to give teachers a 'snack pack' for trips?

[WhatGoesHere]

so - my son is due to go on a school residential for 3 nights.
Do you think it would be weird to send him with a box/bag of treats for the teachers - to help them "get through" the ordeal long days? I'm just thinking some biscuits, hot chocolate sachets, box of celebrations - that kind of thing.

I think it might be better than a thank you of the same thing after the event? I will ask DS to write a thank you card too - as teachers are giving up time and i gather it's actually really hard work taking kids away on these things?

do you think the admin staff should get a few treats too for their office? As they presumably did lots of prep work too??

I don’t know. I wouldn’t as it’s so sucking up and I’d hate to be that person, but I’m sure it’s got a genuine intention and they’d appreciate it so if you want to go for it, but many wouldn’t

There are some distinctly horrible and cuntish responses here, OP!
I have never been on a residential with my class but mostly because I wasn’t fit enough for it.

I did go and visit my class in the early evening to have dinner with them.

When my dc got home from his, I gave his exhausted teacher (my colleague) a bottle of wine, some chocolates, a big hug and a big thank you!

It’s absolutely full on with no extra pay!

(I’m now thinking about to a school residential that I went on in high school. Tbh, we wandered at will with minimum supervision- it was 1981-but looking back, I’m very grateful to the teachers who gave up part of their holidays to take us.)

You and your fellow teachers bitch about parents on your work WhatsApp group? I hope not. As I teacher of twenty years I have never experienced that and your find your comment a deeply embarrassing indictment of our profession.

it a lovely idea and the teachers will be most grateful

Bunch of miserable lot you are.
Parents at our school are in the habit of sending chocs biscuits and cakes at random times during the year and during and after some hectic events. The receptionist leaves them in the staff room for all staff to enjoy and it is really appreciated by all!

You are a very thoughtful person OP!

It wouldn’t go on the teacher WhatsApp with anything else but profound gratitude. I’m the veteran of many, many field trips) Heads up: Go nut free with the chocolates.

Haven't rtft but YANBU. I'm a teacher and normally am not keen on encouraging parents to buy presents for teachers, especially expensive ones! But running school trips is stressful, a lot of extra work, and often feels like a bit of a thankless task. I think a box of biscuits etc would be a lovely and appreciated gesture actually.

Performative and frankly weird.

As a teacher this would go on the work WhatsApp and everyone would laugh at it. Sorry but true.

Wow. How unpleasant. None of my colleagues would have that attitude.

No, the teachers will be happy and grateful

Do other people say a "roll" of biscuits?

Never heard that before.

I got the ones who accompanied ours a chilled bottle of white wine, given to them when they'd seen everyone off safely from the bus. Small village school though, and I know for certain those teachers drank alcohol

I wouldn’t as it’s so sucking up and I’d hate to be that person

Giving a small gift to show you appreciate the many hours that someone is giving up voluntarily to give your child a good time is not 'sucking up'. It's being thoughtful, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's a shame that more people aren't as thoughtful - many don't even give a verbal thanks when picking up their kids at the end of the trip.

As a teacher, who has gone on and led these trips - you’re right it’s huge amounts of work in the run up and absolutely exhausting while there. It would be a very kind gesture to provide this. I would just make it clear that it’s for the teachers in an email the day before the trip before your son has the treats confiscated, as they will assume they are his. I was handed a couple of bottles of wine before a trip by parents - one for each evening ‘to relax’ I don’t think they realised you’re never ‘off duty’ and that there is no relaxing!!! I appreciated the gesture but didn’t take the wine!

I got a box of chocolates from a mum as we got on the bus for a 22 hour journey once. This was in 2018 and I still remember how pleased we were. We ate them in the evening when sitting in the corridor till 2am waiting for the children to fall asleep. I think it’s a lovely idea.

I went on residential two weeks ago. This would have been really appreciated! We had a child who bought some sweet for the coach and had enough for the class (and teachers) to all have 2. Really appreciated actually as a little pick me up.

Bottle of wine each as they unload the final kid off coach at the end. In a sturdy gift bag so they can carry it to their car.

Residential are a nightmare to organise and physically exhausting. Even on a two day trip you are supervising your class on a couple of hours sleep by day two. I really enjoy the trips but it’s far from a jolly. You’re sleeping on some rickety horrible grubby bunk bed in a questionable room, usually sharing with a colleague. You’re up early and in bed late and there are NO breaks. The food is always appalling.

I think it’s a lovely gesture and the person saying you’d be laughed at is vile. Every teacher I know would think it thoughtful.

Yes we pack our own snacks but it’s always nice to be appreciated. We get nothing for doing trips. No time off, no money. Plus we’ve usually had to do an out of hours meeting for parents - plus field all the complaints about their child not getting their perfect room allocation. 🙄

I cannot believe the person saying we open a can of something once they are in bed. You’d be sacked and quite rightly. Plus they aren’t asleep till after midnight…

I did this for the staff at my children's school when they went over and above for the children after a major whole school emergency. I just dropped it at the door like an undercover MI5 agent with a note saying 'from a grateful parent'. They don't know who did it but knew they were appreciated.

A really, kind thoughtful idea! What a lovely, generous person you are.
I wish there were more like you.

Me too!

I find it quite incredible how many people are saying that teachers are just doing their jobs. I wonder how many other professions give up their weekends and family time to take children away? The staff are then responsible for the children 24 hours a day with no extra pay. Please say thank you to the teachers for giving up their own family time to ensure the children in their care get a fantastic experience. I'm sure a little box of chocolates or a thank you note would really be appreciated.

I think its a lovely idea.

Is it part of their job? I don't think so. You are lucky that some staff volunteer to do this. Please appreciate them.

I did a residential last October, and the member of staff who organised it arranged lots of treats for staff, but it is a very kind idea - although not needed x

Why?

I didn't get paid for looking after the children outside school hours