do you really have to buy teachers presents for christmas?

[nomorebooze]

really! this is a new one on me, when did this start.............

I think any teacher would be mortified at the thought it was obligatory, but its always nice to say a special thank you to people who make a difference in your life... this is only our second xmas in the school environment and our class reps have opted out of the class donation and left up to individuals to buy or make something as they wish.

My DD's make a gift.

I think it's nicer (even if the teachers aren't so sure....)

if things were tight (which some years they were) then nothing was given. when we did give a present, it was only ever a small token sort of gift rather than anything lavish. we always gave them something at the end of the summer term.

No you don't have to. Seems like pretty much everybody does these days though.
Gift giving has gone a bit crazy generally though.

I don't give gifts to teachers. I appreciate what they do but I appreciate lots of people so where would it end?!

Only time I've given a gift was not to a teacher. One horrific winter some years ago and the country was a virtual standstill. Our postie delivered every day without fail and with his trademark grin and happy banter. He got a bottle of whiskey

Of course you don't have too. We tend to gift a big box of biscuits for the staff room as with 3 dc at the school, all with teachers and numerous TAs in the class it could get expensive, but it's not obligatory. My friend is a teacher and gets so many boxes of chocs/sweets/ bottles of wine it's ridiculous, but we do quite well out of it, so I don't mind :) one of the best things I got when I worked at a nursery was a little mirror to go in my handbag. I still have it now, 10 years on and carry it in my bag all the time. It is nice to be appreciated, but I would never have wanted someone to buy something because they felt they had to or if they couldn't afford it.

No. I don't.

Teachers were given gifts when I was at school and I am almost 50. So it's not new. MIL was a teacher and got gifts.

You don't have to. Most teachers who come on to these threads say they don't expect anything but appreciate the thought. They always say they would love a card made by the child.

I was out with someone shopping yesterday and she always buys a nice Xmas bauble for teachers for Xmas. I thought that was nice.

So if you don't want to - fine. If you can't afford it - fine. If you do decide to do it - it's just a token gift.

No it's not, but it can feel like especially on here. We make a card and put a handwritten message of thanks in it. But then I don't really see why adults get presents at all......

No. If DS has wanted to make a card then I've been happy to help. Once or twice at the end of a year we've given something small when it felt like something we would like to do.

I normally do but then DS is an only child, I see how it could be expensive with two or more DCs.
My theory is that it is nice to shown appreciation of the people who matter. I do not however gift to or tip postmen, dustmen or anybody else for that matter. My theory goes that I could collect my own post or take my own rubbish to the tip. I cannot (sufficiently) educate my own child which IMO is one of the most important priorities.
So this year DS's teachers (there are 2 as one is also HoY) are getting a small hamper with hot tea, coffee, hot choc and a couple packs of Waitrose biscuits. His female music teacher will be getting a small plant in a festive pot (£3 I think) and I haven't quite decided yet what to get his male guitar teacher- they are both enormously helpful to me as I am fantastically unmusical and have endless patience with my silly questions and requests for help with tuning/ reeds etc so they deserve some recognition.

ive never heard of this till today! feel like I've been a bit out of touch................!

I do tip the milkie,dusties and postie.

I think a home made gift is more thoughtful for teachers though - and I'm sure they get their own body weight in chocs,smellies,and vino.

Of course it is not compulsary. IME some do, some don't. Teachers don't feel any differently bout those who don't but obviously are always appreciative of any gifts and cards they may recieve from their pupils.

But it alo isn't a new thing either - I remember teachers receiving cards and gifts when I was at primary school in the 70s.

How old is your dc op? I've worked in education for nearly 25 years and it's always been the norm. I've been receiving presents right from day 1 at Christmas.

Of course it's not expected but it's certainly not a new thing!

We always did a token present at primary school, but it was quite a relief when they all got to secondary and we didn't have to bother any more.

I'm 40 and bought my teachers a small gift at Christmas in the 1970s.

No, I never have and quite honestly I think it is unprofessional of teachers to accept gifts - even worse are those massive class collections. In many industries you have to 'declare' gifts & there is a tax liablity - why should teaching be different?

Penguin - it didn't happen when I was at school .

I say this every year, but I think the people who really deserve a small present at Christmas are the volunteers who help your child eg: Brownie/Cub Leaders, Sports coaches etc. They given up tons of their spare time to run these organisations and often don't even get a verbal 'thank you' from a parent. speaks from experience

My DS does a lot of sports training, I know for a fact that the coaches are all volunteers so I always make sure I give them bottle or two at Christmas.

I do, and the dc's make the cards.

I buy a gift for the school office too. They have to call me most days in summer when DS's hayfever flares up. I really appreciate them looking after him (washing his hands and wiping his eyes) and sorting out his medicine.

When DS was at school I never did, it wasn't something that crossed my mind and DS never mentioned it. I'm sure some parents did though, and when I saw somewhere that it was what some parents did I thought

I'm not one for buying lots of random presents anyway. Its a bit like tipping the hairdresser, I don't do that either.

No of course not (teacher)

I teach secondary. Not sure I've ever had a Christmas present, and I certainly haven't felt hard done-by.

The only time I get any presents is after the school play - the kids do tend to club together and get flowers/chocs which is lovely as I know it's something they've done by themselves.

Of course not! I would hate to feel anyone felt obliged to get me a gift. I agree that people who give up their time voluntarily, such as Cub leaders are far more deserving. I understand from colleagues in other schools that some teachers are no longer allowed to accept gifts anyway.

Having said that I can see how it might be difficult if you feel every other child is giving a gift, and you don't want your child to feel left out, especially at Primary.

I am a secondary teacher, and the littler ones tend to give presents. The nicest things are a home made card or decoration, or when you can tell that the child has been given a couple of pounds and chosen a little gift themselves, they are so thrilled to give it to you.

I agree re volunteers. DD just gone off to last brownies before xmas with a tin of ikea biscuits for the owls.

I've bought gifts over the years but it got a bit grabby in the summer. One teacher asked for a collection from parents of Oasis vouchers which I thought was presumptuous. My daughter is in year 6 and has one TA who has stayed with their class since reception. Every summer and Xmas she's had a small gift. I realised the other day that not once over those years has the woman said thank you.

So taking the above into consideration and now that I have 3 kids at the school teacher's gifts are reducing this year!

thanks for everyones thoughts! I just feel its taking the biscuit a bit.......my Daughter is at preschool. I feel its where do you draw the line?