Do teachers throw away home made gifts??

[Mammyofonlyone]

My daughter and I have started making gifts for her Reception. teacher and teaching assistants ready to go in a hamper to say thank you. We have always made them gifts since she started nursery aged two. However, I have read a few threads saying that teachers throw things away that are homemade??? Is this true???? I feel a bit sad if it is!
We have spent a long time growing and cooking things in some cases! Most importantly, should I keep the sloe gin to myself if it isn’t appreciated??

I am a teacher and am always very touched by homemade gifts. I probably wouldn't eat the edible ones but only because I've seen what happens when I do any cookery with my class! I don't eat my own children's cooking when they bring that home either. It doesn't mean I'm not appreciative of the effort that goes in to it though. I love homemade cards!

Judging by my childhood home and teacher mother, lots of stuff is kept!

Handmade things my mum loved and still has after her 30 year career in teaching - christmas tree ornaments, a pencil case, a box made out of pencils, many other ornaments, "Mrs C" mugs etc.

However - my little brother has a severe peanut allergy and most homemade food was binned or given away due to the risk of anaphylaxis. Mum also struggled with weight loss for a number of years and the biannual deluge of booze/chocs/cakes were never consumed. My dad appreciated the booze though!

However the stuff she treasured were the letters and cards - especially the ones from the kids themselves. The nicest thing was when they'd made a card using something they'd been taught that year e.g. watercolour painting. They're all filed away in a big folder. She recently had a probationer teacher who she'd in fact taught aged 11. New teacher got a lovely card from a family, which prompted my DM to dig out the lovely card she'd got 10 years previously from the new teacher herself. They both had a bit of a cry!

Hope that helps, and cheers you up a wee bit

We had an Australian exchange teacher in secondary school who was returning to Australia after Christmas. He received probably 10 gifts from the class on his last day, and he genuinely had tears in his eyes while opening them, even though most of them were extremely tacky. I think (it being secondary school) he thought we all hated him! So my point is that some teachers appreciate the thought that goes into gifts if not the gift itself—perhaps they are better when unexpected.
Incidentally the following year we heard that that teacher had died of a heart attack, aged around 40.

Dh's form that he had all the way from yr7 to the end gave him a laminated picture of all of them with individual lovely comments.

It's in his portfolio he takes to interviews - he's had 4 interviews since then and got every job. Without fail the interviewer reads it and smiles.

He also eats all food anyone gives him but the sloe gin/wine/lemoncello/flavoured vodkas all come home to me as he doesn't drink alcohol - so not every teacher can make use of everything - doesn't mean the thanks and love they represent isn't wholeheartedly welcomed

I dont throw gifts in the bin. If I can use them I do. If I can drink them I do and if I can eat them I do that too. None of the teachers and TAs know are the type to just discard gifts given to them. If it is something that I couldn't or unlikely to use then I may pass them on to a friend or family who will do - not as a gift either, just as a "I was given this but cant use it because of xyz, can you use it?"

Think most of the vitriol seems to be coming from non teaching staff to be fair.

I leave homemade gifts in the staffroom, there's occasionally someone who will eat/drink them so they aren't wasted.

A thank you is enough for me.

Anything obviously made by small children goes in the bin. Anything (obviously) made by parents gets snaffled up though now I'm in secondary I get nothing sobs I always make my big chocolate cake for the teachers and it's always eaten by them, somethingI've seen with my own eyes

No, it didn't occur to me that charity shops would want loads more mugs

Really? Most people would realise that there was something slightly more constructive to be done other than simply throw them into the bin.

I would hope that most teachers would be aware of the fact that it's possible to donate useful, perfectly functional objects to an organisation that might use them. It's the kind of the message that one would hope is being passed on to children.

Obviously not in this case.

Slightly off topic, but is there not any restrictions on the value of presents state school teachers are allowed to accept?

I've worked in both the public and voluntary sectors, and in all jobs I've had we're never allowed to accept anything above the value of £5, except if its something that will be shared, such as chocolates. I've always assumed its so we're not open to accusations of favouritism or bribery.

There often seems to be threads on here about parents spending loads on teachers presents, so I've always wondered about it.

I must admit, it has never occurred to me not to eat the yummy gifts given to me by my students!

I do hope that my dc teachers like their end of year gifts. We go fruit picking and I make them a small jar of jam using the fruit that the children have picked. Hygiene is meticulous, all jars and lids are new, washed and sterilised and the fruit is well washed before being boiled. It would be a shame if they got thrown away but at least it is only a small jar.

A friend of mine teaches in Reception, she enjoys quite a lot of homemade food but she has the advantage of having done the home visits - she always throws any food away that has come from a house where you would wipe your feet on the way out

Hang on. All these teachers who wouldn’t eat a homemade cookie or treat - why the hell do you and the school pester us parents all year old to bring homemade sweets to various bake sales and fayeres?! You’re sooo concerned about the health standards you’d rather throw it away, but will happily sell the same homemade stuff?!

I'm a teacher and I love and appreciate gifts from pupils. I don't expect any, but happily take them in the spirit they are given. I'd eat homemade stuff without worrying about a hygiene certificate. And I have a classroom that has various things pupils have made/presented to me displayed in it. I think it's a lovely idea.

Many of those writing scornful remarks are not teachers. Most teachers are pretty grateful to be thanked or appreciated, frankly.

Shifty that'll be the PTA and SLT pushing the bake sales. If the teachers are doing it it's because they have to. They've got other stuff to worry about tbh. So you can keep your

Our “avalanches” of chocolate do not all get eaten by us the teacher though Speak for yourself. I buy a box from poundland to distract my DC then I spend the next couple of months munching on chocolates I've hidden.

I'm a teacher and I have never thrown a homemade gift away. I really appreciate the time taken. I have decorations made by children on my tree and I have eaten cakes, homemade chocolates, fudge etc. Still alive! Never been lucky enough for sloe gin...that would be lovely! I do not ever expect a gift but I do really appreciate the thought especially when accompanied by a nice comment in a note or card.

No, I’m not going to keep my taaaa, because I’ve seen the teachers at our school eating the homemade stuff.