not new (think ornaments that were broken) and its just so nice to be thought of enough to be given something, off someone who doesn't need to bother as I'll never see them again!

How do you know what all teachers want?

The deputy head though sent a lovely Eid card for them in the Easter holidays and some sweets. She greets them by name as they walk into school and the kids give her a hug. I will get her a gift (perhaps chocolates or gift card) and a hand written card from the kids and myself. They were really chuffed that she reached out to send them a card. We phoned school to say thanks at the time.

My DD really wants to get her teacher a present this year. She's never given an end of year present (I always forget) but its her last year with this teacher, who has been her teacher for 4 years. No idea what to get him.
All the parents are clubbing together for gift cards for him and the teaching assistant but she wants to get him something herself as well.

Why should hairdressers get a tip? Or a waiter or taxi driver?

It isn’t compulsory but a way of saying thanks - if you want to. For some teachers my kids have given gifts as they have really go above and beyond. In secondary it isn’t to all teachers, but there are usually some who have really made a big impact.

As a secondary teacher, gifts mean a lot as well, they have be tiny (I got a solo hotel chocolate chocolate) or even a note written on standard paper, it is always the thought behind it that means the most.

It was a blanket policy. So I had no power. It’s when schools were still under local authority control, so still employing the majority of teachers. But we couldn’t accept chocolates after working with someone for months helping people out. Including our education staff.

Weirdest post ever. I’m a teacher and love a bottle of wine or some chocolates.

Who doesn't want alcohol & chocolate? There's some pretty weird people out there if they don't appreciate these fine gifts.

Does he wear a tie to school? novelty cufflinks are another idea for a male teacher or novelty socks of something he likes.

It happened to an extent when I was at primary school - so late 70s onward. That was at a very average state first school in a working class Yorkshire town. It had increased by the time my sister was there in the mid to late 80s. I don't re,ever people taking gifts at the end of the year in middle school or secondary.

I started teaching state secondary in the mid 90s and gifts at the end of the year for form tutors happened, though not in the same level as my friends who taught primary.

So, it's happened for a while ime, just more so these days with it being Christmas and end of year.

In my experience many primary teachers also buy their pupils some small token gift and/or card too.

You aren't a teacher.
As far as I know you don't work in a school.

How do you know what the majority of teachers want/don't want?
Or how they feel about receiving any form of gift?

Teachers don't EXPECT presents.
However, most are appreciative if they receive them.

Teachers are not unusual in sometimes being given a gift in return for doing a good job.

I have family in friends in a range of private professions - pretty much all have received gifts and cards from clients after doing a good job. Some have been very expensive ones too! I also have friends working in the NHS - they've received chocolates, biscuits, drinks and thank you cards as gifts from patients/patient's families.

Well, I’m a teacher and I am very grateful and appreciative of any gift someone might think to give me. I like ‘best teacher’ things. In fact, I have a ‘World’s Best Teacher’ mug a little girl in my first ever class gave me, and I still use it at least once a week to drink my tea from, and remember the girl and her lovely family.

I've been teaching 31 years and one of my favourite ever gifts was my 'wonderflu teacher' mug that I got this Christmas time. I love it. And I get very annoyed if anyone else uses it, as it was bought for me. Any gesture, big or small, is gratefully appreciated by the vast majority of teachers, I am sure.
In fact yesterday a student brought me a lovely packet of homemade chocolate brownies. Again, very thoughtful, love and care has been put into that, and very gratefully received.
We don't expect cards or gifts. When we do receive thanks, in whatever form, it always means a lot.

oops typo, I meant wonderful teacher ............