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??

Do you think your child will be particularly hard to manage for them? Or are you just super glad to be rid of him for a few days?

So cheesy. Doubt your kid will allow it anyway. Mortifying 🤣

oh good, sounds ideal then, because this way, you can choose whether or not to eat the chocolate given and you'd get a card to say thank you as well. SO win, win?

I always sent cakes. They were very well received indeed.

LOL

I'm just super grateful that the teachers are giving up their time, and being way form their own families to facilitate this trip!

Just say that to them, then?

I don't think they are being paid to be away from their families in the evenings and overnight? They're doing this as an extra on good will I gather?
They're not being paid additional money for the nights away?

i do!

@WhatGoesHere all you seem to want to do is fight back against anyone who disagrees with you 😂

Give them some chocolates or don't, why does it matter what anyone else thinks? 🤷‍♀️

So why the need for biscuits and stuff? It’s hardly going to compensate for the time with their families at home.
You’re grateful, and you’ve told them this- that’s all that’s needed. Gifts like this are performative and as a teacher I would roll my eyes, sorry.

well, opinion is divided ... Anyway - I am going to change the plan slightly upon the comments - to giving a box of celebrations or similar : 1 to teacher on trip, 1 to office staff.

Ok.

It just feels a bit try-hard and like sucking up, even though I appreciate that you’re trying to do something nice to show your gratitude. I’d leave it at a thank you card.

no, trips are not their job, trips are entirely voluntary, unpaid, and may well cost them a lot, either in child care, or pet care or both. Certainly cost a lot in terms of family time and personal time

and honestly, the aggravation! The hours of organising! The behaviour! the worry! the attitude of some parents!

I am amazed the number of teachers still prepared to do school trips, and parents really should remember it is ENTIRELY a voluntary undertaking, based on goodwill

@Mnetcurious "It just feels a bit try-hard and like sucking up,"

Bloody hell-are you 10?

My local primary school has 120 pupils in each year group.

I just can't imagine how this would work if every parent wanted to give the teachers food, but at least the local food banks would be replenished.

Well, clearly not every parent will. There's a couple of posters on here who think teachers deserve nothing 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Wouldn't a box of apples be more appropriate?

I’ve put YANBU because it’s not unreasonable to want to thank them, but it might be better to give it afterwards. If they want snacks for the trip they’ll take them and they’ll appreciate chocolate etc. afterwards too. It’s nice that you’re thinking about this at all tbh.

I remember the look on DD’s teacher’s face, surrounded by 30 totally hyped up 7-10 year olds at 5.30 AM just before leaving for a ski trip. A parent came up to him and said « You’re so lucky, in my job I don’t get free ski holidays! »

Yes i would think that this is weird and a little bit strange.

If they want snacks etc - they are adults and they will sort that out for themselves. Are you thinking that you or your child would hand over the box of goodies for them - i am literally cringing at this thought!

What a strange response. Plenty of other replies have said the same or similar. FWIW I’m enormously grateful to my children’s teachers and always communicate that to them but the suggestion described in the op is OTT in my opinion.

Absolutely this!

I wouldn't have given snacks etc to any of my kids teachers for going on a school trip! Maybe just send an email after the event to thank them (if they had a great time).

I would swap places with the teacher to go to New York/ Residentials/ America etc etc!!

A better gift might be to ensure your children have everything on the kit list, that it is labelled, that you are where you are meant to be at the assigned time, that you have spoken to your child in advance to make sure that they understand the rules and are polite and friendly on the trip.

In a couple of weeks time I'm sure you'll be contributing to class gifts so just put in a bit extra for that instead if you really want to.

What a crap attitude. I very much doubt taking children away on holiday is part of their job description. They are giving up their spare time to escort these children. How kind of them.

OP: you're fine and the gift sounds nice.

A thank you note is all that is required.