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 this comes from a prospective of anxiety as in that you're anxious about your child going away, and by providing goodies for the teachers, they may look more favourably on your child?

Another weird response. They are more likely to find something they like from lots of little things than from one single item, obviously.

I'd probably give them some chocs/thank you card when they come back if you really want to give them something.

Prepping a whole bunch of individual packs to give them before they go feels a bit OTT/desperate teacher's pet. Besides, what if they lose your kid or something then you'd be pissed off you'd spent so much time kissing arse before they went 😅

I can't believe how many judgy, ungrateful people there are on this thread. It's just a small gesture of thanks FFS. The person who said they would put it on the staff WhatsApp to laugh and judge shouldn't be in any job working with people.

These poor parents need to realise that we live in a society where different people have different levels of wealth, and therefore can afford different material things. If their children are jealous and envious because of that then that’s something the poor parents need to sort out. These children are going to have a real shock when they enter the real world at some point.

I'm sure the teachers will have planned their 'snacks' for when their charges are tucked up in bed.

It’s a lovely idea - I used to give them a bottle of wine/chops each after a week long school trip in primary school (the teachers were very hands on and involved in all the activities - they didn’t just sit around in the staff area while student entertainment reps ran things… like PGL). If I remembered in time I invited other class parents to chip in £2 each. They really appreciated it.

I'm a teacher, I'd appreciate the effort and sentiment.

My Mum worked in a primary school office and used to both organise and attend the school camp every year. While the organising could be stressful, she absolutely loved going on the camp. It was one of the highlights of her year. It was a low income school and many of the kids were on their first trip away, or were seeing and doing things for the first ever time. Getting to witness the wonder on the children's faces when getting to feed a lamb or something similar was worth it's weight in gold to her. She was gutted when a new ultra controlling head started and put a stop to her going on camp.

I expect she would have really appreciated this nice gesture from a parent(s) as getting a thanks in the office (where they are usually the first port of call for complaints) is quite a rare occurrence, even though a lot of the work they do is above & beyond.

However, don't underestimate how many treats and snacks they will already have packed for themselves in the evenings when all the kids are finally in bed!

It's weird, dont be that mum.

@Thudercatsrule why is it weird? The amount of shitty treatment teachers get from many parents I think it would be nice for them to get a thank you treat.

I agree with @Thudercatsrule … it’s weird, ‘that mum’, trying to stand out from everyone else. Having said that, I do agree it’s a lovely thought - but I just wouldn’t do it. Maybe on pick up afterwards, take something then for staff to take home and chill with.

If you want to do it, do it, but it's clearly above and beyond what most people do so to it and post about it on MN is just all a bit try hard.

@Change2banon why is it a parent trying to stand out, I'm assuming OP isn't going to stand in front of all the other parents and go look at me, how great am I giving teachers biscuits! You said it was a lovely thought so why not give the gift

I think it’s a lovely idea, go for it!

(Don’t understand a lot of the responses on here, people are very cynical )

Lovely gesture. Am sure it would be appreciated 👏

why do people think overnight trips are part of the teachers job? They are voluntary. the COST the teacher. I am very surprised people don't realise this

No. Bit weird, they’re not toddlers

Seriously do we have buy teachers for everything that they do. How about thank you Mrs Smith for taking them on the trip. It’s not your role to recompensate them in gifts.

As someone who works in a school office (yes to a nice box of biscuits/chocolates for us) I would say either give the gift when they return or at the parent's information meeting before the trip. That way they can choose to reward themselves after a stressful meeting with parents, fortify themselves properly in the run up to the trip, or pack it properly with the school kit. Do not under any circumstances give it to them on the morning of the trip as it will add to the stress of getting everyone on the coach.

I used to regularly be the lead teacher and organiser for trips taking 80 pupils abroad! I would have loved this. Such a thoughtful idea that could be appreciated by all staff on the trip. I had a few parents give me “recovery” packages on our return over the years - wine/face masks/chocs - and these were always very appreciated.

After doing quite a few residentials/camps over the years, I think a box of chocolates or biscuits is a lovely idea!

I see the arseholes of mumsnet are out in force today.

OP, it’s a very nice, thoughtful idea. Ignore all the miserable bastards determined to try and turn something nice into a negative. Some of them could turn milk sour just being next to it such is the extent of their miserable negativity. They’re like vampires, sucking the positive intentions out of everything in their race to the bottom and to denigrate anyone that dares to consider doing something for someone else and not getting anything transactional out of it. Wankers, the lot of them.

Agreed. Former teacher, HLTA and youth worker here - I loved the trips but they were exhausting. And educators /school staff generally go over and above throughout the year. Buying art supplies, books etc with their own money!

OP, I’d say definitely do something after the trip to say thanks and the card , or just the card alone. That’s way more meaningful and won’t be a hassle for them in terms of fitting it in luggage or carrying it. It’s a nice idea though.

OP asked on MN to gauge opinion. Why is everyone so cynical and thinks this is just for the glory or attention? Says a lot more about the people that rush to make negative assumptions than about the OP.