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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Calling all male teachers… gift inspiration please.

25 replies

TinyKittenPaw · 21/07/2024 17:43

Hi - AIBU to ask for some recommendations for a gift for a youngish male primary school teacher? He’s absolutely wonderful and we have a collection of £130. At Christmas we got Amazon vouchers, which is the default but it would be nice to spend £30 or so on something he could keep. He’s a non drinker. Anything that would be universally appreciated?

OP posts:
TheSerenePinkOrca · 21/07/2024 17:48

What's the school policy on receiving gifts?

Lots of teachers can only accept small gifts from parents/pupils and anything above a certain amount has to be declared or refused!!

Is there a particular charity he supports where you could make a donation in his name? Or sponsor an animal for him?

OldChinaJug · 21/07/2024 17:48

Do you know anything about him at all?

What his interests are? What he does in his free time?

As with any other group, 'young male teachers' are not a homogenous group so you really need to know who you buying for.

Eg I receive generic teacher gifts but I've also received more personalised ones to do with my hobbies (playing music) and other interests I've expressed when having conversations with parents.

Mammyloveswine · 21/07/2024 18:02

Break it up into vouchers for the summer? So £30 nandos, £30 cinema vouchers, £10 Costa or Starbucks.. £30 Wagamama then £30 Amazon!

I'd be over the moon as a teacher!

Grazianoscubanheel · 21/07/2024 18:11

OF giftcard

poppyfield17 · 21/07/2024 18:21

TheSerenePinkOrca · 21/07/2024 17:48

What's the school policy on receiving gifts?

Lots of teachers can only accept small gifts from parents/pupils and anything above a certain amount has to be declared or refused!!

Is there a particular charity he supports where you could make a donation in his name? Or sponsor an animal for him?

If that was a gift from my class, I'd give it back.

poppyfield17 · 21/07/2024 18:24

Mammyloveswine · 21/07/2024 18:02

Break it up into vouchers for the summer? So £30 nandos, £30 cinema vouchers, £10 Costa or Starbucks.. £30 Wagamama then £30 Amazon!

I'd be over the moon as a teacher!

Now that's an amazing present!!

User79853257976 · 21/07/2024 18:26

TheSerenePinkOrca · 21/07/2024 17:48

What's the school policy on receiving gifts?

Lots of teachers can only accept small gifts from parents/pupils and anything above a certain amount has to be declared or refused!!

Is there a particular charity he supports where you could make a donation in his name? Or sponsor an animal for him?

It’s not a big deal having to declare it.

Mysterian · 21/07/2024 18:32

26 mugs.

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 21/07/2024 18:34

Mammyloveswine · 21/07/2024 18:02

Break it up into vouchers for the summer? So £30 nandos, £30 cinema vouchers, £10 Costa or Starbucks.. £30 Wagamama then £30 Amazon!

I'd be over the moon as a teacher!

Great idea!

ButtSurgery · 21/07/2024 18:36

Mammyloveswine · 21/07/2024 18:02

Break it up into vouchers for the summer? So £30 nandos, £30 cinema vouchers, £10 Costa or Starbucks.. £30 Wagamama then £30 Amazon!

I'd be over the moon as a teacher!

I disagree - those sums wouldn't cover a meal for two in those restaurants for example so it forces him to either go alone and potentially waste some of it or take someone and forces him to spend his own money. Especially if he doesn't live near them.

OP, keep it simple. If you want a keepsake as part of it, can you get all the kids to sign a picture he might like? A big card made with the class photo perhaps?

Blisterly · 21/07/2024 18:40

Yeah don’t do little vouchers for places they might not use and then have to spend their own money. I would go for Amazon as they could put it towards something special, or just everyday bits and bobs.

TheSerenePinkOrca · 21/07/2024 19:24

poppyfield17 · 21/07/2024 18:21

If that was a gift from my class, I'd give it back.

Show quote history

You'd reverse a charitable donation!?!? Wow!

My son's class made a donation on behalf of the teacher for a charity they knew she supported and she was moved to tears!

cauliflowercheeseplease · 21/07/2024 19:32

Did anyone see the secondary school class that bought their teach a pair of designer shoes?
Was a lovely video to watch and shows that some teachers really are an inspiration to children. Makes a change these days as a lot of teachers are very under appreciated.

Whatever you do Op, I'm sure the teacher will be extremely grateful

poppyfield17 · 21/07/2024 21:20

@theserenepickorca probably tears of disappointment!!

I'm quite capable of making a charitable donation on my own - unless specifically asked for, in which case it would be a thoughtful gesture - I would be mightily peeved.

isitfridaay · 21/07/2024 21:32

Amazon voucher

And if you want a physical gift - a plant instead of flowers

Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 22:57

Mammyloveswine · 21/07/2024 18:02

Break it up into vouchers for the summer? So £30 nandos, £30 cinema vouchers, £10 Costa or Starbucks.. £30 Wagamama then £30 Amazon!

I'd be over the moon as a teacher!

That’s a really great idea - thank you.

OP posts:
ButtSurgery · 22/07/2024 22:59

TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 22:57

That’s a really great idea - thank you.

Show quote history

It's a really bad idea....

Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 22:59

OldChinaJug · 21/07/2024 17:48

Do you know anything about him at all?

What his interests are? What he does in his free time?

As with any other group, 'young male teachers' are not a homogenous group so you really need to know who you buying for.

Eg I receive generic teacher gifts but I've also received more personalised ones to do with my hobbies (playing music) and other interests I've expressed when having conversations with parents.

Thank you - and didn’t mean to suggest every young male teacher was the same, just posting here for a range of views to get ideas.

Literally know nothing about the teacher in question he is quite private and has only asked for chocolate.

OP posts:
Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 23:01

Blisterly · 21/07/2024 18:40

Yeah don’t do little vouchers for places they might not use and then have to spend their own money. I would go for Amazon as they could put it towards something special, or just everyday bits and bobs.

Oh, ok noted.

OP posts:
Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 23:03

ButtSurgery · 22/07/2024 22:59

It's a really bad idea....

Show quote history

Hahhaha - duly noted. Thank you 👍🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 22/07/2024 23:08

Thanks everyone whose has chipped in here.

The total is £140 so I’m going for £120 Amazon voucher - feels like the safest bet. When the kids asked in class he said he only wants chocolate so I’ll go to the Lindor shop and spend £20 on a massive bag of Lindor chocolate.

Hopefully it won’t feel too bland, it feels like a bit of a responsibility when it’s a big chunk of money 💰

OP posts:
Testina · 22/07/2024 23:30

I’ll go to the Lindor shop and spend £20 on a massive bag of Lindor chocolate.

Oh dear. Have you been in a Lindor shop? £20 and massive bag do not go together 😉

But I’m glad to see you’ve avoided splitting into different gift vouchers - I’d only go to one of those places, and that infrequently.

Original poster
TinyKittenPaw · 23/07/2024 22:18

You are almost right - at the Lindor shop I got a bag of 1.2kg of the red Lindor for £25 so I had to push the budget a bit 😂

OP posts:
OldChinaJug · 24/07/2024 11:38

However, Lindor is horrible.

I always give them away.

isitfridaay · 24/07/2024 18:44

Well I love Lindor so it would be good to me

What a kind thing OP. Hope the teacher appreciated your efforts in sourcing a nice gift

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