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.

As a TA I appreciate any gift I'm given because of the sentiment, however it's true I don't actually want any mugs, candles, ornaments, cheap toiletries, cheap chocolate, cheap wine or prosecco etc. It just gets given away or donated to the school fayre. I might be low paid but I have expensive tastes

A card with a hand written message from the child or parent is the best thing- I put them up on my mantlepiece for the summer and they make me feel like it was all worth it!

Of course, if parents want to do a collection and give money or gift vouchers then that would be lovely and much appreciated.

If my class were generous at Christmas, I used to send a letter to parents early in term 6 thanking them for their generosity at Christmas, and asking that if they felt the need to buy me an end of term present, the best present they could give me was teaching their children more about looking out for others...and attach a list of items required by the local food bank.

The amount of donations given warmed my heart.

At Christmas I always made a Christmas cake for the staff room
and in the summer usually gave strawberry plants and a handmade card.
Although one year my sons chose courgettes plants 😁

Just give them wine or equivalent like nice chocolates

I love my flowers, chocolates and most of all the cards from my students.
I don't expect anything but it's always nice. I love a mug too.

The problem with collections is that parents feel compelled to give and embarrassed if they simply don’t have the funds. It’s a tricky one

As a teacher of many years' standing, I sometimes feel embarrassed that many parents feel they "should" send/contribute to a gift, although I'm always grateful and appreciative when they do. However, I'd be happy if the custom was quietly dropped.
But it is not for the OP to speak for all teachers in this way.

Wow - that's a very ungenerous post OP. When I started teaching decades ago, gifts simply weren't a thing. Sometimes children would make a card for me, or band together as a little group and buy a treat. It honestly didn't matter what it was, it was given with love or appreciation and it meant the world to me. Nowadays, I agree, parents feel pressure to buy gifts that maybe they can't afford. But I am gracious and I appreciate them more than ever because of that. No I don't need more mugs, but do I feel immense gratitude that someone's thought of me fondly and bothered to acknowledge me? Yes of course!

The most treasured bits and bobs I have are from the kids though: cards they've made, little cartoons, artworks, poems etc. They're priceless.

Totally agree OP. I'm a primary teacher who is teetotal and I love a thank you card but would prefer not to have any trinkets though the thought is lovely. I was incredibly lucky to be given a spa day as a group gift from the parents in my current class for Christmas. It was unexpected and very much appreciated, I used the voucher a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it so much. But it's not at all necessary.

Having said that, this 2001 mug from a particularly tricky pupil with the accompanying letter from mum has had pride of place for over 20 years because of what it represents to me. I made a difference in his, and his families, life.

I've stopped using the mug now, as the print is slowly coming off and I don't want it to!

I genuinely could not care less about gifts, but I really do appreciate cards or notes etc. They do mean a lot when you get them, so I really would consider giving a teacher who you appreciate one.

We did a class collection and so they always revived a good amount of John Lewis vouchers!

I have never really got into buying gifts for teachers. I send a card if I feel like they have done a good job.

Don't forget the TA's as well. Not much money but many do a sterling job.

I like to get something practical - a nice notebook and pen. It doesn't break the bank. I think over effusive giving is a bit OTT.

Nice idea to club together as a class or give a voucher for coffee.

Thats a really rude way of putting it. Teachers moan so much about their jobs that people are just trying to cheer them up

Woah I'm a teacher and if someone got me echo falls berries I would be a happy bunny as its my favourite

In all my years of teaching I always appreciated any gifts I received from my pupils. I always worked in very deprived areas so the gifts were modest but always meant the world to me. During my career I only met one teacher (she was a hard faced cow) who chucked all the gifts she received in her classroom cupboard and buggered off for the summer holidays. Every other teacher I ever worked with was very appreciative of any gifts they received.The only time I ever received an expensive gift was from the pupil whose parents were well known criminals!

I've been a teacher for nearly ten years and I actually love the teacher mugs...we have lots in the staff room and after a particularly hard day we all love getting a cuppa with an encouraging phrase on before starting the 2-3hours work after the kids have left for the day.
It makes a difference.
That said, I never demand or expect the gifts, its just nice to be nice. I give gifts to my own children's teachers, because I know how hard they work and that they really care.

Don't forget the TA's as well. Not much money but many do a sterling job

My son's TA's spend more time with him than his teacher. They are amazing

I was once a secondary school teacher in the state sector, I rarely got gifts but when I did it was very clear the teenager had gone to the pound shop and bought me a uniquely sized box of quality street or something. I thought it was the sweetest thing!!! Spending their limited pocket money on a gift for me! Made me all warm and fuzzy! I guess it must be different in primary school

I don’t think teachers should be given presents at all, it’s embarrassing for those who can’t afford it.
We’ve started collecting cash, whether someone gives £2, £5 or £50 it doesn’t matter. Then we get vouchers usually.

...looks over at my "best teacher in the world" keyring attached to my bag from a child whilst sipping tea from a mug from a child...😎

You sound angry OP - did a teacher return your gift or are you a teacher and nobody buys you gifts?
I think our teacher loves her gifts - we ask her what she loves and we buy that.

I'd just be happy if they return the pens I buy and lend them each lesson.
But I'm secondary, so it's different.

I always give my children's teachers a posh cheese, jar of sweet chilli jam and crackers plus recipe for amazing grilled cheese combos, plus a card from my children. Never had any complaints

You can't really police this. My friend has baked birthday cakes for teachers in addition to the gifts she sends!
We don't give anything to mean teachers.