To feel sorry for all the teachers who are about to be inundated with shite gifts

[Butterflyfluff]

My Facebook feed is full of utterly shit teacher gifts - mugs, glasses, baubles, sweet jars all with ‘Greatest Teacher’ on them.

Surely the vast majority of these end up in the bin - no one needs up to 30 odd of these every year?

What’s wrong with clubbing together for vouchers that would actually get used?

This is a lovely idea.

Tax professional here. This is absolute shite.

You are not a very knowledgeable tax professional then, are you

This is lovely!

We did hampers for some of DD's Primary teachers with loads of stationery.

I REALLY hope the teachers declare their vouchers for TAX purposes.

😂

Spare a thought for secondary school teachers who get f* all 😂

This again.
My honest answer- Y6- teacher

1. Yes I love presents, who doesn't.
2. Do I want any parent to feel obliged or bullied by a pushy parent into getting me a present- no, if you don't like me and/or can't afford it, don't feel the pressure!
3. I might be a bad person but of course I prefer vouchers to a homemade present listing my attributes as a teacher as I don't have the space for it, and ten years in teaching has killed off my enthusiasm a little.
4. I feel really awkward when my TA who wears a headscarf is given wine and I will swop it with her for chocolate.
5. I have never declared tax on any voucher and it had never even crossed my mind!
6. Even if 3) is true, it's always rewarding to know that a child has really enjoyed the year or anything special I've done to help them.
7. If this sounds grabby, it's not meant to at all. You can love presents and feel strongly that people shouldn't feel pressured into getting them.
8. Mugs are fine but get left in the staff room to replace the most worn out 'best teacher mugs' which generally last 3-5 years in my staffroom.

I'm hospital staff and our ward get a lot of chocolates/ biscuits/cards etc. We're grateful, it's nice to be appreciated and receive anything!

If I receive gifts (less of a thing being secondary) I honestly don't view them as 'tat'. I'd be genuinely thankful of the thought. That being said, I think a lot of parents overthink gifts for teachers when a card or even an email to my headteacher, would honestly make me so pleased.

@oakleaffy and how are they going to do that? They DON'T NEED TO

Yeah …. Maybe want to read up on bribery and corruption legislation!

They can always share them with the other members of staff that get nothing. They don't though so can't feel that annoyed!

The the person who mentioned vouchers needed to be declared for tax purposes..I googled:

Load of bollox.

When I was still teaching, a group of secondary students once bought me a Really Useful Box filled with gel pens, highlighters, postits, stickers etc.

By far my most favourite gift ever. I still have the box - they decorated it and regularly restock it with my favourite pens. They were an absolutely cracking group.

So you replaced the funding that the Tories hollowed out of schools by buying stuff that schools can't afford? That's kind, but not a present for the teacher.
I hope that idea doesn't catch on in my school! I like a present at the end of the year!

Hmm yes heaps of presents right before six weeks off…torture

The Kestrel reminds me of this blog I read one day:
And that’s why you should learn to pick your battles. – The Bloggess

What teacher would not like getting this as a gift? The possibilities are endless. Though...gift cards are also nice. 😉

But seriously, you are being ridiculous.

You are the one who sells all those Best Teacher mugs, aren't you

That’s the thing. If my kids school were to say ‘we’ve run out, here’s an Amazon wish list’ I’d just buy half the contents for next day delivery.

but they don’t say anything and I’m not psychic!

Anyway, we bang a £15 Amazon voucher to each class teacher and TA, in a card that my kids have to write a short thank you message in.

Give them a card like this - it means so much more than a gift. This is why I love teaching.

I was being sarcastic -

@combinationpadlock very knowledgeable actually. What are your qualifications?

@Whatevershallidowithmylife Now bribery and corruption rules are another thing and some trusts will have rules around this. But there are no rules around declaring for income tax purposes

Yeah considering teachers go over and above and buy things out of their own pockets (so no it’s not must like any other job) it would seem the best gift is to either provide classroom supplies OR club together for some vouchers which will will be a nice way to reimburse them for all the money they’ve spent on your kids classroom supplies.

Maybe each school /class should have a gift list of things the class needs and ask for parents to do that instead of a best teacher mug. Then the class can send a group homemade card.

I've been teaching for 28 years and never declared a voucher for tax purposes and never heard of any colleagues doing this either p.